3. There is Giant Laziness. This is a big giant indeed; he always moves very slowly; he likes to stand better than to walk-to sit better than to stand-to lie better than to sit. Kill him with the stone of Activity. Redeeming the time, because the days are evil." "So run that ye may obtain."1 66 4. There is Giant Bad Humour. This giant has a very gloomy face. His forehead is wrinkled, and his mouth curled up, and his colour almost black. Kill him with the smooth stone of Cheerfulness. "Rejoice in the Lord alway, and again I say, Rejoice." 2 There is Giant Passion. This giant is very savage. He roars like a lion, and he strikes like a steam-hammer; and how he does upset the house sometimes! Kill him with the stone of SelfControl. Master yourself in the strength given by God, and you will see him die. "The child Jesus grew, and waxed strong in spirit, . . . and the grace of God was upon Him."3 ... 6. There is another of this bad tribe which I must name—it is Giant Envy. This is a subtle, 1 Ephesians v. 16; 1 Corinthians ix. 24. 2 Philippians iv. 4. 3 Luke ii. 40. cunning giant. How he tries to creep into your minds whenever any of your friends succeed and do better than yourself! If another boy or girl has a finer dress than you are wearing, or gets a prize to which you think yourself entitled, you are almost sure to find old Envy stealing in. You must use for his defeat this stone in the sling, "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another."1 Just one thing more. Be very careful in fighting these giants to keep them at a distance. David did not let Goliath come very near him. He slung the stone when he was a long way off. So when you feel old Giant Falsehood coming, or Disobedience, or Lying, or Bad Humour, or Passion, or Envy, do not let them get hold of you, but just sling your smooth stone-texts at them at once, whilst they are at a distance. Then they will fall down and die before they can do you any harm. And when people say, "Whose son is this youth? Whose daughter is this maiden ?" we may answer, This is a child of God, who, by faith in Jesus Christ, is overcoming the world, the flesh, and the devil. 1 Romans xii. 10. FOUNDATION TEXT: "The meek shall eat and be satisfied" (Psa. xxii. 26). The meek-that is those who abide in God's will, and are glad that He should choose for them (Psa. xlvii. 4). Contrast with this the unrest of those who choose for themselves (Eccles. i. 8; iv. 8; v. 10; Amos iv. 8; Habakkuk ii. 5). God alone can satisfy the souls He has formed, as St. Augustine says: "Oh Lord, Thou hast created us for Thyself, and the soul is restless till it rests in Thee." Thus also, David, looking_back upon his weary life, exclaims "I shall be satisfied when I awake with Thy likeness" (Psa. xvii. 15). The yearning after God is the voice of His Spirit within us, which is itself the pledge of the answer-" He satisfieth the longing soul" (Psa. cvii. 9). "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled" (Matt. v. 6). "The Lord delights to satisfy" (Psa. cxlv. 15, 16; ciii. 5). The soul that is satisfied in the Lord has a continual rest, and a perpetual fruit-bearing (Jer. xvii. 8; Psalm i. 3). See how abundantly the Lord satisfies (Psa. civ. 13; xxxvi. 8; xxxvii. 19; lxxxi. 15; cv. 40; Jer. xxxi. 14). Solomon says: "He that hath the fear of the Lord shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil" (Prov. xix. 23), and David says that the upright shall be satisfied in the days of famine (Psa. xxxvii. 19). Again, David says, "We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Thy house" (Psa. lxv. 4); and adds, in another Psalm, My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness" (Psa. lxiii. 5). " But to us now, the heart's deepest satisfaction is in Christ, who gave Himself for us, and in whom God freely gives us all things (Rom. viii. 32). M. E. BECK. richer with Him alone, than with all things else without Him. It is when we seek Him, as our chief good, and only then, that we are sure we can lack no good thing. Jesus said, "Come unto Me; take My yoke upon you, and ye shall find be able to explore the intricate passages all the world could give; that we are and secret chambers. Though the light is dim, advance as far as you at present see, and the illumined path will lengthen, and the possibility of progress increase. The best way to promote our knowing is to improve our doing. This was taught long ago by the old Hebrew Prophet-rest unto your souls." By practically "Then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord:" not if we resolve first to know all and only then to follow, but by following in order to know. It was enforced by the Great Teacher-"If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God."2 accepting and bearing the yoke which to a stranger looks heavy, we find real repose to the soul. Come to Christ; do not merely hear of and dispute about Him. Accept His pardon, receive His Spirit, imitate His example, obey His word, carry His cross, and you will find We can only really know that God is rest and so obtain certainty. "The secret good, good in Himself, good in the gift of the Lord is with them that fear Him."2 of Christ, good in saving sinners, when Fear Him and so learn the secret. Have we "Taste and see." We can only be fellowship with Him, and you will not sure that they are indeed blessed and doubt His existence or His goodness. happy who trust in Him, by ourselves Happy they who, by personal trust and trusting in Christ as guilty sinners and intercourse, can say, "I know whom I accepting the salvation He died to secure. have believed." Happy they who have It is only by practically fearing the Lord," tasted that the Lord is gracious," and with filial loving reverence, that we ex- truly realise how "blessed is the man perience that there is no real want un- that trusteth in Him." supplied, that we have more in God than 1 Hosea vi. 3. 