A PERIODICAL FOR YOUNG AND OLD

SATAN’S TRICKS

Part I

We live in a time when the abuse of strong drink, and drugs is becoming more and more a custom. We can see the terrible results of this in the world around us. Therefore I thought it would be a good idea to give some examples out of the dear Word of God, especially as a warning for our rising generation, but also for each of us.

If we keep our eyes open we can see the dreadful ravages of strong drink and use of drugs. I think it is our duty to show you the fearful econmic waste of the liquor habit and the liquor business, the price the nation must pay in the maintenance of the hospitals, prisons and institutions for the insane, because of its use.

Another way is to show how strong drink is the great killer through accidents on the highways and by destroying the organs of the users body. Another way is to get the records of the courts, the police records, and the criminal courts and see how the increasing amount of crime is traceable to strong drink and drugs. But after all, man’s soul is the important and the immortal part of man.

It is my wish to write about an earnest warning from the Lord about drunkenness and I hope that we and our young people may take heed, because it is a message out of the Word of God. There are some texts in the Bible which speak about the misuse of God’s gifts. We take one as an example: the Proverbs of Solomon, chapter 20 verse 1. We read there “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.”

First, a message out of the life of Noah. He was the son of Lamech and the grandson of Methuselah. When he was born, his father called him Noah, saying, “He shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the Lord hath cursed.” Little could his father have foreseen in how wonderful a way the Lord would use him. When he came to manhood, there was great wickedness in the earth, and every imagination of the thought of man’s heart was only evil continually. It repented the Lord that He has made man on the earth, and it grieved Him at His heart.

The Lord said: “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth.” But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. One day the Lord spoke to him and said, “The end of all flesh is come before Me.” All flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. God then gave him directions to build a great ark, saying that He would bring a flood of waters upon the earth, but that Noah and his family, for he had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, would be saved alive in the ark.

He obeyed the word of the Lord and began to build the ark. Men laughed at him and scoffed and, looking up at the cloudless sky said, (so we can imagine), “Where is the sign of this great rain and flood that you say is coming, Noah?” They did not believe him.

He went on with his work in the strength of God and finished the ark. Then God broke up the fountains of the great deep, the windows of heaven were opened, and there was rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights, and the waters prevailed exceedingly. The whole earth was covered, even all the high hills were covered, and all flesh died.

At the end of 150 days the waters began to assuage, and the tops of the highest mountains were seen. Noah opened the window of the ark and let out a raven, which went to and fro, but did not return to the ark, for the raven could live and find enough to eat. Then he sent forth a dove, but the dove found no rest for the sole of its foot and came back to the ark. After another seven days he sent forth a dove again. Ere long she came back with an olive leaf in her mouth. Then he knew that the flood was over.

When the ark grounded at the foot of a high mountain, he went forth with his wife and his three sons and their wives. The first thing he did was to build an altar unto the Lord. The Lord was pleased with his sacrifice, and said that He would not again destroy the earth with a flood, and while the earth remained, seed time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night would never cease. And as a beautiful pledge of His covenant, He set the rainbow in the clouds.

After the flood was over, Noah planted a vineyard. With the first ripe grapes he made wine. It was sweet to his taste, after long abstinence on the ark. He drank, and drank, and drank again; and oh, how terrible, he got drunk! He lost all consciousness and lay sprawled on the ground, naked and uncovered before his family.

Two of his sons, Shem and Japheth, took a garment and laid it upon their shoulders and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father, for they could not stand to look upon him in that drunken and shameful state. Who could have thought that Noah, the same Noah who had found grace in the sight of the Lord, to whom God had spoken and who obeyed the Lord, was also the man who lay drunk, uncovered and naked before his sons?

The Bible speaks of him as the man who by faith, “being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.” And the apostle Peter calls him a preacher of righteousness.

Yet, my friends, I think he never could forget that terrible day when he awoke out of his drunkenness and found himself naked and uncovered on the ground. He was indeed a preacher of righteousness when he warned men of the flood and told them that they had done evil in the holy sight of God. But he was also a preacher of righteousness, because with his drunkenness he warned men and even those who have the desire to drink. God wrote this story for us in His dear Word as a warning for young and old. And remember the curse God laid upon Ham’s family, that Canaan should be the servant of his brethren. No, God was not pleased with the fact that Ham told the sad circumstances wherein he found his father.

