A PERIODICAL FOR YOUNG AND OLD

A PLACE OF SAFETY

Dear young friends,

In Matthew 24 the Lord Jesus told what the times and circumstances would be of the present world when it would be destroyed. “For as in the days that were before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall the coming of the Son of Man be.” In Genesis 6 we read of the instructions given by the Lord to Noah for the building of the ark. In those days this was a tremendous undertaking, and it took Noah 120 years to build the ark.

The historical writers tell us that after the death of Adam, the descendants of Cain and the descendants of Seth lived apart. This was a necessity. The descendants of Cain were very worldly minded, and did not care about religion or public worship. The worldly and the church people cannot live together. However, at the time of Noah this had changed. In.Genesis 6:2 we read, “That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.” The descendants of Seth had the title of sons of God in distinction from the children of men, but they inter-married. This is most often harmful to Christianity, and so it was in the days of Noah.

There were giants in the earth in those days; they were very strong and were men of renown. But, my young friends, physical strength and great fame shall never save us from destruction. Regarding those days we read, “And the earth was filled with violence.” Is it much different today? The old world was destroyed and the present world shall also be destroyed. Noah was saved by faith, and the inhabitants of the first world perished by their unbelief. We hear this time and again in the prayer of baptism — “Thou, Who hast punished the unbelieving and unrepentant world with the flood, and hast according to Thy great mercy saved and protected believing Noah and his family.”

Noah had warned the people time and again of the coming destruction. The apostle in II Peter 2:5 said of Noah, “a preacher of righteousness.” He was a preacher of the justice of God, and warned the people that if they did not repent, God would punish them with destruction. Noah himself revealed his faith by building the ark and could only be saved by his obedience. We can well understand how that Noah was mocked and was a laughing-stock for the unbelieving people. It must have been very grievous to Noah that the people of his time loved darkness rather than light.

Dear young friends, do we realize the fear of the unbelieving people after Noah and his family had gone into the ark and the Lord had shut them in. After that their doom was certain. No hill was high enough, no tree tall enough to save them. “And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things.” The instruction of the old world is not only history for us, but also a sermon. Young friends, we can not deny that our time is as the time of Noah. Today the world is filled with violence. The church becomes more and more conformed to the world. We are all conceived and born in sin, and if we die as we are born, then we will be punished righteously eternally. The warnings are given, the necessity of conversion is preached. We hear time and again that Christ is the only ark of redemption. But do we believe it? Many would answer “Yes”; but do we realize that Noah and his family went into the ark at the time the people of the first world were still alive? Many deceive themselves, thinking to live in this world, and if they die and believe in the Lord Jesus, they shall be saved.

Young people, the unbelieving world also believed Noah, but too late. We cannot serve the world all the days of our life, and be saved when the ark of redemption is closed to us. May the Lord bless the means to our heart that we may exercise a sorrow after God that worketh repentance not to be repented of. By grace God’s people are saved in the Ark of Redemption, and this is Jesus Christ.

Your friend and minister,

Rev. M. Romeyn

BIBLE QUIZ

Dear Boys and Girls,

As the month of December is again here, I have based our quiz on the birth of the Lord Jesus, as told to us by Matthew and Luke. Many people today say that Jesus Christ was only a man, a good man, but nothing different than other men. But we have in our Bibles the words of the angels to the shepherds, “Unto you is born a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” And so we can show that those people are very wrong in what they say. Our Bible is the Word of God, and to it we must look for instruction in all things. May the Lord bless you as you search your Bibles for answers to the quiz.

The first letters of the answers will spell out five of the words mentioned above, which were spoken by the angel.

In those days a decree went out from

Ceasar Augustus that all _______ should be taxed.

Joseph went to Bethlehem, because he was of the _______ and lineage of David.

Mary laid her first born son in a manger because there was no room for them in the _______.

She wrapped him in swaddling _______.

The angel Gabriel said to Mary, “He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the _______.”

