DEVOTIONAL COLUMN

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6844, 23 February 1929, Page 5

DEVOTIONAL COLUMN

Precept. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Phil. 2, 5. Promise. Tho meek will He guide in judgment, and the mcclc will He teach Ilis way. Psalm 25, 0. Prayer. O Lord . . . let me never bo put to confusion. . „ Psalm 71, 1.

Ebenezer —Hitherto hath tho Lord helped us.—l Sam. 7:12. The help of yesterday speaks hope for to-morrow. The Lord would not, could not, have brought me thus far to put me to shame at last. Each sweet Ebenezer I have in rcview Confirms His good pleasure to help me quite through. The faith that overcomes the world is the faith that dares to believe that the world is overcome. The Lord who helped me to slay the lio-n and the bear will help also with this Philistine. There will be other epochs ahead, but it will always be Ebenezer, and when the last stage of the journey is done it will still be the same.

THINGS WRITTEN. God has written for our learning Things aforetime, wide in scope; That thro ’ comfort of the Scrii>tures, Patient hearts might dwell in hope. It is written in gold letters How we may, undoubtiug know — We are born to life eternal, And are sons of God below. It is written F Does it matter That our feelings * fluctuate? Every truth is gilt-edged surety; Every word is full in weight! “It is written,’’ —apt quotations Often from Christ’s lips were heard; What he fed upon and cited Should be dear to hearts love-stirred. Settled in the heavens for ever Is God’s Word, by sign and seal; Far above earth’s changing customs, Or the turns of fashion’s wheel.

ti£e living word. The following story, quite marvellous in its details, told by a worker of the Baptist Missionary Society, throws a welcome light on Bible circulation in India, as carried on from

the days of Carey, Marshman, and Ward —work still promoted by tho Bible Translation and Christian Literature Committee of the Society named. Quite obviously the story demonstrates with force the power of the Gospel as presented in the printed page. A man who was sick fancied a meal of sago instead of his usual rice, and going 0 to tho market bought a farthing’. 0 worth. It was given him wrapped in a printed paper. He sat down to cook his meal, and while waiting he glanced at the paper and the words arrested his attention.

Ho read it all, and wanted more. So ho returned to the sago-soller to get more of the good words, and was referred to the missionary as the one who eculd supply him with the whole book, the Bible. The missionary welcomed the poor man ns an inquirer, taught him, and bad the joy of seeing tho new life begin. The man took up literally the command of the Lord Jesus to go forth and disciple the nations, and set out, preaching Christ among the villages of his native province. Instances like these should encourage missionaries and others to sow the good seed beside all waters. And most assuredly they supply an argument for renewed energy on the part of those who give the Scriptures to the people who have waited for them so long.

HOLDEN EYES. (Luke xxiv. 16) I? How often, Lord, becanee our eyes are holden, We do not know Thee -walking by our side. And lose the power that would us embolden To go ahead with Thee, our Saviourguide.

Thou contest to us oft disguised in sorrow, And ou" tear-dimmed eyes are blind to Thee, As Mary’s were, on that first Sabbath morrow; Yet speak, and we shall know Thy voice, as she. 111. And tho’ we see not clearly, we shall follow Thro' vale, up hill, by thorny path and steep; For once we hear Thy voice the world rings hollow To those who love Thee, Shepherd of Thy sheop.

The bread is so different "hen it has the touch of the Muster’s hand upon it—the imprint of His wounded hand warm upon it.

“Whercwithall shall a jyouug man el cause his way? By taking heed to Thy word. Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against Thee.’’ —Psa. exix. 9-11.

HOW THE LORD CARES TOR HIS OWN. John Brentz, cf Wurtcmburg, a friend of Luther and a reformer of die first rank, was an object of peculiar hatred to Charles V. and the Papists. The emperor made more than one special effort to get him into his hands. On the last of these occasions a troop of Spanish cavalry was employed for the purpose. The Colonel, on his way to Stuttgart, supped at Munich with the Elector, and mentioned at the table the purport of his expedition. A cousin of the Duchess of Wurtomburg being present, slipped out and sent a warning to the Duke who, in turn, warned the faithful minister whom he was quite unable to protect. Brentz immediately cast himself upon God in prayer and at once received on his mind an impression as distinct as if a human voice said to hint, “Take a loaf of bread and go into the upper town, and where thou findest a door open, enter and hide thyself under the roof. ’ ’

He at once acted accordingly and found only one door and that tho last, open. Unnoticed, he climbed to the top, crept on all fours behind lumber and straw, and lay hid jn a corner. Next day the imperial troops entered and, setting a close watch at all the gates, entered every house and examined every room, probing bed-chests and straw-lofts with their awords and spears.

Bremtz, listening to words spoken outside, knew from day to day that the search was still proceeding. For fourteen days it continued, till every house had been examined, that in which he lay being thte last visited, the spears thrust into the straw coming as near to him a possible. Then with joy he heard the word of command, “March! he is not here!’’. He had not wanted for food during his long concealment. The loaf of broad he took with him as directed, would have been altogether insufficient, but the very first day, to his amazement, a hen came up to tho garret and laid an egg, and that, without any of the usual cackling. Next day she did the same, and so on for fourteen days in succession. The fifteenth day she did not come, and Brontz heard the people in the street say, “They are gone at last!” although he was afraid to venture out until the evening. She had fulfilled her commission with tho egg of the previous day. “My God shall supply 1 all your need according to I-lis riches in glory by Christ Jesus. ’ ’ '