p. 33 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 8, No. 3. (1/19/1882)

Earlier text: Justification and Salvation

The Missionary.

By Ellen G. White

Among the Churches.

HEALDSBURG.

AFTER leaving Petaluma, I visited the church at Healdsburg. Accompanied by Sr. Rogers, I made the journey with my own horse and carriage, hoping thus to receive benefit healthwise. After a ride of thirty-three miles, we were warmly welcomed to the home of Bro. and Sr. Harmon. These friends furnished me a convenient room, where I could write or rest undisturbed, and did all in their power for my health and happiness.

I was far from well, yet felt a duty to write upon important matters that would not admit of delay. Being unable to sleep more than a few hours at night, I would rise at three A. M. and write by lamplight. Such a strain upon mind and body could not be long endured. Intense pain in my eyes soon compelled me to lay aside my writing.

This was a severe trial. My thoughts seemed consuming me. I felt an unceasing anxiety for the cause of God, especially for the institutions which his own hand has established. There is a great lack of spiritual life among us. Religious declension is seen and felt everywhere. As the faithful standard-bearers fall at their post, who will come up to fill their place, and to work with unselfish interest in the cause of God? As I thought of these things, my soul was troubled day and night. I felt the need of my husband's help. The future looked dark and lonely. Weighed down by disease and by a heavier burden of care, anxiety, and sorrow, I knew that unless the Lord should come to my help, and the balm of Gilead should be applied to soul and body, I could no longer labor.

Yet the thought of becoming useless was too terrible to be entertained for a moment. It seemed to me that death would be preferable. Satan was determined that my testimony of warning, encouragement, and reproof, should not reach the people. I felt urged to go forward, but seemed powerless. Night after night I dreamed that my husband and myself were laboring together to bring souls to Christ, and awoke to find that I was alone, wrestling with the powers of darkness. Oh, how I longed for rest in Christ! I thought how he once hushed the tempest-tossed waves of Galilee, and I prayed that his voice might speak peace to my soul. I humbled myself before God, and earnestly presented my petitions at the throne of grace. My faith was tried to the utmost. I received no direct evidence that my prayers were answered, but I decided to go to work as though I had received the help so greatly needed.

On the Sabbath I attended meeting, trusting in God for support. In speaking to the church, I was comforted and refreshed. The Lord gave me peace and rest in him. I felt burdened for the youth, and my words were addressed especially to them. They listened attentively, with serious faces and tearful eyes. At the close of my remarks I requested all who wished to become Christians to come forward. Thirteen responded. These were all children and youth, from eight to fifteen years of age, who thus manifested their determination to begin a new life.

Such a sight was enough to soften the hardest heart. The brethren and sisters, especially the parents of the children, seemed to feel deeply. Christ has told us that there is joy in Heaven over one sinner that repenteth. Angels were looking with gladness upon this scene. Nearly all who came forward spoke in a few words of their hope and determination. Such testimonies ascend like incense to the throne of God. All hearts felt that this was a precious season. The presence of God was with us.

I sought to impress upon fathers and mothers their duty to lead these inexperienced youth into the path cast up for the ransomed of the Lord. They now need special care and tenderness and earnest prayer. In the Christian life they have everything to learn, and they should daily have patient, faithful instruction. The young cannot be gained to the service of Christ by faultfinding or compulsion. They must be won by love. This requires time and effort. Parents must arouse from their carnal security. They cannot afford to waste precious hours in dress and gossip. They must close their ears to the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil. They must begin in earnest to work for Christ—begin to be missionaries at home, themselves closely following in the Saviour's footsteps, that they may give a right example to their children.

Fathers and mothers, will you not make this effort to save the souls of your loved ones? Have you not a sufficient incentive? Is not this work of infinitely greater consequence than your temporal affairs? To gain the whole world would be no compensation for the loss of a soul. You need daily the spirit which moved our Saviour to come to earth to suffer and to die for us. He wept and agonized and prayed, that lost man might be redeemed. What will you do to save your own souls and the souls of your dear children?

