YES, Naaman saw things differently now. Religion had ceased to be a mere matter of opinion; it had become a matter of personal experience and conviction.
Instead of "Behold, I thought," words which we are all ready enough to use on religious questions, he could say, "Behold, now I know." He was a changed man altogether. The wounded pride which had made him turn away in a rage when he received Elisha's message, has given place to true humility. The prejudice and unbelief which made him scorn the thought of bathing in Jordan, have vanished before the manifestation of divine power: and now, Syrian and idolater as he was, he can witness for God in perfect confidence. That great foundation truth, which by its very nature lies outside the range of scientific or philosophical demonstration, has become to him a matter of absolute certainty. "Behold, now I know," he cries, "that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel."
There are still, alas, too many people in the "Behold, I thought" stage. They can not let religion alone, because they are conscious of a deep need within. But there is an idol in their heart which shuts out all real blessing.
It is the idol of their own opinions, to which, altho continually shifting, they hold on as if they thought themselves infallible. They have not yielded themselves to Him who is Himself the truth. Religion is to them a mere matter of opinion, hence they meet the plainest direction of God's Word with the one objection, "Behold, I thought." Those who do not know, may be left to play at ninepins with their own opinions, setting up their own and knocking down other people's as they please. There may be a good deal in your favor, as there was with Naaman, but at the end Scripture adds the fatal words, "but a leper." You are not perhaps conscious of it. It does not interfere much with your comfort. The leprosy may, like Naaman's, be confined to one place — "I thought, He will . . . strike his hand over the place;" and that spot may be amply covered by a splendid uniform. Yes, there may be nothing outwardly loathsome or repulsive about your sin. You perhaps look down upon the drunkard or blasphemer as belonging to a totally different class from yourself, for their leprosy shows, while yours is gracefully concealed; but for all that, you know you are a sinner.
Naaman was more than an imperfect specimen of humanity; he was a leper, totally corrupt and unclean. And your heart is just the same. The Saviour said, "Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies." It was so then, and it is so still. Men have learned in these days to sin with elegance and unblushing audacity. But the heart is just as unclean as ever. Selfishness, greed, pride, lust, are the very woof and warp of our fallen nature. Civilization may conceal the evil, but it can not remove it. There is no need of arguments to prove this. It is a fact to which the heart of every honest man bears witness. You know that you are unclean. And when God does a work of pardon and cleansing, you will be as conscious of the salvation as you were of the sin. "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God."
No argument from without can take the place of the witness from within. No man's religion is the reality it should be, until he can say with Naaman, "Behold, now I know." Let there be the persevering obedience of faith. Naaman dipped himself seven times. Had he stopped after four or five dips only, he would have lost the blessing. You must believe not once, but continually. You must believe and keep on believing, until God seals you with His Holy Spirit, and you know that you are His.
Then face the world, and say, "Behold, now I know."
Lewiston, Idaho.
Our Bible Reading
How Men Obey the Law
1. What is the attitude of the carnal mind to the law of God?
“For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Rom. 8: 6, 7.
2. What is further said in regard to living according to the flesh, or the “carnal mind”?
“So then they that are in the flesh can not please God.” “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” Rom. 8: 8, 12, 13.
3. How do we escape this fleshly or carnal mind, that is not in harmony with the law of God, and that brings death?
“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.” Rom. 8: 9-11.
4. When admitted into the heart and life of the individual, what does the Spirit of God bring with Him, to give us victory over the carnal mind?
“Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Acts 1: 8.
5. For this work of witnessing to the ends of the earth, how extensive is the power that the Saviour promises?
“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Matt. 28: 18-20.
6. What is the channel through which the Spirit of God, with His mighty power, operates?
“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” Eph. 6: 17.
“It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” John 6: 63.
7. Then since it is the spiritually minded that are to have power over sin, what mind are we exhorted to have?
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 2: 5.
Diderot’s Lesson to His Daughter
A MEMBER of the French Academy went to see Diderot, an able champion of infidelity, and found him explaining a chapter of the Gospel to his daughter as seriously as a Christian parent. The visitor expressed surprise. 'I understand you,' said Diderot, 'but, in truth, what better lesson could I give her?'
