£ 3 °\ 5 3 °) 369 cS 'K 5 PANSIES FOR THOUGHTS FROM THE WRITINGS OF PANSY — MRS G R ALDEN COMPILED AND ARRANGED WITH AN APPROPRIATE TEXT FOR EACH DAY BY GRACE LIVINGSTON Author of A Chautauqua Idyl BOSTON D LOTHROP COMPANY FRANKLIN AND HAWLEY STREETS Copyright, 1888, BY D. Lothrop Company. Presswork by Berwick & Smith, Boston. 24 Z rilSp <^P-A PREFACE. I have followed with absorbing interest the com- pilation of this volume. As I have watched the fair young head bent from day to day over “ The Deathless Book,” making quotations from its in- spired pages that should repeat and emphasize my own thoughts, there has been a grateful, uplifting, humbling realization of the fact that I was being linked with immortality ! For certainly the words that accompany my simple ones make each page glow with a light that shall have power to shine even to the very gates of the eternal city. Moreover, as I have watched ihe thoughtful face of the compiler brighten and flush, and her eyes grow earnest while her heart took in some solemn charge of the Master, I have felt that, as she transmitted it to paper, there went with it a prayer that the Holy Spirit who had guided her choice, would use these pages in a way to lead some souls daily higher, and higher, even into the “shining light” of the “perfect day.” In this wish and prayer I join her earnestly, as the little book goes out to do its work. Pansy. Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016 https://archive.org/details/pansiesforthough00pans_0 JANUARY. 1. The Lord knows the end from the be- ginning, and nothing is surer than that He uses His children to carry out His plans. An Endless Chain. “ He knowetli thy walking through this great wil- derness.” 2. This is my verse when I am discour- aged: “ Wait on the Lord; be of good courage and he shall strengthen thine heart : wait, I say, on the Lord.” Ester Ried. “ No word He hath spoken , Was ever yet broken.” 3. “ Pity’s sake ! if you weren’t going to be a better woman by ten thousand times when you get to heaven than you are here, why, heaven would be an out and out disap- pointment, that’s all,” said Priscilla Hunter. Miss Priscilla Hunter. “ And as we have borne the image of the earthly , we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.” 5 6 JANUARY. 4. Conscience, working all alone, is a very uncomfortable and disagreeable com- panion, and often accomplishes for the time being nothing beyond making his victim disagreeable. The Chautauqua Girls at Home. “ Their conscience also hearing witness , and their thoughts the meanwhile accusing or else excusing one another.” 5. You take a diamond and throw it down in the dirt and filth, and put your foot on it and grind it in, and leave it there, sinking and soiling, day after day, year after year, and when somebody comes along and picks it out, how much will it gleam for Him at first ? Yet the diamond is there. Ester Ried yet Speaking. “ Thou slialt he a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.” 6. “ Peace with God ! ” It expresses so much ! Peace is greater than joy, or com- fort, or rest. Ruth Erskine’s Crosses. “ And let the peace of God rule in your hearts , to the which also you are called in one body.” JANUARY. 7 7. Mine is the doing when He says the word, but His is the bringing to pass. And that, you see, is the end of all worrying and planning and doubt. There is no rest nor comfort outside of that conclusion. The Randolphs. “ Then he said unto the man , Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth ; and it was re- stored whole , like as the other ” 8. A sweet-faced cooing baby, arrayed in fine white-broidered garments, with bright eyes and dimpled chin, and mouth that breaks into radiant smiles whenever one looks that way, is an exquisite bit of enjoy- ment for anybody. Mrs. Solomon Smith. “ And when she saw that he was a goodly child she hid him three months” 9. What a fearful world it would be if things just happened , with nobody to man- age or control ! An Endless Chain. “ For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro through- out the whole earth , to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.” 8 JANUARY. 10. We grieve sometimes that we can- not know people’s hearts, and foresee what would please, and what would irritate. Hearts calm down wonderfully sometimes ; what need then to know of their depths while at boiling point ? But what sights must the all-seeing God look down upon ! Sights in tenderness shut away from the gaze of His weak children. A New Graft. “ For He knoweth the secrets of the heart” 11. “Dilligent in business, serving the Lord.” There is no period dividing these. I long ago discovered that I could make a bed and sweep a room for His sake, as surely as I could speak a word for Him. A New Graft. “ Faith is the golden thread on vihich we string for offering , Our feeble deeds of poor self-sacrifice; Unworthy gifts , yet in His grace , the King Accounts them pearls of price” JANUARY. 9 12. I know people who suppose it would be almost irreverent to take their domestic bewilderments to Christ. I cannot think what kind of a friend they imagine Him to be, if they are afraid to go to Him with everything. The Pocket Measure. “ Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.” 13. Although the Lord is gracious and forbearing, and kindly gives me the work to do here and there for Him, He can, when He chooses, get along entirely without any help. Three People. “ For of him , and through him , and to him , are all things : to whom be glory forever.” 14. You may often speak words which spring up, and bear fruit that reaches up to God ; though you do not know it, and will not, until in heaven you take your crown, and question why there are so many stars. Tip Lewis and His Lamp. “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” 10 JANUARY. 15. The heart must understand that what- ever the Lord directs it intends to do, or there is no opening of the door for Him. Eighty-Seven. “ All that the Lord hath said we will do , and he obedient .” 16. To God, nothing that an immortal soul can say, appears trivial, because he sees the waves of influence which are stirred years ahead by the quiet words. Ruth Erskine’s Crosses. “ Words are things of little cost , Quickly spoken, quickly lost ; We forget them, hut they stand Witnesses at God's right hand ; And their testimony hear For us, or against us there." IT. There is no place on the road so dark but that the Bible can light you through, if you try it. When you don’t understand it, there is always Jesus to go to, you know. Tip Lewis and His Lamp. “ Thy loord is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. ” JANUARY. 11 18. God’s son ! To go to Him, saying, “ Father, what shall I do about this ? ” and, u What would you advise as to that ? ” Eighty-Seven. “ 1 will be his God, and he shall be my son.” 19. God never promised to compromise with his own, never promised to hear a prayer which began with an “ If.” Entire consecration means all the “ ifs ” thrown down at the feet of the Lord for Him to control as He will. Ruth Erskine’s Crosses. “ Nevertheless’, not as I will , but as thou wilt.” 20. Is it so strange a thing that the Lord can keep his own ? Three People. “ He will not suffer thy foot to be moved : He that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold , He that keepeth Israel shall neither slum- ber nor sleep. The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.” 12 JANUARY. 21. It is wonderful, after all, how rarely in this wicked world we meet with other than respect in answer to a frank avowal of our determination to be on the Lord’s side. The Chautauqua Girls at Home. “ Wherefore Thou art great , 0, Lord God: for there is none like Thee , neither is there any God beside Thee , according to all that we have heard with our ears.” 22 Individual effort is so necessary that I have thought perhaps the Holy Spirit turns our thoughts most directly toward one person at a time, so that we may concentrate our efforts. A New Graft. “ While Peter thought on the vision , the Spirit said unto him, Behold , three men seek thee. Arise therefore, and get thee down , and go with them, doubting nothing : for I have sent them.” 23. I don’t know how a thoughtful man can ever reject the idea of an overruling Providence. The Randolphs. “ The fool hath said in his heart , There is no God.” JANUARY. 13 24. Shall you and I ever stand beside a new-made grave, receiving one whom we have known ever so slightly, and have to settle with our conscience and our Saviour, because we have not invited that one to come to Jesus ? Ester Ried. “ And the Lord said unto Cain , Where is Abel thy brother f And he said , I know not: am I my brothers keeper ? ” 25. Never mind whether you are now one of His children or not ; claim the place of a child because you need to be, and wish to be, and mean to be one from this moment. The Pocket Measure. “ Beloved , now are we the sons of God.” 26. “ She came finally to understand that the point was not, Was I a Christian last year, or last week, or even yesterday ? but, Do I mean to be one to-day — now ? The Randolphs. “ If a man abide not in Me , he is cast forth as a branch , and is withered ; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” 14 JANUARY. 27. The flush had died away from Buth’s face ; she was growing very pale. This was a rapid descent from the mount whereon she had been standing : only a moment before, she had felt as though earth and its com- monplaces could not touch her again ; be- cause she had been permitted for a moment to stand face to face with Jesus Christ. Yet here was the keen, cruel world at her very elbow ! Judge Burnham’s Daughters. “ In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good comfort : I have overcome the world” 28. I don’t know whether it will work or not; and what is more, I never shall know until I try. There has many a thing been accomplished in this world that never would have been, had people settled it in their minds that it couldn’t be done before they had made vigorous efforts to do it. My Daughter Susan. “ I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” JANUARY. 15 29. Isn’t it pleasant to think that in all those little things He is watching over you, and that you make Him glad when you do them well ? Tip Lewis and His Lamp. “ He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much : and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.” 