Strong drink has claimed many a victim, but Noah, the first man who was drunken, more than any other, shows us how deep the fall can be of him who indulges in strong drink. It is terrible for body and soul, a shame before the face of the world and not to the honor of God.

(to be continued)

Rev. W.V.

BIBLE QUIZ

Dear Boys and Girls,

This month our quiz is about “duties”. Each of you probably has a number of duties to do at home, such as dishes, schoolwork, chores, keeping your room clean, etc. Or possibly at school you are given certain duties to do on certain days. So I am sure you know what the word “duty” means. There may even be times that you are given a duty which is too difficult for you. What do you do then? Probably you will find someone who can do it and is willing to do it for you.

But the Bible also speaks to us about our “duty”. As you answer the questions this month, you will find some of them. Perhaps you will say that they too are impossible for you to do as they should be done, and that even father and mother can’t do them for you. In your catechism class you have learned of our “total inability and unwillingness toward any good”, and therefore you say, “For us these things are impossible to do in a right way.” And to this I must agree. But God in His Word still commands us to do so. What then? The psalmist in Psalm 30 cried out, “Lord, be Thou my helper”, and the poet in Psalter 236 also turned to Him with the prayer, “Help me Thy will to do.” This should also be our prayer, boys and girls. “And all that call on Him in truth, in Him a present helper find.” That is what the poet learned by experience, and we hope that you may also find this true.

The first letters of the answers will spell out eight words in Ecclesiastes 12.

In that chapter we read, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:_________God, and keep His commandments.”

Who said, “I thy servant fear the Lord from my youth?”

When Jesus began to preach, His message was,_________, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with________”

In Romans 12 we read, “If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink, for in so doing thou shalt___________ coals of fire on his head.”

Joshua instructed the people, “Put away the strange gods which are among you, and _________your heart unto the Lord God of Israel.”

To the question, “Lord, are there few that be saved?”, the Lord Jesus answered, “___________ to enter in at the strait gate.”

The Lord said to Solomon, “If thou wilt walk before Me, as David thy father walked, in

_________of heart, … then I

will establish the throne of thy kingdom.”

In the sermon on the mount the Lord Jesus said, “_________ ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness.”

Paul wrote to Timothy, “But continue thou in the___________ which thou hast learned.”

One of the commandments is: “_________thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.”

Paul wrote in II Corinthians 13, “_______yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.”

Daniel had purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat nor with the___________ which he drank.

Solomon in Proverbs 7 said, “_________unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.”

Paul wrote to the Ephesian children, “_________your parents in the Lord; for this is right.”

In the sermon on the mount the Lord Jesus said, “___________ not up for yourselves treasures upon earth.”

In Proverbs 4 Solomon said, “_________not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.”

James wrote, “Be ye__________ of the word, and not hearers only.”

When Jesus appeared to the eleven, He upbraided them with their__________and hardness of heart.

Abraham said to Lot, “If thou wilt __________the left hand, then I will go to the right.”

Paul wrote to Timothy, “Flee also ____________lusts.”

In Romans 12 we read, “Be not __________of evil, but________ evil with good.”

Unto Matthew who was sitting at the receipt of custom, the Lord Jesus said, “__________Me.”

To two brothers, Simon and Andrew, the Lord Jesus said, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of___________”

James wrote, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him__________of God, that giveth to all men liberally.”

The Lord Jesus said, “The second (commandment) is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy__________ as thyself.”

(Your answers are to be sent to Garret J. Moerdyk, 5211 Woodmont Drive, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49001).

The answers to the quiz of last month are as follows:

ACROSS:

1. Words -Acts 7:22

4. Giveth -Proverbs 2:6

7. Aaron -Lev. 10:8–11

8. Stony -Matthew 13:3–5

9. Other -Acts 8:28–34

13. Deed -Colossians 3:17

14. So -I Timothy 6:20

15. Order -Judges 13:12

17. Law -Galtians 3:24

18. Puffed -I Corinthians 4:6

20. Is -Proverbs 1:7

23. Teacher -John 3:2

26. Are -Proverbs 22:4

27. Air -Proverbs 30:19

29. Eternal -Mark 10:17

30. Afflicted -Psalm 110:71

32. Me -Matthew 11:29

33. Ear -Isaiah 55:3

36. Lo -Ecclesiastes 7:29

38. Understand-Job 6:24

41. End -Psalm 39:4

42. On -Psalm 25:5

43. Ten -Daniel 1:20

DOWN:

1. Wisdom -Psalm 90:12

2. Daniel -Daniel 6:3

3. Say -Exodus 4:12

4. Good -Titus 2:3

5. Interpret -Genesis 41:12

6. He -Matthew 7:29

10. He -Acts 6:9-10

11. Edify -Romans 14:19

12. Told -Psalm 78:3

16. Raman -I Samuel 7:17

19. Ezra -Nehemiah 8:2

21. Strife -Habakkuk 1:3

22. Parable -Matthew 13:36

24. Heathen -Jeremiah 10:2

25. Readest -Acts 8:30

26. And -Psalm 25:5

27. Else -Acts 17:21

31. Inn -Genesis 42:27

34. Ate -Revelation 10:10

35. Ran -I Samuel 3:5

37. On -I Kings 18:33

39. Do -Genesis 41:25

40. Do -Exodus 19:8

Answers to the Bible quiz have been received from the following:

Tim Van’t Zelfde (2)

Scott Van’t Zelfde

Kristi Rosendall

Jeff Rosendall

Daniel Bazen

Ed Bazen

Peter Bazen

Sharon Bazen

Debbie Kanis

Ken Kanis

Kathleen Kanis

Steven Baum

Cathy Baum

Scott Teunissen

Amy Teunissen

Jarrod Teunissen

Darlene Ryniak

Diane Marie Spaans

Jody Kegel

Stephanie Kegel

Rich Carlson

Randy Carlson

Hennie Droogendyk (2)

Ina Droogendyk (2)

Erika Vanden Beukel

Jolene Vanden Berg

James Vanden Brink

Karen Vanden Beukel

Bobby Hults, Jr.

Debra Vanden Beukel

Steve Van Oostenbrugge

Daniel Markus

Lisa Markus

Cindy Markus

Andy Lee De Vries

Alice Van Middendorp (2)

Olivia Van Middendorp (2)

Shirley van Klei

Brenda Schelling

Kathy Schelling

Jim Schelling

Rochus Schelling, Jr.

Neil De Boer

Peter De Boer

Reineke Bertram

Liz Van Giessen

Debbie Van Bemden

Sally Van Bemden

Kim VandenToorn

Lisa VandenToorn

Kristi Boluyt

Darrell Rozeboom

Laurie VanEss

Jeff Boot

Jeremy Boot

Michele Seabert

Stacy Seabert

Tammy Vanden Toorn

Michael Vanden Toorn

Jonathan Vanden Toorn

Pamela Sue Lubbers

Rachel Van Voorst

Janelle Van Voorst

Jason De Smit

Julie De Smit

Michael De Smit

Troy De Smit

Tricia De Smit

Tim Van Surksum

Scott Eppinga

Robbin Eppinga

Mark Hoefakker

Tom Hoefakker

Darwyn Klarenbeek

Arlene Klarenbeek

Leann Klarenbeek

Allan Post

Michael Post

Natalie Post

Joanna Kranendonk

Hugo Kranendonk

Michelle Teunissen

Brenda Teunissen

Lance Teunissen

Linda Zomer

Lisa Stalker

Monica Klaasen

Jamey Klaasen

Michelle Klaasen

Rodney VanderZand

Bobby VanderZand

Pam Schelling

Renita Schelling

Kristi De Vries

Cindy Hulshof

Ronald Hulshof

Bettina Slingerland (2)

Casey Slingerland (2)

Lyle Van Ravenswaay

Leah Talbot

Sharon Talbot

Mark Talbot

Laura Talbot

Linda Talbot

John Boerkoel

Robert Boerkoel

Joanne Boerkoel

Glenda Slingerland

Darryl Slingerland

Timmy Vandenberg (2)

Elizabeth Vandenberg (2)

David Vandenberg (2)

Petra Muis

? Schelling

Heather Jansen

Juanita Lagemaat

Les Lagemaat

Rod Lagemaat

Laurie Bleeker

Steve Bleeker

Kristina Anne Schipper

Eric Lee Schipper

Stephen Sporte

Randy De Bruine

Julie De Bruine

Rich TenElshof

Jonathan TenElshof

Tim TenElshof

Karl VanderMeulen (2)

Fran VanderMeulen (2)

David VanderMeulen (2)

Benjamin VanderMeulen (2)

