THE FORECE OF EXAMPLE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3798, 17 June 1880, Page 3

THE FORECE OF EXAMPLE.

One fine morning, in Spring, two little girlsy were taking a walk witk .their mother inj^„ pleasant lane in the country, when Sus^n the elder said, "Mother, Mr Herbert said, last Sunday afternoon at school, that children can be missionaries, and do good, and try to let fcho. world see the difference between God's chUdiren, and those who despise Him." "Did Mr Herbert, tell you howfcodo.itP" asked Mrs Jones. "Oh! yes," repliod Jenny; "he told ut that by trying to do all tho good wo. can to everyone, we should show wo wore true Christians, and nob such only in namp_ and* that wo must romombor whafc our Saviour said, 'If vo lovo me, keep my command? ments.'" " Yes," rejoiaed Susan, " and Mr. .Herbert told us such a ,psebty tale to mako uj.understand what ha meant, and that wo might remember it." • " I like tales so muoh," chimed in Jonny. " W ell," said Mrs Jones, "what. was thetale ? for I should wish to hear ifc." " Ifc wao. about a heat hon, who camo toEngland to soo tho land ho had heard of as such a blessed place, where all .people areChristians, and happy. He. thought that because the Bible is read and taught, that everybody must do what is right and propor j so, when he saw how much wickedness gooa on, 1.0 was quite puzzled, and said to a gontloman, who. had known him in his own country wlioro Jio was a rich and powerful chief; 1 y*ou EngHsh do puzzle, mo very much ; yoa do teach one thing and. do another.' " " Mr Herbert said, ho was iadly. afraid ihufc this visit to England had a bad-,offioct on this heathen man, for ho, appeared to doubt the truth of a religion which did not keep those who professad it from braaking thelaygM God." " You see, my clear, what a goldon opportunity of doing gpod was thrown away by those who failed to point out to this stranger the beauty of holiness, and, tlio delight of kaeping God's Jay holy." " 1 am very sorry," said. Su«an, '• that ho should havo oeen bq much, wickedness in Kng- ; land ; but he must know fcho Bible teaches us nob to Bin, but to love God, and keep His law." Mrs .TOIIOS told her children, she hoped they wo^ld both pray, that they might never bo a st r.mbling blook in tlio way of any one. " What "> hard word ! mother, oried I Jenny. ; " what doos it mean ?" " Something in tho' way of anothor to hiivlor him. you boo tnis visit of tho hc&then, instead of doing him good, Boomed to hinder him in tho search for truo happisess: ho looked at tho ways of tho world , around him, expecting to find holinoss and purity, and he saw sin and impurity. Porhapa he did not know what the Scripturos say of the natural man ; ' And Ond «aw that tbo wiokednoss of man was great in tho earth, and thut every imagination of tho thought ol his heart wui! evil continually.'" " Romomhor, my childron, wo must nl! try to ' Let our light so shine beforo 7t\en, that they may sco our good works, and glorify our Father which is in heavon! and wo must ondoavour to do all tho good wo.oan to ovoryono, both to their bodies and thoir souls ; and , e\<en suoh little one* ai yiw art ht*\V« 'i -|rOT*|. i to do in thu sinful wor^d." " ' !«. >.ImA