QUIET HOUR

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 7 November 1925, Page 20

QUIET HOUR

O Lord, we thank Thee that Thy mercy, manifested of old, remains available for us. Thou hast forgiven m the past, that we might have a pattern of Thy long suffering. And wo come to Tlice now,-confident not only by the records of men that have been* cleansed and accepted ami redeemed from their sins, but by the record of that unfailing power to cleanse and accept winch is treasured for all ages and for al hearts in Christ our Saviour. We pray that w r c may each for ourselves apprehend His great mission, Who came into the world to save sinners, and humbly taking our places as such, may we pass into the light and liberty and joy of those who accepted in the Beloved. A. McLaren.

Freely now to Thee I proffer This relenting heart of mine; Freely life and soul I offer, Gift unworthy love like Thine.

Once the world’s Redeemer, dying Bore our sins upon the tree; On that sacrifice relying, Now I look in hope to Thee.

Father,' take me! all forgiving, Fold me to Thy loving breast; In Thy love forever living, I must be forever blest. —Selected. FINDING CHRIST. “Wo have found the Messiah.”— John 1, 4.1. We must notice the , kind of argument Andrew used with his brother. He just went to him with a great joy in his heart—the joy of discovery and satisfaction —and told him about it. An English preacher gives in a sermon this illustration, showing how more convincing power there is in a little bit of real Christian life than there is in a huge amount of apologetics. A minister delivered in his pulpit a very fine course of lectures in refutation of some form of infidelity. He delivered the course chiefly for the benefit of one man that attended the place of worship. The man was sceptical, and the preacher hoped to remove his doubts. Shortly after the close of the lectures this man came and declared himself a Christian. The Minister was very glad, and said to him, “Which of my discourses was it that removed your doubts?” The answer was, “Oh, it was not any of your sermons that influenced me. The thing that set rira thinking was a poor woman that came out of the chapel beside me one night and stumbled on the steps. I reached out my hand to help her, and she said, “Thank you.” Then she said, “Do vou love" Jesus Christ, my blessed Saviour?” I did not, and I went borne and thought about it; and now I can say, “I love Jesus.” An ounce .of heart is worth a ton of head in winning souls.

When, we have really found Chrisi ourselves, the best way to bring other; is to tell them what Christ is to you One word of genuine and hearty con fession of Christ by a person whose soul is full of the new found joy, i: worth more than the most eloquent ser mons to lead others to believe ii Christ. Let us be sure that people know from us that we have really found Christ; then they cannot but be impressed. It will surely be a sad pity if we should so live that they will not suspect that we are Christians. —J. It. Miller. FRAGMENTS OF THOUGHT. (Selected.) Christ is our Friend. That means everything we need. No want can be unsupplied. No sorrow c.an be uncomforted. No evil can overmaster us. For time and eternity we are safe. It will not be the streets of gold and the gates of pearl, and the river and the trees that will make heaven for us: it will be the companionship, the friendship of Christ, The consciousness that Christ is our Friend, and we are His, should check every evil thought, quell every bitter feeling, sweeten every emotion, and make all our life holy, true, and heavenly. A fair way of measuring a man is by his amusements. Of what grade are they? Do they do any harm to others? Are they clean and wholesome? Do they make his life better worth living, or the reverse? The answers .to these questions, if honestly given, are often enlightening. It is no use to flog, flog, flog at idle Christians and try to make them work. There is only one thing that, will set them to work, and that is that they live nearer their Master and And out more of what they owe to Him, and so render themselves up to be His instruments for any purpose for which He may choose to use them. The only condition attached to Spiritual wealth is that we give it away. “When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” Our giving must begin at the moment of our loving. The only way to retain love is to share it. And acquirement becomes dim as soon as it. is selfishly used. Our Spiritual wealth is increased through sacrifice, “As, poor, yet making many rich.” Great-Heart grew stronger every time he helped Mr. Ready-to-Halt. He gained new conceptions every time he sought to illume the judgments of Mr. Feeble-minded. He grew more like his Lord as lie bore the cross of others. If one wants to do the work of an evil spirit, he need not lure people into crime or positive sin; lie need only dishearten those who are trying to do right. Belittle the task of the workers, persuade those who toil that their efforts are faulty and futile, and someone else might do far better, make the life’s endeavour look poor and useless, and the poison lias been injected. r fhe discourager does Satan’s work in the world whether he intends it. or not. Whoever steals heart and hope out of men, leaves them crippled for usefulness.