\ Mixbe g0« ^Recetoea ti\t jMolg d>Ijasi? JHftooerrt
Transcription
\ Mixbe g0« ^Recetoea ti\t jMolg d>Ijasi? JHftooerrt
\ W^pr Mixbe g0« ^Recetoea ti\t jMolg d>Ijasi? JHftooerrt-frag p£rs£aTit0tts. Jffltckea sI]aU not unCErstano. @IIie 33oig Oiljost attb iSelpla 3Sc (Cumetij. ^ifamgtt JHtastona. $xtz. An Australian Monthly, showing that Jesus is just the same to-day: Saving Souls from Death; Answering Prayer; Baptising in the Holy Spirit; Healing the Sick; Preparing the Church for His Speedy Return.—Price, SIXPENCE. JAN. 1st. 1929 GOOD NLWS 2 00 farbto ilfai <3f sfymilfr gkrg, safre m tljc crass of our ^Earo Uesus (tttjrtsi^ bg faljam tl|Bftmrifris aruafefr unto m£> atta (31 jfttio ilje terlL" ,«*i*i*rjejffiffic*^ • : CEMENTED TO THE CROSS. Oh God my Father, when the stormy winds Of sorrow sweep upon my trembling soul, And, through the baleful bitterness that blinds. I do but faintly see the looming goal. Even like a flower, drooping though I be, Still, blessed Jesus, hearten, strengthen me; Keep me, through every trial, pain, and loss, "Cemented to the Cross." Oh God, if tasting some Gethsemane, The mystery of pain extends its gloom; Then, in that vital hour, come to me With breath of heaven's brighter, richer room. May we hold fast our faith, our hope in God, Still climbing where the saintly feet have trod, And may we be (cleansed from all filthy dross) "Cemented to the Cross." Father of lights, Whose orbs, with lustrous sheen, Bedeck the jewelled canopy of heaven, Give us the vision that can pierce the screen And mirror in our hearts the glory given. To those triumphant saints who, in the flame, Could still extol their loving Saviour's name. Keep us, and may we be, like clinging moss "Cemented to the Cross." "Jesus Stood on the Shore." JL5U5 standeth on the shore of the new day, The Saviour-King for everything along life's way. Oh ! meet Him, ere thou passest on to other things That so, the day may be baptized in heavenly themes. JELSU5 standeth on the shore of every joy, The Sanctifier and the Guard from all alloy. Oh! meet Him, over every phase that is to be And then, "with him," our God may give "all things" to thee. JE.5U5 standeth on the shore of every woe, The antidote and Comforter for all below. Oh ! meet Him, in the midst of all that crushes thee, Lo, thou wilt learn to live above life's misery. JL5U5 standeth on the shore of mystery, Interpreter and Counsellor for all to be. Oh ! meet him, where the fathomless appaileth thee, And thou wilt find "LL 5HADDAI" enough to see. JfL5U5 standeth on the shore of everything. Let Him control, be First, Midst, F_nd, and Glorious King. Oh ! live in Him, just all the day, and all the way, Then, when He comes, morn, noon or night, He'll find thee right. JAN. ist. 1929 GOOD N£WS Jf :: THE FATAL HEMLOCK :: By Mina Ross Brawner, M.D. "The cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink i t ? " (John 18: 11.) P3S3 Peter would spare his Master from suffering and drew a sword in His defence, but Jesus bade him return the sword to its sheath. His Father had given Him the " cup, and He would drink. " In the garden, three times He prayed, "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me"; but it. was not possible, for that WONDERFUL body had been prepared by His Father for suffering. Jesus yielded to this, His great agony, crying, " 0 my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, THY WILL BE DONE." He drank the cup of suffering; the cup of his Father's displeasure against sin. He went to the Cross carrying the sins of the whole world. They dipped a sponge in vinegar and gave it to Him. He refused the stupifying draught they offered, but there was an unseen cup handed Him with the vinegar, which He did not refuse. He swallowed the draught to the last bitter dregs. It was the CUP OF DISEASE, the Fatal Hemlock: full of all forms of germs, from the comparatively harmless ones which we call Flora to the deadly Anthrax organism. He drank them all on Calvary. Germs are not seen by the naked eye. No one saw the cup of Fatal Hemlock that the hand of death pressed to the suffering Saviour's lips, but He drained it to the dregs. There was death in the cup, and Jesus swallowed - every drop. He "Tasted death for every man." (Heb. ^ 2: 9.) Have you the sentence of death in your body? Take courage, suffering one! Death has been swallowed up. Isaiah prophesied that this would take place, and Paul records the fact that it did take place. (See Isaiah 25: 8 and 1 Cor. 15: 54.) But this is only part of the good news. "Death is swallowed up in VICTORY." Jesus not only swallowed the thing that is causing your death, but He swallowed it in VICTORY. HE ROSE FROM THE GRAVE. He subdued and conquered even the death that appeared to conquer Him. He yielded Himself a willing victim to death, swallowing all the poisons death pours into a cup of death, that (should the Lord delay His coming) your home-going, dear Christian, might be a falling to sleep, rather than defeat on the torture-rack of disease. He had entered into an agreement with His Father to drink this cup. He did not sip, He swallowed Death, and triumphed over it, making a show of it openly. Death—slow, agonising death from this terrible disease from which you are suffering has been subdued, conquered for ever. Suffering Incurable! Will you rise up and sing this song: " 0 Death, where is thy sting?" "Thy power to hurt! You are disarmed, where is your deadly dart? It has passed to the Victor's hands. I defy your power, for your artillery is gorie; you cannot touch me now. You may hiss at me, give me symptoms, but I despise your wrath, for Jesus drank all your poison on Calvary. 