"Stormy Wind Fulfilling His Word"
A FEW months more than six years ago the whole civilized world was shocked and stood aghast for a short time because of the awful destruction wrought in San Francisco by earthquake and by the fire that followed. All the great business district and much of the residence portion of one of the great cities of earth was first terribly shaken and then reduced to ashes. Following this destruction in the great metropolis of the Pacific there have been numerous other disasters of appalling magnitude. They have scattered themselves through South America, Mexico, the West Indies, Southern Europe, Alaska, and other parts of the earth, as well as on the sea. These calamities
that are coming with such marked frequency have made it quite a common thing for a newspaper or magazine to have an article at the beginning of the year setting forth the damage done by the unusual disasters of the year before.
Already this year is making a big record. There have been, among others, great upheavals and volcanic actions in Alaska; the great earthquake of a few days ago that shook Turkey and much adjoining territory; and then the tornadoes and other storms and disturbances that have spread destruction in divers places. In one or two instances whole villages have been practically wiped off the map.
But perhaps the worst of the tornadoes is the one that visited Regina, in the province of Saskatchewan, Canada, on Sunday evening, June 30. From a brochure entitled "Regina Before and After Cyclone, June 30, 1912," and published by P. T. Evans and K. L. Fenney, Regina, we gather the facts that follow, and select the photographs on this and the next page that so vividly portray to the eye the destruction that was wrought. Their pamphlet as a whole is striking and full of interest, and it is well worth while for any one to get it for permanent preservation.
The storm struck the city at about 5 P.M., and did all its destructive work in about three minutes time. The damaged section was three blocks wide and about twelve blocks long. Thirty persons were killed, 200 were injured, and 2,500 were rendered homeless. Five hundred buildings were wrecked and damaged, and the property loss is estimated at $4,000,000. The following paragraphs quoted from Evans and Fenney tell something of the courage and generosity that fill the people of the stricken city:
"Eighteen hours after the cyclone had completed its work, thousands of men were at work clearing the debris and repairing such buildings as could be repaired. Many buildings, completely demolished, are being rebuilt. There is still plenty to be done, but with the large army of workmen now employed on the task, it is only a matter of a few months until outward trace of the cyclone will have passed.
"The city has under consideration a plan for the relief of the homeless by rebuilding their homes on long-time loans."
Perhaps one of the saddest things in the way of the destruction of buildings was that of the large Metropolitan Methodist Church. It was said to have been one of the finest church buildings in the West, and was completed some eighteen months ago at a cost of over $100,000. It is so badly wrecked that it will have to be rebuilt from the ground up.
Regina has made the most rapid growth, during the past five years, of any city in Canada. It is a great railroad center, and has immense warehouses in which to store the wheat and other grain that is produced in such great abundance in that section. The prosperity of the surrounding farms may be understood best by observing that Regina makes the claim of being the largest distributor of agricultural implements, not merely in Canada, but in the world. The city is also noted for its splendid parliament buildings, its fine residential streets and homes, for its banks, its municipally owned street-railway; and plans were already completed on May 1 for the erection of some seven million dollars worth of buildings this year.
But right into the midst of this great material prosperity and growth came the awful disaster of June 30. And in view of the fact that these storms and the great upheavals of the earth are becoming so frequent and so destructive, we find people on every hand asking for the meaning of it all. Scientific men are making exhaustive and expensive research to ascertain if possible the cause of increasing earthquake, volcano, and disastrous storm. Various theories are advanced, but no theory presents a workable plan by which the destructive forces of nature may be permanently calmed. There is one authority, however, that states more than a mere theory in the case. This authority tells its story so in harmony with the actual facts and conditions as we see them on every hand, that we can not resist the conviction that it is speaking in a masterly way the exact truth. A few lines from this authority read:
"Then said He unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. . . . And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." Luke 21: 10, 11, 25-28.
When the One who uttered the foregoing words had concluded His Sermon on the Mount, it was stated of Him that "He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes." Matt. 7: 29. And we present His words, not as a theory, but as authority in this matter. Observe that He tells us of signs that will appear in sun, moon, and stars. There will be great earthquakes, and they11will be in divers places; there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven; upon the earth there will be distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves will be roaring; and all this mighty and disastrous commotion will be of such a character that men's hearts will be failing them for fear as they are looking after those things that are coming on the earth. Finally, as the great climax to this disturbance, the powers of heaven shall be shaken. "And then shall they see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory."
Metropolitan Methodist Church as wrecked by the tornado
Another of the various scriptures that may be read on this subject is the following:
"And I beheld when He had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; and the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig-tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every freeman, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; and said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: for the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?" Rev. 6: 12-17.