Kim Stelsel

Doreen Vandenberg

Marlene Vandenberg

Elaine Frens

Beth Den Hartigh

Melinda DeMeester

Ronald Bertram

Reineke Bertram

Dwaine Johnson

Steven Johnson

Gary Kersten

Steven Baum (2)

Cathy Baum (2)

Denise Van De Moere

Diana Van De Moere

David Rose

Jennifer Sue Rose

Shelley Hoogendoorn

Lisa Hoogendoorn

Alice Faith Engelsma

Kevin Hoogendoorn

David Hoogendoorn

Kent Hoogendoorn

Philip Schouten

Estella Schouten

Anita Schouten

David Elshout

Anita Roth

Julia Roth

Krista Roth

Linda Van Brugge

Corrie Van Brugge

Robert Van Veldhuizen

Joel Van Veldhuizen

Peter Van Brugge

Andy DeVries

Karrie Mae Beeke

Idelette Hofman

Brian De Bries

Michelle Van Brugge

Rachael Timmer

Patty De Vries

Karen De Vries

Genny Pavan

Andy Pavan

Eugene Van Hoepen

Leonard Den Boer

John van Heek

Bryan Van Hoepen

Susan Van Ravenswaay (2)

Peter De Boer

Neil De Boer

Craig Phillips

Susan den Hoed

Bruce de Hoed

Alice Mulder

Kristi Lamain

Sara Lamain

Darryl Slingerland (2)

Glenda Slingerland (2)

Constance VanderMeulen

Elizabeth VanderMeulen

John Wesdyk

Karen Wesdyk

Wendy Maljaars

Judy Maljaars

Rick Maljaars

Eddie Maljaars

Doug Maljaars

Jeremy Fluit

Cara Engelsma

Jim Kraayeveld

Dan Roelofs

Larry Roelofs

David Roelofs

Carmel Goudzwaard

Erica Goudzwaard

Tim Nieuwenhuis

Rob Nieuwenhuis

Alyce Nieuwenhuis

Bryan VandeVrede

Amy VandeVrede

Vonnie Kegel

Brian Kegel

Tom Kwekel

Dan Kwekel

Rachel Pluim

Leah Pluim

Erika Vanden Beukel

Karen Vanden Beukel

Sandra Van Den Top

Scott Van Den Top

Ronald Kranendonk

Susan Kranendonk

Andy Kroesbergen

Bev Kroesbergen

Diane Klarenbeek

Julie Klarenbeek

Anita Van Tilburg

Arlene den Hoed

Sheryl den Hoed

Sharon den Hoed

Myra Vande Stouwe

Cheryl Vande Stouwe

Debbie Witvoet

Carrie Witvoet

Louie Lagemaat

Ted Lagemaat

Edward Van Wijk

Leslie Van Wijk

Jeffrey Van Wijk

Lori Beeke

Amy Beeke

Louise Brink

Leona Brink

Annetee VandenBrink

Jody Ymker

Edward Ymker

Beth VanderKooi

Glen VanderKooi

Jerry Hossink

Rosemary Kardux

Janet Kardux

Bobby Hults, Jr.

Jeffrey Knibbe

Nora Knibbe

Kevin Knibbe

Jeff Van Manen (3)

Steven Van Manen (3)

Doug Post

Vicki Post

Phyllis Van Veldhuizen (2)

Sheila Van Veldhuizen (2)

Rhonda Van Veldhuizen

Audrey Van Veldhuizen

Kristi Van Veldhuizen (2)

Sherry Fluit

Shirley Fluit

Daryl Fluit

And again we have some letters to answer:

REINEKE BERTRAM - We can imagine that you were glad to have Rev. Harinck visit your congregation, Reineke. When was the last time a minister had been there? We were also happy to hear that you could start a high school. The Lord provides, often in unexpected ways.

NEIL DE BOER - We appreciated your note, Neil. Be sure to give our greetings to your parents. Did you find the quiz to be more difficult this month? The Bible is the Word of God, and how important it then is that we learn to know it well.

SHIRLEY VAN KLEI - Give our greetings to your teacher, Shirley. How is your little sister doing? Is her leg in a cast? Accidents can happen so quickly, whether we are young or old. What are you studying in school at the moment?

HENNIE DROOGENDYK- We are glad to have you join in answering the Bible quiz, Hennie. Some of the boys and girls continue to answer until they are eighteen years old, but I wouldn’t say that anyone is too old. We hope we may hear from you every month.

