A PERIODICAL FOR YOUNG AND OLD

CALL UPON A SOUL TO CHOOSE JESUS (A Letter)

My dear G.,

I was glad indeed to see, by the line you sent me, that though your mind is dark and troubled, you have not gone back to the world. Ah, it is a false, deceiving world! It smiles only to betray. Fain would I lead you to taste the peace that passeth understanding, and that it is only to be found in Jesus. You are quite wrong in thinking that I do not understand your misery. I know it well. It is true, Jesus does give me peace. He washes me from all sin in His own blood. I often feel Him standing by my side and looking down upon me, saying, “Thou art mine.” Yet still I have known more misery than you. I have sinned more deeply than you. I have sinned against more light and more love, and yet I have found mercy; why may not you? Remember what James Covey said: “Tell poor sailors that none of them need to despair, since poor blaspheming Covey found mercy.”

I was interrupted just while writing this, by a very little girl coming to ask, “What must I do to be saved?” Poor thing, she has been weeping till I thought her heart would break. She lives several miles off; but a companion was awakened and told her, and ever since she has been seeking Christ with all her heart. I was telling her that sweet verse: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the chief’ (I Timonthy 1:15). It will answer you also, dear friend.

Christ Jesus was God’s dear Son. He made all things, — sun, moon and stars, men and angels. He was from all eternity in the bosom of the Father, and yet He came into the world. He did not say, “I will keep My throne and My happiness, and leave sinners to die and perish in their sins.” No; “He came into the world.” He became a babe, and was laid in a manger, for there was no room in the inn. The inn was like your heart; it was filled with other lodgers, and had no room for Jesus. He became “a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.” He bore our sins upon His own body on the tree. While we were sinners, “Christ died for us.” Why did He do all this? Ah! it was to save sinners. Not to save good people — not to save angels — but sinners.

Perhaps you will say, “But I am too bad a sinner;” but Paul says, “of whom I am the chief.” Paul was the chief of sinners, and yet He was saved by Christ. So Christ is willing and able to save you, though you were the chief sinner on the face of the earth. If Christ came into this world and died to save such as you, will it not be a fearful thing if you die without being saved by Him? Surely you have lived long enough without Christ. You have despised Jesus long enough. What has the world done for you, that you love it so much? Did the world die for you? Will the world blot out your sins or change your heart? Will the world carry you to heaven? No, no! You may go back to the world if you please, but it can only destory your poor soul. “She that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth” (I Timothy 5:6). Read these words in your Bible, and mark them; and if you go back, that mark will be a witness against you before the great white throne, when the books are opened. Have you not lived long enough in pleasure? Come and try the pleasures of Christ, — forgiveness and a new heart. I have not been at a dance or any worldly amusement for many years, and yet I believe I have had more pleasure in a single day than you have had all your life. In what? you will say. In feeling that God loves me, — that Christ has washed me, — and in feeling that I shall be in heaven when the wicked are cast into hell. “A day in Thy courts is better than a thousand” (Psalm 84:10).

I do not know what is to be the result of your anxieties. I do not know whether you will be drawn to Christ, or driven back into the whirlpool of a perishing world; but I know that all will soon be settled for eternity. I was in a very wicked family today, where a child had died. I opened my Bible, and explained this verse to them over the coffin of their little one: “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). Solemn words! we have only once to die, and the day is fixed. If you die wrong the first time, you cannot come back to die better a second time. If you die without Christ, you cannot come back to be converted and die a believer, — you have but once to die. Oh, pray that you may find Christ before death finds you! “After this the judgment.” Not — after this purgatory. No further opportunity to be saved: “after this the judgment.” As death leaves you, so judgment finds you. If you die unsaved, you will be so in the judgment. May I never see you at the left hand! If I do, you will remember how I warned you, and prayed for you, and besought you to come to the Lord Jesus.

Come to Jesus, — He will in nowise cast you out.

Your affectionate friend,

BIBLE QUIZ

Dear Boys and Girls,

Now that we have begun a new year, some of us are probably already making plans for the months ahead — maybe a job for the summer, a trip, new subjects in school, etc. Even though we know that life is uncertain from day to day, there are things which need to be planned beforehand. How often we find it difficult to choose between two things, not knowing which will be best for us.