'Surely He hath borne our sicknesses and carried our pains.' (Isaiah 53.4—Hebrew.)" " 0 Grave, where is thy victory?" "What has become of it? You have held the open grave before me for so long. You have bidden me look in and see the prison house to which you would take me. But look yourself, Death, and see what has happened to it. The prison doors are open; the bolts and locks have been forced; they have given way under the mighty resurrection power of the Risen Lord, Who swallowed death in victory." These are not idle words to make you feel good. This idea of deceiving patients into believing they are getting well when everyone knows they are dying has always been distasteful to me. When I practised medicine I had the reputation of telling my patients the truth, and my standard has not lowered since that time. I am telling you the truth now when I tell you that Jesus swallowed every drop of the cup of suffering and disease the devil is pressing to your lips. He took every pain you are now enduring, and He will release you to-day, if you will let Him. You say you must have a foundation on which to build. Of course you must! Just denying the existence of sickness or sin does not remove them. Sin and sickness are two of the most terrible realities in our world, but Jesus met and vanquished both these realities in His own body on the tree. You will find a real foundation for your triumph in 1 Peter 2: 24—"Who His own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree . . . . by whose stripes ye were healed." Disease may seize you, but it cannot hold you in its power if you look to Calvary. It cannot sting you to death, for Jesus took both its strength and sting when He died in your stead. That was your death that Jesus died. That was your grave where they laid Him. " 0 DEATH, WHERE IS THY STING? 0 GRAVE, WHERE IS THY VICTORY?" 4 GOOD NE.W5 By T. B. LENNON. As was his custom, the Apostle Paul, when at Ephesus, sought out any Christians that might be gathered together unto the name of Jesus. This was an easy matter as. Christians. in these early days were to be found only in some obscure room or old barn or cottage. They had no influence, for, as usual, they had separated themselves from high-toned heathenism and idolatrous organisations; and, because of the stand they took, were despised and hated like the dear Lord Jesus Himself. One would expect that, under these circumstances Paul would have much to say about the hardness of the way; but, no, instead, his first question was that all important one:— "Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?" What a beautiful lesson for us as Christ's ambassadors. Oh, what untold blessing we might bring to the tired, weary wanderers in this old world if, like the apostle, we bought up our opportunities instead of the usual talk, talk, talk about everything and anything that may come up. Paul had but one topic and that was "Life more abundant in Jesus." He lived Christ. Therefore could easily preach Christ. His words were very searching to these twelve men down in Ephesus, for it was now over ten years since the first pentecostal outpouring, and, owing to the unchristian state of the city, he was satisfied that these men were not endued with power from on high, else they would exercise a greater power on the people around them. Thus he wisely asked them: "Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?" Notice he does not say: "Ye must be born again" or "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." No, no. Why? They were saved already. Had they not been, Paul would have dealt with them as he dealt with the jailor at Phillippi, when he told him to "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16: 31. Paul knew the need and being led by the spirit he asked the right question. He wanted to know if they had received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit which was the main feature of pentecost. Acts 2: 4, 6: 3, 13: 52. But like so many Christians of our own day they knew not what he meant, or hardly knew, and then answered: We did not so much as hear whether JAN. 1st 1929 the Holy Ghost was given. R.V., Acts 19: 2. However, their mistake was not nearly so bad as the mistake of the Christians of to-day, for, to-day, they all affirm they received when they first believed. This is surely the worst error, for one has no chance to help them into this glorious blessing, for they are like the ok! Church of Laodicea, they know not that they are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. There was hope for these men at Ephesus. They said they did not know, then Paul baptised them in the name of the Lord Jesus; which also goes to prove they were saved, for this is believer's baptism. But the baptism of John was a baptism of repentance, whilst this is a baptism into the death of the Lord Jesus, a testimony that we were crucified with him and are now being buried with him. How easy then to see they were believers, and yet not filled with the spirit of God. What about you, dear reader, are you filled with the spirit ? You cannot be unless you are washed in the blood, and if you are washed in the blood, this is your privilege, for you are commanded in Eph. 5: 18: "Be filled with the spirit." But you say: "I am saved and I know it and for three years enjoyed my salvation, but I was not baptised in the Holy Spirit. So also these men were baptised into John's baptism for over ten years, for you remember John was beheaded in the days of Christ's ministry. These men were bap- -—tised before the imprisonment and execution of John. They were disciples, i.e., followers or believers on Him that should come, viz., Jesus. And yet Paul's word to them is: "Have ye received the Holy Ghost?" Reader, have you ? "Well," you say. "How did they know they had not received the spirit? Or what did they receive?" Now then, listen: To be born again of the spirit is one operation of the Holy Spirit, but to be baptised is another. And remember the Lord Jesus was born of the Holy Spirit, but, at the age of 30, He was baptised with the Holy Spirit. And the servant is no greater than his