2 John vii. 17. 1 Matthew xi. 28, 30. THE VOICES OF THE CHILDREN. "Do you not hear the voices? And the children's are the loudest."-Last words of Mary Anne Salton. HE day drew on to the It was near to the setting As we stood by the loved Whose day upon earth was We watched, as the sunlight The last long weary strife; Then, just as her soul was passing, She suddenly opened her eyes, That were filled with a light of gladness What vision she saw, she said not, But she murmured the name of a dear one, Not one word more did she utter; But we thought of her words thereafter, And oft seemed the cadence to fall On our ears-"Don't you hear the voices? And the children's the loudest of all." We thought of the thrice blessed children How the voices of the wretched For vengeance and mercy call And the children's the loudest of all. O, the cry and the curse of the children, And yet in divinest mercy Go, seek in the haunts of the wretched That crawl in the mud and the slime. Full many the accents despairing, For the cry of a child is among them While the white-winged guardian angels Have mercy upon the children; O, there will be joy and gladness YOUNG DAVID AND GIANT GOLIATH. By the Rev. ALFRED NORRIS. "Abner, whose son is this youth?"-1 Samuel xvii. 55. T was King Saul who asked this question. And he asked it of Abner, his general, when he saw little David go forth into the field to fight the Giant Goliath. So when the youth came back victorious Abner brought him to the king. And he was found to be the son of a man who dwelt in Bethlehem, the town where Christ was afterwards born. Of course you have all read this history. Goliath was a giant nine and a half feet high. He wore a suit of heavy brazen armour, and he had a great spear, the handle of which was "like a weaver's beam." And he came out from the camp and challenged all the soldiers of Israel for forty days, and not one of them felt able to meet him. By-and-by, however, David, the young shepherd, came down from the hills, and when he heard of this boastful giant, he said, "I will fight him. But I do not want any armour or sword. I shall just take my sling, and a few smooth stones out of the brook." So he went to the battle. And both armies stood watching. And when Goliath saw David, he disdained him and cursed him. But David, losing no time in words, ran towards him and swung his sling. He then let the stone fly, and with such a true aim, that it struck the forehead of the giant and sank in. And he fell down like a great brazen pillar, clattering headlong on the earth. From this story we may learn some practical lessons. 1. I beg you to take care and have nothing to do with bad language. We read that the Philistine cursed David by his gods. That is, he swore at him. Well, he was no better than a heathen, and it is only from heathens that we should expect such language. Do not call one another bad names. Do not permit yourselves to curse or swear. It is a sin against God. "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain," is one of the enduring commandments. The Apostle Peter was once betrayed into swearing after he became a scholar of Christ. But it was only once; and he was excessively sorry for it, you may be sure. We read that after our Lord looked at him "he went out and wept bitterly." Bad language is a shame amongst men. You will hear others use it, perhaps, but that need not make you do it. David did not feel obliged to swear because Goliath did. Indeed, I dare say he was disgusted. You are no more obliged to swear because others do than you are obliged to have dirty faces or hands because others have. An unclean face is bad enough, but an unclean tongue is far worse. Make it your rule-No oaths, no curses, no bad language of any kind. 2. Do not be ashamed of being a Christian, that is, a scholar and imitator of the Lord Jesus Christ. David, this youth, was not ashamed of his religion. "Ah," he said to Goliath, "I come to thee in the name of the Lord God of Hosts.' He was not only not ashamed of his religion, but he was brave enough to confess it. Why, how is it with some boys and girls?—they glory in being without any religion. They think it makes them unmanly and cowardly. On the contrary, it makes them manly and courageous. For what is religion? It is an inward reverence for God, the Infinite Eternal Spirit, "who gave us life, breath, and all things." It is the sense of dependence on God, and trust in Him as our Father. And what is Christianity? It is just the perfect religion shown and taught us by Jesus Christ. He was the Son of God; but He was also the grandest man who ever lived. In Him we see and know the Father. In Him we have reconciliation with the Father. By His blood we are brought nigh to the Father. Through Him we have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Perhaps 1 Ephesians ii. 13, 18. you who trust in Jesus and love God are sometimes laughed at for going to the Sunday-school to learn about God in Christ, or for going to church with your parents to worship Him through Christ. Never mind, let those laugh who win. You are going to win the great prize of life! What said Christ? "Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, Him will I confess also before My Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father which is in heaven." Think of that. You will stand some day before God Himself, and Jesus Christ will be there. And Jesus Christ will say, "These are My scholars who have not been ashamed to live according to My lessons, and now they are indeed Thy children, and I want them to be with us in heaven for ever." That will be a fine reward. 