30. “ Cleanse thou me from secret faults,” prayed the inspired writer. May he not have meant those faults so secret that it takes the voice of God to reveal them to our hearts ? Ruth Erskine’s Crosses. “ For the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” 31. I can think of a good many things which we call right enough, that, measured by Paul’s test, would have to be given up. The Chautauqua Girls at Home. “ But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak.” FEBRUARY. 1. “ Who forgiveth all thine iniquities.” What a salvation ! Able to forgive trans- gression, to cover sin, to remember it no more. The Chautauqua Girls at Home. “ Bearing shame and scoffing rude , In my place condemned He stood ; Sealed my pardon with His blood : Hallelujah , what a Saviour!” 2. You can find plenty of work if you look for it ; only don’t look too far, because it is the little bits of things, which come right in your way, that Jesus wants yon to do. Tip Lewis and His Lamp. “ Well done , thou good and faithful servant ; thou hast been faithful over a few things , I will make thee ruler over many things : enter thou into the joy of thy Lord” 3. You don’t know what a relief it is to go right to the Lord with your worries. The Man of the House. “ Casting all your care upon him ; for he careth for you” FEBRUARY. 17 4. There will be no such thing as that hateful word “ disappointment” up in heaven, bless the Lord; haven’t I His own word for it ? Didn’t He say we should be satisfied ? I wonder what it feels like to be satisfied! Miss Priscilla Hunter. “ I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness .” 5. It did not say : “ My grace is sufficient for the great and trying experiences of this life, but for the little every day annoyances and trials which tempt you — you must look out for yourself.” It was just an unlimited promise. Ruth Erskine’s Crosses. “ God is faithful , who will not suffer • you to be tempted above that ye are able ; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape , that ye may be able to bear it.” 6. I take it that God permits all faithful service to be for His glory. The Randolphs. “ That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.” 18 FEBRUARY. 7. Of course some change must come ; nothing ever stayed for any length of time, just as it was ; but what would the change be ? It came in an unexpected manner, per- haps that is the common way with changes. Judge Burnham’s Daughters. “ Watch ye, therefore; for ye know not when the master of the house cometli — Lest coming suddenly, he find you sleeping ” 8. Every woman owns a little piece of the world ; I do, so does everybody, why can’t each one look out for her own little corner ? My Daughter Susan. “ Every one over against his house” 9. It is His own voice speaking. Go to Him for help, and as sure as the sun shines above these clouds you will get just what you need. The Pocket Measure. “ So the Lord shall make bright clouds” FEBRUARY. 19 10. “Then said Jesus, If ye continue in my words, then are ye my disciples in- deed.” Just think how far that reaches ! All through the words of Jesus. So many of them, so many things to do, and so many not to do; and then not only to begin to follow them, but to continue; day after day getting a little farther, and knowing a little more. The Chautauqua Girls at Home. “ Till we all come in the unity of the faith , and of the knowledge of the Son of God , unto a perfect man , unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ .” 11. In point of fact, it is not often that He calls upon people to make the sacrifice which Satan tries to push into their minds as a fearful one ; but whether He does or not is not then the question. Having allowed a “ what if ” to come into your heart, you must get rid of it by the determination to do vj/icct- ever He says, or you really cannot belong to Him, however much you may wish it. Eighty-Seven. “ Whatsoever He saitli unto you , do it” 20 FEBRUARY. 12. To live so that when people spoke of me at all, the most marked thing they could say about me would be, not how I dressed, or appeared, or talked, but how strong my faith in the Lord Jesus was, and how it colored all my words and acts. Wouldn’t that be a grand ambition ? Ruth Erskine’s Crosses. “ And they took knowledge of them , that they had been with Jesus.” 13. Suppose Christ should forgive only those who had treated him well ; would you be forgiven to-day ? Tip Lewis and His Lamp. “ But if ye forgive not men their trespasses , neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” 14. Why can’t Christian people at least, see that they have no right to consult their own inclinations ? that the object is to save souls, and bodies, and that in every con- ceivable place, and at every possible time, when an opportunity is offered, it is their duty to put themselves where they will be sure to be counted on the right side ? My Daughter Susan. “ She hath done what she could . 19 FEBRUARY, 21 15. Are you quite happy as a Christian ? Do you find your love growing stronger and your hopes brighter from day to day ? Ester Ried. “ But grow in grace , and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ .” 16. “ He could not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.” I think that is what is the matter with the world to-day. I wonder if He would not be pleased with one who could throw herself at His feet with a childlike abandon of faith, and expect wonders, yes, and impossibilities, just as a child feels that anything can be done by father ? Ester Ried Yet Speaking. “ If our faith were but more simple , We should take Him at Ills word, And our lives would be all sunshine In the sweetness of our Lord.” 17. My dear friend, you have really no right to set a different time from the one that your Master has set. Don’t you know that His time is always now ? The Chautauqua Girls at Home. “ Behold, now is the accepted time ; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 22 FEBRUARY. 18. Sometimes the people whom we meet but once, with whom we really have very* little to do, are given a word to say, or an act to perform, that shall influence all our future lives. A New Graft. “ What manner of persons ought ye to he in all holy conversation and godliness V' 19. If somebody had only bent down to him, and whispered a few words, just to set his poor wandering feet into the narrow way, how blessed it would have been ! but nobody did. Ah, never mind ! God knew, and took care of him. Tip Lewis and His Lamp. “ And let him that heareth say , Come” 20. Perchance that sleeping Christian might have been startled and aroused, could she have realized that days like those would never come back to her ; that being misspent they had passed away. Ester Ried. “ Awake thou that steepest , and arise from the dead , and Christ shall give thee light” FEBRUARY. 23 21. Did you never wonder that some por- tion some little sentence from the Bible, should so forcibly impress your mind, and so cling to you ? Perhaps you tried to drive it away, so much did it trouble you, but still it hovered around, and seemed to keep repeat- ing itself over and over to your heart. Be not deceived. This was Jesus of Nazareth passing by and waiting for you to say, “ Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.” Three People. “ For the word of God is quick , and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword.” 22. One mischief with Christians is, that when they sit down to think of these mat- ters, they are not personal. I am apt to ask whether people act as though they thought religion the most important mat- ter in life, instead of asking whether I have this day lived as though I thought religion the most important matter with which I had to do. An Endless Chain. “ Is it well with thee? 24 FEBRUARY. 23. Clearly if she wanted the sun, it was her part to open blinds and draw back cur- tains ; clearly if she wanted mental light, it was her part to use the means that God had placed at her disposal. The Chautauqua Girls at Home. “ Work out your oivn salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” 24. We are all too willing to be con- quered, not willing to reach after and obtain the settled and ever-growing joys of the Christian. Ester Ried. “ O that thou hadst hearkened to my command- ments! then had thy peace been as a river , and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea.” 25. Now what you need to remember, is, that the Lord is your father, whether you choose to own Him or not ; and He has a right to your love, and your help. Miss Priscilla Hunter. “ Do ye thus requite the Lord , O foolish people and unwise? is not he thy father that hath bought thee? hath he not made thee and established thee?” FEBRUARY. 25 26. Conversion is change of heart , and a heart given np to the reign of Christ, the supreme desire being to please Him, will, at the outset, be a very different heart from the one that was given up to the reign of self. A New Graft. “ That they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves , hut unto him which died for them , and rose again.” 27. If my Christian life were so marked a force that all who came in contact with me felt its influence, it would be natural to speak of it, when my friends chanced to mention my name. Ruth Erskine’s Crosses. “I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus.” 28. There’s a thing to remember; that you don’t belong to yourself at all ; and are bound to do the best you can with your time, and strength, and everything. Eighty-Seven. 11 What, know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you , zuhich ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” 26 FEBRUARY. 29. He has infinite power, and infinite wisdom, and infinite forgiveness. There is nothing that He cannot forgive, and noth- ing that He cannot help yon to do, if it is right that yon should do it. I speak with authority, for I have tried Him ; yes, with better authority than that — for He has said it. The Pocket Measure. “ He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea , in seven there shall no evil touch thee” MAECH. 1. Did yon ever tell Him all about it? Of course He knows, yet His direction is that for our own sakes we tell Him the story. Eighty-Seven. “ Oh, leave it all with Jesus , Drooping soul ! Tell not half thy story, But the whole. Worlds on worlds are hanging On His hand, Life and death are waiting His command ; Yet His tender bosom Makes thee room — Oh, come home l” 2. Don’t you think that some of our trouble is in being content with simply reading, not studying the Bible ? Ruth Erskine’s Crosses. “ Search the scriptures ; for in them ye think ye have eternal life : and they are they which testify of me.” 27 28 MARCH. 