Tu W Th S DAILY TEX I am the light of the world. John viii. 12. Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel. Ps. lxxiii. SU THE LORD'S MESSENGER IN THE LORD'S MES- M Have faith in God. Mark xi. 22. Th F 13 SU 14 3456789 M John i. 29. Neh. iv. 20. HOLDING FORTH THE WORD OF LIFE. Phil. ii. 16. [14. Tu Jesus...was moved with compassion. Matt. xiv. W 17 Th 18 F 19 S The Lord led me. Gen. xxiv. 27. Be ye separate, saith the Lord God. 2 Cor. vi. 17. SU THE LORD IS GOOD UNTO THEM THAT WAIT Th S SU HE THAT BELIEVETH ON HIM IS NOT CON 28 M 29 Tu W 31 Th DEMNED. John iii. 18. Ps. I am Thine, save me. cxix. 94. I Cor. x. 31. I John iii. 2. BY SAMUEL G. PROUT. Author of "Never Say Die." OW often in these harvest times the anxious inquiry is passed from one to another: "How's the corn about your part-Much of it saved?" Events are often better than our fears; when we have been li ttle hopeful, I suppose we may be trustful, and we may always trust that better crops will be housed, and better bread be baked, than papers and people have fore 194 HARVEST THOUGHTS. boded; but now, in the thought of our saved corn, whether scant or full the harvesting, may I not recall one or two harvest texts that bear to us solemn words and deep lessons? In talking about saving let us glance at one thing of deep importance the cost. The farmer does not get his field "saved" for nothing. The profit on his crop will, in no small measure, depend upon what he has paid to get it in; and if a shrewd man, he certainly will not pay more than the honest price of labour. Are we to think that God, the source of all wisdom-who is Wisdom no less than He is Love-would pay down to His justice, for saving these souls of ours, more than the worth of the souls ? What did the All-loving and All-wise value them at? "I'd give the world," we often rather foolishly say, for something or other we eagerly desire. Well, "the world" would be so tremendous a possession, that we should, there's not a doubt, be only too thankful to get rid of it for the riddance sake; but suppose I had it, and could bargain with it, I have Christ's own word (Matt. xvi. 26) that it would be of less value than my own one soul. So a soul is worth more than a world; and yet, oh dear, how very many of us let the "soul" go for the most beggarly, detestable bit of the "world"-isn't that a solemn thought? But we have to find out God's estimate of a soul. At His own valuation "the whole world" wouldn't buy one of the souls in it. Would His uncounted millions of worlds buy the souls ? Only He who made both could give the answer-and He did so, in giving Himself. Let us look at those marvellous words in John iii. 16, with their unfathomable "so"; and also at Heb. i. 2, and Gal. ii. 20. Suppose we read them together: "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotton Son-by whom also He made the worlds who loved me, and gave Himself for me." That's for one soul-" for St. Paul's ?" Yes, or yours, or mine. Did you ever think of your own awful value, and did this startling thought ever cross your mind-"If I'm not saved,' I have flung away that tremendous price; I have not only refused to stir towards Christ, I have miserably moved-to push Him from me?" 66 Not what you are is the question, but where you are. God does not ask the one. He knows, and He tells you that you are "filthy-from the sole of the foot-even unto the head-wounds and bruises and putrefying sores"-all over sin:—and as He tells you your awful condition, He stoops to lift you! Are you in the saving arms? that is all. Does this seem too easy? God's "way of salvation" is marvellously easy, as the salvation itself is marvellously cheap-to us. But that is not necessarily cheap or easy that may be had without price or effort: it may have HARVEST THOUGHTS. 