Simeon was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of _____.

And there were in the same country _____ abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock.

After the angel had told Mary which would be born unto her, she went to visit her _____ Elizabeth.

The angels praised God, saying, “Glory to God in the _____.”

And the shepherds _____, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen.

And Anna, coming in that _____, gave thanks likewise unto the Lord.

Simeon said, “Mine eyes have seen Thy _____.”

The angel said to the shepherds, “I bring you good _____ of great joy.”

When Herod the king heard about the wise men and the star which they had seen, he was _____.

The wise men asked, “Where is _____ that is born King of the Jews?”

These wise men came to Jerusalem from the _____.

Simeon also said of Jesus, “A _____ to lighten the Gentiles.”

When the wise men had _____ their treasures, they presented unto him gifts.

John the Baptist was preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, “_____ ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

The wise men were warned of God in a _____ that they should not return to Herod.

(Your answers should be sent to me at the following address — Garret J. Moerdyk, 1104 Roseland Avenue, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49001)

The answers to our quiz of last month are —

“Blessed Be The Name Of The Lord”

-Job 1:21

Bildad Job 2:11-13

Lord Job 1:21

Evil Job 1:1

Satan Job 1:9

Speakest Job 2:9-10

Eliphaz Job 42:8

Days Job 42:17

Blessed Psalm 1:1

Earth Psalm 24:1

Table Psalm 23:5

Heavens Psalm 19:1

Everlasting Psalm 24:7

Noise Psalm 66:1

Arise Psalm 68:1

Mischief Psalm 52:1

Ear Psalm 55:1

Observe Psalm 107:43

Forgiven Psalm 32:1

Tabernacles Psalm 84:1

Hart Psalm 42:1

Eyes Psalm 123:2

Lift Psalm 121:1

Oil Psalm 23:5

Refuge Psalm 46:1

Depths Psalm 130:1

During the past month answers were received from the following boys and girls:

Linda Bleeker

Jim Bleeker

Val Lugthart

Joan Lugthart

Bill Boluyt

Cheryl Kalee

Debbie Kalee

Karel Kalee

Marcia Kros

Mary Kievit

Ruth Kievit

Bov Vander Boon

Susan Vander Boon

Dave Verhey

John Verhey

Teresa Vander Meulen

Frances Vander Meulen

Joyce Vander Meulen

Julie Frens

Mary Beth Frens

David Pluim

Jan Pluim

Lois Pluim

Joanne Beeke

Caren Nieuwenhuis

Ann Boluyt

Henry Rosendall

Laura Rosendall

Linda Kamp

Mary Ann Kamp

Betty Jean Kamp

Randy Van Giessen

Gary Van Giessen

Sandy Van Giessen

Billy Van Wingerden

Kenneth Van Wingerden

Linda Vande Waerdt

Joanne Vande Waerdt

Joanne Geerling (2)

Marianne Van Hoepen

John Van Hoepen

Elizabeth Geerling (2)