But there is also another choice which is placed before us. Joshua said to the people (and God’s Word says this to each of us), “Choose you this day whom ye will serve.” Our nature is to choose the wrong way, often because it is the easy way. Moses could have remained in Pharaoh’s palace to enjoy wealth and riches, but he chose to be with God’s people. He knew that the riches of the world would only last for a short time, but the blessings which God could give would last for eternity. Oh, may you also make that good choice. It was only by the grace of God that Moses chose the best, but we must also ask the Lord to guide us in the right way, just as the Psalmist did,

Show me Thy paths, O Lord,
Teach me Thy perfect way.
O guide me in Thy truth divine,
And lead me day by day.

The first letters of our answers spell out the reply of the people to Joshua’s question.

Joshua said to the people, “Choose you this day_____________ye will serve.”

In Romans 7 the apostle wrote, “The good that I would I do not, but the __________which I would not, that I do.”

In that same chapter he exclaimed, “O

___________man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?”

In Psalm 119 David said, “Thy Word is a____________unto my feet.”

Daniel was cast into the den of __________because of his prayers to God.

One night the Lord called to Samuel, and he answered, “Speak, for Thy ______________heareth.”

To whom did Mordecai send a message, saying, “Who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

When the people asked for a king, the Lord said to Samuel, “They have not_____________thee, but they have_____________me.”

The people told Joshua, “The Lord our God will we serve, and His __________will we obey.”

In Proverbs 23 we read, “Let not thine heart__________sinners; but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long.”

Ruth said to Naomi, “____________ people shall be my people, and ____________God my God.”

Joshua also said, “But as for me and my_____________, we will serve the Lord.”

In the sermon on the mount, the Lord Jesus said, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon_________.”

Elijah said to the people on Mount Carmel, “If the_____________be God follow Him; but if Baal, then follow him.”

Elijah also said to the people, “How long halt ye between two ____________?”

Also in the sermon on the mount, the Lord Jesus said, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His __________.”

When Saul was stopped on his way to Damascus, he cried out, “Lord, what wilt Thou have me to ____________?”

(Send your answers to me at 1104 Roseland Avenue, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49001.)

The answers to the January quiz are as follows —

“Nineteen-Seventy-Four”

Number Psalm 90:12

Instruction Proverbs 4:1

Nine Genesis 5:27

Evil Genesis 47:9

Times Esther 1:12–13

Eatest Genesis 2:16–17

Eight Genesis 5

Name Psalm 72:17

Season Ecclesiastes 3:1

Endureth Psalm 136

Voice Psalm 95:7–8

Earth Matthew 24:35

Now II Corinthians 6:2

Things Luke 16:25

Years Psalm 90:10

Full Job 42:17

Overthrown Jonah 3:4

Ungodly Psalm 1:6

Remember Ecclesiastes 12:1

Answers to the Bible quiz have been received from the following boys and girls —

Mary Boluyt

John Van Dalen

Jacob Van Dalen

Ruth Ann Van Dalen

Gary Blok

John M. Goeman

Karen Goeman

David M. Goeman

Mary Van der Male

Lilly Ann Vander Male

Cheryl Kalee

Debbie Kalee

Karel Kalee

Rebecca Markus

Barbara Kamp

Adrian Heykoop

Nellie Heykoop

Cory Heykoop

Hellen Heykoop

Barbara Kamp

Jonathan Kamp

Bill Kamp

Marilyn Kamp

Debbie Kamp

Tom Kamp

Arline Kieboom

Ella Kieboom

Tammy Kaat

Jeff Kaat

Kathy Van Bemden

Carol Van Bemden

Janice Stapel

John Stapel

Albert Van Grouw

Jeanette Slingerland (2)

