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Signs of the Times, Vol. 7, No. 44.

GOD'S WORD THE PARENT'S GUIDE

Signs of the Times

Nov 24, 1881

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Nov 24, 1881

GOD'S WORD THE PARENT'S GUIDE.

By Ellen G. White

BY MRS. E. G. WHITE.
Our great enemy is constantly seeking to make men believe themselves wiser than their Creator. Like Eve, many follow the dictates of human wisdom, in preference to the commands of the Omniscient One. Such was the sin of Eli; and terrible indeed were its results,—disaster and death to himself, ruin to his wicked sons, and ruin to thousands in Israel.
Yet there are many to-day, standing like Eli in holy office, who are making the same mistake. They read his mournful history, but fail to profit by the warning. In their self-confidence they think they know a better way of training their children than which God has given us in his word. The earnest, anxious prayer does not ascend from their hearts, "Teach us, how shall we order the child, and what shall we do unto him?" With all their learning and intelligence, the results of their training show the vaunted wisdom of these persons to be but folly. Fond, indulgent parents, they allow their children to grow up from babyhood without restraint; and thus their forward, selfish, disagreeable ways become confirmed habits, rendering them unloving and unlovable.
God himself established the family relations. His word is the only safe guide in the management of children. Human philosophy has not discovered more than God knows, or devised a wiser plan of dealing with children than that given by our Lord. Who can better understand all the needs of children than their Creator? Who can feel a deeper interest in their welfare than He who bought them with his own blood? If the word of God were carefully studied and faithfully obeyed, there would be less soul-anguish over the perverse conduct of wicked children.
Eli was quick to see and rebuke the sins and errors of the people, sometimes, as in the case of Hannah, even administering unjust reproof; but the sins of his own sons seemed to him less offensive than the sins of others. In his undue affection he was ever ready to find excuses for their perverse course. All this was dishonoring God and misleading the people. To just such an extent as he permitted or excused sin in his children, did he become a partaker in their guilt. As sons of the high priest, they were connected with the work of God, and thus the evil and the sin were greatly heightened.
It is very natural for parents to be partial to their own children. Especially if these parents feel that they themselves possess superior ability, they will regard their children as superior to other children. Hence much that would be severely censured in others is passed over in their own children as smart and witty. While this partiality is natural, it is unjust and unchristian. A great wrong is done our children when we permit their faults to go uncorrected. Many foster wrong traits of character in their children, urging as an excuse, "They are too young to be punished. Wait until they become older, and can be reasoned with. They will outgrow many of these evil tendencies." Thus their wrong habits are left to grow and strengthen until they become second nature. Sometimes the father and mother are united in this error. Sometimes one would gladly pursue a wiser course; but when that one attempts to enforce obedience, the other takes the part of the child, and will not allow it to be brought into submission. The sad results of such a course can be fully seen only in eternity. They can never be estimated in this life.
But great as are the evils of parental unfaithfulness under any circumstances, they are tenfold greater when they exist in the family of those who stand in Christ's stead, to instruct the people. Ministers of the gospel, who fail to control their own households, are, by their wrong example, misleading many. They sanction the growth of evil, instead of repressing it. Many who consider themselves excellent judges of what other children should be and what they should do, are blind to the defects of their own sons and daughters. Such a lack of divine wisdom in those who profess to teach the word of God, is working untold evil. It tends to efface from the minds of the people the distinction between right and wrong, purity and vice.
When ministers and people will exchange their natural pride of heart and independence for a child-like, teachable spirit; when, instead of trusting to their own understanding, and conforming to the maxims and customs of the world, they will sit at the feet of Jesus, and earnestly inquire, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" then his wisdom will direct them, his Spirit work with their efforts, and we shall see the youth who now drift into the ranks of Satan, serving under the banner of the Prince of Life.
Oh that the Elis of to-day, who are everywhere to be found pleading excuses for the waywardness of their children, would promptly assert their own God-given authority to restrain and correct them. Let parents and guardians, who overlook and excuse sin in those under their care, remember that they thus become accessory to these wrongs. If, instead of unlimited indulgence, the chastening rod were oftener used, not in passion, but with love and prayer, we would see happier families and a better state of society.
We have no sympathy with that discipline which would discourage children by hard censure, or irritate them by passionate correction, and then, as the impulse changes, smother them with kisses, or harm them by injurious gratification. Excessive indulgence and undue severity are alike to be avoided. While vigilance and firmness are indispensable, so also are sympathy and tenderness. Parents, remember that you deal with children who are struggling with temptation, and that to them these evil promptings are as hard to resist as are those that assail persons of mature years. Children who really desire to do right may fail again and again, and as often need encouragement to energy and perseverance. Watch the workings of these young minds with prayerful solicitude. Strengthen every good impulse, encourage every noble action. The Lord, through an apostle, admonishes parents, "Provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged." The word of God is your guide, Christian parents. Depart not from it to gratify any impulse of passion or of affection.
If parents desire to teach their children self-control, they must first form the habit themselves. The scolding and fault-finding of parents, encourages a hasty, passionate temper in their children. Love and justice should stand side by side in the government of the household. Let prompt obedience to parental authority be invariably enforced. God has given parents their work, to form the characters of their children after the Divine Pattern. By his grace, they can accomplish the task; but it will require patient, painstaking effort, no less than firmness and decision, to guide the will and restrain the passions. A field left to itself produces only thorns and briers. He who would secure a harvest for usefulness or beauty must first prepare the soil and sow the seed, then dig about the young shoots, removing the weeds and softening the earth, and the precious plants will flourish and richly repay his care and labor.
The work of parents is continuous. It should not be laid hold of vigorously for one day, and neglected the next. Many are ready to begin the work, but are not willing to persevere in it. They are eager to do some great thing, to make some great sacrifice; but they shrink from the unceasing care and effort in the little things of every-day life, the hourly pruning and training of the wayward tendencies, the work of giving instruction, reproof, or encouragement, little by little, as it is needed. They wish to see children correct their faults and form right characters at once, reaching the mountain-top at a bound, and not by successive steps; and because their hopes are not immediately realized, they become disheartened. Let all such persons take courage as they remember the words of the apostle, "Be not weary in well doing; for in due season ye shall reap, if ye faint not."
Satan has prepared his snares for parents, tempting them to extravagance in dress, to an unnecessary outlay of time and money in the preparation of food, and to needless indulgence in many other forms. The demands of fashion so fully engross the time and attention that little room is left for communion with God, self-discipline, or the training of children. Thus too many parents let slip from their shoulders the responsibility of family government. It requires earnest heart-work to repress evil tendencies, strengthen weak principles, develop good and lovely traits of character, and direct all the powers of mind and body in the right channel. Fathers and mothers, will you not lay hold of your work with energy, perseverance, and love? Sow the precious seed daily, with earnest prayer that God will water it with the dews of grace, and grant you an abundant harvest. The Son of God died to redeem a sinful, rebellious race. Shall we shrink from any toil or sacrifice to save our own dear children?
By precept and example, let the young be taught reverence for God and for his word. Many of our youth are becoming infidels at heart, because of the lack of devotion in their parents. The law of God should be the law of the household. Let fathers and mothers kindly and patiently instruct their children, both from the inspired word and from the book of nature, leading them to understand the character of God. Let them show in their own lives that they are continually seeking to know and to do his will. To secure the approval of their Heavenly Father is the great motive to be ever kept before the minds of children. The service of God should be presented, not as an irksome task, but as a precious privilege, by which they may enjoy an honored, useful, and happy life here, and infinitely greater honor, usefulness, and joy in the life hereafter.
God has permitted light from his throne to shine all along the path of life. A pillar of cloud by day, a pillar of fire by night, is moving before us as before ancient Israel. It is the privilege of Christian parents to-day, as it was the privilege of God's people of old, to bring their children with them to the promised land.