Dianne Van Ravenswaay

Esther Van Ravenswaay

JoAnn Van Ravenswaay

Marilyn Van Ravenswaay

Tim Vander Waal

John Vander Waal

Betty Vander Waal

Betty Ann Vander Valk

Barbara Sue Kamp

Richard Kamp

Sue Slotsema

Steve Slotsema

Shirley Slotsema

Darlene Van Den Top

Gloria Van Den Top

Judy Van Den Top

Joyce Van Den Top

Jim Zomer

Herlan Zomer

Carol Van Bemden

Alan Van Wingerden

John Van Wingerden

Ronald Van Wingerden

Laurie Ann Spaans

Barbara Jean Berkenbush

Peter Kievit

Curt Jenison

Roger Derksen

Joyce Derksen

Bruce Blok

Tom Blok

John Blok

Bill Moerdyk

Donna Zaremba

Denise Carol Zaremba

Mary Jean Vander Male

Lilly Ann Vander Male

George De Maagd

Marilyn De Maagd

Eleanor Meeuwse

Ruth Meeuwse

Lana Den Hartigh

Laurie Den Hartigh

Billy Kamp

Ruth Kamp

Tom Kamp

Joyce Kamp

Ella Kieboom

Arline Kieboom

Francina Boesterd

Joe Van Woudenberg

Kenneth Rus

Richard Roozenboom

Cornelia Heykoop

Adrian Heykoop

Neeltje Heykoop

Janet Arlene Sweetman

Tunis Sweetman

Jenny Lee Sweetman

Judy Elizabeth Sweetman

Arlene Kuperus

Hans Kuperus

Miriam E. Kuperus

David Kuperus

Jim Van Giessen

Kathy Van Giessen

Mary Van Tilburg

Mariene Van Veldhuizen

Charles Van Veldhuizen

Arnold Van Veldhuizen

Gary Blok

Nanette Mast

Joan Van Zweden

Mary Ellen Van Zweden

Ralph Van Zweden

Janet Van Zweden

John Van Zweden

Alice Moerdyk

Karel Boonzaayer

Ruth Boonzaayer

Esther Boonzaayer

Janet Van Driel

Arie Van Vugt

Joe Van Woudenberg

Paul Vandenberg

Janetta Vandenberg

Arie Vandenberg

Cordy Vandenberg

Joan Velier

Sharon Bouma

Albert Bouma

Kristine Rieder

Ray Rieder

Beverly Southway

Ellen Van Ginkel

Carolyn Van Koeveringe

John Van Koeveringe

Dan Meeuwse

Mark Meeuwse

Larry Greyn

Kathy Greyn

Linda Greyn

Peter Feyter

Gert Spaans

Joan Spaans

Denise Van Ravenswaay

Alane Van Ravenswaay

Dan Lords

Lisa Lords

Nancy Vande Stouwe

Randy Vande Stouwe

Jacqeline Bolle

Mike Bolle

David Vlietstra

Janice Vliestra

Martin Peter Vliestra

Nelly Koppert

Peter Koppert

Christine Koppert

Alice Koppert

Judy Slingerland

John Neels

Billy Droogers

Debbie Droogers

Amy Mieras

Billy Van Wingerden (2)

John Van Wingerden (2)

Janny Van Wingerden (2)

Roelie Stapel

Cindy Hoogendoorn

Henrietta Stapel

Janice Stapel

Rudolph Stapel

Billy Oudshoorn

Diana Oudshoorn

Janet Remus

Linda Remus

John Remus

Martin Oudshoorn

John Oudshoorn

Alma Van Beek

Tom Kamp

Billy Kamp

Ruth Kamp

Joyce Kamp

Rhonda Grisnich

Wendy Grisnich

Cheryl Grinsnich

Hermina Hubers

Donna Marie Hubers

Helen Hubers

Mark Teunissen

Randy Teunissen

Mark Heystek

Shirley Rus

Arnold Rus

Ruth Ann Marie Van Dalen

Delia Vanden Brink

Stephan Vanden Brink

Roy Vanden Brink

Marguerite Vanden Brink

Nick Greendyk

Bobby Greendyk (2)

Alida Greendyk

Billy Greendyk

David Greendyk

Tommy Greendyk

Conny Boesterd

Marinus Slingerland

And now it is again time to answer our mail —

KENNETH VAN WINGERDEN — We are happy to have you join with all the other boys and girls in answering the Bible quiz, Kenny. We hope that you may learn to know your Bible well, but also to love it as the best of all books. I think your father is happy that he has boys who help him in the greenhouse.

ELIZABETH GEERLING —We are all quite well, Elizabeth. Now that winter is here, you don’t have to work in the garden, so that should give you lots of time to play. Or do you find that there is always some other work to do? All play and no work is not good for anyone.