There is need of earnestness and zeal in this work. The juvenile depravity which is everywhere so painfully apparent, spurning restraint and defying law, should arouse every parent to decided, effectual action. The corrupting influences in our great cities should alarm us. And yet fathers and mothers are asleep. How many move from the country to these cities, which are hot-beds of vice, in order to educate their children! Like Lot, they choose that which seems most agreeable, irrespective of moral influence. Like him they see too late the sin and folly of their course. They place their children where the temptations to dissipation and crime are almost irresistible, where they daily associate with youth of dissolute habits and corrupt morals, and then are not careful to give them proper instruction and wholesome restraint. If balanced by religious principle, the youth might pass the ordeal in safety; but unless they have learned to look daily to God for strength, they will be overcome. The work of ruin is gradual. The children's feet are set in a path which diverges from the path of purity, integrity, and holiness, and the parents, blinded by pride and the customs of the world, do not discern the danger till a great gulf yawns between them; and then it is too late.

We should bring our children early to Christ, and teach them that he alone can keep them from the tempter's power. I know that parents are not doing what they might do in this work. Unceasing watchfulness and prayer are the weapons by which we must overcome the foe. Parents, do not permit Satan to take the children from your hands. He will often urge, "You must indulge children, in order to keep them with you;" but, on the contrary, it is this unwise indulgence that separates your children from you, and leads them into the ranks of the great deceiver.

I look back with interest to the Sabbath spent at Healdsburg. May the Lord bless all who that day had moral courage to lift the cross. Temptations will assail them as surely as Satan lives. They must seek strength from Christ to resist the power of evil. We fear that the older members of the church were not all prepared to guide these youth in the path to Heaven. It is difficult for those who have cherished a self-righteous, Pharisaical spirit, to come down to the simplicity of humble, experimental religion. They need to have their own hearts softened and subdued by the Holy Spirit, and then they will be able to win the children to Christ.

We should seek to enter into the feelings of the youth, to sympathize with them in their joys and sorrows, their conflicts and victories. Jesus did not remain in Heaven, away from the rowing world that he might become acquainted with the weakness, the suffering, and temptations of the fallen race. He reached us where we were, that he might lift us up. Such should be our work. We must come to the youth where they are, and make their case our own, if we would benefit them. If these youthful disciples are overcome by temptation, I hope that you who are older in experience, who have yourselves shown but little strength to resist the tempter's power, will not deal with them harshly, or regard their efforts with indifference. I entreat you to be as patient with these lambs of the flock as you wish others to be with you. God has so constituted us that even the strongest desire sympathy. How much more then do children need it. Even a look of compassion will often soothe and strengthen the tried and tempted child.

Jesus calls to every wanderer, "My son, give me thine heart;" "Return unto me, and I will return unto you, and will heal all your backslidings." The youth cannot be happy without the love of Jesus. He is waiting with pitying tenderness to hear the confessions of the wayward, and to accept their penitence. He watches for some return of gratitude from us, as the mother watches for the smile of recognition from her beloved child. The great God teaches us to call him Father. He would have us understand how earnestly and tenderly his heart yearns over us in all our trials and temptations. "Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him." The mother might sooner forget her child than God forget one soul that trusts in him.

The young should be constantly growing in grace, and in a knowledge of the truth. The Creator of all things, with whom are all the treasures of wisdom, has promised to be the guide of their youth. He who has conquered in their behalf all the powers of evil asks for their homage. There can be no higher knowledge than the knowledge of Him whom to know aright is life and peace; no purer, deeper affection than the love of our Saviour.

Many parents have through mistaken fondness permitted their children to grow up with habits of selfish gratification, perhaps have indulged them because this required less effort than the exercise of proper restraint. They should now labor earnestly and prayerfully to undo their own past work, and to form aright the character of their children. These fathers and mothers enter the field to engage in a hand to hand combat with Satan and his angels. There are temptations on every hand to ensnare the feet of the unwary. Ungodly, corrupt youth exert a strong influence to lead others into forbidden paths. These are among the most successful agents of Satan. If parents would detect and successfully resist the advances of the wily foe, their own perceptive and reasoning powers must be quickened and strengthened by the Spirit of God. Every member of the church is pledged to stand as a faithful sentinel. The lovers of the world will often approach under a garb of friendship, and attempt to introduce its customs and practices. Let every true soldier stand ready to resist these allurements.

