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A BRAND PLUCKED FROM THE BURNING.

127

Then the glorious Halleluiah Chorus, such a burst of praise, and then Prince Leopold and his bride passed out-together now!

"A blessing on the bridal

Of young and happy hearts!

A blessing on the meeting
Of love that never parts!

True love is royal,

True hearts are loyal,

Yea, 'tis a sacred thing

To wield the sceptre of the marriage ring,
Thou princely heir of all a nation's hearts.

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A BRAND PLUCKED FROM THE BURNING.-II.

BY A CLERGYMAN.

OHN SMITH'S letter went its way, and his wife was soon induced to return to her home; and that home in the

sea-side town quickly gave evidence of the great change

which was in progress there.

John began to attend the House of God, and was soon led to join a Bible Class for men, and listened with eager attention to the sweet messages of love and merey which fell upon his ear. He also attended some evangelistic meetings which were held nearly every evening in the town where he resided; and well do I remember the thrill of joy which I felt one evening when he came to tell me that he had found peace in Jesus, and now had no fear about the enemy's temptations to go back to the old drinking ways. He knew Who could keep him. He was so happy in his new-found joy that his poverty and worldly trials seemed to be altogether forgotten, and going forth to his daily occupation in a spirit of prayerful dependence upon God, he worked manfully forward.

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A BRAND PLUCKED FROM THE BURNING.

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Work was often very hard to find, and there were many days of disappointed hopes; but a firm faith supported John through all, and he was wont to express his strong confidence in the love of God, Who would not suffer him or his family to want.

Winter came on and brought with it many trials for the poor.

One of the sources of profit during the winter season in the town in which he lives, is gathering cart-loads of ice from the creeks and ponds in the neighbourhood. The winter I am now alluding to was exceptionally mild, and there were but two or three slight frosts. One of these happened on a Saturday night, and the ice could have been gathered on Sunday.

It was a good test of John's faithfulness. How important just then to his family the thirty shillings he might thus earn! But grace prevailed, and he firmly resisted the temptation to break God's command, and would not go.

He was always ready to turn his hand to anything by which he could earn an honest livelihood, and every penny earned was devoted to the maintenance of his family.

When the fishing season came round he obtained regular and steady work. He was constantly out upon the wide sea in a boat, such as our picture shows us; and he was soon found by his employer to be a man of strict integrity and thorough sobriety. He was soon sent by the master who had engaged him at this time to other fishing ports to buy large quantities of fish for his account, get them cured and packed off.

A year or so passed by without my seeing much of my friend, in consequence of my removal from the town; but on going back to visit the place, I learnt to my great surprise and gratification, that John had actually become the proprietor of a good fish-curing business.

I went to the factory and found him hard at work, with five others in his employ. He showed me over his place, and on my expressing my intense delight at witnessing what the Lord had done for him, he replied: "Yes, sir, bless His name; He seems to have made everything I have touched to prosper."

At this time John has a fine business, employing twenty hands-all total abstainers—a happy home, and, above all, he is an earnest an devoted worker in the Lord's vineyard.

Much on the importance of total abstinence could I say; but I think the narrative of the simple facts which I have endeavoured to record will speak for itself.

130

MY

MY EVERY-DAY BOOK.

EVERY-DAY BOOK.

BY THE REV. J. E. SAMPSON.

WAS talking to a friend one day about the Bible. "Ah," she said "that is my everyday book."

"I am glad to hear you say so," I said, "some people make it only their Sunday book, and some there are who never read it at all."

"I couldn't do without it," said my friend, "I read it every day, first thing after breakfast I take my Bible, and if I am ever so busy I read a little." And she told me what comfort and strength she got out of it.

There is no book like the Bible. It is God's great witness of His own Being, of His goodness and mercy, of His truth and justice; I have pondered it and searched it for many a year, and I never grow tired of it. It never becomes old or weary. It is always young and living and fresh. There is nothing on earth gives so much joy and peace and real happiness as the Word of God, when it is read in the light of God's favour. When men have an evil conscience, they don't like the Bible. It speaks to the heart, it searches very deep, it lays open and bare the inner life, and it condemns unsparingly every trace of sin. I do not wonder that men do not love the Bible, if they do not love God; I should wonder if they did. The Bible is a holy Book; it demands holiness, a holy heart before God; it will not be satisfied without this. It tells us plainly that without holiness no man shall see the Lord. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."

If a man loves God, I am sure he will love his Bible. He will feel then that the Bible is his greatest treasure: his EVERY-DAY BOOK.

May I persuade you to read your Bible every day ?* Never mind if you cannot read much read a little. I am sure it will do you good; especially if you pray to God to give His blessing upon your reading. Once

* This will be a good opportunity to begin, when we commence reading again the New Testament.

MY EVERY-DAY BOOK.

131

I advised a man to begin the new year by reading his Bible every day, so that he might read it through in the year. Three chapters or about two pages, a day, will do this. That man never went to a place of worship or cared about God. But before the end of the year, he was a changed man. He had been born again by the Word of God (1 Peter i. 23). That was a happy new year to him!

Have a set time for reading the Bible. In the morning; or if you have to be up and out early, then in the evening, after you have had your tea. tea. If If you leave it to be done any time it will most likely not be done at all. If you are a father, get your children to read it with you. Children are always fond of the Bible. God knows how to touch their hearts. I do not know a happier picture, than when a man sits with his wife and children reading the Bible by his own peaceful fireside. Try it for a month, and tell me if it is not a happy thing to do.

And always ask God to give you His Holy Spirit to teach you. I seldom open my Bible without saying, "Lord, open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law" (Psalm cxix. 18). The men who wrote the Bible were inspired when they wrote, by the Holy Ghost. The Holy Spirit lives in the Word now. This is why it is called the Living Word. Seek His light and teaching, and He will give new life to your soul.

Oh, make the Bible your every-day book. Follow its teaching and it will comfort you in your troubles, guide you in your difficulties, cheer you in your sorrows and lead you on through earth's trials into God's presence at last. The Bible has many great things to tell you. The two chief things are these: That you are a great sinner; That Christ is a great Saviour. When the Holy Spirit has taught you this, you will read your Bible with new eyes.

This Paper may be had on application to the Rev. J. E. Sampson, Barrow, Hull, 1s.6d. per 100, post free.

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