RALPH VAN ZWEDEN — Where does your Uncle Pete live, Ralph? Did the man steal anything? How unexpected something like this takes place. The Bible also tells of something that will come “as a thief in the night”. Do you know what it is? See if you can find it in the second book of Peter.

CAROLYN VAN KOEVERINGE — How are you, Carolyn? When you wrote, you weren’t feeling well, but we hope you are feeling much better. My father told me he had been at your home. I still remember being there a year or so ago. Do you remember that?

ROY VANDEN BRINK — Thank you for the picture, Roy. It is always nice to see who my young friends are, although it would be nicer to pay you a visit because then I could talk with you. The weather has been quite nice. We have seen a few snow flakes, but no snow on the ground.

BEVERLY SOUTHWAY — We are happy to hear that you enjoy working out the Bible quiz, Beverly. Searching the Scriptures is a very good way to spend our time. How very much we should appreciate it if the Lord has blessed us with parents who teach us to do this and help us in this way.

JOAN VAN ZWEDEN — I don’t think the mother rabbit was the only one that was lonesome when you gave the baby rabbits away, Joan. There were probably some boys and girls who were feeling rather lonesome. We hope your grandfather is feeling stronger again.

JOE VAN WOUDENBERG — Is your high school quite near to your home, Joe? Since you specialize in one area, I suppose all of your subjects are related to it. How does your brother like plumbing and heating? That is the business I am employed in.

CHRISTINE AND ALICE KOPPERT — It was nice of you to work together on the quiz this month How did you break your arm, Christine? We hope that it will soon be completely healed. What do you study in your Religious Instruction class this year, Alice? Give our greetings to your parents.

BETTY ANN VANDER VALK — How is that last turtle getting along, Betty? I suppose it was quite lonesome after the other two died. It was nice that our Bible quiz was the same topic as your Sunday school lesson, as I suppose that made the answers quite easy to find.

JANET VAN ZWEDEN — It was nice to hear from you again, Janet. We have a picture of you and your brothers and sisters sitting at the table, but I imagine you have grown just a little bit since then. Are you getting lots of snow in your area?

ROELIE STAPEL — How is school this year, Roelie? I imagine you are getting good marks as usual, aren’t you? What is the seating capacity of the new church? By this time you are probably getting quite accustomed to it.

STEPHAN VANDEN BRINK — You had a good report card, Stephan. There is hardly any room for improvement, is there? What are the “words of wisdom” which you mentioned that you were doing? Thanks for the picture. Now I can see to whom I am writing.

JANET REMUS — Accidents happen so quickly, don’t they, Janet. And they often happen when we least expect them. It must have been quite a cut if it took ten stitches to close it up. Was it your left hand or your right hand?

RUTH ANN MARIE VAN DALEN — I see you have also been studying the books of the Bible from which our quiz was taken, Ruth Ann. We have had our first snow of the season. Usually it melts away within a day, but this time it is staying with us.

JUDY SLINGERLAND — It is O.K. that you send your answers in together, Judy. In one of the letters above I was wondering what “Words of Wisdom” were, but now I know from your letter. Say “Hello” to Marinus for me.

LINDA GREYN — We were happy to hear from you, Linda. Your answers arrived in plenty of time. Did you think the questions were quite easy this month? Once in a while there might be a difficult one, but not too often.

JOHN VAN ZWEDEN — How is your grandpa now, John? My father is also in the hospital at the present time. We pray that the Lord will yet spare him. 5000 miles is quite a long trip, and not even one flat tire in all those miles.

DELLA VANDEN BRINK — Also

thanks to you for your picture, Delia. Congratulations on your good report card. It shows you are studying and paying attention in class. Which of your classes do you like the best?

JOHN NEELS — You will have to build a strong fence around your garden in order to keep the cows out, John. I see you found an example of a messenger in the Bible. The entire Bible is a message from the Lord unto us, which means that the inspired writers were His messengers.