When the youth attempt to break away from Satan's control, he will redouble his temptations. Taking advantage of their ignorance and inexperience, he attempts to obscure the distinction between right and wrong. He transforms himself into an angel of light, and beguiles by promises of pleasure in a forbidden path. If the youth have formed the habit of following inclination rather than duty, they will find it hard to resist temptation. They do not see the danger in indulging even once in forbidden pleasures.

The suggestions of Satan will stir every lingering element of depravity in the heart. The eager desires which the parents have not guided in the right channel, wrong habits which have been indulged until they have become second nature, will arouse as an armed man to second his temptations. Too often reason and conscience remonstrate in vain. Oh, then will there be fathers and mothers in Israel, to rescue these youth from Satan's snare? Will there be wisdom to out-general the enemy, and guide the wandering feet into the narrow path of holiness?

The older members of the church should give the youth an example of Christian firmness and self-control, of patient, cheerful submission to the divine will. God forbid that the fathers and mothers of children whose help we need so much should themselves be overcome by Satan. There are many professed Christians who are as fitful and moody as the weather of a California winter. There may be a few sunshiny days, but you may look oftener for fogs and rain. Children are critical observers. They mark the caprice, the petulance, the sullenness. They cannot desire a religion which bears such fruit.

There is no excuse for a man, with a man's reasoning powers and a man's experience, to yield to his feelings and cast a gloom on all around him. Says Christ, "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne." Satan attacks us at our weak points; but we need not be overcome. The assault may be severe and protracted, but God has promised help for us, and in his strength we may conquer. I entreat my brethren to become established, rooted and grounded, in the truth. Study the Bible diligently and prayerfully. The precepts and promises of God's word will arm you with divine power to resist the enemy. "Thy word," says the psalmist, "have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." Satan will be baffled and defeated when he finds the heart preoccupied with the truth of God. We need also to be often found at the throne of grace. Earnest, persevering prayer, uniting our human weakness to Omnipotence, will give us the victory.

The Lord would have the church at Healdsburg become strong in him. They may be thus if they will hide self behind the cross of Christ. Those who cherish self-love and a desire for self-exaltation open the soul to temptations that set aside reason and weaken judgment. Let us humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, and he will exalt us in due time. There is work to be done for our Master. There are souls who may by our influence be led to Christ. Who is ready to engage in this work with all the heart?

"He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." "And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal."

"Thine is the seed-time; God alone Beholds the end of what is sown; Beyond our vision, weak and dim, The harvest time is hid with him; Yet unforgotten where it lies, The seed of generous sacrifice, Though seeming on the desert cast, Shall rise with bloom and fruit at last." E. G. WHITE.

They Also Serve Who Stand and Wait

"Doth God exact day-labor, light denied?" I fondly asked. But Patience, to prevent That murmur, soon replies, "God doth not need Either man's work or his own gifts; who best Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best; his state Is kingly. Thousands at his bidding speed And post o'er land and ocean without rest; They also serve who only stand and wait." —Milton.

Paul’s Qualifications for a Pastor

By Editor

A religious paper in the East not long since discussed at some length the question: "Did Paul have the proper qualifications for a pastor?" It was finally decided that he had not. Poor man! And he died, too, without finding out that he had mistaken his calling.

General Conference.

FROM the concluding report of the business proceedings of the General Conference, we extract the following resolutions, which are of general interest:—

WHEREAS, Our publishing house and our Sanitarium are somewhat burdened by the debts which rest upon them, and—

WHEREAS, The lack of means in other branches of the work renders it impossible to meet the many urgent calls for light and help which are coming to us constantly from nearly every portion of the civilized world; therefore—

Resolved, That we recognize in this state of things the unmistakable voice of God calling upon those who love his cause to contribute liberally of their substance to relieve the same from the present indebtedness, and to furnish the necessary means for more extended missionary effort.

WHEREAS, It is, according to the light wich God has given us, very necessary that men, qualified by experience and education to engage in the work of colporters, should be employed in large numbers in various parts of the field; therefore—

Resolved, That we call the attention of the tract societies, and of our brethren everywhere, to this subject, and that we exhort them to take steps immediately in the direction of carrying out the duty enjoined.