THE PROPHET ELIJAH.

By Mrs. M. F. Gould

BY MRS. M. F. GOULD.
"Behold I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord; and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse." Mal. 4: 5, 6.
FATHERS and mothers in Zion, There's a work for each of you; Remember a blessing cometh To him alone who will do.
Turn your hearts unto your children, Lead them from the fowler's snare, Teach them of the love of Jesus; They are objects of his care.
Labor hard, the days are evil, Take no rest along the way. Ever earnest, never tiring, Lead them to the realms of day.
Hear ye not Elijah's message? Heed ye not the solemn cry? Th' Prince of glory soon is coming, And our moments quickly fly.
Take your little children with you, Kneel with them in earnest prayer: Seek, oh seek, their soul's salvation While they're yet within your care.
Shall the day of God o'ertake us With our work but partly done? Will we gain the lasting vict'ry With the battle partly won?
When thou sittest with thy household, When thou walkest by the way; Thou shouldst ever to thy children Teach God's precepts day by day.
"Feed my lambs," the Saviour tells us, With the precious words of life; Draw their hearts from earth's vain pleasures, From its ceaseless round of strife.
Point them to the home of glory, Just beyond these fleeting years; Where reign peace and joy and gladness, Mingled not with grief and tears.
Woodland, Cal.