ELIZABETH GEERLING — Your answers were all correct, Elizabeth. I don’t know about you, but I don’t care to go to the dentist. But if we have a toothache, it’s the best place to go. Did the exam results show that you had been studying?

PETER VV. KIEVIT — Thanks for the stamps, Peter. I haven’t heard yet whether the last stamps which I sent to the Netherlands arrived safely, but it usually takes quite a long time to hear from them. I may have missed one of your letters. How is everything in school?

RAY RIEDER — What was the lesson about in Sunday school this week, Ray? Does the person who writes the essay read it to the class? How large is your class? I suppose you are always glad to see your turn come up again.

FRANCINA BOESTERD — I see that I have two letters from you to answer, Francina, and they are both nice long letters. You had quite a ride on the pony, didn’t you. We were happy to hear that Rev. Romeyn was able to come to church, even though he could not preach as yet. The Lord can yet do wonders.

JOHN REMUS — Have your cousins from the Netherlands ever visited you here, John? Maybe they would like to come and live in this country. Did you teach them to speak some English words while you were there? Or did you talk Dutch all the time?

MARY ELLEN VAN ZWEDEN — How are you getting along in school, Mary? I suppose you are looking forward to vacation at Christmas time, or don’t you have a week off from school then? Be sure to say Hello to your parents for us.

JOANNE GEERLING — How far do you have to walk to school, Joanne? If the weather is nice, walking isn’t too bad. In fact, it is probably good for you. But in bad weather it isn’t so nice, especially if it is quite a distance.

CONNY BOESTERD — Your letter is last this time, Conny. Rev. Elshout and his family live only a mile or so from us. Did you hear him when he was in Chilliwack? That would be real fine if you would like to send me a tape. My wife and I were married by Rev. Lamain. Of course, that is a number of years ago.

And to all my friends, — this is the last quiz of the year, and we again thank you for your answers and letters. We look forward to your answers each month, and even miss you if we don’t hear from you in a certain month. May the Lord remember all of us in the year ahead, and may He bless each of you as you search His Word. In His Word are things more precious than silver and gold, for it contains the words of eternal life.

With love,

Your friend,

“Uncle Garret”

GOD EXPECTS FROM US SINCERE WORSHIP

Sincere means that which is true or pure. This word was first used to denote honey that was clear and had no wax or sediment in it. Think of a glass jar, full of clear, transparent honey without the least dirt or sediment in it. Now if a person who spoke Latin was describing it, he would say it was honey “sine-cera”, that is honey without wax in it. And this is where we get our English word sincere from. It means that which is clear, pure, or free from imperfection.

Now, God expects from us this kind of worship; sincere worship. Let us see what this means. Worship is a word made up of two other words, namely worth and ship, or shape. It means, then, that we should put ourselves in the position or shape that is worthy of God. Or, it means that we should render to Him the service that is worthy of Him. And what is the proper shape or position for sinners such as we are to put ourselves in before God? David tells us when he says, “Oh, come, let us worship, and fall down and kneel before the Lord our maker.” Yes, a position of humble reverence is what we should put ourselves in when we would worship God. This is the shape or condition worthy of God for sinful creatures to appear in.

But the shape of a thing denotes its use, or service. If you see iron put in the shape of a bright, sharp blade, you know it is designed to cut; or put into a round shape, like a ball, you know it is designed to roll. If you see a pile of wood broken up into the shape of kindling; you know it is designed to burn; and if you see a man in the form of a servant with an apron on, you know he is designed to work. And so, when you appear before God as his worshippers — in the form or shape worthy of Him — we mean to say that we are ready to offer Him our prayers and praises, and that we desire to serve Him. And when we do this honestly and earnestly, with all our hearts, that is sincere worship. This is the service God deserves. He is worthy of it. And if this is what sincere worship in reference to God means, what would sincere worship of idols mean? It would mean the service that they are worthy of. And what is this? What do they deserve? They deserve to be broken in pieces and thrown to the moles and bats. This is all the worship they are fit for, and what they will come to at last. The Bible tells us that, “The idols God will utterly abolish.”