Resolved, That we hereby express our sympathy for those laboring in the European missions, and that we acknowledge with gratitude the opening providence of God before the work in these countries.

WHEREAS, Different points in Great Britain furnish extensive fields for ministerial labor and for ship missionary work, and

WHEREAS, Those laboring in this field are so few that the removal of any one to other fields of labor would cripple the mission; therefore—

Resolved, That we recommend the General Conference Committee, with the assistance of Eld. Loughborough, to procure such assistance as is needed in both of these fields of labor, that they may be gaining an experience with those now working in the mission.

WHEREAS, The nature of the work connected with our European missions, and the difficulties and wants of those who are laboring therein are but partially understood by our people in this country, which has prevented their giving all that assistance to those missions which the circumstances demanded, and

WHEREAS, No one would be qualified to set before the brethren in various States the necessities of that branch of the work, unless he had visited those countries and learned the peculiarities of the situation by personal observation; and our missionaries cannot remain away from their work to set these matters before our people generally; therefore—

Resolved, That we recommend Eld. Haskell to visit those missions at his earliest convenience, for the purpose of acquainting himself with the situation, that he may aid and encourage the missionaries there, and be able to set forth more fully to our people in this country their duty in relation to them.

WHEREAS, The Holy Spirit has emphatically condemned the adorning of the person with "gold or pearls, or costly array" (1 Tim. 2: 9; 1 Pet. 3: 3); therefore—

Resolved, (1) That we re-iterate the former exhortations of this body to plainness of dress on the part of our people, and that we express it as our solemn conviction that no person can disregard the positive injunctions of Scripture upon this point, without exposing himself or herself to the frown of Heaven.

Resolved, (2) That we commend to the careful and prayerful attention of our people the remarks which are made upon this subject in Testimony No. 30, pp. 151-178.

Resolved, That we express it as the judgment of this body that attendance upon circuses, theaters, trotting matches, humorous lectures, and entertainments of like character cannot be reconciled with the plain teachings of the word of God, and the faith which we as a people hold respecting the near coming of Christ, and the session of the Judgment.

WHEREAS, Eld. Geo. I. Butler, though in feeble health, has been elected President of the Publishing Association, and re-elected by us to the position of President of the General Conference; therefore—

Resolved, Thas we owe it to him and to the cause which we represent to make his case the subject of earnest prayer, to the end that God may impart to him strength and wisdom sufficient to enable him to bear up under the arduous labors, and to meet the weighty responsibilities which will devolve upon him for the year to come.

WHEREAS, There are brethren and sisters in different churches who do not for weeks attend religious meetings, and allow quarter after quarter to pass without being present at the ordinances; therefore—

Resolved, That the Chair be empowered to appoint a committee of two to write an article to be published in the Review, setting forth the wrong of such a course of action.

Resolved, That we express it as the judgment of this body that the use of domestic wines as a beverage, or the manufacture of the same, in order that they may be employed for that purpose, should be discountenanced at all times by members of our denomination, as being contrary to the plain teachings of Scripture, and the highest interests of society.

It was recommeded that Eld. E. W. Farnsworth, of Iowa, labor in Nevada; Eld. M. B. Miller, of Michigan, in Vermont; Eld. E. W. Whitney, of New York, in Texas; Eld. O. A. Johnson, of Wisconsin, among the Scandinavians in Nebraska; and Edward Olsen, among the Scandinavians in Iowa.

Napa, California.

By I. D. Van Horn

I HAD the good privilege to attend the quarterly meeting with the church in this place January 6-8. I gave six discourses, two business meetings, celebrated the ordinances, and enjoyed a good social meeting at the calling of the church roll. The church had been greatly revived by the short series of meetings recently held, and two took a decided stand on the truth. Some names were dropped from the roll of membership because of their disorderly walk. The church now is quite well united, and have the good of the cause at heart. All were prompt in paying their tithes and offerings to the church and the T. and M. Society. May this church let its light so shine that others may see their good works, and be led to glorify the Father in Heaven. I. D. VAN HORN. Santa Rosa, Cal. Jan. 12, 1882.