3. “ God will not call me to account for your undone work, only my own” My Daughter Susan. “ For the work of a man shall he render unto him , and cause every man to find according to his ways.” 4. We have need of missionaries right here at home ; we must evangelize the church of Christ, and get it to take hold of its privileges ! The Pocket Measure. “ He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna , and will give him a white stone , and in the stone a new name written , which no man knoweth save he that receiv- etli it.” 5. Is it possible that I have been one of those faithless disciples, rebuking, or at least ignoring, the presence of one of His little ones, while I reached out after fruit that I dared to think was of more importance ! A New Graft. “ And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name,receiveth me.” MARCH. 29 6. It doesn’t seem to me that it is money, or time, or strength, or talent, that is lacking, it is the consecrated heart. A heart that is given first to Christ, and secondly, to His work, whatever form it may take, or what- ever may be the door that opens. My Daughter Susan. “ And who then is willing to consecrate his service this dag unto the Lord? ” 7. Isn’t it strange that the followers of Christ will go on, year after year, bending a listening ear to Satan, while he rings the changes of that old, long-ago vanished false- hood, “ If thou be the Son of God ? ” A New Graft. “ Above all , taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked .” 8. “To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse.” Suppose we had been living at Colosse in those days, could we have claimed that letter to the saints ? Ruth Erskine’s Crosses. “ Beloved of God , called to be saints .” 30 MARCH. 9. The man who seems to me the most worthy of contempt, is the one who has not sufficient moral courage to break 3 promise after he discovers that it ought never to have been made. An Endless Chain. “ Hearken unto me , ye that know righteousnes: ^ the people in whose heart is my law ; fear ye w.,* the reproach of men , neither be ye afraid of theh reviling s .” 10. We haven’t to do anything about it until to-morrow ; perhaps to-morrow will have a light of its own for our direction. Ester Ried Yet Speaking. “ Take therefore no thought for the morrow ; for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof ” 11. We depend too much 011 tact and too little on God’s spirit. “ Open thy mouth and I will fill it,” is a promise that applies to more places than a prayer meeting, I think. The Chautauqua Girls at Home. “ Now therefore go , and I will be with thy mouth , and teach thee what thou shalt say.” MARCH. 31 12. “ I do not wonder that, looking at me, yon have grown into the habit of thinking that there is nothing in religion,” she said. “ You have looked at me, not at Jesus, and there has been no reflection of his beauty in me, as there should have been, and the result is not strange.” Ester Ried. “ But we all , with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord , are changed into the same image from glory to glory , even as by the spirit of the Lord” 13. I know I love the Lord, and I know that he will not destroy me, for I have in my heart the assurance of His promise, Ruth Erskine’s Crosses. “ The Lord preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy.” 14. You will find that it needs precisely the same help to meet trifles that it does to conquer mountains of difficulty. The differ- ence is in degree, not in kind. Ester Ried. “ Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler , and from the noisome pestilence.” 32 MARCH. 15. “ Commit thy way unto the Lord.” How much pleasanter it would have been to have committed it in the first place, before I wearied my heart with worrying over what I could not lift my finger to make different ! The Chautauqua Girls at Home. 0 holy trust ! 0 endless sense of rest ! Like the beloved John To lay his head upon the Saviour's breast , And then to journey on” 16. I believe a consecrated life will be honored by the Lord in whatever channel He gives it talents to develop. Ester Ried Yet Speaking. “ Say ye to the righteous that it shall be well with him.” 17. If people only viould influence each other just as much as they could, and Just as high as they could, what a wonderful thing this living would be ! A New Graft. “ That ye may be blameless and harmless , the sons of God, without rebuke , in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation , among whom ye shine as lights in the world.” MARCH. 33 18. There are ten thousand little things no more important in themselves than brush- ing out troublesome flies, or shutting out glaring sunlight, or tidying a slovenly wash- stand, or cooling a burning forehead, which can be used as nets wherewith to catch poor, tired, homesick fish. An Endless Chain. 11 And Jesus said unto them , Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.” 19. Dear friend, whatever you are, no matter what mistakes you have made, no matter how unfit you feel, you are dear to Christ at this moment: He loves you and waits for you. The Pocket Measure. “ I have loved thee with an everlasting love : there- fore with lovingkindness- have I drawn thee” 20. Softly there came another voice. u What of all that ? ” it said ; “ suppose nobody cares for you, or helps you here. Jesus died, you know, and He is your friend.” Tip Lewis and His Lamp. “ If God be for us who can be against us? ” 34 MARCH. 21. I have an all-absorbing, a consuming ambition; it is to have the King put His hand on mine, and say, “ Well done, good and faithful servant.” I shall not be con- tent without the commendation promised to those who faithfully serve ; my ambition craves it. My Daughter Susan. “ In the light of the king's countenance is life ; and his favor is as a cloud of the latter rain." 22. Of course you cannot help these bitter feelings ; do you suppose He expects you to do so ? If you could make your heart right yourself, where would be the need of His help ? Eighty-Seyen. 11 0 my God , incline thine ear , and hear ; . . . for we do not present our supplications before thee for our 7*ighteous7iess, but for thy great mercies ." 23. It is grand to think that even the street-car driver can drive for the glory of God. The Randolphs. “ And whatsoever ye do in word or deed , do all in the name of the Lord Jesus , giving thanks to God and the Father by him." MARCH. 35 24. “ Do with thy might whatsoever thy hand findeth to do,” is our commission, you know, and’ in order to find things, we have to look for them. My Daughter Susan. “ And what doth the Lord require of thee , hut to do justly, and to love mercy , and to walk humbly with thy God?” 25. If I belong to Christ, I belong , don’t I ? There is no half-way service possible. Why do I not so look that others take knowledge of me that I have been with Jesus ? Ester Ried Yet Speaking. “ Because that which may he known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them.” 26. Is it right for any servant of the King to mingle familiarly for an afternoon with others who either are, or should be, loyal subjects, and not make a definite im- pression for the King ? A New Graft. “ Only let your conversation he as hecometh the Gospel of Christ ” 36 MARCH. 27. If one would be sympathetic with his kind, there is this thing always to re- member : it is much easier to sit in a quiet room, surrounded with an atmosphere of peace, and talk about the petty trials of others, and the duty of bearing them cheer- fully, than it is to belong to that other com- pany who are at that moment in the heat of the conflict between duty and inclination. Eighty-Seven. “ We then that are strong ought to bear the in- firmities of them that are weak , and not to please ourselves.” 28. Dear friend, I think you know where to look for help, no matter what your trial or burden; whether it be great or very small, He is equally ready to have it brought to Him and left there. Why don’t you ask His help ? You are one of His own. The Pocket Measure. “ The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty ; he voill save , he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love , he will joy over thee vnth singing.” MARCH. 37 29. Hereafter when I feel particularly tried with a person, I shall know that I am myself at fault toward that person, and shall ask God for a special view of my own heart concerning it. An Endless Chain. “ Renew a right spirit within me.” 30. A great deal of money and a great deal of force, which might do wonders else- where, are wasted on dress. Ruth Erskine’s Crosses. “ Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair , and of wearing of gold , or of putting on of apparel.” 31. The fact is, that to sit in a pleasant room, among one’s friends, and discuss the inconsistencies of Christians, is one thing ; and to go out into the world in the thick of the fight, and live consistently, is quite another. An Endless Chain. “ Be watchful , and strengthen the things which remain , that are ready to die : for I have not found thy works perfect before God.” APEIL. 1. How many springtimes have you gone to your bed feeling that the season was late, and the trees were bare, and the fruits would all be backward, and Nature was dawdling along in a very wearisome fashion ; and awakened in the morning to find that there had in the night been a gentle rain, and a movement of mysterious power among the buds and grasses, and that now in the morn- ing sunshine, the world had burst into bloom ? Yet, did you really suppose, after all, that the work was done in one night ? Ester Ried Yet Speaking. “ For as the earth bring eth forth her bud , and the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth ; so the Lord God will cause righteous- ness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.” 2. Since God has called us to honorable positions, even to be “ co-laborers,” shall we not rejoice in the honor ? A New Graft. “ For we are laborers together with God.” 38 APRIL. 39 3. It is my joy that He has not separated any moment of my life from Him, saying, “Here is so much drudgery each day, from which I must be entirely separated ; then, when that is done, you may serve me.” Work so divided would be drudgery indeed. A New Graft. “ For in him we live , and move , and have our being.” 4. How many people have such marked and abiding faith in Christ Jesus, that when we talk of them we say, “ I heard that Miss So and So had the most implicit faith in the power of Christ to keep her ” ? How wouldn’t that be a strange thing to say ? Ruth Erskine’s Crosses. “We heard of your faith in Christ Jesus.” 5. A great sorrow is a wonderful edu- cator. The Randolphs. “ For it became him, for whom are all things , and by whom are all things , in bringing many sons unto glory , to make the captain of tlieir salvation perfect through sufferings .” 