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Review and Herald, Vol. 79, No. 13.

They Are Not Lost

Review and Herald

Apr 1, 1902

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 1, 1902

They Are Not Lost

By Richard Metcalf

THE look of sympathy, the gentle word, Spoken so low that only angels heard; The secret act of pure self-sacrifice, Unseen by men, but marked by angels’ eyes,— These are not lost.
The happy dreams that gladdened all our youth, When dreams had less of self and more of truth; The childhood’s faith so tranquil and so sweet, Which sat like Mary at the Master’s feet,— These are not lost.
The kindly plan devised for others’ good, So seldom guessed, so little understood, The quiet, steadfast love that strove to win Some wanderer from the ways of shame and sin,— These are not lost.
Not lost, O Lord! for in thy city bright Our eyes shall see the past by clearer light, And things long hidden from our gaze below Thou wilt reveal; and we shall surely know These are not lost.
—Richard Metcalf.

Instruction to Church Members

By Ellen G. White

MRS. E. G. WHITE
In the Church to-day there are tares among the wheat. Christ declared: “The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. “Then Jesus sent the multitudes away, and went into the house: and His disciples came unto Him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; the field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; the enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of the world. The Son of man shall send forth His angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.”
Read this instruction carefully, doing all in your power to understand the parable. The Holy Spirit will impress the minds of those who desire a clear comprehension of this parable.

How the Growth of the Gospel Seed is Hindered

The Saviour said again: “Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the wayside. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.”
Those who do not follow true Christian principles, whose natural and cultivated tendencies to wrong have not been changed by the grace of God, have no root in themselves; and therefore they lose the interest which they once felt in the truth. They return to their sinful practices. They may continue to make a profession of Christianity, but they do not honor the truth. They do not go on from grace to grace. For a time they are neither cold nor hot, but they finally become hardened to all good impressions. They grow careless, worldly, inattentive. They hear the truth, but do not receive it. Of this class Christ says: “Every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.”
Of Chorazin and Bethsaida, cities in which so many of Christ’s mighty works were done, which were exalted to heaven by being honored with His presence, the Saviour declared: “Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.”
Those who have been favored with great light and many opportunities, but who have not accepted the light nor improved the opportunities, who have not followed correct principles in dealing with their brethren or with unbelievers, will receive punishment in accordance with their sin. They will meet with some sad surprises in the last great day, when every case shall be brought up in review before God. In their record they will see that which will fill them with shame, but nothing can be changed. All is beyond recall.
Christ has made every provision for the sanctification of His Church. He has made abundant provision for every soul to have such grace and strength that he will be more than a conqueror in the warfare against sin. The Saviour is wounded afresh and put to open shame when His people pay no heed to His word. He came to this world and lived a sinless life, that in His power His people might also live lives of sinlessness. He desires them by practicing the principles of truth to show to the world that God’s grace has power to sanctify the heart.

Church Members Are to Help One Another

Christ has given direction for their guidance, declaring that they are to show Christian interest in one another. If one commits sin, do not talk of it among yourselves. Go first to the one who has offended. “Tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.” “If thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.” Do church members obey this word? Suppose that in every institution established among us, in publishing houses, sanitariums, and schools, God’s people had sought to understand and follow His plan, as it is outlined in the Old and New Testaments. Suppose that the instruction given by Christ to the children of Israel had been woven into the life-practice. Would not we as a people stand to-day on vantage ground?
The instruction given in Matthew presents the work that must be done to keep the Church purified from error and defilement. The brethren in the Church are to be faithful to one another, and this is in every sense applicable to the sisters also. When you bring an offering to God, ask yourself, Am I cherishing wrong feelings toward any of my brethren in the faith? If you are, do all in your power to be reconciled to the one with whom you are at variance.
It is a sin to cherish anger against a brother or a sister in the Church. Christ treats anger as murder. He declares, “I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without acause”—O, how much there is of this in the Church to-day!—“shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.” God has a controversy with that man. He thinks he has occasion for feeling angry, for calling his brother raca, “vain fellow;” but these passionate words are a savor of death unto death. He who utters them is not co-operating with God, but with Satan. In heaven his wicked railing is placed in the same list as swearing.