Students of prophecy to the extent of a great host believe that we are now living in the time when the sixth seal has been opened, and we are even now passing into the shadows of the sublimely awful and supernaturally striking scenes and terrors that are to mark the very closing agonies of this world's struggle in sin. You will say that such a thought terrifies you, and that you do not want to hear anything about it. But trying to shut your ears and eyes to the evidence will not stop the progress of fulfilling prophecy. He whose voice commands the worlds in their sweeping orbits has spoken, and His words will be literally fulfilled.
But we need not be filled with terrors at the thought of what is coming on the earth. For did not the Master say in one of the foregoing texts, "When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh"? Luke 21: 28. And then we have the following beautiful promises in the psalm that applies so strikingly right in this time:
"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust. Surely He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation; there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling." Ps. 91: 1-10.
When the noisome pestilence is stalking through the land; when there is the terror by night and the arrow by day; when destruction is wasting at noonday, and a thousand are falling at the side and ten thousand at the right hand,—even then it is said, "Thou shalt not be afraid," for you are resting "under the shadow of the Almighty," and "surely He shall deliver thee."
The individual who knows the meaning of these things, and who is standing with his Lord, will have his heart thrilled, and thrilled, and thrilled, with indescribable joys, as he sees the evidence heaped upon evidence showing that soon he will see his Master coming in the clouded robes of glory and attended by the shining throng of all the angelic host. At the same time, this same individual will be urging home the evidence of the Master's coming upon every mind and heart that he can reach. And the only tinge of sadness that crosses his track is occasioned by the fact that so many will persist in scoffing at the insurmountable evidence that shows that the end of all things is at hand. He is saddened at the thought that men will continue to scoff till their probation closes, and then they will fulfil the Scripture in calling for the rocks and mountains to fall on them and hide them from the face of Him who sits on the great white throne.
Where will we be standing when the climax is reached and the great day is here? T.
The work of the tornado on Cornwall Street, Regina
THE OUTLOOK
Destruction on Lorne Street, Regina
Lorne Street, Regina, showing a section where the buildings were utterly destroyed, with others only partially destroyed
Saying "I am Strong"
ITALY'S war with Turkey is costing her about $500,000 a day. It has cost her all together, up to the present time, about $150,000,000. Patrizi, the scholarly editor of L'Italia, says that it was necessary for them to declare war on Turkey, or face a revolution at home. The outrages committed by the Turks against his people in Tripoli had made the people at home so angry that they demanded the war. He says that Turkey had despised Italy because of her supposed weakness, but the prosecution of the war has shown that Italy is one of the strong, modern, military powers. One of the prophecies that we know applies right in this time reads:
"Proclaim ye this among the nations; prepare war; stir up the mighty men; let all the men of war draw near, let them come up. Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning-hooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong. Haste ye, and come, all ye nations round about, and gather yourselves together: thither cause Thy mighty ones to come down, O Jehovah. Let the nations bestir themselves, and come up to the valley of Jehoshapat; for there will I sit to judge all the nations round about. Put ye in the sickle; for the harvest is ripe: come, tread ye; for the wine-press is full, the vats overflow; for their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! for the day of Jehovah is near in the valley of decision." Joel 3:9-14.
The foregoing prophetic utterance, together with many more of a like import, tells plainly that the war spirit will be raging in the closing days of this earth's history. The weak nations will be saying, "I am strong." They will be beating their plowshares and pruning-hooks into implements of war; they will bestir themselves for the mad strife. The literal way in which these and all the many other prophecies relating to this time are being fulfilled should cause men to think. Everything points to the fact that the career of this world in its course of sin is about to be terminated.
Every day is adding some new chapter to the story of the police corruptions in New York City. The despatches are now saying that the mayor himself is involved in it, and that during the last eight years the profits to the gamblers under police protection in that great city have amounted to $93,400,000. This sum shows only their profits after deducting their expenses. Their gross income was something like $120,000,000. Now added to this scandal in New York is the arrest, on August 9, of sixteen aldermen in Detroit, Michigan, the arrest of at least two more to follow, charged with the crime of defrauding the city by various grafting methods. Then there comes the news, right in connection with this, that Oakland, California, is talking of starting on a similar so-called "house cleaning." The "Vice Commission" of Chicago has told of the terrible conditions existing there. The evidence is piling up on every hand, showing that our great cities are rapidly coming into the hands of thieves and robbers. The very police officer that is paid by the people to protect life and property is allied to the criminal element and is making gain of the evil combination. Is it to be wondered at, in view of all these facts, that the prophet of old singled out the cities for prominent mention by saying that "all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the Lord, and by His fierce anger"? Jer. 4:26.