Sincere worship is what God expects from us. But is it sincere worship if we trifle, or play, when those about us are singing God’s praise or praying to Him? Is it sincere worship if we kneel down to pray to God ourselves, but don’t think about or feel what we are saying? No, this is mocking God, and that is a dreadful thing to do. Is it sincere worship if we put candy in our mouth just when we rise to pray? Surely not!

“For God is present everywhere, And watches all our thoughts and ways, He marks who humbly join in prayer, And who sincerely sing His praise.

The triflers too His eye can see,

Who only seem to take a part;

They move the lip and bend the knee,

But do not seek Him with the heart.”

There are two questions I want to ask before I close. The first is — What is it to have an idol? The following lines tell us.

“There are many heathen children

Who yet God’s name have known;

And many other idols

Than those of wood and stone.

What is an idol?

Every heart hath idols of its own,

Some are of gold and silver bright,

And some of wood and stone.”

Some people make money their God, and some eating and drinking. Sometimes a husband will make an idol out of his wife, or a wife will make an idol out of her husband. Sometimes parents will make idols of their children. Many idols are made out of silk or satin. A beautiful dress, a new hat, a pretty scarf may be an idol.

A little boy once had a pet bird, of which he was very fond. He took great delight in playing with it. It would eat out of his hand and perch on his finger. One day the bird died, and the little fellow cried almost as if his heart would break. At night, when his mother took him upstairs, he wanted to go to bed without saying his prayers. When she spoke to him about it, he said, “Mother, I don’t want to say my prayers tonight, for my little bird is dead and I cannot say, ‘Thy will be done’.” The little fellow had made an idol of his bird. He loved it more than God. His mother tried to show him how wrong it was to feel so, and taught him to pray to God for grace to say, “Thy will be done.”

The other question I would ask is this — What shall we do with our idols? There is a verse which says —

“The dearest idol I have known Whatever that idol be;

Help me to tear it from its throne, And only worship Thee.”

This shows us what we ought to do. If we find we have idols in our hearts, we must tell Jesus about it. We must re¬pent of the sin of having them, and pray for Him to help us to put them away; and trust in Him, and love Him better than anything else. When Jesus was on earth people came to Him with all their troubles, and He helped and comforted all who came to Him. And He will help us still if we ask Him to do so.

Young People’s Magazine

THE CLOSE OF THE YEAR

The Lord, our salvation and light, The guide and the strength of our

days,

Has brought us together tonight,

A new Ebenezer to raise:

The.year we have now passed through,

His goodness with blessings has crowned;

Each morning His mercies were new; Then let our thanksgivings abound.

Encompassed with dangers and snares, Temptations, and fears, and complaints,

His ear He inclined to our prayers,

His hand opened wide to our wants;

We never besought Him in vain;

When burdened with sorrow or sin,

He helped us again and again,

Or when before now had we been?

His gospel, throughout the long year,

From Sabbath to Sabbath He gave;

How oft has He met with us here,

And shown Himself mighty to save?

His candlestick has been removed

From churches once privileged thus;

But though we unworthy have proved,

It still is continued with us.

For so many mercies received,

Alas! what returns have we made?

His Spirit we often have grieved,

And evil for good have repaid:

How well it becomes us to cry,

“Oh! who is a God like to Thee,

Who passeth iniquities by,

And plungest them deep in the sea!”

To Jesus, who sits on the throne,

Our best hallelujahs we bring;

To Thee it is owing alone

That we are permitted to sing:

Assist us, we pray, to lament

The sins of the year that is past;

And grant that the next may be spent

Far more to Thy praise than the last.