CHRIST'S KINGDOM NOT TEMPORAL.

By J. N. Loughborough

BY J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH, SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND. ALTHOUGH the work of grace is called "the kingdom of Heaven," we do not in the present state see the manifestation of Christ's kingdom in the temporal governments of this world. He said, "My kingdom is not of this world; if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, but I should not be delivered unto the Jews; but now my kingdom is not from hence." John 18:36. If his kingdom, in its present manifestation, was like those of the world, then we might expect his subjects to use carnal weapons for its establishment and defense. His kingdom is not from hence, i. e. it is not of the character of worldly kingdoms, but its conquests in this age are victories of peace and not of war.
"When he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation [outward show, margin]; neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you." Luke 17:20-21. For within you, we read in the margin, among you.
Our Saviour did not surely mean to say that the kingdom of grace was in the hearts of the Pharisees, for on another occasion he called them "hypocrites," and said, "Ye shut up the kingdom of Heaven against men; for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in." Matt. 23:13. The kingdom of grace was among them. He who was the living embodiment of divine grace vouchsafed to men, was moving among them, performing his miracles, and speaking as never man spoke. It might be said in that sense that the kingdom of God was among them. If we take the question they asked as meaning when shall the future kingdom of Christ come, we learn by his answer that when it does come there is no necessity for any to say, "Lo here, or lo there," for the kingdom itself will be manifested in the visible presence of the king in his glory, who will be seen by all, "As the lightning that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven, so also shall be the Son of man in his day." Luke 17:24. As St. Matthew records, where this same illustration is used with reference to Christ's coming, "So shall also the coming of the Son of man be." Matt. 24:27.
Because the gospel is called a kingdom (kingdom of grace, as before shown), it will not do to treat it as Christ's kingdom of glory, for those scriptures which speak of Christ's future kingdom cannot be applied in this present state. There are many persons, however, who claim that the gospel is the only kingdom of Christ, set up at the day of Pentecost, and that through its proclamation the world is all to become converted and thus a millennium be brought in. We do not learn from our Saviour's teachings that he contemplated an entire conversion of the world as the result of preaching the gospel, but quite the contrary. In one of the parables of our Lord, that of the sower of seed, we read, when the blade was sprung up and the tares of the enemy's sowing appeared, the householder said, "Let both grow together until the harvest; and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn." Our Lord's explanation of the parable was, "the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; the enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world, and the reapers are the angels." Matt. 13:30, 38, 39. From this we see that the wicked are to exist on earth, as well as the righteous, until Christ's coming.
In his teaching respecting his second coming, as recorded by St. Luke, he compares the state of the world with that in the

DAYS OF NOAH AND LOT,

In these words: "As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed." Luke 17:26-30. As there was no world's conversion before the flood, or before the destruction of Sodom, so there will be none before Christ's second coming. Before the flood we read of mankind, "Every imagination of the thought of his heart was only evil continually." Gen. 6:5. If such is to be the state of the masses when Christ comes, it surely does not indicate a conversion to truth.
St. Paul has borne testimony concerning the same time in his epistles, "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils." 1 Tim. 4:1. And in his next letter he gives more full details of the state of lawlessness that is to prevail just before the Lord shall come, in these words, "This know also that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof; from such turn away." And again, "evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived." 2 Tim. 3:1-5, 13. To look about us at present we see more prospect of an immediate fulfillment of these predictions of St. Paul than of any approximation to a world's conversion.
St. John in his view of Christ's coming with his angels, under the symbol of a rider on the white horse with the armies of Heaven following him upon white horses, says, "And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and his army." Rev. 19:19. According to his testimony, in another portion of this revelation, these armies of earth are gathered by means of the deceptive miracles of spirits of devils. When they are thus gathered, Christ comes "as a thief." Rev. 16:14, 15.

POPULAR ERRORS.

