THE GARLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3801, 18 January 1927, Page 68

THE GARLAND.

FOB THE QUIET HOUR.

No. 699.

By

Dungan Wright,

(Fob Witmm«.)

Dunbdin.

“IN THE NAME.” Bom. viii, 35-39. I will pray my way through, in -the Name of the Lord, For His promise is “Ask and Receivs"; His grace is for me, and I rest on Hie Word: All things may be—if I but believe.

I will fight my way through, in the Name of the Lord, On my own strength I "cannot rely— His Spirit endows me with shield and with sword; I will trust Him all needs to supply.

I will work my way through, in the Name of the Lord, —7 Though the toiling be arduous and slow; Love’s labour is light for the Master adored, It transfigures all things with its glow.

I will sing my way through’ in the Name of the Lord, ' with praise is the dawning begun; Night’s darkness is gone when the skylark hath soared, And joy comes with the light of the Sun!

I will win my way through, in the Name of the Lord, Victorious on earth as in heaven, Press on to the. goal, with the triumph assured— To Him shall all glory be given! —J. H. S

“The grace of God that-bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world ; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from all iniquity.”—Paul.

* -X- -X- * GOD’S SHEPHERD CARE.

Verses suggested by the Rev. John Bretherton’s article on “Promises of Shepherding Solicitude,” in The Christian of September 9. Christ's Shephering Love. —Isa. xl, 11. Our Shepherd-King, who evermore doth lead Thy people like a flock, and who doth feed With food celestial all who trust in Him, Whose Love can never fail, nor Light grow dim. The Fatherly Shepherd.—Luke xii, 32.

We praise Thee for Thy ceaseless, watchful care, For young and old, who in Thy joy may share; For gentle leading we shall ever praise Thy matchless Love through all our nights and days.

The Shepherd-King.—Eev. vii, 9-17, R.V. O Lamb of God—enthroned Redeemer, Lord— Who died to save, and lives th' Incarnate Word, A host unnumbered doth for ever sing Thy praise—their Leader-Guide, their Shep- - herd-King!

The Good Shepherd’s personal care: The Door. —John x, 1-18. Good Shepherd of Thy flock —The Door Thou art To Fold secure, whence they shall ne’er depart; Protected,, blest, to living fountains led, And pastures green, with joys "upon them shed! —H. Kearns. * -x- * THE BIBLE IN CHINA. It is good to turn away from the dark side to consider some more hopeful tures of the work in China to-day. It is an astonishing fact that, in spite of the anti-foreign outbreak last year, the circulation of the Scriptures in China during that period reached its highest levels. Despite upheavals, international misunderstandings, and public disorder, the most relevant and substantial item in the report of the British and Foreign Bible Society is that they circulated over four and a-quarter million copies of the Scriptures in China last year. The actual .figures are 4,261,455, which is-an increase of 385,726 over the previous year, which was also a record figure. z If in addition to the Bibles circulated by the British and Foreign Bible Society be added those put into circulation by the American Bible Society and the National Bible Society of Scotland, we get the stupendous total for China alone of 11,167,000 copies, which is an increase of 1,679,000 'over the total for the previous year. In other words, the three societies sold more Scriptures in China .than the British and Foreign Bible Society sold throughout the whole world. It is good to dwell upon these figures, and try to realise their significance, for we are apt possibly to be depressed by adverse conditions more than the issue ultimately justifies. To have more than 11 million copies of the Scriptures circulated in China during a year marked by antiforeign outbreak, is a most significant fact. The Bible Society quotes part of a speech by a Chinese pastor, who, coming from a non-Christian home, can speak of the indifference to Christianity 10 years ago. To-day, he says, the attitude is different. “Both anti-Christians and nonChristians,” he says, “take notice. of Christianity. They discuss itJ They think it is something which is worth while to discuss. The anti-Christian movement SM-ves as an\ advertisement of Christianity.” If this be so we may, like the

Apostle Paul, rejoice that Christ is preached, whether it be “in pretence or in truth.”

The following lines were found by the sender of this—written on the back of a £1 Scotch note, sent to him—and he enclosed a copy of same, trusting they may be read and made a blessing:— This piece of paper in your hand. Declares to you . that on demand You Twenty Shillings shall receive; The simple promise you believe! It puts your mind as much at rest As if the silver you possessed. So Christ Who died, and now doth live, Doth unto you this promise give, That if you on His Name believe, lou shall Eternal Life receive; Upon the first you safely rest, Which is the surest and the best. The Bank may.break! Heaven never can: Tis safer trusting God than man * * * THE WINDS OF LIFE.

This morning's wind was a glad wind, Over my garden fair, It played with my roses and hollyhocks, And gambolled here and there; And I likened it to clean, sweet youth. Imbued with the spirit of joyous truth The mid-day wind was a mad wind, Over my garden fair, It ruthlessly tore at my lovely blooms, And scattered them everywhere; And I saw in it the hot, red blood Of Life’s reckless passion in fullest flood.

The evening wind was a spent wind, Oyer my garden fair. It sighed my ruined blossoms, And whimpered, now here, now there; I. visioned repentant old age’s regret, \ O’er tears which so needlessly pale cheeks _had wet. The spent wind died, and great peace fell Over my garden fair; The stars peeped out, and the gracious moon Shone softly everywhere; And mv heart found rest, when the midnight bell Chimed out the message: “All is well.” —Jean Fair.

A WORD TO GOSPEL SOLOISTS. Dear Sir, —There is “wood, hay, and stubble,” that will be burnt up. Such things, though not wrong in themselves, are useless as against fire, and will cause disappointment. Paul speaks of preaching in words that cannot be understood as useless, and the same applies to song or thanksgiving. Fifty years ago solo singing was used of God in a marvellous manner to bring people into the joy and liberty of salvation, but then the soloist was careful that the words sung were easy of understanding, and distinctly heard. What do we get now? The voice may be melodious and the instrument beautifully played, but very often, unless the song and tune are well known, few can’ catch the words; and so to an outsider—the very one we want to benefit—the -whole performance is a dumb show and absolutely useless, and the hand-clap-ping and chairman’s flattery will be a poor reward.

“Awake, awake, Deborah, awake, awake, utter (not mutter) a song.” — Yours, etc., S. T. Huggins. London, N.

* * * THE LESSON.

What is the sum of the years, And the lesson the long days teach? What is the meaning of tears, And the things that ’seem far out of reach ? Is it simply that brain must know, Be certain of distance and form? Is it simply that heart must grow, As a flower that weathers the storm? Do I fail if I cannot know all Of the Why and the How and the When; Of myself, and the world, and the call — So often unanswered—of men? Is it faith in a creed, that shall hold My soul in its‘living and death? Is it hope in a story half told , That shall quiet my shivering breath? Is it something great to be done? Is it fire, or a lonely cross? Is it many things—or the one? Is it courage and patience in loss? No; the lesson is simpler by far, But harder to keep in mind; To follow the nearest star, And always be gentle and kind. It is not what you do—but the how Of the doing that mostly counts; Not the far ’distant days, but the now: It’s the plain, and the trudge—not the mounts. It is just .to be sure of the fact That God’s love all earth's sorrow can heal, Can nerve and make you act As somehow you ought to feel. It, is summed up at last in a word: In God's Son every man may be brother, And you have the message He heard: God’s Love—by it serve one another. —Howard T. N. Usher, in the London Christian.