SUNDAY READING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15748, 24 October 1914, Page 6 (Supplement)

SUNDAY READING.

I'EACE OF HEART.

lIV DISIIOr J. C. BVLE.

If you have not got an assured hope of v 'Mir own acceptance in Christ, resolve this (lay to ecok it. Labour for it. Strive utter it. Pray for it. I feel indeed that the small amount of auuinimo among those who are reckoned find's eh, Wren is a sharao and a reproach "It is a thing to he heavily bewail, d," says old Trail, ".that many Christians have lived twenty or forty years since Christ railed them by His [trace, yet f|t>uinnij{ in their life." Let us cull Id' mind ilie earnest "desire" Paul expresses that "every one" of tho Hebrews should seek after full assurance; j.nt let us endeavour, by Cod's Messing, 1., roll thus reproach away (Hob. vi., 11). Assurance is worth the seeking. You foiviko your nun mercies when you refit i t»nii-ut 'without it. The things I speak are for your peace. If it is good to be s-wo in earthly things, how much bettor is it to be sure in heavenly things? Your «a!\ itinii is a fixed and certain thins. God Jui «s it Why i-hotild not you seek to know it : ■>': There is nothing unsenp-t-iral :.i I.lis. I'm:! never saw the. Hoot of Hie, a.-.J yet Paul says: "1 know i.ad am persuaded." ike i: then you daily prayer that you may Lave an increase of faith. Actotdmg'to your faith will be. your peace. Cultivate that blessed root more, and s '.Her ...r later, by Cod's blessing, you may hope to have the (lower. You may not", perhaps, attain to full assurance all at ore It is food sometimes lobe kept vaiting. We do not value things which wo get without trouble. Rut though it tarry, wan lor it. Seek on, and expect to lin'd. Do not forget that assurance is a thing th.it may be lost for a season, even t\v the brightest Christians, unless they ti\ko rave Assurance is a most delicate. plant. It reeds daily, hourly watching. watt.'inc. ret-.ding, cherishing. So watch ' and pray the more when you have got it. A.-* Rutherford says. "Make much of asnuance." He always upon your guard. When Christian slept, in "Pilgrim's Progiess." he lost his certificate. Keep that :n mind David lost assurance for many months by falling into transgression. Peter lost it when he, denied his Lord. Each found : it again undoubtedly, but not till after hitter tears. Spiritual darkness comes on horseback and goes away on foot. It is upon us before we know that it is coming. It leaves r.s slowly, gradually, and not till after many days. It is easy to run down hi.'l It is hard work to climb up. , So remember my caution when you have the joy of the Lord; watch and pray. Above all, grieve not the Spirit. Quench net the Spirit, Vex not tho Spirit. Little jarrings make unhappy homes; and petty inconsistencies, known .and allowed, will bring in a strangeness between you and the Spirit. The man who v.tdks with Cod in Christ most closely will generally bo kept in the greatest pea-e. Th? believer who follows the Lord most fully will ordinarily enjoy the most assured* hope, and have the clearest persuasion of hie own salvation through the finished work of Christ. SEED THOUGHTS. " The most important occupation for the believer is to wait on and for God. By waiting on and. for Him wo shall be rostrained from acting upon the impulses of nature, and running before we are sent; and we shall be placed in a right attitude to the world and the things of the world by 'awaiting the blessed hope and the appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ.' " A true Christian, living in the world, is like a ship wiling on the ocean ; it is not the ship being in the water that will sink it. but the water getting into the ship. bo, in like manner, the Christian is not ruined by living in the world, but by the world living in him. Faithful." efficient service to God cannot bo maintained apart from the diligent and prayerful use of revealed Truth. We, have nut to be wise above what is written, but we cannot bo wise apart from what is written.