Righteousness by Faith

By John A. Brunson

JOHN A. BRUNSON
It is clearly taught in Rom. 1:16, 17, that the gospel of Christ is God’s power to save sinners, because it reveals righteousness by faith; or, expressed in different words, because it reveals the only plan which God, in His infinite love and righteousness, could devise for making poor, rebellious, lost sinners right in His sight, without in the least compromising His own character. That this is possible through the gospel, is distinctly affirmed in Rom. 3:25, 26, a literal translation of which reads as follows: “Whom God set forth as a propitiation through faith in His blood, to give outward proof of His righteousness on account of the passing over of previously committed sins in the forbearance of God, to give outward proof of His righteousness at the present time, that He may be right, and make him with faith in Christ right.”
God is love, and is rich in mercy; and because of “His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins,” He is now and always has been inclined to show mercy. “He delighteth in mercy.” He solemnly declares, “As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?” But in offering pardon to guilty sinners condemned to death by the inexorable demands of His own righteous law, He must proceed in strict harmony with the principle of absolute right; for, bear in mind always that salvation is the state of being right. It is God-harmony. But if God, in the act of making an unrighteous man right, should himself violate the eternal principle of right, He would be guilty of wrongdoing. He would himself be guilty of infringing the law of absolute right, and such an infringement on His part would prove Him to be a sinner standing in need of a savior, rather than the righteous Saviour engaged in the gracious work of saving others. Therefore, before any mercy could be extended to sinners, the severest demands of the strictest justice had to be fully satisfied.
God cannot afford to be merciful in His righteousness, but He must be righteous in His mercy. In the cross of Christ a work of precisely this character has been accomplished. Absolute righteousness and boundless mercy meet in the sufferings of a dying Saviour. God has set forth Christ as a propitiation, a sacrifice in the sinner’s stead, that He may vindicate His own righteous character, and yet offer free pardon and salvation to all who repent and believe in Christ. Hence, the Christian’s joy is not so much in consequence of selfishly contemplating his escape from the suffering of sin, as it is of the sweet consciousness that he, in Christ, has been adjudged to be right by the one all-righteous God, in harmony with the severest demands of absolute right. O, the glorious privilege of being right! Who does not crave it? Who would not prefer it to any earthly emolument? More to be desired is it than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey in the honeycomb. How precious the thought that salvation is rightness before God, and rightness before God is salvation. Let every Christian worker prayerfully meditate upon this fact, until his whole being is thoroughly aroused, and animated with a desire to bring souls to Christ, that they may be made right.
Outward compliance with church rules and regulations and inward rightness are not synonymous. Strive less to persuade men into visible union with your denomination; strive more to bring them into contact with the life-giving Saviour. Our business is not to build up a church. It is rather to seek for people to live with Christ in His righteous kingdom. And when we are engaged daily in this task, which would give infinite delight to angels, let us never forget the statement, “Thy people also shall be all righteous.” Let us repeat the truth that righteousness, right being, is the condition of entrance into the kingdom. How inspiring the thought that the kingdom of Christ will be peopled with those who are right!