Lord. Here's what the Rev. F. B. Meyer, D.D., says about it: It is, of course, true that the Holy Spirit is the sole agent in conversion, becoming the occupant of the temple, which is presented to Him by the nature of man (1 Cor. 6: 19). And it is equally clear that the Holy Spirit as a person enters the newly regenerated heart. But there is a vast difference between having the Holy Ghost and being filled by Him. In the one case, He may be compared to a mighty man that cannot save, relegated to an obscure corner of the heart, whilst the larger part of the nature is excluded from his gracious influences. In the other, He is a welcome guest, to whom every part of the being is thrown open, and who pervades it with the freedom of the balmy air of summer, sweeping through open windows, breathing ^ through long corridors, and carrying into furthest recesses the fragrance of a thousand flowers. There are a great many Christians who undoubtedly received the Holy Ghost at the earliest moment of faith; indeed, their faith is the result of His work; but they have never gone further; they have never yielded their whole nature to His indwelling; they have no further experience of His Pentecostal filling. It is not difficult to point this contrast by analogies drawn from the Word of God. May we not reverently say that the ministry of our blessed Lord Himself owed much of its marvellous power to that moment when, although filled with the Holy Spirit from His birth, He was afresh anointed at His baptism? Oh, if you could only know what it would mean for you to have this baptism you would never rest till you had received it; it makes the Lord Jesus so real to us, and the old Bible becomes a new book. Prayer has a sweetness in it, for our communion is with the Father and with His Son. It is here where we obtain victory over the world, the flesh and the devil. The old man gets a knockout blow here and we get the grace to count him out. It is here our doubts are all settled for we know we are accepted in the Beloved, that we are sons of God, coheirs with Christ Jesus. It is here JAN. 1st. 1929 GOOD NEWS we get the mind of Christ in all things and are kept in the right attitude in Jesus. And here, too, we receive the power to witness and do service for King Jesus; it is here also we learn to fully trust Him in sickness and take Him to be our great physician, and he never once fails us. Praise His holy name. You say that's all good and true with the written word, but you have not yet told us how they knew, or, better still, how we can know ? Well, let us read Acts 19: 6: And when Paul had laid his hands upon them the Holy Ghost came on them and they spake with tongues and prophesied. Yes. This is how they knew: They spake with tongues. See also Acts 2: 4 and 10: 44 and 11: 15; also 1st Cor. 14: 18. Paul tells us: He spake in tongues more than them all. Oh, I'm glad God gave us this sign whereby we might know we have received. Of course, there are many fillings, but only one baptism. You may be filled again and again without the sign of tongues, but you can't have a real scriptural baptism without you receive the same as they did at the beginning. Acts 11: 15. Are you longing for a deeper love for Jesus and a compassion for the lost? Do you want to be a blessing to others and have a joyful and peaceful salvation ? "Receive ye the Holy Ghost and all power will be given unto you." "Tarry until ye be endued with power from on high," is the word of the Master. Amen. —"Bible Echoes." PRAISE CHANGES THINGS. There is a legend of two angels that come from heaven every morning and go on their rounds all day long. One is the angel of prayers; the other is the angel of thanksgiving. Each carries a basket. Soon the angel of requests has his basket filled to overflowing. Everybody pours into it great handfuls of requests, but, when the day is ended the angel of thanksgiving has only two or three little contributions of gratitude in his basket. "Were there not ten cleansed, but where are the nine?" A missionary in dark China was living a defeated life. Everything seemed to be touched with sadness and although he prayed for months for victory over depression and discouragement, his life remained the same. He determined to leave his work and go to an interior station and pray till victory came. He reached the place and was entertained in the home of a fellow missionary. On the wall hung a motto with the words, "Try Thanksgiving." The words gripped his heart and he thought within himself: "Have I been praying all this time and not praising?" He stopped and began to praise and was so uplifted, that instead of hiding away to pray and agonise for days, he immediately returned to his waiting flock to tell that "Praise Changes Things." Wonderful blessing attended this simple testimony and the bands that had bound others were loosed through praise. I wish to add my humble testimony to his. It was a dark, dark, night in my life when the words, "Praise waiteth for Thee, 0 God, in Zion" (Ps. 65: 1), were impressed upon my mind. I had been waiting in prayer, yes, my prayers and supplications had gone up to the throne, were piled up, as it were. Now, could not I wait in praise, before I saw the answer, or must I wait for signs and wonders ere I believed His Word? God was waiting for this final step of faith and when I began to praise Him for the answer, to wait in peace, to rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him, He began to answer, exceedingly, abundantly, above all that I could ask or think, and the possession of the secret of victory has transformed my life and filled it with gladness. Is your "praise note" missing from the heavenly choir, beloved ? Are you waiting, waiting, yearning, for God to answer your prayer? He is waiting to answer. Try thanksgiving. "Praise" changes things. —Sel. 5 WAS IT A DREAM? By Rev. Robert D. Kilgour. Last