40 APRIL. 6. It is, perhaps, to be questioned whether loneliness is, after all, demoralizing in its effects. The Chautauqua Girls at Home. 11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous , but grievous : nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby .” 7. What a thing it would be to be high in favor with God; to be so familiar at court that you could present a friend there, without a fear or doubt as to the result. The Randolphs. “ Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are , and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain : and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again , and the heaven gave rain , and the earth brought forth her fruit .” 8. It is possible that you have not come in close contact with Christ’s intimate friends. There are degrees in friendship, you know. An Endless Chain. “ Ye are my friends , if ye do whatsoever I com- mand you.” APRIL. 41 9. “In my Father’s house are many mansions ; I go to prepare a place for you.” After all, that is the place for brightness. This is only a way station ; never mind the discomforts, so that many are helped to the right road and the home be reached at last, in peace. The Chautauqua Girls at Home. “ When the shore is icon at last, Who will count the billows past ?” 10. Unpaid vows ! — only think of it. Isn’t it startling when we remember to whom they are due ? The Randolphs. “ When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it ; for he hath no pleasure in fools : pay that which thou hast voiced .” 11. That very kettle which gives you Monday morning trouble can help you to a first victory : and it is a symbol of all the other things, small in themselves, but amounting to much, counted together, that can be made to serve you to-day. A New Graft. “ And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted," 42 APRIL. 12. He made the plants and flowers — created their beauty for them, I mean, be- cause they are soulless things — He left to us who are immortal, a great deal of the fashioning to do for ourselves. Ruth Erskine’s Crosses. “ Finally, brethren , whatsoever things are true , whatsoever things are honest , whatsoever things are just , whatsoever things are pure , whatsoever things are lovely, vihatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue , and if there be any praise, think on these things .” 13. What we need most to overcome is the idea that there is anything wicked in talking about religion in an everyday tone, as we talk about other topics of absorbing interest. The Chautauqua Girls at Home. “ Talk ye of all his wondrous works.” 14. If the Lord Jesus Christ can forgive him, I think we ought to be able to do so.” Ruth Erskine’s Crosses. “ And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.” APRIL. 43 15. Isn’t it all different forms of the Master’s work ? The children of the home may have each a different task, hut each is needed to make the home what it should be, and each worker needs the same spirit of love and unselfishness to enable him to do his part. Ester Ried Yet Speaking. “ For as we have many members in one body , and all members have not the same office : So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another .” 16. A Christian home ! It cannot simply mean a home where Christ is honored. It rather means a home where everything per- taining to it serves His cause. The very furniture, and the light and the brightness are made to do duty for Him, else they have no place there. What is there that I can do with all the beauties of my parlors ? Ester Ried Yet Speaking. “ For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dietli to himself For whether we live, we live unto the Lord: and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.” 44 APRIL. 17. What an immense book the history of a human life would make ! Probably no one will ever know how large a volume it would be, for no one will ever write it. The Pocket Measure. “And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should he written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the hooks that should he written .” 18. If we want to hear how living, grow- ing Christians talk, we must frequent the places where we shall be likely to find them. An Endless Chain. “ Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another : and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a hook of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.” 19. The One who made such lovely plants and finished them so exquisitely, must be pleased to see us study enough of His works to make ourselves look pleasing to the eyes of others. Ruth Erskine’s Crosses. “ He hath made everything beautiful in his time.” APRIL. 45 20. He made some mistakes; for he fancied, in his ignorance, that the struggle was over — that he had only to go forward joyfully over a pleasant road. He found out his mistake; he discovered that Satan had not by any means given him up ; that he must yet fight many hard, hard battles. Tip Lewis and His Lamp. “ Fight the good fight of faith , lay hold on eternal life , whereunto thou art also called , and hast pro- fessed a good profession before many witnesses” 21. I wonder when the world will learn that promises are solemn things, and that living is serious business, and that when we are young we are not called upon to de- cide questions which belong to mature judgments. The Randolphs. “ Bejoice, 0 young man , in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth , and walk in the ways of thine heart , and in the sight of thine eyes : but know thou , for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.” 46 APRIL. 22. “ Go ye into all tlie world and preach the Gospel to every creature.” In the same breath, to comfort His children, He said, “ Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” The disciples to whom He then spoke, have been in His visible presence for hundreds of years, and the world is not yet ended ; the comfort lasts yet, and so, therefore, must the commission. The Pocket Measure. “ My heart repeats the promise o'er and o'er , Though 'tis an ‘ old , old story ' heard before , Yet with each dear repeating loved the more . Be lighted from within , by unseen Guest , Send out warm rays of love to all distrest , And lure them by your shining into rest," 23. Do I think you can so love Christ that whatever sacrifices of personal ease or comfort you may make for His sake will become so much a joy as to cease to be claimed under the head of sacrifice ? Aye, indeed, there is a higher plane than sacrifice. The Pocket Measure. “ Yet if any man suffer as a Christian , let him not be ashamed ; but let him glorify God on this behalf" APRIL. 47 24. When a sensible person has made a misstep, the thing for him is to nndo as much of the mischief as he can ; as quickly as he can; it is the only way he has of showing the difference between himself and a fool. Eighty-Seven. “ The way of a fool is right in his own eyes : hut he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise” “ Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world ?” 25. We must guard against a temptation to do evil, that good may come. The Chautauqua Girls at Home. “ What shall we say then , Shall ice continue in sin , that grace may abound ? God forbid. How shall we , that are dead to sin , live any longer therein ?” 26. There are a great many sensible peo- ple in the world, and the world does not love them at all, and half of the time it is their own foolish fault for being so “ cranky ” over trifles. The Randolphs. “ For ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin .” 48 APKIL. 27. If I were to talk with one of my friends who is not acquainted with you, and tell her how kind you were, and how interested in all young people, and how pleasant and helpful you were, it doesn’t seem to me that I should prejudice her against you. Why should I feel afraid of prejudicing them against my Saviour ? A New Graft. “ Acquaint novo thyself with him , and he at peace : thereby good shall come unto thee** 28. Knowing that you ought to feel dif- ferently, there is just one thing you can do, it is your part; you can give that heart which is full of hard feelings and self-will and bitterness, into the Lord’s hands, and tell Him you want it to be made a fit place for him. Eighty-Seven. “ Purge me with hyssop , and I shall he clean: wash me, and I shall he whiter than snow .” 29. When I am conversing with any person what is my habitual theme ? An Endless Chain. “ What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another f 99 APRIL. 49 30. How hard it must be for the Great Physician to bear with us in our determina- tion to think of His love and care for us as only a piece of that which He bears for the great multitudes, instead of individualizing it as He constantly teaches us to do, and accepting Him as caring for us with even more of the exclusive tenderness of love which we give to our own. The Pocket Measure. “ I have called thee by thy name ; thou art mine MAY. 1. What gorgeous coloring and delicate tracery in the leaves ! Does it ever occur to you to wonder that such great skill should have been expended in just making them look pretty to please our eyes ? Ruth Erskine’s Crosses. “ Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous ivorks .” 2. “ Who sweeps a room as for thy law, Makes that, and the action, fine.” I am glad the grand old author said that. And yet, an older and grander Author said it better : “ Whosoever giveth a cup of cold water.” My Daughter Susan. “ Thy thoughts are very deep .” 3. What if the Holy Spirit has sug- gested it, and will give you a message which He knows can reach a stranger, and draw him home ? Eighty-Seven. “ Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them.” 50 MAY. 51 4. And you think that Jesus Christ has nothing to do with the black kettle, and the boiler, or the sink, or a dozen other things with which you will come in contact to- day ? That is such a mistake. Bemember it is He who said, “ Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” A New Graft. “ For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things .” 5. Justified! Hot because I have done right ; not because my judgment is correct ; not because of any act of mine in any direc- tion save that one of trusting in my Lord, justified by faith ! Ruth Erskine’s Crosses. “ Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ .” 6. What should you conclude as to Christian duty in the matter of daily con- versation ? The Chautauqua Girls at Home. “ But as he which hath called you is holy , so be ye holy in all manner of conversation .” 