Some persons have claimed as proof of a millennial kingdom this side Christ's coming, the words of the prophet Isaiah, "And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths; for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." Isaiah 2:2-4.
It is said this refers to a time when wars shall cease, and when all nations shall receive the truth of God. Compare with this the prophecy of Joel, which also introduces the coming of the "great day of the Lord." "Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles: Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up; beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears; let the weak say, I am strong.Assemble yourselves and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about; thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O Lord. Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat; for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe; come, get you down, for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision; for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision." Joel 3:9-14.
Joel speaks of the "day of the Lord," the time of the "Judgment," and "the harvest." Our Saviour said, "the harvest is the end of the world." St. Peter says that in "the day of the Lord," the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and that a new heavens and a new earth shall follow. 2 Peter 3:10, 13. And Isaiah says that that day shall lay the land desolate, and the sinners shall be destroyed out of it. Joel, then, is speaking of the same time as Isaiah. The statement in Joel is the command of God to beat their plowshares into swords and their pruninghooks into spears. In the other case the "people shall go and say" that the "nations shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruninghooks."

THERE IS NO CONTRADICTION

At all in these testimonies when we get a proper understanding of them. In Joel we have the waking up of all nations to the battle of the great day of the Lord. In Isaiah we have the fact that the truth of God shall be "exalted above the hills," i. e., that the truth of God shall be spread all over the earth, not for the conversion of all, but, as our Saviour said, "preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations." While the way is thus being opened that the Bible may be placed before all nations in their own tongue, that all may be without excuse when our Lord comes, "many people" seeing this "do go and say" just exactly what the Lord, by the mouth of the prophet Isaiah, said they would say. The Lord says of such in the next words that they are "soothsayers like the Philistines." Isaiah 2:6.
The facts of the present time are just what the Lord said by his servants should be: "Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse," "iniquity abounds," and "the love of many waxes cold." As for the problem of war, see the vast armies of the nations with bristling bayonets, and other weapons of war with which a whole regiment can be hurried to death in a few moments. Look at the great war ships with sides covered with two feet of solid steel, then look at the great guns constructed to throw a missile that shall pierce those plates of steel and shatter the ship to fragments, and say if this repeating of what the prophet Isaiah said they should "say," is not the "peace and safety" cry which St. Paul said would be uttered when "sudden destruction" was about to come upon them? 1 Thess. 5:3.
To make the Scriptures teach a conversion of the world, and a complete establishment of the kingdom of grace over all the earth before the coming of Christ, we should have to introduce some important changes in their statments. If it said, This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world until all are converted, and then the end shall not come for one thousand years, then we might conclude that there would be a millennium of bliss before the end. But, alas for such a theory! when the gospel is preached "for a WITNESS, then shall the END come."

FEW SAVED.

If all the world is to be converted, surely the whole of them would be ready to meet the Lord when he comes, and for once we should have to say, broad is the way that leadeth unto life, for all the world are walking in it, instead of "Wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth unto destruction, and many there be which go in thereat; because strait is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life and few there be that find it." Matt. 7:13, 14. The statement of this text, however, will ever be true even until Christ's actual coming, for in speaking of that event he says, "Fear not little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. . . . Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord, when he shall return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh they may open to him immediately. Blessed are those servants whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching." Luke 12:32, 35, 36.
When he comes, he will find, not the masses ready, but a little flock. He himself has asked, "Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" Luke 18:8. The very manner of asking the question implies a very strong negative as the answer. He will not find the masses ready.
There is no conversion of the entire world before his coming, but on the other hand, as we have seen already, a great apostasy, iniquity abounding, and the love of many waxing cold, and the solemn admonition of our Lord to his people is, "And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and the cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come upon all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth." Luke 21:34, 35.
Instead of the whole world converted to God, it will be true to the end that it is "through much tribulation" that we must enter the kingdom of God. (Acts 14:22), and that "In the last days perilous times shall come" (2 Tim. 3:1, 2); and we must watch, lest being led away by the error of the wicked, we "fall from our steadfastness," and the Lord coming suddenly find us sleeping.
The Lord grant that we may be of the watching ones, all ready to meet him at his coming, and enter with him into his kingdom of glory.

AM I MY BROTHER'S KEEPER?

By Eld. J. D. Rice

BY ELD. J. D. RICE.

