"that I can be saved without doing anything." he was saying this, a little boy, of about eleven years of age who had been looking out a passage in his Bible, touched the lady, and, holding the Bible open, said, "Please read that to him." It was Romans iv. 5: But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." The lady read it. The man listened most attentively, and after a little exclaimed, "It's a fact! God says it 'to him that worketh not.'" The word to all appearance entered his soul with saving power, and then in the warmth of his gratitude, grasping the lady's hand, he said, "I'll thank you all the days of my life!"

Jesus

What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.-JOHN vi. 28, 29.

Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.-2 COR. vii. 1.

October 2.

GREAT INIQUITY NEEDS A GREAT FORGIVENESS,
AND GOD GIVES IT.

WH

HEN, long centuries ago, these awful words were heard in the streets of Nineveh, "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown," there was not only dismay on every side, but the people, believing the warning, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least, and began to cry mightily unto God. As to the result, however, the utmost they could venture to say was, "Who can tell if

God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?"

How widely different is our case. We have certainty where they had but conjecture; and therefore, while they could only cry, "Who can tell?" we can unhesitatingly declare "that there is forgiveness with God, that he be feared."

may

This forgiveness is the grand blessing of the gospel, and is attainable only through the precious blood of God's dear Son. The death of Christ was not a mere example of patient suffering, but a true expiation, and apart from it never could a holy God clear and justify a guilty sinner. He might without it be just, and let the sinner perish, or, on the other hand, be merciful, and let truth and righteousness be darkened; but he could not be both. Happily, however, in Christ he can be at once a just God and a Saviour; and so ample is his forgiving mercy, that there is absolutely nothing between the sinner and immediate salvation but unbelief.

"As every sin," says Caryl, "has the more need of pardon by how much the greater it is, so God will have the more glory in pardoning by how much the greater it is." And he adds, "Mercy covereth those iniquities which we confess, and those which we conceal shall be discovered by justice."

For thy name's sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.— Ps. xxv. 11.

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.-EPH. i. 7.

The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.-1 JOHN i. 7.

October 3.

IT IS POOR HEARING THAT IS NOT FOLLOWED
BY HEARTY DOING.

HE man who published so zealously in Decapolis how

THE

great things Jesus had done for him, was no mere hearer of the word, but a doer as well; and what he did was so evidently done with his whole heart that all men did marvel.

When Christ is revealed to us, we should immediately seek to reveal him to others. Indeed, a holy evangelistic activity is the only thing that will keep our own religion healthful. While the stream keeps running, it keeps pure; but let it cease to flow, and it will speedily become stagnant, and breed corruption and death.

In the fulfilment of this duty there must be no loitering, for many whose claims were pressing have already gone where our voice cannot reach them, nor our prayers profit; and at no distant day we too must pass hence, and therefore the urgently-needed work now left undone by us may never be done at all. Are there not some of you," one asks, "who can enjoy being a Christian while your dearest friend is not? What were you hired for, if it was not to work; what were you saved for, if it was not to spread salvation?"

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On one occasion, when Mr. Spurgeon was urging the same duty, he was led to say from the pulpit that perhaps there was a mother present who had been intending to speak to her daughter Jane about her soul, but she had not done so; and then entreated her, the moment she reached home, to put her arms around her child's

neck, and invite her to come to Christ. A few days after, he received a letter from a woman who had been present, saying that he had exactly described her case. She had a daughter named Jane; she had intended to speak to her, but had not done so. "But I went home," she said, "after hearing you, put my arms round her neck, and entreated her to come to Jesus. She did so; is now, I trust, converted; and is coming to speak with you about joining the church." "God knows," Mr. Spurgeon added, "the names of your daughters, and can tell his ministers their names also."

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.-JAMES i. 22.

If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.-JOHN xiii. 17. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. -MATT. vii. 21.

October 4.

THERE IS NO TRAINING LIKE BIBLE TRAINING.

MUCH may be learned from what Moses said to Israel

in the name of the Lord: "Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them;" and, "These words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children." It is Bible training that is here enjoined; and no training is like it, because it comes with all the weight of divine authority-"Thou shalt teach the words which I command thee."

This of itself is an all-important element, especially for practical purposes. Even when instruction is seemingly

wise and excellent, and in every way appropriate, it may yet be utterly impotent for good simply from lack of authority. It is only man dealing with man; and considering the moral obstacles to be overcome, this is never of itself enough. Nothing has the power or majesty of a "Thus saith the Lord;" and when prayerfully used in faith, it imparts to parental counsellings a marvellous efficacy.

Moreover, all Bible training is linked with promised blessing; for it is written, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it." "Two ways lie before every child-the way in which he would go, headlong to ruin, and the way in which he should go, the pathway to heaven." Now, in endeavouring to train up children in the latter way, and as God directs, this promise gives great encouragement. Even the child of many prayers, it is true, and of many efforts, may for long bitterly disappoint the fondest hopes by the grievousness of his departure from the right way; yet if faith hold out, whatever he may do in the beginning, sooner or later, through grace, smothered convictions will revive, and, like the prodigal of old, he will return penitent and loving to his Father's house. Let Christian parents, even in darkest hours, only believe like Abraham, and hope against hope, and they shall never be put to shame.

The promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.-ACTS ii. 39.

Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen. For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring.-ISA. xliv. 2, 3.