JANET KARDUX - The weather in Kalamazoo is also very nice at present, Janet. It doesn’t seem possible that winter is over so soon, but we must realize that it can change quickly again. The signs of spring are here, so winter weather does not stay long, even though it does come again.

CARRIE WITVOET - Do you know where in the Bible the signs of spring are mentioned, Carrie? I think you will find it in several places. How is your grandfather? We heard that he had an operation, and certainly hope and pray that the Lord may make all things well.

LOUISE BRINK - How was the report card, Louise? It has been quite a few years ago since I was at school and received a report card. But how beneficial it would be if every day we might give ourselves a report card regarding our thoughts, words and deeds. What would we say of ourselves?

KAREN WESDYK - Did you have your fifth snow day, Karen? You must be getting lots of snow this winter. Since most of the boys and girls must ride the busses to school, good road conditions are necessary. How far do you ride the bus?

CORRIE VAN BRUGGE - Do you like to travel, Corrie? I think it is nice to travel to other places, providing the road conditions are favorable. With modern means of transportation, travelling certainly is much easier than it was years ago, and much faster also.

ESTELLA SCHOUTEN - We are wondering how your dad’s leg is, Estella. Did he have the operation that was planned? We sometimes speak of minor and major surgery, but minor operations are only minor if no complications develop. We hope everything goes well, and that he may experience the Lord’s help.

ERIC SCHIPPER - Eric, it was nice to have you join in answering the Bible quiz, and we hope that you will be able to do it for many years. If every month you learn something new, just think how much you will have learned after four or five years. Do write again. DEBBIE WITVOET - Give our greetings to your parents and grandparents, Debbie. When we see sickness in our family or friends, we realize the need for medical care, but then also the Lord’s blessing upon these means which He has given us.

INA DROOGENDYK - Where did you live in Holland, Ina? Did you find it difficult to leave your friends in Holland and move to a new country? You seem to know our English quite well, so I assume you have studied it in school there.

LEONA VANDEN BRINK - All easy ones wouldn’t be good, Leona, so we try to make sure there are some which are more difficult. We must continue to ask the Lord to bring His Word into our hearts, for then it will have a lasting value.

ANITA SCHOUTEN - There is a saying, Anita, “Doing less sin, but be a greater sinner.” A person who has learned to know himself or herself by the light of the Holy Spirit will agree that it is true. How we need such instruction in our daily lives.

KRISTINA SCHIPPER -I think that one question was printed a little differently than intended, Kristina. We would like a perfect paper, but it always seems that mistakes creep in somehow, no matter how hard we try to keep them out.

PHILIP SCHOUTEN - How do you like the new school, Philip? If it is as with most other things, there are some things which are good and also some things which you don’t care for or do not like. Wherever we go to school, our prayer must be, “Lord, give me wisdom to learn; keep me from danger and from sinning against Thee.”

This again finishes our letters for this month. The many replies to the quiz are appreciated, boys and girls, and we hope and pray that again something may have been learned from God’s Word, under God’s blessing, for the good of our souls. Pray also for this. We hope to hear from all of you again next month. D.V.

With love,

Your friend,

“Uncle Garret”

SUCCESS?

Out of the far eastern woods comes a young plough-boy with open brow, dark searching eyes, and hardy sinews. His feet are bare on the pavement, his purse is empty; a little bundle tied in a checked handkerchief contains his worldly possessions. Patiently he goes into warehouse after warehouse seeking honest work. The shop-boys do not conceal their amusement at his rustic appearance, and sometimes he overhears their remarks, but he perseveres until in some great hive of commerce he is taken on as a worker bee. His master finds that he is a tireless worker, honest and shrewd. So he trusts him and does not lose by it. Year by year his salary increases, and in turn he becomes junior partner, chief man, and sole manager. As the years roll on the shop-boys who snickered at him come to their ends, some of them as total failures in the race of life.

His yearly business is so great that he has trouble finding good investments for his profits. Some are in great shipping companies, some in huge stores and stately mansions, and some in factories, the sound of whose machinery is like water roaring over a dam.

He is a venerable, white-haired man, his name great on the Exchange, one from whom lesser men are glad to receive a nod. The flood of wealth still pours in and his hands are full with merely dealing with it. The pile of titledeeds is too large for the biggest pigeon-hole, and his safe is crammed with bonds and mortgage notes. He begins to seriously consider what to do with his accumulations. He has no children, for he never found time to marry. All his near relatives for whom he once cared are dead. He sits down to plan a will that shall put his estate to public benefit. With the sheet half covered, he lays it aside until he has made inquires about this and that. On another sheet he calculates how many millions the total will be that has to be divided in the way planned. With a half-smile he says to himself, “Pretty good for a bare-footed boy.”

