THE GARLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3808, 8 March 1927, Page 68

THE GARLAND.

FOR THI QUIET HOUR. No. 7G6. By Dvmcam Wright, Dunmhn. (Fox t» Witkesb.) WORTH REMEMBERING— That to wilfully neglect the means of grace is. to forfeit the grace that cometh by such means. That the way to a converted world is through a sanctified Church. That since every Christian is a priest, every Christian life should be a sacrifice. That it js better to put your money in trust than to put your trust in money. That whitewashing the old Adam never creates a new man. / That a blaze of intelligence is of less value than a spark of charity. That calumny w’ould die of starvation if nobody took it in aud gave it lodging. That the blackest sin ever committed may be cleansed in the blood of the Lamb. That the present need of the Church is not a restatement of Christian doctrine, but a recovery of spiritual power. That ambassadors of the Cross are not sent to negotiate terms, but-to proclaim good news. That we must need part with our own faults since it is impossible to escape other people's! That half truths are often more harmful than whole falsehoods.—Sydney City Mission Herald.

-X- -X* I STILL BELIEVE. I still believe the good old Book! In spite of all the critics say: And find it a perennial brook, When other streams have passed away. I still believe! And in believing life receive. I still believe the good old Book! And tell the robbers to their face. They should have given, ere they took The old, a better in its place. I etill believe* And in believing grace receive, I still believe! I know to some, Belief is an old-fashioned thing. By reason to the Truth they come, And from brain soil would have it spring. I still believe! And in believing Truth receive.’I still believe! although I hear There's little left for faith to claim. The unbeliever’s joint I fear, Provides him nothing but the name. I still believe! And in believing food receive. I still believe! and sometimes think, Believe the more as others doubt: For as I see the critics sink, And find faith’s strong hand lift me out, I still believe! And in believing aid receive. I still believe that Jesus died! That Jesus cleanses in His Blood! That saved ones shall be glorified, And live beyond death’s icy flood! I si ill believe! And in believing Heaven receive. , —Win. Luff. * * * Our advanced thinkers and men of expansion demand a Christ for the nineteenth century; but no such Christ has arisen or shall arise. A cultured world now calls aloud for a cultured Christ, and refuses its allegiance to any other; but there shall no other Christ be given but the Son of the carpenter—“He Who was wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities”-—He Who came the first time to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself, and Who is'coming the second time To be glorified in His saints and admired in all them that believe. For He it is Himself Who says: “Surely I come quickly,” and He it is to Whom we respond: “Amen, even so come, Lord Jesus.”—Horatius Bonar.

A GOOD UNIVERSITY TO ATTEND. THE FEES ARE LOW. It has been recently told the story of an untutored and untaught man who was summoned by a service which was his to appear among men of high state and social standing. The untaught man had accomplished what few men could do. He had never been to colege, but had* had knowledge which no college can impart to any man. He felt a timidity in sitting in session with men of degrees and distinction. A man is not made by the honours men bestow upon him; iie is made before men bestow any honour. While present with the dignitaries, to which we have above referred, one of them asked a very rude and uncalled-for question: “What university did you attend?” Without hesitation or signs of slightest embarrassment the ruggedhearted disciplined man replied: ‘I went through the University of Adversity.” This was a striking and stunning reply. The man who asked it was ashamed; those who heard the reply were brought to tears, and the man who made the reply was lifted into a fine estimation. There are a good many who know nothing of the University of Adversity. They have been in other schools, but not in this one. They got what other universities could give, but have none of that which only the University of Adversity can supply. ’* * . * THE HINDERED CHRIST. The Lord Christ wanted a tongue one day To speak a message of cheer To a heart that was weary and worn and sad, And weighted with a mighty fear. He asked me for mine, but' ’twaa busy quite With my own affairs from morn till night.

