Passing through dense forests of fir-trees and cedars recently in British Columbia, one feature struck us forcibly, and brought thoughts of greater things:Where the forest was so dense that the trees stood only a few feet from each other, they were tall, smooth, and straight as arrows, shooting their heads far up toward the sky. Where, here and there, a little space was comparatively bare, the trees were ill-shaped and crooked. How like God's people! was what came to mind. First of all, where trees are thus very dense, they are all of one kind. So, before God's people can stand together closely knit, they must guard against unconverted persons getting in as if of them. Having confidence in each other as being children of God, they now can cling to each other in love; and the more they do this, the more they will develop in Christian perfection.
All these trees so pressed against each other that it made them shoot up their heads toward the sun. So, if we stand close to each other in love, the pressure we shall be under from the faults and failings we shall find in each other will compel us to "look unto Jesus the beginner and finisher of faith." In Him we shall see love, patience, grace, faithfulness, combined in perfection, and constantly exercised towards us, each one. This will send us back to our place among our brethren, ready to act in the same way.
If we do not thus continue with each other, like David's men, who were all "of one heart to make David king," and therefore "could keep rank (i Chron. 12:38), but stand aloof in supposed superiority, we shall not fail to grow one-sided and crooked. We need one another, if but to make each other grow straight.
Our Children.
Nothing perhaps presses itself more upon the Christian mind than the subject of the children of Christian parents. We are living in "perilous times;" and many Christians do not realize this enough. Apostasy in a multitude of forms is advancing with rapid strides under cover of Christianity, making it more necessary than ever that our children be well instructed in the word of God. Nothing is so effective for this as the home , where the Christian father daily gathers his household for reading the Word and infusing it into their minds and lives. They may afterward depart from it in practice, yet, as a hook in the mouth of the fish, will it abide in them, and compel them, sooner or later, to yield to the hand of God. The Sunday School is a blessed adjunct to this. Other witnesses will there add their testimony to that of the home; and we know the power of "two or three witnesses." Then the various meetings of the people of God, where the Scriptures are in constant use, how we should value all these means of instruction, and have our children with us!-all this illustrated in the frequent gatherings and feasts of the people of Israel.
If we think we can do without these helps we will surely find ourselves and our children the losers. "Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another:and the Lord harkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name" (Mal. 3:16).
We are also living in days of great pride, when not only are men subject to God no more, but are not even subject to rulers, nor to parents-days of socialism and rising anarchy. The more careful therefore should we be to instil obedience in our children's minds-not tyrannize them, not "provoke them," but see to it that they obey, and obey cheerfully. Obedience is the very first principle, and at the root of all godliness. Many think that because we "are not under law, but under grace," therefore to command and to govern are unworthy of a Christian. It is all wrong. Grace in nowise destroys government-government in the assembly or in the family. An assembly without godly government is a ruin, and so also a family. We have seen many a time a row of children sit quietly by their mother through a long meeting without a move from one of them. They were no less active than others when free, but they were under government, and knew where and when to be quiet and reverent. Will this be the exception ? or will it be the rule ? Beloved fathers and mothers, this will depend on how we fulfil our responsibilities as such.
How encouraging it is to find in various places that many of the young recruits in the assemblies are from godly families, and from the Sunday-schools! May the Lord increase still the labor and the fruit of both!
David and Solomon.
None can read the lives of these two kings without feeling the immense difference between them. The heart of the shepherd predominates in the first; that of the king in the second. David wins your heart; he is a man of and among the people of God; you feel free to come near to him. Solomon is not so. He is so great, so wise, so glorious, that in awe you stand at a distance.
David sets forth our Lord Jesus Christ in His relations with the people whom His grace calls to Himself. Solomon sets forth our Lord Jesus Christ with the people in millennial times.
What a blessed eternity awaits a people brought so near to the heart of Christ, as we who are privileged to live in this the Church dispensation! May we value it and use it aright!
Another Year.
As we write, another year is well-nigh gone and a new one about to begin. One more year of wilderness journey with God; so much nearer the blessed hour when the commanding voice of our Lord will be heard raising His dead ones, changing His living ones, and translating all into His Father's house, our eternal home. Blessed hope, which scatters all clouds and fills the pilgrim with cheer! May we indeed be " as men who wait for their Lord "!
Nor let us lose our present opportunities. Let us not sleep as do others. Let us remember that in all the eternity of bliss which awaits us we shall no more have the opportunity of proclaiming His grace to sinners, of feeding and shepherding His sheep and His lambs, of spending and being spent to spread the knowledge of His blessed name. Let us use no idle words, have no idle hours. Let us seek nothing for ourselves-all for Christ, who is the only One worthy of all our love, of all our obedience, of all self-denial.
We heartily thank our beloved fellow-laborers for the share they have had in the work of our little magazine. As each year passes by, this service with them has deepened in sweetness and interest. May God, in His grace, continue it so to the end.
Our space seems at times too small, yet we deem it better to condense the good as much as possible than to give it room for greater diffusion. We beg our brethren who write to be as concise as is consistent with clearness; and may such as are able to edify with their pen not deny this service to the people of God. God is granting us abundant testimony of blessing received through our pages.