Nicholas J. Bush

Adrian J. Bush

David Van Dyke

John Van Dyke

Daniel Van Dyke

Ruth Van Dyke

Marilyn Van Ravenswaay

JoAnn Van Ravenswaay

Esther Van Ravenswaay

Karl James Van Oostenbrugge

Mary Van Oostenbrugge

Robbie Van Veldhuizen

Gary Van Veldhuizen

Trudy Van Veldhuizen

Linda Van De Vendel

Sharon Van De Vendel

Henry Kamp

Linda Kamp

Mary Kamp

Betty Kamp

Mary Van Tilburg

Leah Van Tilburg

Irene Van Heek

Janet Van Zweden

Joan Van Zweden

Ralph Van Zweden

John Van Zweden

Mark Van Zweden

Mary Van Zweden

Francina Boesterd

John Blok

Marilyn De Maagd

Elizabeth Sisco

June Sisco

Nancy Sisco

Bill Van Wingerden

Kenny Van Wingerden

Billy Blaak

Susan Blaak

Jonathan Van Beek

David Van Beek

Roger Van Beek

Karl Boonzaayer

Maria Boonzaayer

Gary Van Giessen

Randy Van Giessen

John Verhey

Paul Van Wingerden

Joe Moore

Carl Moore

Leah Moore

Anna Moore

John Moore

Bruce Verblaauw

Loretta Hoogendoorn

Annette Hoogendoorn

Mariene Van Veldhuizen

John Vander Boon

Jonathan Kamp

Robert Kamp (2)

David Klarenbeek

Mary Frens

Sharon Frens

Leonard Frens

Julie Frens

Mineva Ymker

Daniel Ymker

Dan Meeuwse

Mark Meeuwse

Jeanette Vandenberg (2)

Cordy Vandenberg (2)

Henry Vandenberg (2)

Paul Vandenberg (2)

John Vandenberg (2)

Marie Rozeboom

Glenn Rozeboom

Teresa Klarenbeek

Pamela Klarenbeek

Barbara Klarenbeek

Donna Klarenbeek

Joan Lugthart

Val Lugthart

Jane Mast

Joylynn Mast

Neil Mast

Joann Van Beek

Anden Van Beek

Alma Van Beek

Neil Slingerland

Jannie Slingerland

Tammy Koedam

Todd Koedam

Amy Lou Kaat

Ruthie Bouma

Albert Bouma

Nellie Slingerland

Perry Hoogendoorn (2)

Gene Hoogendoorn (2)

Cindy Hoogendoorn (2)

Melanie Van Brugge

Constance Kooiman

Brenda Kooiman

Harold Rus

Virgil Rus

Edwin Rus

Howard Rus

Harlan Rus

Gloria Rus

Janet Groen

Rhonda Van Voorst

Daniel J. Sweetman

Jenny Lee Sweetman

Janet Sweetman

Tunis Sweetman, Jr.

Judy Sweetman

John Korevaar

Andy Korevaar

Adrian Korevaar

Abraham Korevaar

Ruth Boerkoel

Neal Boerkole

Bobby Boerkoel

Gordon Boluyt

Steven Boluyt

Frances Vander Meulen

Teresa Vander Meulen

Joyce Vander Meulen

Harmen Vander Meulen

Sidney Vander Meulen

Maryjean den Hoed

Arthur den Hoed

Joleen den Hoed

Kathleen den Hoed

Jerry Boon

Tammy Troff

Billy Greendyk

David Greendyk

Alan Greendyk

Bobby Greendyk

Ellen Van Ginkel (2)

Sharon Van Grouw

Brian Van Grouw

George Van Strien

Kathy De Bruin

Joanne De Bruin

Amy Mieras

Helen Grisnich (2)

Peter Grisnich (2)

Gerda Grisnich (2)

Mary Kievit

Rhonda Grisnich (2)

Cheryl Grisnich (2)

Wendy Grisnich (2)

Marguerite Kroesbergen

Helen Vanderwal

Bill Kroesbergen

David Kwekel

Martin Oudshoorn

Wilma Oudshoorn

Diane Oudshoorn

Paul Greendyk

Alida Greendyk

Arthur Denbok

Ruth Vander Stad

Ada Vander Stad

Lisa Vander Stad

Gerda Grisnich

Gladys Van Bochove

Rhonda Van Bochove

Donna Marie Hubers

Helen Hubers

Harriet Hubers

Marcia D. Hubers

Nellie Koppert

Irene Van Heek

Elizabeth Koppert

Christine Koppert

Kevin Verbeke

Stephan Brink

Gerda Vanden Brink

Richard Grisnich

Roy Vanden Brink

Linda VandeWaerdt

Wayne VandeWaerdt

Martin de Peuter

Delia Vanden Brink

Mary Brouwer

Rick Van Ess

Susan Van Ess

Brenda Kay Schelling (2)

Lynn Schelling

Linda Schelling (2)

Kent Dean Schelling (2)

Beth Schelling (2)

Hank Verhoef

Paul Verhoef

Janie den Hertog

LaRae Hoogendoorn

Gywen Hoogendoorn

Elwyn Hoogendoorn

Mark Vande Berg

Kaye Vande Berg

Janey den Hoed

Archie den Hoed

William den Hoed

Janet Remus

Harlan Rozeboom

Richard Rozeboom

John Rosendall (2)