"NO MAN liveth to himself" is an inspired declaration of the apostle Paul. However much we may incline to believe that our ways have nothing to do with those of others, it is true nevertheless, whenever we associate with our fellow-beings, or our influence through any means reaches them, we exert an influence which will be saving in its effects or to the contrary. It will tend to "gather with Christ" or scatter abroad.
To say that we can live and act among men without casting any influence one way or the other, is to contradict the Scriptures, and proves that we have not been as close observers as we might have been.
It is an old saying that "we are creatures of circumstances." This is true to a great extent. It seems to be instilled into our very nature, to pattern after others, and probably because of this tendency on our part, the Lord has given us a pattern to go by, as well as instruction on points of duty. Every Christian is expected to make Christ his pattern. We are to "walk even as he walked." 1 John 2:6. In no case are we instructed to follow others only as they follow Christ. 1 Cor. 11:1; 2 Cor. 3:2, 3. Elders and leaders, as well as those of experience, are expected to "be ensamples" to the rest of the flock, especially to the young converts. 1 Pet. 5:1-3; 1 Tim. 4:12. Woe unto him who puts a stumbling-block or an occasion to fall, or to depart from the simplicity of the way of Christ, in his weak brother's way, whether by word, example or otherwise. Again, of the people of God it is said, "Ye are the light of the world," "Ye are the salt of the earth," "The epistle of Christ" "known and read of all men." Matt. 5:13, 14; 2 Cor. 3:2, 3. The world expects to read Christ through us, and they have a right to do so. Hence the necessity of our letting that light so shine that it will faithfully exemplify the teachings of Christ and the power of his gospel, and thus cast its saving influence upon those around us.
When I think of these things, and the solemn responsibility that rests upon us who profess the name of Christ, I tremble for myself and God's people, and ask, "Who is sufficient for these things?" God will be our sufficiency if we humble our hearts before him, and do our best to return to the simplicity of his ways as revealed in his word.
We must "come out" from the world and "be separate." We cannot "conform" to its ways in conversation, dress, or otherwise, and be guiltless. We cannot attend its scenes of pleasure, its picnics, dances, concerts, theaters, etc., except at the expense of our spirituality, and to the injury of the cause of God. As our love for these things increases, our regard for the requirements of God decreases; and any attempt to hold on to the world with one hand and grasp Heaven with the other, will only prove our ruin in the end. "Ye cannot serve God and mammon." Christ meant what he said, so be not deceived. The words which he has spoken the same shall judge you in the last day. "Be not conformed to this world." Rom. 12:1, 2. If by our conformity to the world others are led back to the world, or hindered from coming out of it, how will our account stand at the bar of God? Will we think to be excused by saying, "Am I my brother's keeper?"
Some seem to think their influence over the world would be lessened if they did not overstep the bounds a little and conform somewhat to the world. In this they are deceived. They may gain its approbation, its love; but "if ye are of the world, the world will love his own." So if you want the friendship and love of the world, conform to its ways. But if you want the love of God, then conform to his ways. It is safe to do what the Lord says, and not try to court the favor of the world by a conformity to it. If we hold up a false standard and win men to it, what have we gained for Christ? The higher and more prominent the position we are called to occupy, the greater our responsibility for the influence which we cast.
What is wanted, is more sanctified independence of spirit throughout our ranks. Those are wanted who, in the meek and lowly spirit of Christ, will stand out alone, if need be for a time, and do what the word of the Lord commands in all things, because God says it, and because it is right. By so doing, the more timid ones are emboldened to "follow on" to do the same. We may thus "lift up the hands that hang down," and "strengthen the feeble knees," and the impending Judgment will reveal our faithfulness, and that we have not lived to ourselves nor lived in vain.

ANOTHER ILLUSTRATION.

THE case of Mrs. Upham, widow of Professor Upham, of Bowdoin College, once well known as the author of a text-book on mental philosophy, and later as an advocate of the "higher life" doctrine, is suggestive, if not instructive. This lady, with her husband, fell, some years ago, under the influence of the teachers of this notion, and later she connected with this faith in Spiritualism. We believe she enjoyed daily communication with the spirit of her departed husband, and received messages for her guidance. She came especially under the influence of two maiden sisters in Waverly, N. Y., who have for a long time been prominent in the teaching of the higher life, and who, with their father, have held annual meetings at Ocean Grove. These two women have had as an associate in their meetings one John A. Lansing, who passed for a Methodist minister of Brookline, Mass., though he has no real right to the title. This Mr. Lansing has proved to be a man of great personal influence over a class of able and pietistically inclined women, one of whom he married, and nearly half a dozen of whom have lived together in a sort of sisterhood in his house in Brookline, Mass.
Among those most completely under his influence are those two sisters from Waverly. He appears by his arts to have got control of the property of a number of persons, especially using, it would seem, these sisters as his infatuated dupes to entrap others. One of them, Miss Carrie Ward, introduced him to Mrs. Upham, and, it is said, under a divine guidance, persuaded her to put her property, some $14,000, in this Lansing's hands for investment, he promising to pay her ten per cent. She did so, and the receipt was signed by Miss Ward, who gave as security a bundle of papers, said to be deeds of houses, notes, etc., belonging to herself. Of course, Lansing paid the interest but a few months, and then stopped. Mrs. Upham was then persuaded to take Miss Carrie's note for the amount, with interest at seven per cent. That was never paid. After long delay, she put the matter in a lawyer's hands, and the two confederates were arrested last week for fraud. This is not the first illustration of the fact that ordinary honesty has certain advantages over supernatural holiness. Antinomianism is closely allied to perfectionism.—Independent.