night (July 16) about a quarter of twelve, I heard a woman's voice crying aloud in prayer to God for revival. She was being transported through the streets of the city in a high-powered car. The car and voice approached my dwelling. Oh, that cry! The blood froze in my veins with the terror and horror of an approaching catastrophe. How she prayed! As a prophetess of God crying aloud and sparing not. The words:—"0 God—God—send a revival!" spread out through the night. The intensity of Holy Ghost intercession was in that voice. God was giving Himself in that cry for a mighty revival before the Heavens as a vesture were folded up and the skies rolled together as a scroll. Warning of doom to an unbelieving generation and alarm to the unready Church was in the cry. "Jesus is coming soon; 0 God, send a revival before He comes." Then the voice grew fainter and fainter. My mind followed after as it was swallowed up in the dark distance. She was carried on through the streets of the city. This voice brought a revelation to my heart. It was as if God had said:—"That is the way to pray for a revival. That is the prayer that I am waiting to answer. That is the revival that will be sent before Jesus comes." How empty, weak, and faithless my praying seemed now. How petty my pretty little approaches to the Throne. How unreal the praying in the churches. Titanic force, spiritual might, the pent-up love of God—all the repression of His long-suffering for a world ripened for repentance or judgment must energise me when I pray. " 0 God teach me to pray for revival as thy prophets of old prayed; to pray as though I, too, saw the mouth of Hell opened and my unsaved relatives, friends, and neighbors slipping remorselessly into it; pray until I see the graves opening and Jesus bowing the Heavens and coming down, while the throng of the redeemed in glorified garments rise on ladders of light to that meeting in the air; pray until the glow of the emerald Throne appears, and the thunders and lightnings of God's judgments begin to rain their fire upon a guilty Christ-rejecting world; pray until the sweat of Gethsemane and the pain of Golgotha become mine." I was on my knees. As I prayed I envisaged the saints on earth engaged with me in triumphant intercessory prayer for revival. Their cry has gone forth into all the earth. My missionary brethren and their native Christians, together with the children of God, everywhere are joining in Holy Ghost intercession. Above, the Angel at the Golden Altar gathers all the cries of the Bride to her Beloved; in every language and dialect of earth it swells in a mighty surging diapason of prayer. "O God invade earth with the floodtides of Gospel blessing ere the door of mercy closes." I thought, is this the last call ? I must be ready when He comes. Oh my brethren, we need to watch and pray so as to be accounted worthy to escape tribulation horrors, and to stand before the Son of Man. "O GOD—GOD—SEND A REVIVAL!" —"The DAWN." Prayer has divided seas, rolled up flowing rivers, made flinty rocks gush into fountains, quenched flames of fire, muzzled lions, disarmed vipers, marshalled stars against the wicked, stamped the course of the moon, arrested the rapid sun in his great race, burst open iron gates, recalled souls from eternity, conquered the strongest devils, commanded legions of angels. Prayer has bridled the raging passions of men, and routed and destroyed vast armies of blustering atheists. Prayer has brought one man from the bottom of the sea, and carried another in a "chariot of fire to heaven." —F. E. Marsh. GOOD NE.W5 6 ^Hom of t\\t foxzktb sljall tmoersiatto^ There is no period of human history comparable to the present. Our day is different from every other age of which we have heard or read. All the faculties of the human mind have been sharpened and developed to an astonishing degree during very recent years. The age in which we live is unique, wonderful. Other ages have equalled it in courage, in feats of valor, in human prowess; but no age can be compared to it in education, invention, transportation, and dissemination of knowledge. One Hundred Years Ago. Go back a hundred years. We scarcely know how to live. All the comforts and conveniences to which we are accustomed are gone. There is no telephone or telegraph, and even mail delivery is slow and uncertain. There are no electric cars, no escalators, no subways, no elevated trains, few steamboats, no aeroplanes, not even a cable car; in fact, not a horse car, and the buggy is the latest and most up-to-date method of rapid transportation. There are no electric lights, not even a kerosene lamp. It is the old tallow candle we depend on for light. And we do not need much light, for it is the custom of most people to go to bed soon after the sun goes down. There are no phonographs in the homes, and radio broadcasting is unthought of. There is no sewing machine, no reaper, no thresher, no modern farm machinery, no electric iron. Housework and farmwork are done by laborious primitive methods. There are no India-rubber goods. Such conveniences are far in the future. There are no photographs, no photo-engraving, no cameras, no rotogravure sections of the papers. In fact, there are no newspapers as we know them. Such a thing as the wonderful octuple web perfecting printing press, which prints, pastes, cuts, folds, and counts newspapers at the rate of 96,000 per hour or 1600 per minute, is not dreamed of. There is no planing and woodworking machinery, and therefore none of the endless variety of sashes, doors, blinds, and furniture now common. There are no gas engines, no elevators, no asphalt pavement or streets, no steam fire engines. Celluloid articles are unknown. So also are time locks for safes, barbed-wire fences, self-binding harvesters, oil and gas wells, ice machines and cold storage. There are no stem-winding watches, cash registers, or