—l 3. W. Newton. He who would see heavenly things must be in heavenly places. I have the strongest of convictions that it would pay. manifold, for the Church at homo and abroad to cease for a season from its busy round of activities and seek for tho Holy Spirit's power as for hid treasure.—Dr J. P. Molt. Take heed for unbelieving hearts. Beware of " Doth His promise fail for evermore '— Rutherford. To be completely convinced of sin ccets us completely into the hands of the High Priest, Who' docs not drive us from the sanctuary, but fits us for its holy service. the de- p convictions which Eis Holy Spirit works are meant to direct the eye of the unclean to the cleansing Priest. Our High Priest send* the Spirit to the sinner and' Che Spirit sends the sinner to the High Priest.—Dr. A. Bonar. We thank Thee that Thy promises never v ear out, but are always fresh.—Rev. C. A. Fox. Each period, each moment of our existence, tomes to us burdened with some special need," and lays upon our hearts and minds the full weight of that "need." the same period aim moment, also, come to us freighted with tho " exceeding great and gracious promise." "My God shall supply all your need."Rev. C. G. Moore. Do not court the world and spurn the Christian ; do not make offerings at the shrine of the world and avoid His people. —Rev C. A. Fox. CHURCH NOTES. " The most common objection made against the church nowadays is that it does not do everything," remarks the Outlook. "It does not provide insurance, like the secret societies ; a weekly stipend like tin? labour unions, or a free lunch like the saloons. Oar 'sociological' objector omits to state, that tho poor man pays for all he gets from these institutions, and more, too, whether it be insurance, dole, or sandwich. But the sufficient answer would seem to be {hat the organisation that attempts to do everything does nothing well. It is as stupid to urge that the church does not supply every want of the world as /., v, odd be to rail at the public library because it did not distribute soup, or at tite public school because it was minus a bath and a barber shop. In tho end the i lunch that starts out to play to the part of ■i ' universal provider' provides nothing. All charities flow forth from the church, and -.inn it is enfeebled they are all ar. re.fied ; but its one object is to save tho soils of men by the message of redeeming love When the church forgets that it is ma, to its dc-coaso." At Niedeilahustein, on the Rhine, the R'-. E. Dakiu, an English chaplain, who "as returning from Germany on tho outbreak of war. was arrested on suspicion of 1 '-.11,: a ,py. On the other side of the iivr was Coblen/., where 12 nersons, it is "•'id. have leer, shot ,-.» spies. His lug- ;■:-• was , wrha.ii*d for bombs and let , ' ,r " Ml --' < ~,.il dress was no protection, io.- two Hus-iri.i (jpi"F. who ? re shot, were distuned as monk-- He was asked jiio rout-- ; .• was following, and was told ''" v.ou.d be again examined at Gor.h, on tie ,; "'"-'" front Alter three hours' >-.nii «:i Mr Dakm was released on susr:' '■' -i. Iho numb' r of hi? carriage was noted, and it wo; v. ..ted more than once ' '' ''!" i'"irii--v -■;.- the- inquiring military, •y C 0,.,,,, .mi. id of , oil , K to a hotel, Mr Uak'ii found that by waiting about ■'■ " hours he could catch a very early .. onung in,,, into Holland. .Wrdinjrlv lie .I'd i' ,".'.v< the station, but as soon :■- ''»' ti nil wis ready lie entered it. At _'" -; 1 >ir. I'-ihiii ought to have changed L . ' '"' '" A "'" ''i'' 't A d to remain in 1 ! '' ;i " A' 'i'' •'•mall German frontier • •';■ "' I"-' M,. I'll,'' had a „,.„ !'■■'; ,-' • '-""- l : ---a!' having ex- ''.'! ;;■ " n \ him perniiiision ,' ' " '•'] '' '' ,1 ' ,,,;l '' '"■ After waiting two 1 " "' - " " Dm a 'ram steamed out of the .'- ''■ c, I, it was sloped on- hundred •V " ''';' .'.'""''''ls limned to the car- "'•'. ' i,:: " lf 'l" .-""■ "akin that he was in the- v.roirj ,ll ' l ■• lint he must leave it »■■■•) "'•"■ li I'.Wesel and g„ to f'.oeh. Mr " ■•« " : 'lu-d. and after a tune the train we. „ its journey. At last, after a jouriiev of ,6 hours, Mr. Dakin got to Flushing and in duo course reached Folkestone elver a nerve ratkuig experience.