52 MAY. 7. It is a strange thing, but how can we help believing it to be actually the case, that people who would be shocked at the idea of violating their word given to their fellow-men yet seem to ignore, without much trouble of conscience, the most solemn obli- gation made to God ! The Randolphs. “ Take heed unto yourselves, lest you forget the covenant of the Lord your God .” 8. There is a sunlight so high and strong that the clouds of this world cannot reach it. Links in Rebecca’s Life. “ But ye are a chosen generation , a royal priest- hood, aholy nation, a peculiar people ; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” 9. I try to remember that Christ knows it all, and he loves me, and he is all-power- ful ; and yet he leads me through this dark road ; therefore it must be right. Ester Ried. “ Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his.” MAY. 53 10. He will not come into a divided heart ; a heart which says, “ In some things I will obey ; but in this, and this, and this, I must have my own way.” You would not expect even a human friend who had the right to direct you, to accept such a position as that, would you ? How much less the Lord ? Eighty-Seven. “ No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one and love the other ; or else he will hold to the one and despise the other . Ye cannot serve God and mammon .” 11. I believe that religion should have sufficient power over us to change all our tastes and plans in life, fitting them to the Saviour’s use. Ester Hied Yet Speaking. “ That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith ; that ye , being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height ; And to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the full- ness of God .” 54 MAY. 12. One could not live long in this world without realizing the forcefulness of the sentence : “ Every heart knoweth its own bitterness.” Behind the sunniest, appar- ently most enviable life, the bitterness hides. Ruth Erskine’s Crosses. “ When thou passest through the waters , I will he with thee : when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not he burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee” 13. Will you open the door for Jesus to come in, by telling Him that your heart is all wrong, and you want it made right ? Just as you would tell me, if I had assured you that I was both able and willing to do all the rest for you. Eighty-Seven. “ And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.” 14. Are these too small for His notice, when He Himself refers us to the fading wild flowers for lessons ? A New Graft. “ The grass ivithereth, and the flower thereof falleth away : But the word of the Lord endureth forever.” MAY. 55 15. He sees tlie way plainly and He will lead us right through the thickets to the sunlight of his eternal presence. Ruth Erskine’s Crosses. “ But there the glorious Lord will be to us a place of broad rivers and streams ; wherein shall no gal- ley with oars , neither shall gallant ships pass thereby” 16. I really believe that the Lord, when He said, “ Give, and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom,” meant just what he said. The Pocket Measure. “ There hath not failed one word of all his good promise.” 17. “ She impresses me as one who is being led ; who does not choose to go alone, has not learned how, indeed. A very few Christians never learn how, and with them the Lord does his special work.” Ester Ried Yet Speaking. “ The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will show them his covenant.” 56 MAY. 18. There may be loneliness and a reach- ing out after, and sometimes an unutterable longing for the morning, but to those who are sure, sure beyond the possibility of a doubt, that the eternal morning will dawn, and dawn for them, there is never again a desolation. The Chautauqua Girls at Home. u Weeping may endure for a night , hut joy cometh in the morning " 19. It is God’s world, and He made your little children. You may be sure He has a place for them, both in this world and in Heaven. An Endless Chain. “ Fear not , little flock ; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom .” 20. Oh ! to know for a certainty whether some who have a name to live, are really alive; and so be at rest about them. The Randolphs. “ I have no greater joy than to hear that my chil- dren walk in truth." MAY. 57 21. She envied their free and easy life, without a care to harass them, as it seemed to her. If she had but thought, she had a robe, and a crown, and a harp, and a place wait- ing for her, up before the throne of God ; and all they had not . Ester Hied. “ Henceforth there is laid up forme a crown of righteousness , which the Lord , the righteous judge, shall give me at that day : and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing . ” 22. If God from his infinite height, can look down upon all the world, having the same wonderful, patient, persistent love for all mankind, what am I that I should not give my utmost strength for the poorest and meanest of His creatures ? An Endless Chain. “ For if there come into your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment ; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him. Sit thou here in a good place ; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool : Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts f” 58 MAY. 23. We are all set apart, given to Him to use as He will. The trouble is that so many of us take back the gifts, and use our time and our tongues as though they were our own. Ester Hied Yet Speaking. “ Ye are not your own. “ For ye are bought with a price : therefore glorify God in your body , and in your spirit , which are God's.” 24. A thing that can possibly lead one to eternal death, a Christian has no business to meddle with, even if he knows of but one soul in a million years that has been so wrecked. The Chautauqua Girls at Home. “ And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish , for whom Christ died ? ” 25. I am not giving my own money ; it is His, and He lets me spend it on His work. If it were mine I might be tempted to spend it on myself ; but since it belongs to Him, of course it is a mere act of common honesty to give it back to Him. The Pocket Measure. “ The silver is mine , and the gold is mine , saith the Lord of Hosts.” MAY. 59 26. Isn’t it a pity in this carping world we cannot oftener put ourselves in other people’s places, mentally, at least, and try to discover how we should probably feel, and talk, and act, were we surrounded by their circumstances and biased by their educations ? A New Graft. “ Bejoice with them that do rejoice , and weep with them that weep .” 27. When we do not see the way clearly ; when we are beset with difficulties ; when disappointments thicken around us, we can still look up to God and say, “ Up there, where Father is, it is peace.” Ruth Erskine’s Crosses. “ And the peace of God , which passeth all under- standing, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” 28. It would be a pity to get ready for only one world when the other is so near by. Eighty-Seven. “ Provide yourself bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth” 60 MAY. 29. We are at work for immortal souls. Think of it ! they must live forever. Shall they, through all eternity, keep dropping lower and lower, or shall they wear crowns ? Ester Hied Yet Speaking. “ And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake , some to everlasting life , and some to shame and everlasting contempt .” 30. It is the trifling sacrifices that pinch. One can do a great thing now and then, that he knows people will admire, even though he has no such selfish motive in doing it, still it helps and cheers, to know that an appreciative world looks on and says : “ That was well done ! ” But to go without a new dress all winter — to go to church, and to society, and occasionally to a tea-party, wear- ing the cashmere or alpaca that has done duty as best for two years, and do it for the sake of the church, and say nothing about it, and know that people are ignorant of the reason, and feel that they are wondering whether you are aware that your dress be- gins to look “ rusty ” — that is sacrifice. Miss Priscilla Hunter. “ She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework . ” MAY. 61 31. You speak the truth earnestly, for- cibly, and with strong common sense on your side, but the verse says, “speaking the truth in love.’” And don’t you know that that part of it you have a way of keep- ing hidden in your heart, so that the truth sometimes wounds where you would have it heal ? The Randolphs. “ By pureness, by knowledge, by long suffering , by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned .” JUNE. 1. Some of our dear Christian ladies have but just heard a faint echo of His call, “ Go ye into all the world,” though it has been sounding for centuries. There are many of them standing now on the thresh- old, dazed with the echo, scarcely knowing if it can possibly mean them, and seeing sacrifice and burden where one day they will “ count it all joy.” The Pocket Measure. ‘ I dare not work my soul to save , That work my Lord has done ; But I will work like any slave For the love of God's dear Son." 2. Graves seem to me hard things to leave. People who are alive, and from whom I can hear, and to whom I can write long letters, are different ; but, someway, one holds on to graves and wants to be near them. The Randolphs. “ Then the disciples went away unto their own home. But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping : and as she wept , she stooped down , and looked into the sepulchre .” 62 JUNE. 63 3. I wonder if people realize that they can arrange flowers in such a manner as to glorify the Lord of the garden. My Daughter Susan. “ Let my beloved come into his garden .” 4. Just think of that ivy, it would have grown as rapidly and been quite as healthy if the leaves had been square, and all of them an intense green, instead of being shaded into that lovely dark scalloped bor- der all around the outer edge. Ruth Erskine’s Crosses. “ 0 Lord , how manifold are thy works! in ivis- dom hast thou made them all : the earth is full of thy riches” 5. It seems blessed to think that the Lord Jesus took such minute notice of our human nature that he knew it would help us to be allowed to keep a subject constantly before Him, and to keep coaxing about it. Ruth Erskine’s Crosses. “ I say unto you , Though he will not rise and give him , because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.” 