Ricky Rosendall (2)

Laurie Bleeker

Gloria Pluim

Jerry Pluim

Rose Pluim

Andy Van Stelle

Tim Van Stelle

Sharon Spaans

Mary Tina Veltman

Robert Southway

Lorn Lee Rus

Billy Van Wyk

Martin Van Wyk

Marianne Van Hoepen

Laura Rosendall

Jim Rosendall

John Van Hoepen

Martin Vlietstra

Peter Vlietstra

Trudy Vlietstra

Jimmy Vlietstra

William Grisnich

And now it is time to answer the letters which we have received —

MARTIN DE PEUTER — It was nice to hear from you, Martin, and to receive a letter from you. I would not have guessed who your grandfather is if you had not told me. Be sure to say Hello to him and to your grandmother for us. And do write again.

TRUDY VLIETSTRA — During the winter months we can expect icy roads at times. Here the last few days have been real nice — almost makes one think of spring. Do you live far from Dundas, Trudy? What is the young peoples’ meeting which you mentioned?

JANET VAN ZWEDEN — Do you have two church services in Sioux Falls, Janet? Fifty persons doesn’t seem like very many when compared with the Rock Valley church, but it is still quite a few. Do you know what the Lord Jesus promised would happen where two or three are gathered together in His name?

ELIZABETH KOPPERT — Thank you for the picture, Elizabeth. It was very nice. Do you have a nice hill for tobogganing near your house? I don’t remember any hills where you were living before you moved. Give our greetings to your parents.

MARIANNE VAN HOEPEN — We are all quite well, Marianne, and hope the same of you. We were glad to hear that your grandfather was getting better. In the Bible we have many examples of the troubles which come as a person grows older. We may also see this if we visit a hospital or nursing home.

MARY TINA VELTMAN — How old is your youngest brother, Mary? Was he burned quite badly? How true it is that the Lord answers prayer. Also this we have examples of in the Bible. Can you name some of them? We hope to hear from you again.

GERDA GRISNICH — Thank you for your New Year’s wishes, Gerda, and also for the greetings from your parents and grandparents. How nice it is to be remembered by friends, but the psalmist knew it was the greatest blessing to be remembered by the Lord. You can read his prayer in Psalm 106. That should be our constant prayer also.

ARTHUR DENBOK — From your address I see that you live near Hank and Paul Verhoef. Are there lots of boys and girls of your church living in your neighborhood? We were glad to read that you enjoyed receiving the Banner of Truth. We hope you will read as much of it as you can.

JANET REMUS — I imagine those two weeks of vacation went by rather quickly, Janet. Do you have a woods behind your house? It probably seemed good to forget about school and studies for a few weeks. How are you getting along in school?

JANIE DEN HERTOG — You have a large family, Janie. How many are boys and how many girls? In the Bible we also read about a family with 13 children. Do you know who they were? We had quite a lot of snow last week, but the rain took most of it away.

BILL OUDSHOORN — How are the chicks getting along, Bill? Watching them hatch is quite interesting. One of my daughters once brought an egg home from school and hatched it in a box. When the chick grew big and started to crow, we decided to get rid of it. Thank you for the stamps.

HELEN GRISNICH — It was nice to hear from you again, Helen. You must keep quite busy answering all those Bible quizzes. Yes, we remember your sister Jackie, who passed away several years ago. It is a reminder for you and for me of the shortness of our life. When do you plan to go to Holland? I see that there are two letters from you this time, so your reply is extra long.

TAMMY TROFF — Were you glad to be back in school after the holidays, Tammy? Sometimes we may think that school is too much work and not really necessary, but there are boys and girls who do not have a chance to learn to read and write. Just think what that would be like.

NELLIE SLINGERLAND — Thank you for the card, Nellie (also Jannie and Neil). Are you taking good care of your pony? Does it have a name? Since we live in the city, we couldn’t very well keep one, but I do think it would be nice to have one.

AMY KAAT — Did you get along alright in the hospital, Amy? We hope that everything came out O.K., and that you are feeling much better now. We have so many reasons to thank the Lord every day — for food, for drink, for health, for home, for parents and grandparnets.

TAMMY AND TODD KOEDAM — You asked me if the Doxology (Praise God from Whom all blessing flow, etc.) was in the Bible. Just as the psalter verses, the exact words are not found there, but you will find that Psalm 148 is quite a lot like it. God deserves all praise, but man by nature does not praise Him.