The Lord Jesus wanted a hand one day To do a loving deed; He wanted two feet, on an errand for Him To run with gladsome speed. But I had need for my own that day: To this gentle beseeching I answered, “jj-ay!" So all that day I used my tongue, My hands and my feet as 1 chose; I said some hasty, bitter words, That hurt one heart God knows, I bruised my hand with worthless play, And my wilful feet went a crooked way. And the dear Lord Christ—was His work -undone For lack of a willing heart? Only through men does He speak to men? Dumb must He stand apart. I do not know, but I wish to-day I had let the Lord Christ have His way. —Alice C. Nichols. * * * PROFESSOR W. M. CLOW, 8.D., gives this call in his marvellous volume entitled “The Day of the Cross”:— “Oh. my fellowmen, why will ye not decide? Upon the conscience of every man hero, who is out of Christ, there lie's a duty, impressed on you through your knowledge of Jesus, which calls for instant obedience. That duty is to be loyal to the claims and commands of Jesus { i? so far as they have appealed to you. It passes at a simple step into a willingness to join the fellowship of those who bear His name. And it passes as easily into that receptiveness of faith, which understands, not only His life, but His love and His Cross. These are they who hear His voice, and follow Him. Will you drift into that large company who follow Him? Emerson has written: No accent of the Holy Ghost This heedless world has ever lost. “It is not true. It is not true in any sense of the words. There have been accents of the Holy Ghost, just as there are sounds in Nature, which there have been no cars to hear. There have been accents of the Holy Ghost you and I have lost, else we had been wiser and purer and holier men and women than we are. There were accents of the Holy Ghost which Nicodemus lost, for he who will not qnswer when Jesus calls shall hear the voice ever less clearly. It is enough simply to neglect the great salvation. This is what Nicodemus and all his kinsmen do. Shall you be found among them? God forbid!” * * » Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sone of men. O ye simple, understand wisdom, be ye of an understanding heart.—Proverbs viii, 4, 5. * * * Cast thy burden upon the Lord. He shall never- suffer the righteous to be moved. —Psa. 55, 22. It does not say cast it anywhere. Nowhere in the Bible are we advised to toss our burdens away recklessly. I think it very cowardly this trying to get rid of burdens. Our burdens, like the wings of the bird, were meant to make us mount. We can transform our burdens into blessings. God‘intends ihem for our good. I believe the root weakness of the Church to-day is that wc have so much to enjoy and so little to endure. “Cast your burden on the Lord*’ Remember He is the great Burden-bearer, the great Burden-sharer.—M. J. M’Leod. * * * CHRIST OUR PEACE. I thought upon my sins, and I was sad, My soul was troubled sore and filled with pain ; But then I thought on Jesus, .and was glad, My heavy grief was turned to joy again.

I thought upon the law, the fiery law, Holy and just, and good in its decree; I lobked to Jesus, and in Him I saw That law fulfilled, its curse endured for me. I thought I saw an angry, frowning God Sitting as Judge upon the great white throne; My soul was overwhelmed; then Jesus showed His gracious face, and all my dread was gone. I saw my sad estate, condemned to die. Then terror seized my heart, and dark despair; But when to Calvary, I turned my eye, I saw the Cross, and read forgiveness there. I saw that I was lost, far gone astray, No hope of safe return there seemed to be; But then I heard that Jesus was the Way, A new and living way prepared for me Then in that way, so free, so safe, so sure. Sprinkled all o'er with reconciling blood. Will I abide, and never wander more. Walking along in fellowship with God. -—Horatius Bonar, D.D. * * * Serve the Lord-with gladness.—Ps. 100, 2. Tn the joy of the Lord are we strong; cheerfulness is the support or our strength. It acts as the remover of all difficulties. It is to our service what oil is to the wheels of a railway carriage. Without oil the axle grows hot, and accidents occur; and if there be not a holy cheerfulness to oil our wheels our spirits will be clogged with weariness. The man who is cheerful in his service of God proves that obedience is his element; he can sing: Make me to walk in Thy commands, ’Tis a delightful load. . —Charles IT. Spurgeon.