cash carriers. There are no iron or steel frame buildings, or ironclad ships, no revolvers, no magazine guns. There are no linotype or monotype machines, no typewriters, dynamo-electric machines, electric locomotives, or electric plating. There is no pasteurising or knowledge of its need. There is no knowledge of microbes or disease germs, no sanitary plumbing, and no use of anesthetics in surgery. There are no soda-water fountains, coal tar dyes and medicines, no artificial limbs and eyes, no spectroscope. There is no nitroglycerin, dynamite, or gun-cotton. There are no electric fire alarms, artesian wells, or steam hammers; no hydraulic dredges, no air brakes, Bessemer steel, or ocean cables; no enamelled ironware, Welsback gas burners, or gas ranges; no roller mills, patent process flour or prepared foods; no shoe machines, or circular knitting machine; Jacquard looms; no patent car couplings, sleeping cars, or street sweepers; no moving pictures, acetylene gas, or X-Ray apparatus; no automobiles, locomotives, or bicycles. I wonder whether we would know how to live in such a world as that! JAN. 1st. 1929 The Marvels of Our Time. The wonders and marvels of our age are so common to us that we seldom stop to consider how recently these things have all come into use. It seems almost as if the human race had been asleep for nearly sixty centuries, and then, a little more than a century ago, had been awakened to intense activity. In the realm of science and invention, human ingenuity has done more in the last century than in all the centuries which went before. Nearly all the grea.t inventions have come within the memory of living men, and so many of them have been produced that we, of this age, cease to exclaim and wonder, and our attitude is one which leads us to expect anything at all and be surprised at nothing. This has not long been true, however. Our fathers and grandfathers, some of them, believed in their days that human progress had reached its limit. Limit of Inventions Thought to Be Reached in 1833. "Someone poring over old files in the United States Patent Office at Washington the other day, found a letter written in 1833 that illustrates the limitations of the human imagination. "It was from an old employee of the Patent Office*., offering his resignation to the head of the department. His reason was that as everything inventable had been invented, the Patent Office would soon be discontinued, and there would be no further need of his services, or the services of any of his fellow clerks. He, therefore, decided to leave before the blow fell." The World Just One-Tenth of a Second Wide. Chief _ among the amazing developments of the present is radio broadcasting. Twenty million people in America can sit quietly in their homes and hear the audible voice of one man. Allan L. Benson, writing in Hearst's Magazine, July, 1922, says:— "We may now mine the air as our forefathers mined the earth, finding one thing at one level and another thing at another." And speaking of the possibilities of this wonderful invention, French Strother, in World's Work for April, 1922, writes: "This world is now just one-tenth of a second wide. Wireless has done it. Man has touched the ether waves with the perturbations of his restless spirit, and, within the winking of an eye, by man-made receptive nerves, at the antipodes his brothers hear his speech. At last the world is one chamber, where no man, however remote in the flesh from other men, is beyond the sound of the voices of his fellows. If inventions of present daily use had been in existence in their time, Robinson Crusoe on his lonely island, Columbus in his caravel, Caesar in Britain, even Dante in the remotest hell, could have heard the gossip of London, the weather report in Genoa, the chariot racing results in Rome, and the voice of the lost Beatrice. As it is, boys in New Jersey are talking to boys in Scotland; milady at her breakfast table is receiving word of the morning's bargains at the emporiums; farmers pause in the furrow to get from the air the market report from New York; farmers' wives at their evening knitting, listen to grand opera .in Chicago; trainmen talk to dispatchers many miles away; explorers, a year's travel distant in the antarctic, hear Bordeaux telling Melbourne that the Pope of Rome is dead. "These things are done by wireless. The art of wireless, on its technical side, is advancing so rapidly that even experts find it impossible to keep abreast of its daily advance. The dreams of twenty years are realised overnight, and the impossibilities of yesterday were accomplished a half hour ago. What may to-morrow b e ? " JAN. 1st. 1929 What Do These Things Mean? 7 GOOD NEWS THE GOLDEN PEN AND THE GOLDEN AGE. It is not my purpose, however, in calling attention to these things, to arouse merely a sense of wonder, but rather to raise the suggestion, what do these things mean ? It is the significance of these wonders which concerns us. Why is it, then, that these amazing developments, these wonderful time and labor-saving devices, have all come in our day? Why is it that they have been crowded into the last century ? Here is contained a lesson for all the world. Here is a sign from God Himself. All these marvels have come about in just this way and at just this time as a fulfillment of an ancient Bible prophecy, and they are here for God to use in carrying out His purpose for the earth and the race upon it. The Time of the End. This is the prophecy: "But thou, 0 Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased." (Dan. 12: 4.) Here Daniel is instructed to seal his writings until a future time called "the time of the end." in this "time of the end" his writings, and indeed the great Bible prophecies, would be unsealed, made known, disclosed, and disseminated widely over the earth. For this purpose "knowledge shall be increased," and many