THE GARLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3518, 16 August 1921, Page 51

THE GARLAND.

FOR THE QUIET HOUR. No. 416. By Duncan Wright, Dunedin. SUNDAY AFTERNOON. There ave two kinds of people on earth to-day; J a t two kinds of people, no more, I say. Not the food and the bad, for ’ tis well understood The good are half bad and the bad are half good. Not the happy and sad, for tho swift-flying years Bring each man his laughter and each man his tears. Not til"- rich and the poor, for to count a man’s wealth Yon must first know the state of his conscience and health. Not the humble and proud, for in life's busy span Who puts on vain airs is not counted a man. No! tho two kinds of people on earth 1 mean Are the people who lift and the people who LEAN. Wherever you go you will find the world’s masses Are ever divided in just these two classes. And strangely enough you will find!, tee, I ween, There is only one lifter to twenty who lean. In which class are you? Are you easing the load Of overtaxed lifters who toil down tho road? Or are you a leaner who lots others bear Your portion of worry and labour and care? British Weekly.

WISDOM JOTTINGS. A short cut is often the longest way. Joys are wings; sorrows are spurs. Set up a standard; publish and conceal not. In the strength of Christ, despatch your business. Love is our highest word and the synonym of God. Our welfare is one thing, and our wishes another. The medical missionary is a missionary' and a-half. The world has many religions; it has hut one Gospel. A man who does nothing will never have time to do anything. Read the Bible as if you were seeking for something of value. Those who sow the wind will reap the whirlwind. Nothing earthly should make me give up rny work in despair. The net is ‘‘by the wayside”; there is no danger in the way'. If goodness and mercy follow us blessings are sure to overtake us. A holy familiarity with God will tend much to promote conformity to His likeness. The arch-enemy of all the enemies of society is the happy hospitable home. The Christian, London. DON’T STOP PRAYING. Don’t stop praying! The Lord is nigh; Don’t stop praying! He’ll hear ycur cry; God has promised, and He is true; Don’t stop praying! He’ll answer you. Don’t stop praying for every need; Don't stop praying! The Lord will heed; No petition to Him is small; Don’t stop praying! He’ll give you all. Don’t stop praying when led to sin; Don’t stop pray ing that good may wm; Christ was temp'-V and understands; Don’t stop pray/ig! He’ll hold your hands. Domt’ stop praying when bowed 1 with grief; Don’t stop praying! You’ll get relief; Troubles never escape God’s sight; Don’t stop praying! lie’ll make it right. Don’t stop praying, hut have more trust; Don’t stop praying, for pray wo must; Faith will banish a mount of care; Don’t stop praying! God answers prayer. THEIR LAST SAYINGS. BELIEVERS. UNBELIEVERS. John Calvin. Gibbon. I am abundantly All is dark and satisfied!. doubtful John Wesley. Hobbes. The best of all is—• Now for a feartul God is with us. leap in the dark. Richard Baxter. Mibaeea.it. I have peace. Give me more laudanum. Dr Goodwin. Altamont. Ah! Is this dying? My atheism has How often have I poisoned my friend; dreaded as. an enemy my un kindness has this smiling friend. murdered my wife; and is there another Hell. Lord Lyndhitrst. Voltaire. Happy! Happy! I shall go to Hell. Happy! AN ENDLESS LIFE WORK. Till wo all come . . . unto a perfect man —Eph. iv, 13. \\ hat is here asked of us who have souks t It is not merely to open to Christ—the willingness to do that is implied already. More than this is wanted. It is stern, dogged work at ourselves that is wanted; deep digging at our vineyard every day ; resolute, regular, determined labour. It is to carry Christ's word into all the corners and crannies of our life, and that is an endless life work, indeed. For His word will always open new chambers in our soul ; always light upon some new well within us. It is not only to lay our whole selves and services at the feet of the Divine Master, but to make those services more worthy of ITis having, those selves more meet for His use. It is to cast away what hinders Christ commanding the deepest and the richest of us. It is to read better hooks, and keep better hours, and make better habits, and turn out better work. It is to strive after that masterpiece of Christ's creation—an entire man made wholly like Him.—R. W. Barbour. Jesus Christ, Thou King of Glory! Bora a Saviour-Prince to he, Whilst the angel-hosts adore Thee, We joy in Thee! Singing of Thy grace the story— Praise, praise to Thee! Thou the hands of death didst sever, Conflict Thine and victory! God! is for us new anti ever! We joy in Thee! We are Thine. Thine own for ever, Praise, praise to Thee! Thou Hie ransom-price hast given, Setting thus the captive free! Thou art Lord of earth and heaven. We joy in Thee! Through Thy blood we stand forgiven— Praise, praise to Thee! Risen Lord, at Thy returning Sweet and full our songs shall be; Hope our cares, to carols turning— We joy in Thee! Thou hast read our spirits’ yearning! Praise, praise to Thee! Like a weaned child with his mother, my soul is with m© like a weaned child. —Psa. cxxxi, 2. This short song is a, very beautiful one, as setting forth a much-to-be-desired state of mind. We have no means of knowing whether it was written by the same person who wrote the previous one, hut it most fittingly follows it, and in ail probability was placed here quite intentionally by the editor of the collection. In that, the penitent, soul found rest in the plenteous mercy of God. In this, we have a. description of the mental experience of that rest. .All the light of the song is remarkably focussed in this figure of a weanerr child with its mother. Tho thought is not that of weakness or

helplessness in any sense. Indeed, the weaned child is gaining strength. The more simply we interpret the figure, the more accurately we apprehend the truth suggested. The wearied child with its mother is the child who has learned to be independent of that which seemed indispensable, and. indeed, was so at one time. It is now at rest with its mother, whereas at one time it only found rest in what it derived directly from its mother. This was the experience of this singer with regard to Jehovah. At one tinie he found satisfaction in the Divine gifts, and looked, upon them as indispensable. Now lie had stilled all those ambitions which aiose out of his own interpretation of the Divine gifts. He was content with God, rested in His Motherhood. Star of Peace to wand’vers weary, Bright the beams that smile on me; Cheer the sailor’s vision dreary, Far, far at sea—Cheer the sailor’s vision dreary, Far, far a; sea. Star of Hope, gleam cm the billow, Bless the scnil' that sighs for Thee; Bless tho sailor’s lonely 'pillow, Far, far at sea — Cheer the sailor’s lonely pillow, Far, far at sea. Star of Faith, when winds are mocking AH his toil, he flies to Thee; Save him on the billows rocking, Far. far at sea— Save him on the ibillows rocking, Far, far at sea. Star Divine, oh. safely guide him, , Bring the waud’rer home- to Thee; Sore temptations long have tried lum, Far, far at sea— Strong temptations long have tried him, Far, far at sea.