64 JUNE. 6. The Lord sees the heart ; and little seeds of loving kindness to one’s neighbor, whether he be next door or across the ocean, may be in many hearts, unknown to us. The Pocket Measure. “ For the Lord searcheth all hearts, and under • standeth all the imaginations of the thoughts ” 7. I have often looked forward to an evening gathering with eager interest and thankfulness, because of the opportunity for meeting some there whom I could not catch elsewhere and saying a word for my Master. The Chautauqua Girls at Home. “ In the morning soiv thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good” 8. Was it possible that the Divine Phy- sician saw her need of such bitter herbs as these which had fallen to her lot ? Ruth Erskine’s Crosses. “ As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten ; be zealous, therefore, and repent” JUNE. 65 9. You and I know and feel that we must give an account of our stewardship. Do you see how people who ask God to help them in every little thing which they have to decide — in the least expenditure of money — can after that deliberately fritter it away ? Ester Ried. 11 So then every one of ns shall give account of himself to Gocl” 10. The heart of Christ is for each, as if each were alone in all the world the object of His care. The Pocket Measure. “ Yet will I not forget thee” 11. It was pitiful to see how she clung to her poor little rag that she had called religion, and felt as though if she should actually let go and say, “ I am not a Chris- tian,” it would be a settled doom to her, and yet — how could it be that she knew anything experimentally about this matter, to have lived the life she had ? The Randolphs. “ I know thy works , that thou hast a name that thou livest , and art dead” 66 JUNE. 12. Do you think that Christians whose rule of life reads “ Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God,” have any right to go to social gatherings, or anywhere else, sepa- rated from this end ? The Pocket Measure. “ In all thy ways acknowledge him , and he shall direct thy paths .” 13. Didn’t you give Him your tongue when you gave Him yourself ? And yet you are fortunate if you have not dis- honored Him with it many a time. Ester Ried Yet Speaking. “ Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart he hasty to utter anything before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth : therefore let thy words be few.” 14. It is easier to do things which you like, and which in a sense are natural to you, than it is to do what goes utterly against the selfish side of your nature. Eighty-Seven. “ For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's.” JUNE. 67 15. “ Who shall roll us away the stone ? ” They worried a great deal about that stone, how they would get it rolled away, and when they got there it was gone. I’ll re- member that ; when I see a stone ahead of me I won’t stop and fret about it ; I’ll walk straight up to it, and when I get there maybe it will roll out of my way. Tip Lewis and His Lamp. “ The angel of the Lord descended from heaven , and came and rolled hack the stone from the door , and sat upon it” 16. They aren’t worth lifting a finger for. And yet, how can I help remembering that if the Lord Jesus had said that of us, and stayed up there in His glory, we should have been utterly without help or hope to-day ? Ester E-ied Yet Speaking. “ For scarcely for a righteous man will one die : yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that , while we were yet sinners , Christ died for us.” 68 JUNE. 17. “He maketh the wrath of man to praise him.” I suppose He can make the blunderings of men, and of women, too, do the same. We must just leave it with Him , and try again. An Endless Chain. “ Who shall change our vile body , that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body , according to the working ichereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself” 18. An awakened conscience toyed with, is a very fruitful source of misery. The Chautauqua Girls at Home. “ And herein do I exercise myself , to have always a conscience void of offence toward God , and toward men.” 19. I bless Him that I may constantly serve, whether I am wiping the dust from my table, or whether I am on my knees. A New Graft. “ With good will , doing service , as to the Lord , and not to men.” JUNE. 69 20. “ My grace is sufficient,” not for my saints only — those who have been faithful and successful — but for thee . Ruth Erskine’s Crosses. “ Fear thou not ; for I am with thee : he not dis- mayed; for I am thy God : I will strengthen thee ; yea , I will help thee; yea , I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” 21. I doubt whether we should wait always for clear ways ; perhaps we are ex- pected to go creeping along in the dark. Satan has ways, and doesn’t scruple to use them. An Endless Chain. “ For I the Lord thy God ivill hold thy right hand , saying unto thee , Fear not; I will help thee.” 22. “Leaving ns an example, that ye should follow his steps.” The true pattern is certainly perfect ; why not follow that ? Who ever asks the schoolboy to imitate the scrawl of some fellow pupil, so long as the perfect copy is just before his eyes, at the top of the page ? A New Graft. “ Be ye followers of God , as dear children.” 70 JUNE. 23. Nothing that you or I can do can possibly make one sin white, one mistake as though it had not been, give one moment of rest to a troubled heart. But the blood of Jesus Christ can do all this. The Chautauqua Girls at Home. “ The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 24. She did not realize the feeling, and yet she possessed somewhat of the same spirit of the child who prayed: “Dear Jesus, help me to be good to-day. I know I can be good if I try, and I intend to try, but you can help me if you want to ! ” Ruth Erskine’s Crosses. “ For thou , Lord , only makest me dwell in safety.” 25 . I have met people who, it seemed to me, would rather trust their “rainy day fund 99 than the Lord. The Pocket Measure. 11 If I have made gold my hope , or have said to the fine gold , Thou art my confidence : This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge : fur I should have denied the God that is above.” JUNE. 71 26. I should never have dared to assume the cares and responsibilities of our home if I had not known that I could go to Christ for direction as to how to wisely spend the money He put into my hands, and how to order all my affairs so that there would be no friction. The Pocket Measure. “ Cast tliy burden upon the Lord , and he shall sustain thee : he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” 27 . The veriest child can be a witness if he knows any thing about the facts ; and I do certainly know some wonderful things about Jesus to which I could witness ; and besides, isn’t it reasonable to suppose that He will appear to me every day with things for me to witness to ? Ester Hied Yet Speaking. “ I have appeared unto thee for this purpose , to make thee a minister and a witness, both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in which I will appear unto thee.” 72 JUNE. 28. Rewards for petty sacrifices are often so slow to come that it is not uncommon for lives to pass out into the future without receiving a word or glance of recompense. But there are occasional other experiences. Eighty-Seven. “ Therefore , my beloved brethren , be ye steadfast , unmovable , always abounding in the viork of the Lord, for as much as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” 29. It is a question whether we have any right to indulge in an amusement that has the power to lead people astray, espe- cially when it is impossible to tell what boy may be growing up under that influence to whom it will become a snare. The Chautauqua Girls at Home. “ It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor anything whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak” 30. You mustn’t quarrel with the Lord’s plans of work, until you understand more about them. By the way, I presume He has a plan for you to work by, that you have never so much as looked into. It is a sub- ject entirely worthy of your consideration. An Endless Chain. “ But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself ” JULY. 1. Your soul, remember, was worth the death of the Son of God. See that you make your life worthy such a sacrifice as that. Household Puzzles. “ For as much as ye know that ye were not re- deemed with corruptible things , as silver and gold , from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers ; But with the precious blood of Christ , as of a lamb without blemish and without spot .” 2. It cannot be possible that you think when a waiting soul asks you to pray, Christ does not say to you, “ Do it ” ? The Randolphs. “ And it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth.” 3. “ Girls, we have spent our strength vainly. It is our privilege to get up higher ; to look at all these things from the mount whereon God will let us stand, if we want to climb.” The Chautauqua Girls at Home. “ Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection.” 73 74 JULY. 4. There is no trade on earth so easy to learn as grumbling. Mrs. Solomon Smith. “ Bless the Lord , 0 my soul , and forget not all his benefits .” 5. I couldn’t doubt my right. Indeed it seemed to me to be a duty, not only to pray, but actually to supplicate, to coax, you know, just as I was so tempted to do when a child. Ruth Erskine’s Crosses. “In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God .” 6. I pity the man who has not brain power enough, and insight into the future enough, to be willing to be anchored in God. One Commonplace Day. “And I will say unto my soul , Soul , thou hast much goods laid up for many years ; take thine ease , eat , drink , and be merry . But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee : then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?" JULY. 75 7. I shall have to confess that Ruth’s old obstinacy came to her aid ; — or to her hinderance, as you will; concessions which she could have made, she would not; and when she might have resisted gently, grace- fully, she often did it sternly, with a deter- mination to carry her point, which was much more evident to her husband than was the reason for carrying it. Judge Burnham’s Daughters. “ And the servant of the Lord must not strive ; hut he gentle unto all men , apt to teach, patient.” 8. You have left the duty of giving subject to the accident of having something left after all your wants are supplied. Is that really the way ? The Pocket Measure. And of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.' 