How Righteousness Is Obtained

Now, let us consider how this righteousness of the gospel is obtained. It comes not as the reward of right doing, for then it would be “not reckoned of grace, but of debt.” Neither is it in part the gift of grace, and in part the result of right doing, for “if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.” It is all of grace. This righteousness is in no sense the award of personal merit, but the gift of God to the sinner. It is God’s gift to the sinner, while he is yet a sinner, without any righteousness of his own, and with no possible means of obtaining any righteousness for himself. He stands before God entirely helpless, justly condemned, without one excuse to offer in extenuation of his guilt, or in mitigation of his punishment. There he stands, clothed in his own righteousness, which the Judge has pronounced to be as offensive as filthy rags. In the helplessness of despair, he cries, “God be merciful to me a sinner.” The Holy Spirit, Christ’s representative, bids him look to the cross. There he sees One dying in his stead, upon whom his sins have been laid. As he gazes upon the bleeding Sufferer, the Spirit whispers, softly, “He was wounded for your transgressions, He was bruised for your iniquities: the chastisement of your peace was upon Him; and with His stripes are you healed.” He hears, he heeds, he believes. Then the Judge issues the command, “Take away the filthy garments from him;” and turning affectionately to the poor, trembling soul, He says, “I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.” The work is done. The sinner is justified, made righteous. How? By his own deeds?—No. On account of his own merits?—No. A twofold imputation has taken place. His sins were imputed to the bleeding Victim on the cross, and the righteousness of the Victim was imputed to him, and he was accounted righteous apart from the works of law. This is the righteousness which the gospel reveals, and which brings salvation,—a righteousness entirely apart from the guilty offender’s law keeping. Therefore it is said to be imputed, not inherent.
Now, to impute, as it relates to salvation, is to place to one’s account that which does not properly belong to him, as though it did. But to ascribe righteousness to one who really keeps God’s righteous and holy law, would not, in this sense, be an act of imputation at all. It would simply be the recognition of a permanent quality which belongs rightfully to the individual as an intrinsic possession, and this recognition would be a simple act of justice without any admixture of grace. Hence when God imputes righteousness to a sinner, it is not because the sinner is righteous. If he were righteous, he would not need to have righteousness imputed to him. He would have it as an intrinsic quality, his very own, and in his own right he would be entitled to a place in the kingdom of the righteous God. Exclusion from the kingdom would be an act of injustice, purely arbitrary, which would brand God as a tyrant. But when God imputes righteousness to the sinner, that is, when He justifies the ungodly, He places to his account that which does not properly belong to him, as though it did, and then proceeds to treat him accordingly. He regards him as righteous, and entitled to the blessings of the righteous. He adopts him into His family as a beloved son, and graciously accords to him the privileges and rights of sonship. God can do this, as has already been shown, and yet maintain strictly His own righteousness, and preserve the integrity of His law.
Herein is seen one of the strongest proofs of the superhuman origin of the gospel, which causes it to become the wonder and admiration of angels. Just here lies also the mysterious efficacy of the blood of Jesus, “who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness.” Jesus took the place of sinners, and died in their stead. God imputed to Him their sins; that is to say, He put to Christ’s account the sins of all sinners, of all ages, classes, and conditions,—sins which did not properly belong to Him,—and in consequence treated Him as if He had been an actual sinner. Having done this, He can now place to the sinner’s account the righteousness of Christ, which does not properly belong to him, and treat him as if he were actually righteous. This is all done apart from law, and independently of the sinner’s law keeping. Hence “we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law;” that is, he stands right with God through faith, quite apart from actions done in obedience to law. This, then, is righteousness by faith, which, apart from law, stands revealed in the gospel, but to which both law and prophets bear witness. It is God’s gracious gift to guilty sinners, whereby they are made meet for the coming kingdom. God be praised for a salvation that is complete, perfect, and right!

God's Thoughts

By D. Henderson

God has a thought for the maple, You may read that thought in the tree. Would you know His thought for the granite? Look at the granite and see!
His thought for the springing grass Is told by the cool, green sod; The rose unfolding its petals Discloses the mind of God.
His thought for the butterfly’s life Is writ on the insect’s wings; The word He spake to the skylark You hear when it soars and sings.
We think we are more than the bird, More than the tree and the sod— Yet say, are we living our lives As true to the thought of God?
—D. Henderson, in The Independent.

Kindness

“WHAT is the real good?” I asked in musing mood, “Order,” said the court; “Knowledge,” said the school; “Truth,” said the wise man; “Love,” said the maiden; “Beauty,” said the page; “Freedom,” said the dreamer; “Home,” said the sage; “Equity,” said the seer. Spake my heart full sadly, “The answer is not here.” Then within my bosom Softly this I heard: “Each heart holds the secret; ‘Kindness’ is the word.” — British Weekly.

W. T. BLAND

By W. T. Bland

Principles of Pedagogics for Home and School—No. 5

W. T. BLAND

The work of the home and the school in the matter of dealing with children in their training and education, is of such a nature that many of the principles that pertain to one are equally applicable to the other. For this reason the teacher and the parent should not only understand the nature of each other's work, but should be in close sympathy. This will especially help the parents in their appreciation of the teacher's duties, and will also be a great aid to the teacher in successfully dealing with the pupils.