shall run to and fro." "The time of the end" is not the end of time; that is, it is not the end itself; it is a short time preceding the end. It is "the last time." There is to be, just before Jesus returns, a time during which Daniel's prophecy is to be made plain, is to be preached in all the earth, to acquaint men with the importance of the time in which they live, and prepare them to meet their Lord when He comes. This is here called "the time of the end." This time is to be known by two things: it is to be a time of unprecedented increase of knowledge, and it is to be a time of unparalleled running to and fro. This increase of knowledge will be primarily knowledge of the Scriptures, and this running to and fro will be primarily for the purpose of disseminating that knowledge, that is, when God's day is about to dawn and His Son is about to come. He will quicken all the facilities of the human mind for the purpose of bringing into' use all manner of devices, equipment, and inventions, in order "that the gospel of the kingdom" may be quicjkly carried to every land and people on the globe. This age of marvels is therefore only the carrying* out of the purpose of God. It is all His doing, and He will use it all for His own designs. And the significance of it is, that this is "the time of the end"; this is "the last time."—"Victorious Gospel." The majority of the leading nations of the world gathered together in Paris on Monday, August 27, and signed a Peace Pact, outlawing war! The nations represented were: (1) United States, (2) Belgium, (3) France, (4) Germany, (5) Great Britain (India, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Irish Free State), (6) Italy, (7) Japan, (8) Poland, (9) Czechoslovakia. Others were added later. The national representatives signed with the same gold pen. It was an extraordinary and historical gathering. The French representative said in an impressive speech before the actual signing took place, "In an instant the telegraph will announce to the whole world the rays of a great new hope. I now propose, gentlemen, to bid farewell to all the evils of war." There can be no doubt that with sincerity the nations of the world desired that the Golden Pen should bring in the Golden Age—an age in which there is to be no war. Students of Scripture will know that the Golden Age will only be brought in by the Golden Ruler—the Lord Jesus Christ. The world may do its best to bring in the Millennium—peace pacts and covenants may be drawn up in abundance, but what is needed is a Person who has such power that He is able to put down material forces with spiritual forces—who is able to outlaw war because all power belongs to Him in heaven and earth. Such a one can only be found in God's Son from heaven. When He comes there will be no crying peace when there is no peace—no preparing for war at the same time as outlawing war. When the Prince of Peace comes then the Pact of Peace will be an unbreakable pact, Meanwhile, let us be grateful for the measure of international peace, and use the surface peace that is given in our time as a vast opportunity for Gospel witness to all nations. THE PEACE PACT. The churches, with hardly an exception, have been offering Te Deums for the Peace Pact. One fact, alone, is a sufficient and very painful comment. The inspirer of the Pact (according to Mr. Kellogg) and the presiding statesman who (at the signing in Paris) dedicated it not to God but "to the dead," spoke thus when (in 1911) he was Prime Minister of France:—"We have driven Jesus Christ out of the Army and Navy, the schools and the hospitals; it only remains to drive Him out of the State altogether." This speech, a pregnant forecast of the international apostasy which is coming, was placarded throughout France by order of the French Parliament. So a Government which has banished even the word "God" from its every official document has been equally careful to banish it from the Pact. But the Heavenly Messengers say—and they ought to know—that "peace on earth" is found only at a Saviour's cradle, because it is inseparable from a Saviour's cross. Behold He Cometh.9 It was a typical Australian day; the thermometer registered 106 degrees Fahrenheit in the shade. While writing I grew drowsy; it really was too hot to collect one's thoughts, so I lay languidly back in my chair, meditating on the pressure in England caused by the rebellious spirit of Ireland, Egypt, and India; the unrest of the European Continent; the squalid condition of the Far East; the rapid repatriation of the Jews in Palestine; the movement of the Arab races to secure complete independence, and world conditions generally. When someone presently addressed me I was not surprised, although the questioner had made so quiet an entrance that I had not observed him. What means that ornate banner proudly floating on the breeze ? he asked. Is it that of some new nation, lately risen ? Glancing in the direction indicated, I saw the Hebrew ensign, and answered, "Nay, this banner is not new. It is the ancient Hebrew flag pulled down by Rome's general, Titus; it waves again because the work God has in hand of taking from among the na- 8 GOOD NEWS tions a people for His Name now nears completion; therefore the Jews—scattered and downtrodden for so long—are lifting up their heads and turning toward the land God promised to their father, Abraham, more than 3000 years ago." (Eze. 36: 8-37; Luke 21: 24.) Who are these of restless mien and clouded brow pacing moodily broad avenues surrounding palace, castle, or chateau? "These are earth's rulers, whose hearts are failing them for fear; dangers encompass them on every side, and they are much perplexed to know what policy they shall pursue." (Luke 21: 26.) These jubilantly crying, "Peace and Safety," who are they ? "The heralds of destruction swift and sure, from which they themselves shall not escape." (1 Thess. 