9. Will He not be pleased with even my little bits of efforts if He knows that my sincere desire is to save souls for his glory ? Ester Ried Yet Speaking. “ And every man shall receive his own reward ac- cording to his own labor.” 76 JULY. 10. No one ever was afraid of becoming a drunkard. If people only were afraid, we should have no drunkards. Helen Lester. “ Wherefore let him that thinlceth he standeth take heed lest he fall” 11. We must feel some little measure of the same love for a soul, that the Lord Jesus does when He calls after it, else how can we hope to reach it ? Links in Rebecca’s Life. “ And that He died for all , that they ivhich live should not henceforth live unto themselves , but unto Him which died for them , and rose again” 12. It always seemed to me a bad sign to see people amused with caricatures of good, pure old faces. Profiles. “ And as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head. And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord” JULY. 77 13. It was such a lovely Sunday morning ! The world looked just as glad and happy as a world can look. The church bells seemed like joyful music; that is, they sounded so to some people. What a pity that people and things can not be in tune in this world. Cunning Workmen. 11 1 teas glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord. Our feet shall stand within thy gates, 0 Jeru- salem. Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together : Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the Lord.” 14. Alas for the Christian world which believes in theory, that there is a direct link between the seen and the unseen, by which the earnest soul can be told in what way to walk, and, in practice, thinks it must search out its own way ! Interrupted. “ 0 tliou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt ?” JULY. 15. “You know, mamma, you trained us to a very careful attention to fashion, in all its details ; we want to do full justice to your early teachings. As Madame Dupont used to say, ‘A young lady who is not au fait in all that regards the demands of fashion, is dead already. 5 55 It was a keen, pointed arrow, and it struck home. Ruth sat and thought about it after she was left alone ; as she had sat and thought many a day, since her work for these girls began to develop in ways of which she had not dreamed. Judge Burnham’s Daughters. “ Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns , or figs of thistles ? ” 16. “There is no desolation of heart to those who part at night to meet again in the morning. 55 The Chautauqua Girls at Home. “ He will swallow up death in victory ; the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces ; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth : for the Lord hath spoken it JULY. 79 17. When the church and the world start out to walk hand in hand, it is a curious thing that it is always the world that sees the inconsistencies, and laughs, and always the church that is blind. Profiles. “ Wherefore come out from among them , and be ye separate, saith the Lord” “ Then the Church sat down at her ease and said: * I o.m rich and in goods increased . I have need of nothing and naught to do , But to laugh , and dance , and feast.' But the sly world heard her , and laughed in his sleeve , And mockingly said , aside , * The church has fallen, the beautiful church, And her shame is her boast and pride.' ” 18. I have known kitchens that ought to have glowed with the beauty of the strong unselfish hearts beating there through dan- ger, and trial, and harassing toil. Ruth Erskine’s Crosses. “ To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality , eternal life.” 80 JULY. 19. More things than some people dream of, are going on in this world of onrs. Interrupted. “ And Jacob awaked out of his sleep , and he said , Surely the Lord is in this place ; and I knew it not . 11 20. Sunday is a blessed day of rest ; and to think that the Lord gives a wonderful promise to them that keep it ! Mrs. Solomon Smith. “If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from, doing thy pleasure on my holy day ; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honor- able; and shalt honor him , not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words : Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father : for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it . 11 21. It is a fearful thing for one who loves the Lord to move about under the Satan-inflicted torture of the thought : “ He is cruel : He is cruel ! ” One Commonplace Day. “ In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly . 11 JULY. 81 22. A boy would be thought insane who would laugh at another for trying to save his life, or to save himself from being hurt in any way ; but, because one wants to save his soul, wants him to act like a creature who is to live forever, and can be happy or wretched, just as he pleases, then some are ready to laugh. Is such folly worth minding? Helen Lester. “ Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my ivords ; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed , when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels” 23. I suppose Paul made failures, but he thought that Christ’s blood was powerful enough to atone for even failures, and His love strong enough to forgive them. I don’t imagine that Paul kept looking back and sighing over them after Christ had forgiven them. Do you? Household Puzzles. “ Forgetting those things which are behind , and reaching forth unto those things which are before , I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” 82 JULY. 24. There is at least that amount of com- fort to be gotten out of a disagreeable duty faithfully performed — the performer, by the time the work is done, has generally reached a higher plane of life, where he can say : “ I followed the path pointed out as nearly as I could. The results are not for me to arrange. The matter has been handed over to the Master’s hands.” Cunning Workmen. “And Moses went up from the plains of Moah unto the mountain of Neho , to the top of Pisgah , that is over against Jericho. And the Lord shewed him all the land of Gilead, unto Dan And the Lord said unto him, This is the land which I swcire unto Abraham, unto Isaac , and unto Jacob , saying, I will give it unto thy seed: I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes. 25 . Do you think we ought to have an “ anything but that,” between the Lord and our prayers ? Links in Rebecca’s Life. “And he vient away again the second time, and prayed, saying , 0 my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.” JULY. 83 26. To what use could those large silent rooms be put which would reflect honor on the One to whom all hers was consecrated ? Ah, therein lay the secret of the difficulty ! She must say “our rooms/ 7 if only she could say, “all ours is consecrated/ 7 how plainly would the answer to this painful riddle glow before her ! She knew a dozen beautiful things that might be done with cultured consecrated homes. 77 Judge Burnham’s Daughters. “ Can two walk together, except they be agreed ?” 27. One reason why our friends are not converted is because we, their leaders, walk so crookedly that we keep them all the time stumbling over us. Household Puzzles. “ Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?” 28. Where would be the church of Christ without its living, working members ? Interrupted. “ Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments ; and they shall walk with me in white : for they are worthy ” 84 JULY. 29. Don’t allow yourself for one moment to limit the power and the grace of a Saviour. Remember he is “ mighty to save.” One Commonplace Day. “ Now unto hun that is able to do exceeding abun- dantly above all that we ask or think, according to the povier that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the Church by Jesus Christ throughout all ages, world without end .” 30. I wonder how I should feel if I should go to heaven and meet one of those whom I ought to have known in the church on ear tip and the Lord should see that we were strangers ! Links in Rebecca’s Life. “ Now therefore ye are no more strangers and for- eigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God .” 31. The fact is, we must learn to work for Christ, and not set up business for our- selves, and still expect Him to give the wages. The Chautauqua Girls at Home. “ He that is not with me is against me; and he that gather eth not with me scatter eth abroad .” AUGUST. 1. So many things in this world squeak for the want of a thoughtful hand to ad- minister a drop of oil. Interrupted. “ To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning , the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of right- eousness, the planting of the Lord , that he might be glorified .” 2. If it were wise or kind to make such distinctions I could wish that those whose friends have gone, without a gleam of light, into an unknown future, should wear the crepe and bombazine ; and let us, who have seen the reflection of the glory signalize it by wearing only dazzling white. Judge Burnham’s Daughters. “ And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the nghteousness of saints .” 85 86 AUGUST. 3. “I ain’t one that expects folks six- teen years old to act as though they was sixty/’ said Mrs. Smith. Mrs. Solomon Smith. “ When I was a child , I spake as a child , Inn - derstood as a child , I thought as a child : but when I became a man I put away childish things .” 4. We are almost tired of all sorts of books, but there is one Book which never wears out. What if you and I should be- gin to study the Bible ? Ruth Erskine’s Crosses. “ How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea , sweeter than honey to my mouth ! ” 5. When I remember the infinite height above ns all that the Lord occupies, and how He stoojos , to have anything to do with one of us, I am humiliated at the idea of calling any work of mine lowly. There are times when there seems to me no very great heights or depths of humanity. An Endless Chain. “ Hearken , my beloved brethren , Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him AUGUST. 87 6. I can’t help feeling that you are plan- ning in your own heart just what ought to be done, and then allowing yourself to feel almost indignant and ill-used because the work is not accomplished. The Chautauqua Girls at Home. “ For as the heavens are higher than the earth , so are my luays higher than your ways , and my thoughts than your thoughts.” 