Punishments

As long as there is sin in the world, as long as wrongs are committed or mistakes made, just so long must the consequences be suffered. Punishment of some kind is the natural result. The child willfully or accidentally puts its hand in the fire; it receives instantaneous punishment, and will be more guarded on that point in the future. Again, a child may early in life form the practice of secretly taking things not its own. If not detected and judiciously dealt with until this practice is broken, the sting of punishment may be deferred until, later on, some greater theft is committed, and the penalty is paid, possibly behind prison bars.
Punishments are inflicted by parents upon their children because of their willful wrongdoing, and as a means of preventing its repetition. As far as possible, when punishment of any kind is administered, the child should be led to understand and to accept it as a natural consequence. It is always dangerous to make it simply an arbitrary matter.
The question of corporal punishment has been undergoing a revolution of sentiment during the past half century; and, if we are to believe the stories of early days, it surely has not come too soon. But as is so often the case in revolutions and reforms, there are those who take extreme views, and who press their convictions with such enthusiasm and energy that often much harm is done. They doubtless feel that this is necessary because others will lag behind, or persist in adhering to old and fogyish notions. However this may be, I am convinced that there is on this question, as with many others, a golden mean, which, if discovered, will bring about the best results. While I do not believe in corporal punishment except as a last resort, I am not ready to say that it should be done away with entirely and absolutely. I do believe, however, that its use should be limited to the case of parents with their own children, with the possible exception of younger children in church or grade schools. Even this is a disputed point. But when or wherever employed, there should be no doubt that it is for the best good of the child, and that actual good will result from it.
When children are properly trained at home during their infant days and early years, there will be no need of whipping after they are old enough to go to school. But until that time comes, teachers will have trouble, and the parents' trouble will continue. The difficulty with most parents is that they fail to conquer (I use this term in its right meaning) their children when they are young. This should be done, even if it takes a sound whipping from the hands of the parent to bring it about, and it may take more than one. Of course it would be better to do this by the use of some more gentle means, but if there is a lack of knowledge of any better way, this would better by far be done than that the life of the child be wrecked and the happiness of the parent destroyed.

A Critical Time

But the question of authority and supremacy will come to every child and parent, and the earlier it is properly settled, the better. When the child recognizes the parent as master of the situation, if good judgment is used, the bond of love and sympathy between the two becomes great, and that parent has not much to fear for the future. But the trouble with too many parents is in permitting the child to gain the mastery. Its will must be carried out whether right or wrong. Such a child is not slow in following up one victory with another. In such cases whippings are usually given; subterfuge resorted to; scolding indulged in; even pleadings with tears, and prayers offered, but to no purpose or avail as long as the child regards himself the master, and desires to pursue his own course. To be sure, such a youth may be reclaimed after having passed the age beyond which corporal punishment may be resorted to; but it is then generally beyond the reach of the parent, and some other methods will need to be employed, and other hands come to the rescue.
One of the evils resulting from corporal punishment is that it is often administered in anger. Long after the sting of the instrument has disappeared, that of the passion lingers. For this reason the parent who has not learned well the lesson of self-control should not attempt to correct the faults of a child, especially by this means. Many times children are whipped in such a manner that while they may seem outwardly subdued, yet inwardly a resolution is fixing itself to “get even some day.” This is a most deplorable state of affairs, but it is not uncommon. The very means used to correct and reform the child often causes it to be even more determined to pursue its course of wrongdoing. What is greatly needed in our homes and schools is not only a deep consecration in things spiritual, but a thorough knowledge of how to deal with these young minds so that they may not be driven out into the world, but every one of them be drawn in and trained for the Master's use. This work can be done if begun in time, but if neglected, many will be lost. The most important work in this world to-day is that of saving souls in the kingdom of God, and children, whose hearts are tender, are the most hopeful class for whom to labor. Thus there is no more wonderful work than that committed to parents and teachers.