The Aurora Borealis

A PROFESSOR in Leipsic University asked a student what is the aurora borealis. Putting his finger to the side of his head, and looking wise, the student said, "I know very well, but I forget just now what it is." "There," said the professor, "we are in a fix. The only man in the world who ever knew what the aurora is, has forgotten."

Jealousy and Inferiority

By Massillon

JEALOUSY is a secret avowal of our own inferiority.—Massillon.

SUGGESTIVE TO MINISTERS.

THE New York Tribune, in an article on the secret of Methodist success, called out by the Methodist Ecumenical Council in London, makes the following remarks, which are worthy of the consideration of all ministers:—
“We come much nearer to the vital force when we consider Methodism as a system of popular preaching. We do not mean great preaching, or fine preaching, or wise preaching: though the Methodists could probably fill an order for any of these kinds of pulpit goods. By popular preaching we mean preaching that people will listen to and which will stir them to religious action. The Methodists have no monopoly in this kind of theological wares; but there was a time when they had very little competition. John Wesley was a popular preacher, and he drew to himself other popular preachers. When he found a man who could move other men with his voice he was not at all curious about the man’s gown and bands. This troop of talkers swept over England. Some of them who had never been ordained, or so much as dreamed of it, dropped in this country and started a blaze as if they had been coals of fire. They were such lay preachers as Phillip Embury and Captain Webb, men who had securely planted Methodism here before Francis Asbury came over to be its bishop. The Wesleyan movement began everywhere with a hot-hearted preacher; and the new local beginnings have been starting in that way ever since. Lay preachers founded half of the new churches; but ordaining them has not spoiled them, and with or without orders the successful Methodist preacher is more or less of a popular orator.
“It goes without saying that Wesley, his fellows and his successors, have had something special to talk about; as orators they had a theme and a purpose; the subject was, indeed a very old one, but they put it before men in a way that had gone out of use. Christian graces had made the shibboleth venerable, but these men gave it a new accent. It is only half telling their secret to write that they talked well. They talked well because the matter of which they were full inspired them. ‘Under ordinary circumstances,’ said a Hoosier, ‘I weigh one hundred and fifty pounds, but when I’m mad I weigh a ton.’ The Wesleyan itinerants weighed a ton in their extemporized pulpits because they had gotten hold of a tremendous thought, or rather because it had gotten hold of them.”

SUNSHINE.

By Selected

The world wants more sunshine in its disposition, in its business, in its charities, in its theology. For ten thousand of the aches and pains and irritations of men and women we recommend sunshine. It soothes better than morphine. It stimulates better than champagne. It is the best plaster for a wound. The good Samaritan poured out into the fallen traveler's gash more of this than of oil. Florence Nightingale used it on the Crimean battlefields. Take it out into all the alleys, on board all the ships, by all the sick beds. Not a vial full, not a cup full, but a soul full. It is good for spleen, for liver complaint, for neuralgia, for rheumatism, for failing fortunes, for melancholy.—Sel.

Childhood Burdens and Success

By Exchange

In nine cases out of ten a man's life will not be a success if he does not bear burdens in childhood. If the fondness or vanity of father or mother has kept him from hard work; if another always helped him out at the end of his row; if what was light always fell to him, and what was heavy to some one else; if he has been permitted to shirk until shirking has become a habit, his life will be a failure. On the other hand, if a boy has been brought up to do his part, never allowed to shirk legitimate responsibility, or dodge work whether or not it made his head ache, or soiled his hands, until bearing burdens has become a matter of pride, the heavy end of the wood his choice, the elements of success are his, and at some time, in some way, the world will recognize his capacity.—Exchange.

A Soft Answer

"A soft answer turneth away wrath."
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