Thirst

Let us Christians never forget that whatever be the inventions of men gotten up to satisfy, there is in the world a great thirst-the thirst created by sin. As a fever creates thirst in a man which nothing but cold water will satisfy, so sin creates a moral thirst in man which nothing but the living water flowing down from the smitten Rock (Christ crucified for sin) can satisfy. Christians, whose thirst has been satisfied, are in danger of forgetting this, and thus to let opportunities pass by in which blessing may be ministered to others.

If we do not live in real and abiding fellowship with our blessed Lord Himself, we shall surely lose the remembrance of our own thirst and the sense of the world's present thirst; and instead of breaking through the inventions by which they seek to satisfy it (by doing which we incur their displeasure), we shall fall into them ourselves, and thus cease to be God's witnesses; we shall be salt which has lost its savor and is fit for nothing. What a sad, sad condition! How important then, how supremely important, that we abide at our Saviour's feet in the enjoyment of His love and grace, " perfecting holiness in the fear of God." The service for Christ flowing out of such a condition will not be Martha-like, restless, and self-important, but Mary-like, worshipful and natural, free from self-consciousness.

We often now-a-days hear the cry, "Why are the churches empty ?" and a vain attempt is made at remedying this by introducing worldly amusements, by musical feasts, by lime-light entertainments, and what-not. Nothing avails. Men thirst. Young men and women feeling the beginning of the pangs of sin, thirst. Old men and women, looking back on lives where sin has pursued and overcome them, thirst. Their souls cry for "a cup of cold water," and they are offered anything and everything else. "Jesus only" can satisfy them, and Jesus is carefully kept out! His atoning sacrifice alone can quiet their restless souls, and they are offered human righteousness instead. Oh, the guilt of the leaders! Oh, the folly of the led! All hasting together into the ditch, while Eternal Love still cries out:"If any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink" (John 7 :37).

Reader, if you are of those who thirst, go to Him who not only quenches thirst forever, but gives rivers of water flowing out to others. Who else but Jesus could say, "Come unto Me, and drink?"

20th Century Romanism

The apologists for the Church of Rome with their constant plea that she would not at this late day repeat her past history, must have received a rude shock by the late news from Spain.

A Protestant convention, under the auspices of the Christian Endeavor Society, was being held in Barcelona, Spain. The use of the Palace of Fine Arts had been given them for their sessions, and everything seemed to proceed without cloud or hindrance. A dark plot, however, was being formed at the same time by certain Romish priests, who had chosen for the executors of their plan a secret
society corresponding (if we are rightly informed) with the Knights of Columbus in this country. These were to be well armed, get up into the gallery, and at the signal-cry of Long live the Catholic Church, were to fire upon the audience below without regard to age or sex; continuing their fire upon the terrified people as they fled out of the hall. Outside, groups of the murderers were to be posted, where they could continue the massacre.

Through God's mercy, the plot came in time to the ears of the governor of the city, who then acted promptly and resolutely:six or seven hundred police and military surrounded the building, took positions in the gallery near by the suspects, posted themselves outside, so as to enclose the murderers there, and thus completely frustrated the horrible plan. But for this prompt action and God's care over His people, the St. Bartholomew of the sixteenth century would have been repeated in the twentieth century.

Let all who can learn, learn the lesson which this teaches.

It is serious enough for this country, where Romanism is making strenuous efforts to establish itself and hold the reins of government-the never-ceasing object of that great political organization, decked with a religious cloak.