Confidence Must Be Gained

In dealing with children and youth it is of the first importance to gain and hold their confidence, love, and respect. Unless this is done, but little can be accomplished for them. With it and a knowledge of right principles, a mighty work may be carried forward. The teacher must put himself frequently in the place of the student, and view things from the student's standpoint, seeing, hearing, and feeling things as he does. If he cannot do this in any other way, he should go to some school for a little time, and become an actual student with students. Then with his broader knowledge and his ability to understand both sides, his power to work for his students is greatly increased. Parents may not be able to do this so completely, yet they, too, should deal with all questions not only from their own point of view, but from that of the child as well. Did you ever stop to think, parents and teachers, that the Saviour did that very thing? In reaching humanity, in saving those who were lost, He came down and took upon himself the form ofhumanity, mingling with the lost, eating, drinking, and living with them. It was then, as He was touched with their infirmities, that He was able to lift them up and save them from their lost condition. The trouble is we stand off too far from our children, try to reach them at too long a range; as a result we miss the mark, and the children are lost, unless some one else comes to the rescue. Don't forget to get down with your children, be one with them and among them, at least part of the time. Take them up in your arms, and tell them stories of proper choosing. They delight in hearing them, and will love you the more for it. Don't be afraid that your control over them will be weakened; on the contrary, it will be greatly strengthened.
As a general rule, parents and teachers who most often resort to severe methods of punishment are those who do not associate with their children and pupils as they should, who do not gain their confidence, their best love and respect. There is something vital lacking in the homes all over the land, and it is not only with those who make no profession of Christianity, but often with those who make a high profession. More and more parents are becoming perplexed and worried over the condition of affairs in their own homes. Various theories are suggested and arguments produced, but the situation seems to grow more desperate. I have even heard it argued of late that many of our children are bad and go wrong because the parents put in practice the principles of health reform; but this seems a very weak argument, for surely living upon a proper, wholesome diet should have just the opposite effect,—should subdue the passions and direct their minds to their Creator. No, the trouble with so many is that they look too far from home for the real cause. They cannot understand that they themselves are partially, perhaps wholly, to blame. It will well pay every parent to make a searching self-examination, and as soon as possible root out the hindering cause. It may be too late to save some of the older ones who have been so long neglected, but if possible, save the little ones, and do your best for all. It will take judicious personal work, but after all, that is the work that counts with both old and young. When this is properly done, the work of governing becomes easy. Then shall the heart of the fathers be turned to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers.

The Barefoot Boy

By Whittier

O FOR boyhood's painless play, Sleep that wakes in laughing day, Health that mocks the doctor's rules, Knowledge never learned of schools, Of the wild bee's morning chase, Of the wild-flower's time and place, Flight of fowl and habitude, Of the tenants of the wood; How the tortoise bears his shell, How the woodchuck digs his cell, And the ground-mole sinks his well; How the robin feeds her young, How the oriole's nest is hung; Where the whitest lilies blow, Where the freshest berries grow, Where the groundnut trails its vine, Where the wood-grape clusters shine; Of the black wasp's cunning way, Mason of his walls of clay, And the architectural plans Of gray hornet artisans! For, eschewing books and tasks, Nature answers all he asks; Hand in hand with her he walks, Face to face with her he talks, Part and parcel of her joy,— Blessings on the barefoot boy!
O for festal dainties spread, Like my bowl of milk and bread, Pewter spoon and bowl of wood, On the door-stone, gray and rude! O'er me, like a regal tent, Cloudy-ribbed, the sunset bent, Purple-curtained, fringed with gold, Looped in may a wind-swung fold; While for music came the play Of the pied frogs' orchestra; And, to light the noisy choir, Lit the fly his lamp of fire. I was monarch: pomp and joy Waited on the barefoot boy!
Cheerily, then, my little man, Live and laugh, as boyhood can! Though the flinty slopes be hard, Stubble-speared the new-mown sward, Every morn shall lead thee through Fresh baptisms of the dew; Every evening from thy feet Shall the cool wind kiss the heat; All too soon these feet must hide In the prison cells of pride, Lose the freedom of the sod, Like a colt's for work be shod, Made to tread the mills of toil, Up and down in ceaseless moil; Happy if their track be found Never on forbidden ground; Happy if they sink not in Quick and treacherous sands of sin. Ah! that thou couldst know thy joy, Ere it passes, barefoot boy!
— Whittier.

Permission to Reprint Illustrations

Cuts in this article by permission of The Inland Printer, Chicago.