5: 3.) What mean these rusted heaps of silver and of gold; these men in costly dress attired, enjoying royal dainties at the festive board, whilst others, lean and haggard, stand sadly watching ? "These are the millionaires of late sprung up, their appetites they never can appease; they gorge and fatter grow; whilst looking on, the patient laborer stands, knowing his wages yet must smaller go, that piles of gold and silver may increase." (James 5: 1-6.) Why do these councils sit, comprised of desperate men with beetling brows, and hands all steeped in blood ? "These are the democratic clay, who can endure the iron rule of monarchy no longer; but, smarting under wrongs all unredressed, desire to crush their rulers into dust" (Dan. 2: 43). These thoughtful, earnest men who ever and anon turn from their plans with gladdened eye to models standing by? "Scientists perfecting their wonderful inventions, for, in the last days, God has said that knowledge should increase; therefore, the medical professor handles his X-Rays, and says, 'I see all things.' The movie man throws up his screen, and tells, 'I show all things.' The telephonist takes up his receiver, and declares, 'I hear all things'; whilst the phonograph laughs out, 'And I repeat all things.'" (Dan. 12: 4.) Why swarm men like ants into trams, trains, ships, autos., and aeroplanes ? "Thus—running to and fro—they prove man's day is almost at an end." (Dan. 12: 4.) I hear light laughter and the mirth of merry throngs ? "These sounds arise from dance hall, stadium, and from skating rink; from circus, picture show and even church, for these are days when men love pleasure more than they love God." (2 Tim. 3: 4.) Who are these of blatant voice, parents in such tones of scorn ? "Children born in the last days, thankful, and unholy. Destitute, too, tion for those who labor to supply Tim. 3: 2, 3. answering their JAN. 1st 1929 "They have a form of godliness, and yet deny the power thereof, though oft they read, 'Those who do KNOW their Lord, they strong shall be and do exploits.' Too well their words and actions prove them traitors to the Lord whose name they are pledged to lift on high." (2 Tim. 3: 5, 6.) People are gathered here in darkened rooms, teaching—-with hypocrisy and lies—that love is free, and women are not bound to bring forth living fruit, curtailing thus their liberty? "These are Spiritists, who have departed from the faith and given heed to doctrines of seducing spirits and demoniac influences. God's promise is that He will make 'diviners mad.'" (1 Tim. 4: 1, 2; Isa. 44: 25.) The earth moves now beneath my feet. All, how it shakes and rumbles! "Yes, all things not well founded must be shaken, that those which cannot be removed may still remain." (Hag. 2: 6; Luke 21: 11; Rev. 11: 13.) These groans that rise on every hand as though the whole creation writhed in agony; what can they mean ? "It is in truth the whole creation groaning and tra- *-,. vailing in pain together, they are waiting for the fulness of adoption for God's sons; redemption from the bondage of corruption." (Rom. 8: 19-23.) What mean these copious showers falling with redoubled volume on the earth? "The glorious 'Latter Rain,' which ripens fast the precious, golden grain of God's great Harvest Field." (Hosea 6: 3; Joel 2: 23; Zech. 10: 1.) What means this great rejoicing that I hear? Why are these crutches thrown away? "The owners have no further use for crutches, and therefore have discarded them. Having called for Elders of the Church and been anointed, the blind now see, the deaf do hear, the lame man leapeth as an hart." (Jno. 14: 12; James 5: 13-16.) What proclamation is this sounded by so numerous heralds and in many varied languages ? " 'Behold the Bridegroom cometh,' is the message which the Holy Spirit gives, through lips anointed with an unction all divine," (Matt. 25: 6.) Who, is this of noble mien, .yet moving stealthily as a thief? "The Lord, Who comes to steal His jewels from a v. world not worthy of them." (Mai. 3: 17; 1 Thess. 5: 2.) Hark that passionate, longing cry, "Come, qujckly come!" What may it mean? "It is the Bride adorned in wedding garment, pleading with her Bridegroom to fulfil His plighted troth." (Rev. 19: 7, 8.) disobedient, unof natural affectheir needs." (2 Listen! Is this His answer which now floats upon the air? "Surely I come quickly, in an hour that ye think not." Echo sighs, "Ye. . .think. . .not." (Rev. 22: 20; Matt. 24: 44.) Why hear we of so many foul and murderous deeds, whilst danger seems to lurk on every hand? "Because the times are perilous, and men are lovers of themselves, boasters, covetous, and proud, trucebreakers, and blasphemers, fierce, false accusers, incontinent, and despisers of the good, traitors, heady, and high-minded." (2 Tim. 3: 1-4.) Here are some who, though garbed in robes of holiness, are creeping into houses and leading silly women captive; who may they be? As the last sad, warning echo died away, the clanging of a • bell broke rudely on my ear, scattering all spiritual reveries to the wind; and, knowing the discordant sound was calling to the evening meal, I raised myself and looked around, I was alone! And yet, as surely as that bell still rang, the day of His appearing as a thief WILL come; wherefore beloved, seeing we are looking for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of Him in peace, spotless, without blame, and pure. (2 Peter 3: 10-14.) - J. Lancaster, JAN. 1st 1929 GOOD NEWS picrman m i\\t ptartt By Evangelist Mina Ross Brawner, M.D., Gospel Tent Mission, Sydney. Yes, I suppose that environment and training did somewhat color my outlook in life. Born of Scotch parentage, a few years after the family migrated to America, typical pioneers, who dared the dangers and hardships of a new country to give their children a chance in life. There were ten of us, nine of whom grew up. From early childhood