195 cost another the labour and the earnings of a life. We have seen the price God paid to save His harvest-was it not, think you, hard to give it? (Ps. xiv. 3 ; Is. i. 6). But we may never forget that God's salvation is a saving from sin. "If any man be in Christ," says the Apostle Paul, “he is a new creature old things are passed away." Christ cannot hold us and those "old things"—our sins-we saw that. If we are keeping on sinning, our being "saved" was but a fatal dream-we are not in the arms at all. True, Satan, who dared to assault the Lord Himself, will not fear to molest His carried ones: even on their way to the garner the sheaves will be snatched at, and may be sadly marred. Sheaves or sheep, they whom Jesus carries, "shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of His hand"; but if we are in that Hand, while its clasp is, indeed, our only safety, our own poor hands will ever be forward to thrust back the briar sins that beset us (2 Cor. v. 17; John x. 28; Heb. xii. 1). There's a thought comes here: we should never thrust back the sins at all -on the ground. It is not until we have come to Christ, that we can even wish the sin to go from us. Making use of an expression often heard, more forcible than admirable, as it is mostly applied, but here, entirely appropriate-sin is "awfully nice." If there were not immense, intense pleasure in sin, no Saviour from it would have been needed. We should have done our own best to keep at arm's length what was irksome and painful. It's only as we are carried home, that we come against the briars. 66 66 On none is laid the terrible gift of prophet-power; but I have, as it seems to me, a yet more solemn message for all: The Son of Man cometh at an hour when ye think not." In the tremblingly counted months and days, there would surely be great searchings of heart; but when the message comes, To-night it may be," our stupid hopes make "plenty of time. out of it. Heavy with awe fall the warning words; but we may not forget they are the Saviour's words. He "cometh" indeed, to "judge the world" -to judge you and me; but all through that world's long, lone night watches, in an hour when we "think not," He cometh, too, "to seek and to save." In the deep shadows, where the weeds are rankest-both tender Hands open, to lift sheaves black and heavy with sin-by the steadfast light of His own love, Christ is seeking His unsaved! Yet once again, with deepest earnestness of meaning, let us ask, "Where are we?" and do not let us pretend that we cannot plainly answer our own solemn question. If we are in the Arms, it is all right with us; if we are out on the stubble, how long do we mean 196 MISSIONARY GLEANINGS. to lie there? There is but one safe reply we can give-"No longer." We have our now, which is God's "now"-His " day of salvation” -enough for a first prayer, enough for its sure answer-but we have nothing beyond! "The Son of Man shall send forth" those awful harvestmen in the day of that tremendous gathering that "shall be." He Himself "cometh," till "the end of this world," if haply He may gather yet one more sheaf for His Father's garner. Through the warmth and light of the day, in the pleasant coolness of the evening shadows, He has not been " in all " your "thoughts." Now, in the creeping gloom, you must think-shudderingly it may be-of many things; still, you "think not" of Him. But the patient, never-wearying Love yet "cometh," "seeking" for you. Take hold on that Love; or rather, let that wondrous Love take hold of you. "The harvest" may be " past," the "summer, ended," but you shall yet, be "saved" (Luke xii. 40; Psalm xcvi. 13; Luke xix. 10; 2 Corinthians vi. 2; Matthew xiii, 40, 41; Psalm x. 4; Jer. x. 20). [This is taken from a small book from the pen of our now well known friend Mr. S. G. Prout. Many would doubtless like to get it, and spread the blessed and solemn harvest lessons in it, which come very home to us at this harvest season. It is published by Nisbet and Co., Berners-street, London.] MISSIONARY GLEANINGS. FAITH WORK IN COLAR. TO be privileged to bear the light of the gospel to Colar and the surrounding villages!" This was the desire and prayer of two young English women who had been for some years engaged in successful mission work in a large town in India. The Misses Anstey had, in company with one or two friends, made several mission tours through that dark country, and their hearts bled to think no effort was being made to disperse the gloom. True, perhaps once a year a missionary would pass through as they were doing, but they fervently desired that something more permanent should be attempted. The timorous women used to fly and hide themselves at their approach, but when the sisters seated themselves by the village well and commenced singing a hymn, they would peep forth and perhaps draw nearer to listen to the simple gospel story. The hearts of some seemed open to realise the truth, and the sisters were greatly touched one day by an aged woman travelling many miles that she might, as she said, "hear the gospel message once more |