My Heart Is Resting

By Anna L. Waring

“We might all do more than we have done, And not be a whit the worse; It never was loving that emptied the heart, Nor giving that emptied the purse.”
My heart is resting, O my God, I will give thanks and sing; My heart is at the secret source Of every precious thing. — Anna L. Waring.

Be Strong, O Heart

“Be strong to hope, O heart! Though day is bright, The stars can only shine In the dark night. Be strong, O heart of mine, Look toward the light.”

The Faith of a Child

A LITTLE boy lay very sick. His minister came to see him, but finding him weak, spoke few sentences. Before parting, however, he gave the child a verse of five words as a motto, a word for each finger of one hand. The sick boy counted over the words on his pale fingers. Yes; there they were, five only, and one for each knuckle. The—Lord—is—my—Shepherd. “And my is the best of the five,” he said. A few days later another visit was paid to that same home. At the door the sorrowing mother met the minister. “It is all over,” she said; “my little son is dead. But come and see him.” And she led the way to the darkened room. Very thin and white was the little face, very sweet and peaceful was the countenance of the little sleeper. Then the mother drew down the coverlet, and, turning to the minister, said: “That’s the best.” The little hands were crossed, and on the fourth knuckle of the left hand rested still a finger of the other hand. In silence the life had sped, with the hands clasped to utter, “The Lord is my Shepherd.”— Selected.

Now Rest, My Heart

“Now rest, my heart! Canst thou by fretting keep the day From sleeping in the arms of night, Or make one sunbeam longer stay, Or bring one clouded star in sight? Thou canst not keep life's pain away From that soul dearer than thine own, But thou canst trust each sorrow may Bring blossoms where thorns might have grown. Now rest, my heart!”

How He Learned

By Emma Graves Dietrick

Emma Graves Dietrick, in Christian Work
We had a mothers’ meeting one day—not the kind where somebody who doesn’t know what it is to be a busy, tired mother, with more work than time, and more trials than patience, stands up and lectures mothers on their duty.
No, we don’t much believe in such meetings. The kind we had was where a great-hearted mother who lives near the heart of the Master read a few helpful words from the Bible, and then we all forget everything but how we love our children, and how we want the dear Lord’s own help in training them. And so we knelt down, and a number of us put our longings into a sentence or two of prayer. Then we had questions. One mother said, so earnestly, “How can I teach my children politeness?” adding, as she thought perhaps we would think her little ones monsters of rudeness, “I don’t mean about saying, ‘Thank you’ and ‘Please,’ and such things, which they have never been allowed to omit, but I mean going between some one and the fire or the light, and teasing for things when I’m busy with company.” Over the faces of many came the conscious look which said so plainly, “Yes, I know all about it; that’s one of my troubles, too.” A little hush fell as they waited for the answer of the leader. With a smile, she said to the young mother who had asked the question, “Why, my dear, you answered yourself,” and seeing the puzzled look, she added, “You spoke of ‘things they have never been allowed to omit,’ did you not? That is the secret of habitual courtesy. If a little one finds that teasing never succeeds, he will soon drop it. And for the other things mentioned, I believe that if mothers themselves were more careful, their children would be.”
A mother I know had need one evening to pass between the light and her little son. With sweet, grave courtesy she said, “Will you excuse me, dear, if I pass between you and the light?” He looked up and said, “What made you ask me that, mama?” And she answered, “Because, dear, it would be rude to do it without speaking. I would not think of not speaking if it had been Mr. —— (the minister), and surely I would not be ruder to my own dear boy.” The boy thought a moment, and then said, “Mama, what did I ought to said back?” And mama replied, “What do you think would be nice?” He studied over it awhile, for he was such a wee laddie, and then said, “Would it be nice to say, ‘Sure you can’?” This was mama’s time to say, “That would be nice, but how would you like to say, just as Mr. —— would, ‘Certainly’?”—it means the same thing, you know.”
And that little lad, now a young man in college, is remarked for his never-failing courtesy. A friend said of him the other day, “It’s second nature to —— to be polite,” and the mother smiled as she thanked God in her heart for the grace that had helped her to be unfailingly courteous to her boy.
Is it any wonder that he wrote to a friend of his mother, “Her life preaches too eloquently to me to need any wordy effort on her part”?
Mother, how are you training God’s boy?
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