China and the International Money Power
By Editor
The charge is openly made that the new republic of China is being "held up" by the money power of the six nations that are trying to make her a loan of $300,000,000. They insist that China shall borrow that much, and that it shall be expended under the direction of an official that the six powers may appoint. In other words, they say that they must still look after the spending of the money after they have loaned it. It is all right for the money lender to know that his security is sound, and he should have confidence in the ability of the borrower to use wisely what is loaned to him; for the principal, with reasonable interest, should be returned. But that is very different from making a loan in such a way as to gain control of the business and resources of the borrower. If other evidence were lacking, this one proposed deal is sufficient to show that we have an international money power that is in full command. The nations must all bow to it.
The Campaign Against Consumption
It is estimated that 100,000 pulpits in America, on Sunday, October 27, will preach to 30,000,000 people on the necessity for concerted action in exterminating consumption. It is a matter in which every one should take a lively interest. It has not been so very long since it was considered by every one that consumption was an absolutely incurable disease. But now it is demonstrated that it may be cured by the proper use of an abundance of fresh air, in connection with nourishing food. And not only may it be cured, but much of it can be prevented altogether by proper care.
Prodigal Spending of Vast Fortunes
By Editor
Mrs. Vanderbilt and Mrs. Fish will spend $50,000—quite a good sized fortune for most people—on two social occasions. One will be on August 19 and the other August 23. It has not been so very many years that we have had persons with fortunes large enough that they could afford to spend $50,000 as a mere incident of one week. The vast fortunes that are being piled up are one of the remarkable features of this time, and the prodigal manner in which some of this money is spent is quite as much to be remarked about.
National Department of Labor Bill
Congressman Sulzer has succeeded in securing the passage of a bill by the House creating a national department of labor that will have a secretary with a seat in the Cabinet. Should the Senate give its approval, the bill will become a law.
San Francisco Labor Day Parade
Arrangements have been completed by the labor organizations of San Francisco for 35,000 wage-earners to march in the Labor Day parade on September 2.
The Family Circle the School of Christ
By Ellen G. White
By Mrs. E. G. White
THE family institution is a divine ordinance. Parents stand in the place of God to their children. How grievous in the sight of heaven is the neglect of parents to train their children for the future immortal life! Christians should look upon children as the younger members of the Lord's family, entrusted to the parents and to the church to be trained up as children of God, to be brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. The Christian family is to be a school of Christ, where parents are to be the visible teachers, but Christ Himself the great invisible Teacher. The lessons which Christ imparts to the parents they are to repeat to their children line upon line and precept upon precept. Patiently, tenderly, and lovingly their steps are to be guided in the narrow path of holiness. Parents are not to compel their children to have a form of religion, but they are to place eternal principles before them in an attractive light.
The mother is to teach the children through their earlier years; and in order to fulfil her great responsibility, she needs to be molded and fashioned after the similitude of the character of Christ. She is never to use her influence fitfully, unwisely, or arbitrarily, simply because it is in her power to do so. She must ever remember that she must render up an account to God for the way she has done her entrusted work. The father should see to it that the mother is not overburdened with the care of many children. Children are not to be crowded upon her so that her physical strength and training capabilities are taxed. Men and women should carefully, conscientiously consider, with an eye single to the glory of God, what is involved in bringing children into the world. When mothers bring forth children in rapid succession, the burdens of caring for and training them are so heavy that they become discouraged, and are not able to accomplish the work that they should in educating their numerous and fast increasing flock.
A mother is but a human being, and the husband and father of the family should unite his efforts with hers in building up a proper family discipline. If he neglects to do his part, failure is registered in the books of heaven against his name, and he will have to give an account of himself before the great white throne. Many fathers think family discipline a light matter, and it does not enter their minds that they have a part to act in cheerfully training and governing the children. The father frequently manifests passion and impatience, and alienates the hearts of his children from him, and yet he often charges the blame of this upon the poor management of the mother. Let Christian parents take heed how they deal with the younger members of the Lord's family. The father and mother should always be at agreement, not working counter to each other, in order that right impressions may be made on the minds of their children. Let parents seek wisdom of God; for He has said, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not."