Next morning the coffee is growing cold on the breakfast table, and his housekeeper, nervous at this sudden lack of punctuality, knocks on his bedroom door — gets no answer, and entering, finds him in his last long sleep.

They bury him with great honour. His nearest friends examine his desk to find out who will gain from his wealth. They find the half-sheet with the total sum and smile with expectation. They find the half-sheet with the unfinished program of possible charities, and smile still. But they find no will and look blank and troubled. The law takes over and grasps all the valuable documents with iron hand. It then places their worth in the greedy, though astonished clutch of distant heirs-at-law whom it has hunted up in the backwoods. By them it is dispersed among saloon-owners and gamblers until they sink into graves paid for by their last inherited money.

That transaction is now square as far as this world is concerned. The barefoot boy got a heap of gold; his scattered cousins spent it, and all is as it was before; except that his soul will be likely to have some eternal modification as a result of the getting, and theirs as a result of the spending.

But his name is down on the list of honourable merchants, and fathers point their sons to his example as a proof of what can be done by trying — as a splendid mercantile success.

Look once again at your merchant prince as he stands at the bar of God, and like the servant in the parable is asked for his reckoning of — not the five pounds his master had given him — but of the millions. He denies that anyone had given it to him; says that he started as a barefooted boy and earned all his money. Alas, that he should look at it that way! Who gave him those calm, dark eyes, and that clear, long head, and that cool patience? Who gave him the mother’s guidance, the memory of which kept him from the quicksands of the city? Who preserved him honest and healthy, and opened all avenues to wealth before him, and blew his ships into safe and profitable harbors, and kept him sane and cautious, and brought him without a single reverse, while others went on to the madhouse, and the poorhouse, and the tomb? He denies that anything had been “given” him. That was never the way he had regarded it.

He will have leisure to understand it all! We hear a voice that once spake on earth saying, “Cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Call you that a success or a failure in the light of eternity?

Young People’s Magazine

GUIDE THOU MY WAYS

O that the Lord would guide my ways

To keep His statutes still!

O that my God would grant me grace

To know and do His will!

O send Thy Spirit down to write

Thy law upon my heart!

Nor let my tongue indulge deceit

Nor act the liar’s part.

From vanity turn off my eyes;

Let no corrupt design

Nor covetous desires arise

Within this soul of mine.

Order my footsteps by Thy Word,

And make my heart sincere:

Let sin have no dominion, Lord,

But keep my conscience clear.

Make me to walk in Thy commands;

‘Tis a delightful road;

Nor let my head, or heart, or hands,

Offend against my God.

Young People’s Hymnal

THE SINS OF CHILDREN REPROVED

Some children take God’s name in vain

And early learn to curse and swear;

But those who thus abuse His name

His everlasting wrath shall bear.

Some children, cruel and unkind,

To parents disobedient prove;

How can such children hope to see

The God Who is the God of love?

Some children, slow to learn the truth,

Are cunning yet and learn to steal;

But God, who hates their thievish ways,

Will all their secret sins reveal.

Some children in vile passion use

Abusive words and angry blows;

But anger is the horrid spring

From whence the stream of murder flows.

Children whose parents need their aid

Should never honest labor dread;

For they who work not soon shall want

Their raiment and their daily bread.

Children, be wise, and fly to Christ;

Ask for His grace today;

‘Tis He can cleanse and pardon too,

And lead you in His heavenly way.

Submitted

KEEP THE GATE SHUT

An English farmer was one day at work in his field, when he saw a party of huntsmen riding about his farm. He had one field that he was especially anxious that they should not ride over, as the crop was in a condition to be badly injured by the tramping of the horses; so he sent one of his workboys to the field, telling him to shut the gate, and then keep watch over it, and on no account to let it be opened.

The boy went as he was told, and was hardly at his post before the huntsmen came up, ordering the gate to be opened. The boy would not do so, stating the orders he had received, and his determination not to disobey.

Threats and bribes were offered, all in vain. One after another came forward to speak, but all with the same result, for the boy remained immovable in his determination not to open the gate.