Salinas and Castroville, California.

By Frank Lamb, J. G. Hurley

It was our privilege on the last Sabbath, to meet with the company in Salinas, and also visit some in their homes. We enjoyed the presence and power of the Lord. All seem determined to press on to the “mark of the high calling.” One name was added to the covenant, and one other met with us for the first time, for the purpose of observing God’s holy day.

In Castroville, where we are engaged in the work, the interest continues good. Two persons have begun the observance of the Sabbath of the Lord. Others are convinced of duty, for whom we entertain strong hopes that the light of present truth will brighten their pathway to eternal life. Brethren, pray for us that we faint not.

January 9, 1882. FRANK LAMB, J. G. HURLEY.

Kernville, California.

By Isaac Morrison, Andrew Brorsen

We closed our meetings in Kernville, December 31. Three adults from different families, signed the covenant. Of these families we organized a Sabbath-school of thirteen members.

Isaac Morrison, Andrew Brorsen.

Churchmen and Absenters

Dr. John Hall says that in England the people are divided into churchmen and dissenters, but that in America they are divided into churchmen and absenters.

A Faulty Link.

"I CAN'T see it: and it can't be so," said the blacksmith. He was leaning at his ease against his forge chimney, for it was past six o'clock, and he had knocked off work for the day. His shirt sleeves were still tucked up, however, and his arms were folded carelessly over his broad chest. He was strong of limb and voice, and the words he had just uttered had rolled out in firm, deep tones. Parsons the blacksmith, was not by any means an ill-tempered man, but he was positive in a slight degree; perhaps his consciousness of superior power made him peremptory.

"But it is so, Parsons," said the carpenter, who had also finished his work, and had looked in at the blacksmith's shop about a job he wanted done on the morrow; "you can't go against Scripture, anyhow."

"I should think not," interposed the village shoemaker, who had brought in his tea-kettle to boil his water for tea at the unextinguished forge fire, seeing that it was summer-time, and his own kitchen fire was still unlighted. "It would be as bad as being an infidel at once to contradict what the Bible says."

"Ah, but," added Everest, the tailor, who, seeing Wicks the carpenter entering the blacksmith's shop, and Rands the shoemaker, following him, had determined to make one of the party, and nimbly leaping off his board, had stepped across the road in time to join in the good-natured argument. The carpenter set it on foot, and it took its rise from a sermon they had all heard on the previous Sunday. It may be premised that the tailor liked to side with the blacksmith, if possible, in all disputes, as if he had a feeling of security in going with the stout and firm Tom Parsons. "Ah, but," said Everest, "there are different ways of looking at a thing, and various interpretations of Scripture."

"I don't know," rejoined Mr. Wicks, doubtfully; "we are told, you remember, that no Scripture is of private interpretation."

"Which does not mean that we are to have no thoughts about the Bible for ourselves, I suppose, neighbor Wicks; and that we are to leave it all to ministers to put what interpretation they like upon different parts of it, and we are to have ne'er a voice of our own in the matter."

"Well, well, I don't hold with that either," said Mr. Rands, hurriedly, "Free inquiry is every man's birthright—every Englishman's, at any rate."

"And so it brings me back to what I said," continued the blacksmith; "I can't see it in the light that Mr. Gresham does. Why, he made out, or tried to make out, that a man might be next to an angel—"

"Stop, Parsons, he didn't say that a man might be, exactly; he said if it were possible for a man to be so and so," interposed the carpenter.

"It comes to the same thing, Wicks, but, put it in your way, if you will, that if it were possible for a man to be perfect in everything, and yet should commit one sin in all his life, he would be on the same level with the terribest sinner as ever lived and breathed on the earth. Wasn't that it?"

"Yes, pretty near it, Parsons. On the same level, he said, as wanting salvation by grace, and not earning Heaven by works. I think these are nearly Mr. Gresham's own words," replied Wicks.