- John Newton

GIVING THANKS

A wealthy man, who was a stranger both to personal and family religion, one evening took a walk through part of his estate. He happened to come near a lowly cottage where lived a poor man with his large family. As he passed, he heard a continued and rather loud voice; not knowing what it was, curiosity prompted him to listen. The poor man happened to be at prayer with his family.

As he drew closer, he could distinguish the words and heard him giving thanks, with great affection, to God for the goodness of His providence in giving them food to eat and raiment to put on, and in supplying them with what was necessary and comfortable in the present life. The rich man was immediately struck with. astonishment and confusion, and said to himself, “Does this poor man, who has nothing but the simplest food purchased by hard labor, give thanks to God for His goodness to himself and family; and I, who enjoy ease and honor and everything that is pleasant and desirable, have hardly ever bent my knee or made any acknowledgment to my Maker and Preserver?”

It pleased God to make this providential occurence the means of bringing him to a real and lasting sense of religion,

(Whitecross)

MY FATHER GIVES; HE DOES NOT SELL

A mother lay dying — her parched lips thirsted for something to refresh them. By her bedside stood her little daughter, about fourteen years old. Suddenly the thought struck her: “I have seen such beautiful grapes in the hothouses of the Court gardens: I’ll go and ask how much one bunch would be. Oh! if I could just get one bunch for mother!” Away she slipped with all haste and soon reached the first lodge.

The sentry on guard asked her errand. “I must see the king,” said the little maid. “Impossible!” replied the stern soldier. “But mother is dying,” she pleaded. “I can let no one pass these gates,” was the reply. The poor child’s heart sank, and she burst into tears.

Just at that moment the king’s son himself rode up, and touched with the child’s grief, inquired the cause. Turn-to her he said, “Well, and what do you want with the king?” “Please, sir, mother’s dying, and I wanted to know what I could buy one bunch of grapes for? Mother’s so thirsty;” and the tears flowed faster and faster. Bidding her follow him, he led her to one of the vineries, and cutting with his own hand a fine bunch of the rich fruit, he gave it to the astonished child, saying, “My father does not sell — he gives.”

We cannot earn or buy salvation. Eternal life is the GIFT of God.

ANIMALS OF THE BIBLE SHEEP

In. the Bible times a man was regarded as rich if he possessed many sheep, goats and cattle.

Abraham was a rich man. He and his family lived in tents and were constantly in search of pastures for their flocks. These animals provided the family with all they needed to live. Sheep were a source of milk and meat, and their wool was used for making clothes.

There are many accounts of shepherds and sheep in the Bible. One of the best known is in Psalm 23, written by David the shepherd boy, who later became King David.

The shepherd did not drive his sheep; he led them. He wore a sheepskin cloak, and carried a short wooden rod as a weapon against wild animals. He also had a long staff or crook, and a sling. The sling was used for aiming stones to check any sheep from straying.

THE TRUMPET THAT GAVE NO SOUND

When George Whitefield was preaching in New England, a trumpeter of the English army resolved to interrupt him while delivering a sermon in the open air. For this purpose he went to the field, carrying his trumpet, and intending to blow it with all his might at about the middle of the sermon. He took his position in front of the minister and at no great distance from him. The crowd soon became very large, and those who were in the rear pressed forward so that they might hear more clearly. The result was that the pressure was so intense that the trumpeter was not able to raise his arms to bring his instrument to his lips, but was kept within sound of the gospel as effectually as if he had been chained to the spot. In a short time he became so deeply affected by the statements of the preacher that he was seized with the agonies of despair and had to be carried to a house in the neighborhood. After the service, he was visited by Mr. Whitefield, who gave him suitable counsel, and from that time the trumpeter became a different sort of person.

(Submitted)

HELD BY HIS HAND

A Scottish minister was walking one night along a quiet country road. The night was clear and calm, and all the stars which beautified the sky seemed to smile on this lower world. In the way he met a little boy, and as they both looked toward the heavens the minister said. “How is it that the stars stay up there without falling?” “God,” replied the thoughtful lad, “has a hold on them.” This lovely and true saying from the lips of a mere child was often quoted by the minister as illustrating how, in sunshine and cloud, all the saints are in God’s hand and are kept by His unfailing power.