3. Make up your minds to do your part in the great battle that must be fought with the giants before you get to heaven. Oh, you say, there are no giants now, except those that are exhibited in shows, and they are not much of giants. Ah, but there are a great many giants. Every boy and girl among my readers has a giant to slay that is, their own 66 besetting sin." They have their Goliath just as David had his. You must gather texts of Scripture as David gathered stones from the brook, and put them ready in the wallet of your memory. And when the old giant appears you must put it in the sling of resolution and let fly at him with good aim and true. Let me tell you the names of some of the giants. 1. There is old "Giant Falsehood or Lying." What are you to kill him with? The little stone called Truth, for "the truth shall make you free."2 Always speak the truth, and that besetting sin will be slain. 2. There is Giant Disobedience. He tries to carry boys and girls away from their errands and lessons. And I am sorry to say he often succeeds. What stone shall you use to kill him? The stone of Obedience. 66 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right." 1 Matthew x. 32, 33. 2 John viii. 32. 3. There is Giant Laziness. This is a big giant indeed; he always moves very slowly; he likes to stand better than to walk-to sit better than to stand-to lie better than to sit. Kill him with the stone of Activity. "Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” "So run that ye may obtain."1 cunning giant. How he tries to creep into your minds whenever any of your friends succeed and do better than yourself! If another boy or girl has a finer dress than you are wearing, or gets a prize to which you think yourself entitled, you are almost sure to find old Envy stealing in. You must use for his defeat this stone in the sling, "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another." Just one thing more. Be very careful in fight 4. There is Giant Bad Humour. This giant has a very gloomy face. His forehead is wrinkled, and his mouth curled up, and his colour almost black. Kill him with the smooth stone of Cheer-ing these giants to keep them at a distance. David fulness. Rejoice in the Lord alway, and again I say, Rejoice." 66 There is Giant Passion. This giant is very savage. He roars like a lion, and he strikes like a steam-hammer; and how he does upset the house sometimes! Kill him with the stone of SelfControl. Master yourself in the strength given by God, and you will see him die. "The child Jesus grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and the grace of God was upon Him." "3 did not let Goliath come very near him. He slung the stone when he was a long way off. So when you feel old Giant Falsehood coming, or Disobedience, or Lying, or Bad Humour, or Passion, or Envy, do not let them get hold of you, but just sling your smooth stone-texts at them at once, whilst they are at a distance. Then they will fall down and die before they can do you any harm. And when people say, "Whose son is this youth? Whose daughter is this maiden ?" we may answer, This is a child of God, who, by faith in Jesus Christ, is overcoming the world, the flesh, and the devil. 1 Romans xii. 10. A BIBLE READING, SATISFIED. FOUNDATION TEXT: "The meek shall eat and be satisfied" (Psa. xxii. 26). The meek-that is those who abide in God's will, and are glad that He should choose for them (Psa. xlvii. 4). Contrast with this the unrest of those who choose for themselves (Eccles. i. 8; iv. 8; v. 10; Amos iv. 8; Habakkuk ii. 5). God alone can satisfy the souls He has formed, as St. Augustine says: "Oh Lord, Thou hast created us for Thyself, and the soul is restless till it rests in Thee." Thus also, David, looking_back upon his weary life, exclaims "I shall be satisfied when I awake with Thy likeness" (Psa. xvii. 15). The yearning after God is the voice of His Spirit within us, which is itself the pledge of the answer- "He satisfieth the longing soul" (Psa. cvii. 9). "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled" (Matt. v. 6). "The Lord delights to satisfy" (Psa. cxlv. 15, 16; ciii. 5). The soul that is satisfied in the Lord has a continual rest, and a perpetual fruit-bearing (Jer. xvii. 8; Psalm i. 3). See how abundantly the Lord satisfies (Psa. civ. 13; xxxvi. 8; xxxvii. 19; lxxxi. 15; cv. 40; Jer. xxxi. 14). Solomon says: "He that hath the fear of the Lord shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil" (Prov. xix. 23), and David says that the upright shall be satisfied in the days of famine (Psa. xxxvii. 19). Again, David says, "We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Thy house" (Psa. lxv. 4); and adds, in another Psalm, "My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness" (Psa. lxiii. 5). But to us now, the heart's deepest satisfaction is in Christ, who gave Himself for us, and in whom God freely gives us all things (Rom. viii. 32). M. E. BECK. |