"Uncommon hard lines, though," cried the tailor; "and so, because a man makes a slip or two as he goes along, he is to be put down with the biggest rogues. This may suit Mr. Gresham, but—"

"But what does the Bible say, Everest?" demanded the shoemaker, in some haste. "You know Mr. Gresham is not the preacher to say anything at random, without having Scripture to back it, and you remember the texts he brought out to prove his words, such as, 'Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of this law to do them,' and 'Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, is guilty of all.' You can't say that Mr. Gresham said more than this, anyhow."

"That's all very well, Rands. I know the Bible says that, and I don't mean to go against the Bible; but to my way of thinking, those texts must have a different meaning than he puts upon them. It does not stand to reason that—" and then the blacksmith repeated the objection he had before urged in pretty nearly the same words.

"I don't see, however," said the carpenter, in reply, that it makes much difference to us, Parsons, because I fancy we are not among the almost perfect ones who don't need salvation by grace, as you seem to think. Maybe the whole don't need a physician, but only such as are sick, as the Lord Jesus Christ said; but then we aren't whole, you know."

"That's neither here nor there, Wicks. I am standing up for the principle of the thing, and according to my views there is a hitch somewhere."

"And what is the hitch, friend Parsons?" The voice was a grave, pleasant voice; and when the disputant looked around, behold, Mr. Gresham himself was at the open door. The men looked rather confused at first; they did not know, while they were engrossed with their dispute, that the living subject of it was so near them.

"Maybe you heard what we were talking about, sir," said the blacksmith, rather suspiciously. "Not a word of it, my friend, till you said, 'There is a hitch.' I should not have heard that but for your strong voice, friend Parsons."

"I beg your pardon, I am sure, sir," returned the blacksmith apologetically; "I did not suppose that you had been intentionally listening."

"Thank you for your good opinion of me. I certainly was not listening; I came about my well chain. Shall you be able to make a job of it?"

"Yes, sir there is very little the matter with it; there is only one link defective. It will be ready to-morrow, sir."

"And quite safe, then, you think, for the man going down the well to venture his life upon it?"

"I'll warrant it to bear the weight of three men when that link is set right," replied the blacksmith. "But about this hitch, sir; if you would not mind spending five minutes," added Parsons, who was after all, partial to his minister, and knew that though he was rector of the parish, Mr. Gresham had no pride about him, as he often said, and would as readily stop to give a word of counsel, or advice, or comfort, or instruction to a poor man or woman, or even a child on the highway, as to a squire or a lady in their drawing room.

So, in short, Mr. Gresham stepped freely into the blacksmith's shed, and heard all about the "hitch" plainly and manfully stated by the doubter.

"You have done me great honor and kindness by speaking so freely to me about my sermon," said Mr. Gresham, when the explanation was finished. "If hearers would do that oftener, and in the kind spirit you have shown, ministers would often be the better for it, and they would very likely preach better sermons into the bargain. Well, now about this 'hitch.' But first of all I want a few words with you respecting my well-chain. Business first, you know," and he smiled pleasantly.

The blacksmith was all attention.

"You say you examined it, Parsons?"

"Yes, sir, link by link."

"You see it is necessary for Diver to go down the well to clean it out; and as he is a reckless sort of a man, I determined to have the chain well examined before he ventures his life upon it."

"A good thing you thought of it, sir, for the faulty link was almost asunder, and the weight of such a man as Diver would have finished it."

"And only one link in the whole chain is faulty, you say, Mr. Parsons."

"Only one, sir; I'll warrant all the rest to be sound."

"Is it not singular, though?"

"There is no accounting for such things, sir," said the blacksmith, speaking confidently on a matter connected with his daily calling: "It is seldom that a chain like this"—and he put his foot on a huge coil on the floor—"is of the same quality throughout. There are mostly some links weaker than others, and that wear out first, or maybe break when there is too much stress. The wonder is, that in a chain of this length there are not more faulty links than one."

"True, it is a long chain, and my well is a very deep one."

"Two hundred feet or more, sir. I ought to know, for I plumbed it, and have been down to the bottom of it before now, sir, into the bargain."

"And how many links to a foot, Parsons," asked Mr. Gresham.

The blacksmith took out his foot rule and measured. "Eight, sir," said he.

"There will be sixteen hundred links in the chain, then," rejoined Mr. Gresham, who seemed absorbed by this matter of business with the blacksmith, while the other three men stood looking on.

