Calendar:July l&th to August 15th.

DAILY BIBLE READING:………July 16th, Lev. 14; July 31st, Num.2; Aug. 15th, Num.17. SUPPLEMENTARY READING:. .. .July 16th, Acts 15; July 31st, Rom. 2; Aug. 15th, 1 Cor. 1. MEMORY WORK:………..Gospel of John, 5:25-47.
MEMORY OUTLINE:…………….Gospel of John
GOOD READING:…….. "Life and Times of Elijah" (continued), by C. H. M.

Daily Bible Reading

Midsummer! The year half gone! Can it be? Does time fly swiftly for you? I suppose as we grow older it seems to go more rapidly, but it goes at the same rate for us all. This earthly life is that much shorter for us all; the coming of the Lord that much nearer. As we think of the swift flight of time may the Lord use it to lead us to "gird up the loins of our mind, and to be sober," "not slothful in business," which means the Lord's business for us, "always abounding in the work of the Lord." Our present daily reading in the Old Testament has carried us well on toward the end of the Pentateuch, with its depths of riches of the Person and work of our blessed Lord. This steady reading of a chapter a day is, I am persuaded, of the greatest benefit. Do you not find it insures a better acquaintance with Scripture? and does it not-if "taken in the morning"-act as a safeguard against much other reading which would be unprofitable or worse? So let us keep on, note-book in hand, and above all with heart open to the Lord in prayer, and the conscience open to what He will speak to us.

You notice too how rapidly we are passing through the New Testament, those of you who are taking up the supplementary reading. We are in the coming month to be engaged with the great doctrinal Epistle to the Romans, which some of you are studying in the Bible Class. While a chapter a day is far too rapid for close study, it will make us better acquainted with the book we may be reading, and thus serve as a help in the more intensive study we give it at other times. It is also most helpful in throwing the full light of the New Testament upon our Old Testament reading.

Memory Work and Outlines

Even if you have not been able to commit all that is marked for the month in John, let us do some of it. This 5th chapter which we are completing this month is most rich in its teaching. But let us not fail to memorize the outline of John. I think it one of the easiest to memorize, because the teaching and the works are so closely connected and the details are comparatively few. I have had a letter which shows that all do not find things quite so easy.

"A young sister told me she was doing the outlines [of Luke], and had all nicely memorized, and had written you a letter, but before mailing it she looked again at some number of Help and Food and saw that the numbers of the verses had to be memorized also. So she attempted this, only to find that the further she went, the more mixed she got." I have given you the substance of the letter. Now what shall we say to our young sister? First, we are glad she made the attempt Second, we are glad she memorized the contents of Luke, even if the numbers of the verses were beyond her. Lastly, don't give up, dear sister. Try to get a little of the numbers of the verses in your memory. For instance we all know what Luke 15 is about, and chapters 1, 2, 24 stand out in our memory. Let us add gradually to these. Meanwhile let us add a little to this knowledge until we can give pretty accurately the contents of each chapter. So gradually you will find it will become fixed in the mind, like John 3:16, Romans 5 and other portions. But now I would suggest leaving Luke for the present and going on with John which, as I have said, is much easier.

Some one has written of this outline work:"No one but God knows the benefits to my soul." Thanks to our gracious Father for that.

Correspondence Dear brother:-

I am glad to hear of the blessings you mentioned, souls saved and some restored. We praise the Lord for this and His every work of grace. May His mercy accompany you in your travels and labors and His grace abound through your ministries. We too have had blessing in connection with our meetings. Just recently two young Christian men have come into fellowship. We have an increasing attendance at our gospel meetings in our new Hall.-O. J. H.

Young Believers' Meetings

Another report, with interesting and important questions.

72nd Meeting Y. B. D., held at Mr. and Mrs. H.'s, June 1st, 1927. Total present, 20.

Meeting opened with singing of hymns and prayer.

Question as to Inspiration of Word-why not just have fundamental principles revealed to believers?

Quite a discussion and various scriptures given, such as 2 Tim. 3:16; Matt. 22:29; Heb. 1:2; Rom. 15:4. God desires us to have more than the knowledge of salvation; the Scriptures are for exhortation, correction, instruction in righteousness, etc. God spoke in time past by creation; His love revealed through the coverings provided for Adam and Eve; the ark for Noah, etc. Heb. 1:2 says, "Hath in these last days spoken unto us in His Son." "By"' would suggest that He had just taken His Son as one of others to speak through, but "in His Son" would identify Himself in His Son-God Himself speaking to us in His Son. We need the Scriptures to give that to us.

Explain Prov. 2:21.

The chapter dwells on securing wisdom and walking in the right paths. Reason for so doing is "The upright shall dwell in the land; and the perfect (of their posterity) shall remain in it." Another gave thought that Exod. 19:5, 6 mentions that as they abode by God's commandments they would inherit blessings-all hinging upon keeping of the law. All Israel's blessings were of an earthly character, for they were to inherit the earth.

2 Cor. 5:11, why placed just there and meaning?
As one explained it, it is in view of the judgment seat of Christ (which has been taken up in previous part of chapter), and as knowing the terror of the Lord, that we persuade men. Last clause of verse is explained by 2 Cor. 4:2. For himself (Paul) there can be no terror, but it is a most solemn apprehension of what such a searching out in the day of judgment will be for men. Thus Paul speaks. It is conscience in view of that solemn moment.

New questions:

Look up Scriptures (in line of prophecy, etc.) to show that the Word is inspired.

Take up question of going to law, both with a brother and the world, as mentioned in 1 Cor. 6:1.

Take up question of Insurance.

Take up question involved in 1 Cor. 8:11-re:stumbling a brother. What, if any responsibility, have we in this connection?

Should one entertain or be entertained by a relative or friend who denies the deity of Christ?

July meeting to be held at Mr. J. F.'s.

August meeting to be held at Mr. A. P. S.'s.

These folks are not going to take a vacation from meeting and study. Good!

Here is some sweet and precious fruit from Young People's meetings-"Souls have been saved, and some added to the Lord's table." Let us thank our blessed God and Father, who only doeth wondrous things, and count on Him for more fruit of this kind also. Pray that it may be so at your meeting.

"It is a great thing to have a good beginning in conversion; and a good beginning is always marked with deep repentance. If repentance does not mark the beginning, there is not depth in conversion, and much has to be learned anew." j. b. s.