After a while a noble-looking gentleman rode up and said in commanding tones, “My boy, you do not know me! I am the Duke of Wellington — one not accustomed to be disobeyed; and I command you to open that gate, so that I and my friends may pass through.”

The boy lifted his cap, and stood uncovered before the man whom all England delighted to honour, then answered firmly, “I am sure the Duke of Wellington would not wish me to disobey orders. I must keep this gate shut, and not let anyone pass but with my master’s permission.”

Greatly pleased, the sturdy old warrior lifted his own hat and said, “I honour the man or boy who can neither be bribed nor frightened into doing wrong. With an army of such soldiers I could conquer not only the French, but the world,” and handing the boy a glittering soveriegn, the old Duke put spurs to his horse and galloped away. The boy ran off to his work, shouting at the top of his voice, “Hurrah, hurrah! I’ve done what Napoleon couldn’t do — I’ve kept out the Duke of Wellington.”

Every boy is a gate-keeper, and the Master’s command to all His faithful servants is “Watch.” Are you tempted to drink? Keep the gate of your mouth closed, and allow no evil to enter. When bad companions would tell you to break the Sabbath, to he, to deal falsely, to disobey your parents, keep the gate of your ears fast shut against such enticements; and when there are those people who would cast doubts on the great truths of the Bible, then keep the door of your heart locked and barred against these suggestions, remembering that it is only the fool who “hath said in his heart, There is no God.”

Young People’s Magazine

SWEARING

Not more than others I deserve;

Yet God has 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 creatures scarce 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.

Submitted

SILENCED AND ASHAMED

Years ago a God-fearing man used to speak the gospel at a certain place in England. He was quite a poor man, but one of God’s nobility and also an ambassador of the Lord Jesus Christ. He might have been seen during the week, working in the fields as a hedger and ditcher, but on the Lord’s Day working in the Lord’s field. (We think here of W. Floor of the Netherlands, who was a farmer, but also an earnest and solemn exhorter in the kingdom of God. Many of his sermons are read among our people, and some have also been translated into the English language.)

Thomas Garrett (for such was the name of this humble workman) was honoured of God to be one of His servants. Some college students from Oxford were visiting the nobleman for whom Mr. Garrett worked, and were told about this workman who could preach. These gentlemen, who were being trained for the ministry, decided to go over to Brixworth to have some fun at Mr. Garrett’s expense.

As they neared the village, they saw a man in the lane cutting some spiny shrubs with yellow flowers, called furze. So they went to him and said they wanted to find “Parson Garrett”. They promised that if he would conduct them to his house and show them the man, they would pay him handsomely, as they wanted to have some fun with him. The laborer replied that he knew Thomas Garrett and offered to take them to his cottage. They gave him a coin or two as an assurance of the promised reward, and went with him towards the village.

On the way they laid their plans, but he also laid his plans. He heard all that they had to say, and then skilfully turned the conversation to interesting topics. He displayed so much sound sense and knowledge of things in general that the scholars were both surprised and delighted. This poor man, with a bundle of yellow flowers on his shoulder, was able to interest the gentlemen who were bent on mischievous fun.

At last they came within sight of the cottage where Mr. Garrett lived, and, after receiving the payment promised, the laborer proceeded to conduct the scholars to the door. He himself opened the door, and, laying down his yellow flowers and looking the young gentlemen in the face, said, “Now, sirs, what is your pleasure with Thomas Garrett?” “Where is he?” they said, “you have not shown him to us.” “Oh yes, I have, gentlemen. I am the man you are looking for.” They could only hang their heads for shame, and quickly turned away and left the good man, without causing him any trouble.

LEARNING THE BIBLE

To truths that we read, we ought to give heed

Or profit we never shall find;

‘Tis good in our youth to learn well the truth

And store it away in the mind.

How many who’re old, prize more than their gold

The texts which they learned in their youth;

We’d try then each day to store now away

Some portion of heavenly truth.

For if we should live, the day may arrive

When the facts we have learned in young days

May rise up again to comfort in pain,

Our bosoms to fill with God’s praise.

-Submitted

Deze tekst is geautomatiseerd gemaakt en kan nog fouten bevatten. Digibron werkt voortdurend aan correctie. Klik voor het origineel door naar de pdf. Voor opmerkingen, vragen, informatie: contact.

Op Digibron -en alle daarin opgenomen content- is het databankrecht van toepassing. Gebruiksvoorwaarden. Data protection law applies to Digibron and the content of this database. Terms of use.

Printen