LEAH MOORE — I was also born in Michigan, Leah. But that was quite a few years ago. Do you have a dog, Leah? The only pets we have are goldfish, and I suppose you really don’t call them pets. Probably you would have liked to keep the dog you found.

BILLY BLAAK — Ten puppies is quite a family, Billy. If they are all barking at the same time, that will be quite a noise. Are you going to keep any of them? Just giving them all a name would be quite a chore. We hope your birthday was a happy one, and that you may have many more.

BILL VAN WINGERDEN — Did you have a part in the Christmas program, Bill? That was quite a surprise that your parents had met my uncle in the Netherlands. I hope they enjoyed their trip as much as we did. Have you ever been there?

GERDA VANDEN BRINK — Did you enjoy your French class, Gerda? Learning a foreign language isn’t always so easy for everyone, but it often is helpful in later life. What class do you have now instead of French? Say Hello to your parents for us.

FRANCINA BOESTERD — Did your dad have a good trip, Francina? I’m sure you were all glad to have him home again. We didn’t have any snow on the ground at Christmas time either. But I’m sure Andrew has had lots of days to use his new sled.

NELLY KOPPERT — Winter can be a very pretty time of the year when the snow is on the ground, Nelly. In the Bible the whiteness of snow is mentioned a number of times. Can you find some of them? If we come to Canada this year, D.V., we will certainly try to stop in. Thank you for the picture.

JOAN VAN ZWEDEN — It was nice to hear from you again, Joan. There are always so many things to do, and we seem to run short of time. What a precious gift time is if we use it in the right way. How are your grandparents this winter? Give them our greetings.

WILMA OUDSHOORN — Is the farm very far from Lethbridge, Wilma? That will be quite a change from living in the city. Or have you lived on a farm before? You wrote that you went tobogganing at the coulees, but I am not quite sure what a coulee is.

GERDA GRISNICH — You are the last one this time, Gerda, and I see that there are also two letters from you. You did real well in school in order to get such a good report card. Did you finish your dress? I see you would like a pen-pal, too, so we will see what results we get. (Gerda’s address is Box 232, Picture Butte, Alberta, Canada, TOKivo). Gerda, I’m guessing that you are about 15 years old.

And that again finishes our letters for this month. Boys and girls, we have been permitted to begin a new year, but who knows what this year will bring. May we be spared for and with each other, meeting each other from month to month in our Bible quiz section. The Lord’s Word contains hidden treasure — may we be given that blessing to truly seek for it.

With much love,
Your friend,
“Uncle Garret”

REMARKABLE PROVIDENCES THE ENGINEER’S PREMONITION

A railroad engineer, some years ago, was running an express train of ten filled cars. It was in the night, and a very dark night, too. His train was behind time, and he was putting the engine to the utmost speed of which it was capable in order to reach a certain point at the proper hour. He was running on a straight and level track at this high speed, when a conviction struck him that he must stop.

“Something seemed to tell me,” he said, “that to go ahead was dangerous, and that I must stop if I would save life. I looked back at my train and it was alright. I strained my eyes and peered into the darkness, and could see no danger signals, nor anything indicating danger. There, in the daytime, I could have seen five miles ahead. I listened to the working of the engine, tried the water, looked at the scales, and all was right. I tried to laugh myself out of what I then considered a childish fear; but, like Banquo’s ghost, it would not be put down at my bidding, but grew stronger in its hold upon me. I thought of the ridicule that would be heaped upon me if I did stop; but it was all of no avail. The conviction that I must stop grew stronger, and I resolved to do so.”

“I shut off the steam, and accordingly blew the whistle for the brakes. When it came to a dead halt, I got off and went ahead a little way without saying anything to anybody as to what the matter was. I had a lamp in my hand and had gone but about sixty feet when I saw what made me drop the lantern from my nerveless grasp and sit down on the track, utterly unable to stand. I found that some one had removed a spike which had long fastened a switch rail, and had opened a switch which had always been kept locked. This led on to a track only about a hundred and fifty feet long, which ended in a stone quarry! If I had not obeyed by premonitory warning, I should have run, with the heavy engine and train going 45 miles an hour, into a solid wall of rock 18 feet high! The consequences would have been most fatally horrible. Thus we have another illustration of the care of Him Whose tender mercies are over all His works.” (From the Gospel Messenger)

CAN YOU ASK GOD’S BLESSING ON IT?