"Over sixteen hundred, sir; nearer eighteen, reckoning the overplus."

"True, I had forgotten. Well, and every one of those sixteen or eighteen hundred is perfect, Mr. Parsons? You are quite sure."

"All but one, sir, as I said before. Yes, sir, as sure as can be."

"You will be kind enough, then, to send the chain back to-morrow."

"Yes, sir, as soon as I have taken out the faulty link, and made the chain safe."

"Oh, never mind about one link being faulty, Parsons," said Mr. Gresham.

"Sir!"

"What is one link? What can it signify that one link in sixteen or eighteen hundred is wrong, if all the rest are right?"

The blacksmith rubbed his head. He saw the drift of Mr. Gresham's question, but he did not like to own it. "I should think it would make all the difference, sir, if I were in Diver's place, and had to trust my life to the chain."

"Do you mean that you would not go down my well at the end of a chain that had, let us say, seventeen hundred and ninety-nine strong, sound, and trustworthy links in it, capable, as you said just now, of bearing the weight of three such men as you

in perfect safety?"

"Not if there was one weak link in, sir, that I felt sure, would not bear half of my own weight; as well all be faulty, as one, every bit as well, sir, for any safety there would be in the chain."

"If you really think so—"

"I certainly do, sir; I am sure of it."

"Well, being sure of it, perhaps you may as well set the chain to rights after all. And now, to change the subject, we will go back to this 'hitch' of yours, my friend, if you please."

The carpenter smiled; the shoemaker rubbed his hands; the tailor put his in his pocket; the blacksmith rubbed his forehead, and then he said in a subdued tone, "You have beat me, sir. I see what you mean; and looking at it in the light you put it in, there's not any hitch, sir, that I can see."

"Ah, I fancied you would say so," replied Mr. Gresham kindly; "and I think you can understand how it must be that though we may keep the whole law of God—the good and perfect law—seventeen hundred and ninety-nine times, or seventeen million times, and fail only once, we can no longer depend on our uniform obedience for eternal safety; but if we are saved, must be saved by grace alone, as much as though every link in the chain of obedience were rotten throughout."

"I see it, sir—I see it now," said the blacksmith frankly.

"And yet," said Mr. Gresham, after a moment's thought, "the two cases do not agree in all points, as generally happens when people try to illustrate great truths in figurative language. Do you see where the difference is, any of you?"

"I think I do partly, sir; but I would rather you should say where it is," said the carpenter.

"Well, our friend Parsons can repair the defect in my well-chain, and make it as good and serviceable as ever; but one single transgression of the divine law cannot be repaired. The link is broken, and the poor soul depending on that faithless chain, is already falling—falling."

"I see, sir, I see," said the blacksmith almost with a shudder, as the idea presented itself to his mind of a man falling down a well. He had been down a well, and could realize the horror of such a situation.

"But then the almighty arm of divine mercy plunges down, reaches to the lowest depths of human misery and hopelessness, and—But perhaps you would not lay hold on that gracious hand, my friend, seeing that only one link had broken, while all the rest were sound?"

"Wouldn't I, sir? wouldn't I grip it? Yes, sir; and you have beat me out and out," said the honest, hearty blacksmith; "and I see now that salvation must be of grace."

"And not of works, lest any man should boast," added Mr. Gresham; and then the little group thoughtfully dispersed.—British Workman.

The Home Circle.

By John Greenleaf Whittier

TRUST.

A PICTURE memory brings to me— I look across the years, and see Myself beside my mother’s knee.

I feel her gentle hand restrain My selfish moods, and know again A child’s blind sense of wrong and pain.

But, wiser now, a man gray grown, My childhood’s needs are better known, My mother’s chastening love I own.

Gray grown, but in our Father’s sight, A child still groping for the light, To read his works and ways aright.

I bow myself beneath his hand; That pain itself for good was planned, I trust, but cannot understand.

I fondly dream it needs must be That, as my mother dealt with me, So with his children dealeth he.

I wait, and trust the end will prove That here and there, below, above, The chastening heals, the pain is love! —J. G. Whittier.

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