(from “In All Their Affliction”)

PRAISE FOR MERCIES SPIRITUAL AND TEMPORAL

Whenever I take my walk abroad, How many poor I see!

What shall I render to my God For all His gifts to me?

Not more than others I deserve, Yet God hath given me more;

For I have food while others starve, Or beg from door to door.

How many children in the street Half naked I behold!

While I am clothed from head to feet, And covered from the cold!

While some poor wretches scare can tell Where they may lay their head,

I have a home wherein to dwell; And rest upon my bed.

While others early learn to swear, And curse, and lie, and steal;

Lord, I am taught Thy name to fear, And do Thy holy will.

Are these Thy favours day by day, To me above the rest?

Then let me love Thee more than they, And try to serve Thee best.

Isaac Watts

WHAT JOHN BUNYAN SAID ABOUT READING THE BIBLE

Read the Bible, and read it again; and do not despair of help to understand something of the will and mind of God, though you think they are fast locked up from you. Neither trouble yourself, though you have not commentaries and expositions; pray, read, and read and pray; for a little from God is better than a great deal from man. Also, what is from man is uncertain and is often lost and stumbled over by man; but what is from God is fixed as a nail in a sure place.

There is nothing that so abides with us as what we receive from God. The reason why Christians at this day are at such a loss as to some things is because they are content with what comes from men’s mouths, without searching and kneeling before God to know of Him the truth of things.

Things which we receive at God’s hand come to us as things from the minting-house — though old in themselves, yet new to us. Old truths are always new to us if they come to us with the smell of heaven upon them.

Dear friends, the last song in this world, the song of triumph, shall be full of God, and of no one else. Here you praise the instrument; today you look on this man and on that, and you say, “Thank God for this minister, and for this man!” But in that day, forgotten shall their names be for a season, even as the stars refuse to shine when the sun itself appeareth. The song shall be unto Jehovah, and Jehovah only; “Unto Him that loved us, and hath washed us from our sins in His own blood, unto Him be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

THE CLOSED DOOR

Last Sunday I voted to close the church — not maliciously or intentionally, but thoughtlessly, lazily, indifferently. I voted to close its doors that its witness and its testimony be stopped. I voted to close the Bible on the pulpit, voted for our minister to stop preaching the glorious truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ, voted that the children of the Sunday school no longer be taught the stories of the Bible and the songs of God’s love.

You see, I could have gone to church last Sunday, and I should have gone but I didn’t. I stayed away, and by my laziness and indifference I voted to close the church.

(Submitted)

Oh! how did heaven wonder! how did the stars stand still with astonishment! and how did the angels stay their songs a moment, when for the first time, God showed how He might be just, and yet be gracious! Oh! sinner, My heart hath devised it; My Son, the pure and perfect, shall stand in thy stead, and be accounted guilty, and thou, the guilty, shalt stand in My Son’s stead and be accounted righteous! It would make us leap upon our feet in astonishment if we did but understand this thoroughly — the wonderful mystery of the transposition of Christ and the sinner.

ALL THINGS ARE IN HIS HANDS

Angus Morrison was the owner of a fishing boat, but he often sought the company of those who feared the Lord. During one of the fishing seasons, Angus had spent a happy Sabbath day in the company of a dear friend who lived quite a distance inland. On the Monday he was very late in returning to his boat and crew. The rest of the fishing fleet had put to sea hours before. His men complained that they had lost the day. Angus, full of cheer, however, set sail. Reaching a point not far from the shore, he cast his nets in the presence of a very dissatisfied crew. That day he landed on excellent catch, while those who toiled in deeper waters took but little. On later occasions, when catches would happen to be light, his crew would say, “It is time you visited again the old man on the hill.”

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