7. Oh ! there were constant blunders which this poor blundering Christian made. She needed helping from the human side ; and she had chosen a broken reed to lean upon. Is it any wonder that she made mis- takes ? I am not excusing her. She might, even under these circumstances, have gone to the Stronghold, and received grace suffi- cient. What I am saying, is, that she made life harder for herself than it need have been. Judge Burnliam’s Daughters. “ Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbe- lievers : for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness ? and what communion hath light with darkness ? 88 AUGUST. 8. There is a way of praying about a soul with whom we are offended — or, at least, we call it praying — which is simply pouring out one’s knowledge of that pep son’s shortcomings in a most vindictive way before the One whom we almost un- consciously feel ought to come to our help and administer rebuke. Interrupted. “ And when ye stand praying , forgive , if ye have ought against any : that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” 9. I wonder when the Lord’s own peo- ple will awaken to the fact that there are no trivial things in life ? that there are no passing moments but what decide the eternal destinies of souls ? One Commonplace Day. “ Thou tellest my wanderings : put thou my tears into thy bottle : are they not in thy book ? ” 10. God is on your side, He will surely deliver you if you trust in Him ; if you turn from Him how can He help you ? Household Puzzles. “ Except these abide in the ship , ye cannot be saved” AUGUST. 89 11. You will find that if this life is a warfare we have more than a Captain — we’ve a Commander-in-chief, and we have nothing to do with the fight, other than to obey orders and keep behind the shield. Links in Rebecca’s Life. “ Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.” 12. Meantime where was Satan ? Con- tent to let this reaping time alone ? Oh ! bless you, no. Never busier, never more alert, and watchful, and cautious, and skill- ful than now. It w T as wonderful, too, how many helpers he found whose names were actually on the roll of the Church ! The Chautauqua Girls at Home. “ Satan hath desired to have you” 13. Those girls had climbed ; they were standing — at least so far as these trying little beginnings of religious experience were concerned, away above them — trou- bled by them no more. Judge Burnham’s Daughters. “ For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.” 90 AUGUST. 14. When you accepted Christ as your Friend, did you not engage to take some things on trust — to believe that what you could not see, was yet clear to the eye and the heart of your Saviour, and that He ruled ? Household Puzzles. “ Jesus saith unto him , Thomas , because thou ha, st seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” 15. There is just One who fought a ba f tle with Satan and came off victor, and there never will be another. The victory must come through Him, or it is at best a very partial, and at all times a doubtful one. In Him are safety and everlasting strength, and outside of Him is danger. Interrupted. “ Then the devil leavetli him, and, behold, any els came and ministered unto him.” 16. How wonderful that any of us are careless or thoughtless for a moment, so long as we have a child or a friend unsafe. The Chautauqua Girls at Home. “ Brethren , my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved” AUGUST. 91 17. She had prayed for it, but she was like many another Christian worker in that she had not seemed to expect the answer to her prayer. Verily, He has to be content with exceeding little faith. Interrupted. “ But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that waver eth is like a leave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed .” 18. “ If I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy,” what then ? Why, then I am false to my covenant vows, and the possi- bilities are that I am none of His. Interrupted. “ Beyond my highest joy I prize her heavenly ways ; Her sweet communion, solemn vows, Her hymns of love and praise .” 19. A religious uplifting which does not bubble over into whatever practical work the heart or the hands find to do, is not apt to continue. Interrupted. “ Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word .” 92 AUGUST. 20. “Here was she, after the lapse of years, sitting beside the one with whom she had spent the most of them, and he had gotten no farther than the old, worn-out query : “ Wherein lies the harm ? ” The solemn question was, Did this tell some- thing of her own spiritual state ? Judge Burnham’s Daughters. “ For vjhen for the time ye ought to he teachers , ye have need that one teach you again which he the first principles of the oracles of God; and are he - come such as have need of milk , and not of strong meat .” 21. God bless the souls who, capable of rising to the heights which belong to im- mortality, yet think of kitchen fires and breakfasts. One Commonplace Day. “ Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health : for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you .” “ Andichen Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks , and laid them on the fire , their came a viper out of the \ heat , and fastened on his hand. , . . And he shook off the beast into the fire , and felt no harm.” AUGUST. 93 22. Dear, half-asleep Christian, wonders are taking place all about you, and is it pos- sible that you are merely engaged in try- ing to prove to yourself and others that “ the age of miracles is past ” ? though why you* should be very anxious to prove it, does not clearly appear even to yourself. Interrupted. “ What meanest thou , 0 sleeper ? arise , call upon thy God .” 23. So long as the Lord said there was a place by Him, and promised to hide us, and promised to shield us, and promised to cover us with His hands, and promised to gather us under His wings, why should we be forever starting off alone, or at best only allowing Him to push a little, while we go ahead and climb ? Links in Rebecca’s Life. “ He that % dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty .” 94 AUGUST. 24. A band of young people plunged heart and soul into anything, are almost certain to succeed. The everlasting pity is that so often success is not worth the price paid. Profiles. “ Then Hooked on all the works that my hands had wrought , and on the labour that I had laboured to do : and , behold , all was vanity and vexation of spirit , and there was no profit under the sun.” 25. There is many a boy who coaxes a girl to go where he wishes in his soul she may have Christian firmness to refuse. Profiles. 11 If sinners entice thee , consent thou not.” 26. We shall probably never know, on this side, how far the prayers of the mothers at home reach. One Commonplace Day. 11 And it came to pass , as she continued praying before the Lord , that Eli marked her mouth. Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard.” AUGUST. 95 27. I think sometimes our Heavenly Father does just as we do with the children. He lets us stumble in a place where it is not too hard, so that we will learn what it is to obey. Links in Rebecca’s Life. “ Except ye be converted , and become as little children , ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” 28. The Lord knows you ; knows just what place He has set you in; just how many people you can touch with your in- fluence, and just what He is going to do with them all. The Pocket Measure. “ The Lord thy God hath chosen thee.” 29* u Get thee behind me, Satan.” The only perfect Life gave that sentence once, not alone for Himself ; thank God, He has many a time since enabled His weak chil- dren of the flesh to repeat it in triumph. The Chautauqua Girls at Home. “ Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” 96 AUGUST. 30. How wonderful will the revelations of Heaven be, when certain, whose lives have touched for a few days and then separated, shall meet, in some of the cycles of eter- nity, and talk things over ! Interrupted. “ And it came to pass , that the beggar died , and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom." 31. Poor Euth was destined to realize fully that one may shut the doors with emphasis against tangible guests, and yet receive a whole troop of miscreants into one’s heart, who made havoc with holy time. Judge Burnham’s Daughters. “ Keep thy heart with all diligence ; for out of it are the issues of life." SEPTEMBER. 1. In that glorious old prophet’s book is my jubilant verse : — “ And the ransomed of the Lord shall re- turn, and come to Zion with songs and ever- lasting joy upon their heads : they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” Ester Hied. “ Oh! sweet and blessed Country , The home of God's elect ; Oh ! sweet and blessed Country , That eager hearts expect ; Jesus , in mercy bring us To that dear land of rest; Who art , with God the Father , And Spirit, ever blest." 2. When one attempts not only to drop the seed, but to make the fruit that shall spring up, no wonder one stands back appalled ! The Chautauqua Girls at Home. “ I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase 97 98 SEPTEMBER. 3. There is a sense in which we are all of us unworthy of Christ’s love or care, but we are always to remember this : that He has chosen us for His own, that we have been bought, with a price, that we are held as infinitely precious in His sight, and that, therefore, we must set a high estimate on our own importance, and live accordingly. One Commonplace Day. “ Since thou wast precious in my sight , thou hast been honorable ; and I have loved thee : therefore will I give men for thee , and people for thy life .” 4. Reason, being allowed once more to take her seat, accused this Christian woman of having yielded, not to conscience, but to rage. Herein lay the real point of the sting : she knew her action would be at- tributed to her religion, when she her- self realized only too well, that it was the outburst of a moment’s ungovernable in- dignation. Judge Burnham’s Daughters. “ The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” SEPTEMBER. 99 5. I can’t help thinking that there are some people who have not received the Holy Ghost, even though they do believe ; not that He hasn’t come to them, you know, but that they won’t receive Him. Links in Rebecca’s Life. “ But the Comforter , which is the Holy Ghost , whom the Father will send in my name , he shall teach you all things , and bring all things to your remembrance , whatsoever I have said unto you” 6. “ I have made up my mind that living a Christian life, isn’t walking on a feather bed, whether you live in a palace, or a fourth-rate boarding-house, and teach school. I shouldn’t 'wonder if there were such things as vexations everywhere.” The Chautauqua Girls at Home.