A young lady, who had been taught better things, was dressed in the garb of fashion, and ready for the amusement of the ballroom. As she stood before the mirror, arranging the last rose amid her clustered locks, she hastily turned round and said to her mother, “Why, what makes you look so sad? What is the matter? Come, do not be sad any more; put this rose in my hair and see how pretty it will look.” Her mother kissed her cheek, and as she bade her goodnight, whispered, “Can you ask God’s blessing on the dance, Elizabeth?” The gay, thoughtless girl gave her a quick, earnest look, and hurried down the steps.

At an earlier hour than was expected, Elizabeth’s voice was heard at the door. Her mother was upstairs, and when she went down to meet her, found she had retired to her room, where she was heard earnestly praying. “Hear my prayer, Oh Lord, I beseech Thee, and let my cry come before Thee.” Her mother entered her room and welcomed her home. “Yes,” said she, “I have got home. In that bewildered ballroom I danced with the merriest, and laughed with the loudest, but there was an arrow here,” pressing her heart. “God’s blessing on the dance! Those words rang in my ears at every turn. Oh, if God would forgive the past, if He will yet receive me, I will turn my back on all this gilded folly, and lay upon His altar what I once promised to lay there — my whole heart.”

They kneeled together, and asked God to strengthen the resolution then made in His Name. Prayer was heard, for among the group of lowly disciples who keep near their Lord, walking in His footsteps, and bearing His cross few were more humble, meek, modest, consistent, and devoted, than the once gay and thoughtless subject of this stirring and pleasing anecdote. (Free Presbyterian Magazine).

WHAT SHALL WE DO?

“How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?” (Hebrews 2:3). Impenitent unbelievers under the preaching of the gospel are the vilest and most ungrateful of all God’s creation. The devils themselves, as wicked as they are, are not guilty of this sin; for Christ is never tendered unto them — they never had an offer of salvation on faith and repentance. This is their peculiar sin, and will be the peculiar aggravation of their misery to eternity. “Behold, ye despisers, wonder, and perish” (Acts 13:41).

Some, it may be, will say, What then shall we do? What shall we apply ourselves unto? What is it that is required of us?

l.Take the advice of the apostle. (Hebrews 3:7, 8 & 13), “Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness … But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” This day, even this, is to you in the tender of grace the acceptable time; this is the day of salvation. Others have had this day as well as you and have missed their opportunity; take heed lest it should be so with you also.

2. Consider that it is high time for you to make something of religion. Do not hang always in suspense; let it not be a question with yourselves whether you have a mind to be saved or no. This is as good a time and season for a resolution as ever you are like to have while in this world. Some things, nay, many things, may fall in between this and the next opportunity that shall put you backward and make your entrance into the kingdom of heaven far more difficult than ever it was.

Those who put far from them the evil day and live in the pursuit of lusts and pleasures, have something that gives them present satisfaction, and they say not, “There is no hope,” because they “find the life of the hand” (Isaiah 57:10); but you have nothing that gives you any prevalent refreshment, neither will your latter end be better that theirs, if you die without an interest in Christ Jesus. Come, therefore, at length, to a determinate resolution what you will do in this matter. Christ has waited long for you, and who knows how soon He may withdraw never to look after you any more?

(John Owen)

THE OLD WOODEN-SHOE MAKER

Part I

The following occurences took place in the year 1804, the time when the British and Foreign Bible Society was founded. Its operations were of course at first on a small scale, and not extended, as at present, to every quarter of the globe; but God put it into the hearts of its members to endeavour to impart its blessings to their nearest neighbors the French, amongst whom Bibles were extremely rare, the priests having always been very zealous in keeping them from the people. It was, however, no easy matter for the Society to accomplish their purpose, for as France and England were then at war, no Englishman or merchandise was allowed to enter France. However, “where there is a will there is a way,” and by some means or other a large number of Bibles was consigned to the Protestant minister of Nantes to distribute among his countrymen. Silently and cautiously he endeavoured to accomplish the good work, and the more troubled the times, the more eagerly some of the people sought for the peace and comfort promised in the Word of God.

It happened that one of these books, a New Testament fell into the hands of a poor man who had been all his life accustomed, first as a boy with his father, and then alone, to wander about the country earning a scanty living by singing and relating stories in the villages and little towns. On obtaining the Testament, it occurred to him to turn it to some account, and to read portions of it aloud for money, instead of reciting his old stories.