It is the privilege of parents to rear their children in a divine atmosphere. As soon as the little ones are intelligent to understand, parents should tell to them the story of Jesus, that they may drink in the precious truth concerning the Babe of Bethlehem. Impress upon the children's minds sentiments of simple piety that are adapted to their years and ability. Bring your children in prayer to Jesus, for He has made it possible for them to learn religion as they learn to frame the words of the language. Let children hear from the lips of their mother words of gentleness, purity, and truth. Let her maintain her authority, permitting no disobedience on the part of her children. Command your children and your household after you, as did Abraham, to keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment. Parents must keep their hearts and minds in the love of God, and bring their children to the altar of prayer, where day by day the household may offer up supplication and thanksgiving.
When parents become old, and have young children to bring up, the father is likely to feel that the children must follow in the sturdy, rugged path in which he himself is traveling. It is difficult for him to realize that his children are in need of having life made pleasant and happy for them by their parents. Many parents deny the children an indulgence in that which is safe and innocent, and are so afraid of encouraging them in cultivating desires for unlawful things that they will not even allow their children to have the enjoyment that children should have. Through fear of evil results, they refuse permission to indulge in some simple pleasure that would have saved the very evil they seek to avoid, and thus the children think there is no use in expecting any favors, and therefore will not ask for them. They steal away to the pleasures they think will be forbidden. Confidence between the parents and children is thus destroyed. If fathers and mothers have not themselves had a happy childhood, why should they shadow the lives of their children because of their own great loss in this respect? The father may think that this is the only course that will be safe to pursue; but let him remember that all minds are not constituted alike, and the greater the efforts made to restrict, the more uncontrollable will be the desire to obtain that which is denied, and the result will be disobedience to parental authority. The father will be grieved by what he considers the wayward course of his son, and his heart will feel sore over his rebellion. But would it not be well for him to consider the fact that the first cause of his son's disobedience was his own unwillingness to indulge him in that in which there was no sin? The father thinks that sufficient reason is given for his son's abstaining from his indulgence since he has denied it to him. But parents should remember that their children are intelligent beings, and they should deal with them as they themselves would like to be dealt with.
It is true that Christ is to be the model for children. He was subject to His parents; but Christ is also the father's example, and His tender love should be shown by His human agent. The father should be enabled to say, "Thy gentleness hath made me great." Christ is the model of perfection, in both outward manner and inward grace, for He was meek and gentle of heart. He did not break the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax. He enjoyed seeing children and youth happy. He never spoke an unkind, discourteous word. Even in His denunciations of the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, keen and searching tho they were, there was no manifestation of an irritated temper. Divine grace alone can correct our objectionable tendencies.
When circumstances arise that tempt and irritate us, we should manifest love and sympathy, and cultivate patience under every provocation to anger. Under trying circumstances parents may think it right to manifest sternness; but this is the time when they will need to apply the oil of grace in order to prevent friction in the family. Harshness of temper must be softened and subdued by the love of Christ, in order that parents may be able to deal wisely with their children. When, by the wrong course of some members of the family, a most difficult combination of things comes into existence, which is hard to harmonize, different manifestations of mind will make themselves apparent in those who are to be reproved. Some will be excessively sensitive, others manifest a cold, proud reserve, others be nervous and timid, and others still be excessively irritable. Under such circumstances there will always be need of forbearance, patience, and love. Let all by repentance, forgiveness, and love seek to bring all the sunshine that is possible into the home life, that alienation may be healed, and the family come into unity.
The Christian must modify his stern traits of character through the grace of Christ, and cultivate that which is gentle and peaceful. Great harm is done to the cause of Christ when Christians permit their unholy traits of character to misrepresent the gentle, courteous spirit of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Old age at times expects too much of inexperienced youth, and youth expect too much of the aged. Let all take Christ for their example, who never spoke a hasty, discourteous word, or performed a rude action. It is just as much the sacred duty of the aged to grow old gracefully, mellowing in disposition in the autumn of life, as it is for the youth to represent the graces of the character of Christ. Manners are the expression of character, and divine grace can do everything to sanctify the character. Therefore, "let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus."
What Hast Thou Done for God?
By Faber
My soul, what hast thou done for God?
Look o'er thy misspent years and see.
Sum up what thou hast done for God,
And then what God hath done for thee.
—Faber.