One fine summer evening he came to a little village, and asked alms of a poor wooden-shoe maker.

“What! begging of me,” said the latter; “I’ve as much need to beg as you.”

“Well,” said the beggar, “If you won’t give me anything, I’ll try to earn something; give me a sou (the French bronze piece, worth about 1 U.S. cent), and I’ll read you a chapter out of the Bible.”

“Out of what?” said the old man.

“Of the Bible,” repeated the beggar.

“What is a Bible?” asked the old man, “I never heard of it in all my life.”

“Why, it’s a book,” was the answer, “in which you may read all about God.”

The sou was given, and the beggar sat down upon a stone bench outside the house, and commenced reading the third chapter of John. A preacher has said that he himself has known twenty-six persons who were converted by reading this chapter. The man had often read it before, and read it well and fluently. The shoemaker sat with open mouth gazing upon the reader; what he heard had all the charm of novelty, and when the poor man came to the passage, “For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life,” he could no longer restrain his emotion, and when the reader stopped with the last words of the chapter, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him,” he exclaimed, “Read on, read on!”

“No,” said the beggar, “for one sou I only read one chapter.”

“Well, then, here is another sou,” said the shoemaker, “and now pray go on.

So he read the fourth chapter, and paused again.

“Oh! Don’t leave off so soon,” said his hearer; “Pray read a little more.”

“One sou, one chapter,” was the reply, “but not a word more; for another sou you shall have another.”

The shoemaker produced his last sou, and sat down by the side of the reader; when he had finished, he exclaimed, “Oh, my friend, where did you get that book?”

The beggar said that it had been given him by a Protestant preacher at Nantes; and with this he rose and went his way. But the shoemaker could not forget what he had heard; especially had the words “For God so loved the world” sunk deep into his heart; night and morning, and all the day long, they seemed to haunt him; it almost appeared as if a voice was perpetually saying to him, “For God so loved the world.”

About a fortnight after the beggar’s visit, the old man rose earlier than usual, and said to his son, “You’ll have to attend to the work for a while by yourself, for I’m going to Nantes.”

“To Nantes! father,” exclaimed the young man; “what are you going to Nantes for? Surely you won’t go such a long journey as that in your old age; why it’s forty miles to Nantes.”

“I know that,” replied the old man, in a quiet but decided tone, “but I must go.”

He took his staff and departed, and, after a weary journey, he reached the city, and found out without much difficulty the preacher who kept the Bibles.

“What do you want, my friend?” he said to the old man, as he entered the room.

“Sir,” answered the old man, “I have been told that you have a book which contains all sorts of beautiful things about God.”

“Do you mean the Bible?” asked the minister.

“Yes, yes,” replied the man, “the Bible — that is the name of it; and I should very much like to have one.”

“Well,” said the pastor, “how much could you pay for one?”

“Pay!” exclaimed the man, in utter astonishment.

“Yes, my friend,” was the answer, “we don’t give Bibles away.”

“Sir,” said the old man in a trembling voice, “I cannot pay anything for it; you gave one to the beggar man, and I am as poor as he.”

“Where did you come from, my friend?” inquired the minister. The old man told him the name of the village, which was not unknown to him; “but how did you come that long distance?” asked he further.

“On foot,” was the answer.
“And how do you return?”
“The same way, sir.”

“Is that really true,” exclaimed the preacher, “that an old man like you has really walked all that way, and intends to walk back, in order to get a Bible?”

“It is true indeed,” answered the old man, “and I shall not think much of it, if I only get the Bible.”

“Well, you shall have one then, if I never give away another,” said the pastor. “You want one with large print, I suppose; can you read well?”

“I never learnt to read, sir.”

The pastor was somewhat taken aback at this, and said, “Then, pray, what do you want the book for?”

“Oh, sir, do give me the book! I have a daughter who can read, and so can three or four people in our village besides.” Convinced of the man’s uprightness the pastor no longer withheld the Bible, which was received with heartfelt thanks, and the old man joyfully went his way. After he reached his native village, he used to get all who could read to come and take turns with his daughter in reading it aloud; he had a good understanding, and could soon repeat many passages by heart. He grew in grace and in the knowledge of Holy Writ, though not without passing through some conflicts and mistakes, but the effects were obvious upon his heart and life. To Be Continued

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