we were taught the value of our time and were soberly impressed with the thought that we must do our utmost to train ourselves for some place in this work-a-day world. My mother was an earnest Christian who believed that every child she had was a special gift from God, and for her to train for a special work, and that God would, in His own good time, reveal that work to each son and daughter He had placed in her care. The five boys and four girls were trained alike and educated alike. We attended the same schools and were pointed to the same door of opportunity, and told to pass through and "make good." The same moral standard was held up to both. Never do I remember hearing my mother say: "Girls must not, boys may!" No, indeed, her motto was: "A white life for two." Her earnest prayer was that God would choose at least one of her children to preach the Gospel. Her beautiful spirit was with the Lord twenty years before that prayer was answered, but it was answered, bless God there was power in my mother's prayers twenty years after her death, to close my medical office and send me forth as a pilgrim proclaiming the Calvary message! (Keep on praying, fathers and mothers, God answers prayer.) Childhood passed; school days ended; life lay before me. As an American citizen, I found that I had the same legal right to vote, file on land, make my living, as had my brothers. I also had the same legal obligations to fulfil. I paid "Poll Tax," "Property Tax," "Income Tax," and was subject to the laws of the land. I filed on a homestead, fulfilled the legal requirements of same and received the Government freehold grant just as my brothers did, for there was "no difference." As a medical student I pursued the same studies as my brother, submitted to the same tests of proficiency and received the same legal rights to follow my profession, for there was "no difference." As a physician I belonged to the same "American Medical Association" that my brother was affiliated with; had the same obligations to meet, the same opportunities presented themselves, I acted as Health Officer, Registrar of Vital Statistics, Medical Examiner for a number of Insurance Companies, besides conducting a private practice; and received the same fees for my services as men practitioners; for there was "no difference." As a sinner I found that I was born under condemnation of death, just like my brother; we had the same hell to shun, the same Heaven to win. We were both born in sin, for there was "no difference." I found also that there was no difference in Jesus! He is able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by Him. And I came not as a woman, not as a citizen, not as a physician, but as a sinner, with no recommendation nor qualification—save my need. Came, like the poor publican, crying "Lord be merciful to me, a sinner!" And He saved me. Bless God! Yes, my experience as a sinner was exactly like that of the publican. But this was only a beginning of mercies. I was baptised in the Holy Ghost in exactly the same way as was Cornelius, the centurion of the Italian Band. Acts 10: 44-46. I was healed, also, just as definitely as was the poor cripple at Lystra when Paul perceived 9 that he had faith for healing and cried: "Stand upright on thy feet, and he leaped and walked." Acts 14: 8-10. Then I was called to close my medical practice, leave my comfortable home, and go forth to preach the Gospel, just as definitely as Paul was arrested by Jesus on the way to Damascus and chosen for the apostleship. Let me recapitulate; student, a citizen, a physician, a sinner, a blood-washed child of God, and a Spirit baptised saint, there was "no difference" between my brother and myself. Like Paul, I was "not disobedient to the heavenly vision"; I closed my office, removed the doorplate, drew the shutters, put the key in my pocket, and went forth to tell the story of a crucified but risen Saviour. Imagine my surprise on being informed by older laborers in the Lord's vineyard, that I had now come to a very sharp demarcation between the sexes. That a woman might preach, or sing, or pray in public (provided she wore a hat), but she must not anoint with oil when praying for the sick; must not hold office as pastor, elder, or deacon; must not teach men (only women and children); must not officiate at the Lord's table nor pass the elements; must not solemnise marriages or administer water baptism. I was further informed that if there was no man present to perform these duties, a woman might, in an emergency, do any or all of these things (except solemnise marriages), but, of course, if a man appeared on the scene, she must give way. Let me put the proposition in plain English—The Divine call, unction, education, natural ability, faithfulness in service, must all be weighed in the scale of sex. And the male sex weighs more in the sight of God and the Church, than all these qualifications plus the female sex! Charging God with the folly of anointing and equipping His handmaidens for service, and then disqualifying them because they are what He made them—His handmaidens. It was a new idea to me. I must confess to a momentary feeling of impatience at such an archaic viewpoint. "Can it be possible," I asked myself, "that I, as a woman, have less liberty under grace than under law? Can it be that my Lord is less just than my State Government? or is this only a silly, man-made regulation?" My sense of justice was outraged, but only momentarily, remembering that I am my Lord's love-slave, pledged to serve Him in any capacity He chooses, I then and there promised Him to carefully consider the place where He had put me; willing—like the Syrophaician woman—to be called even a dog by my Master; just so am I my Master's dog, and with this resolve I opened my Bible to study the status of "Woman in the Word." Again and again my heart overflowed with love for my Redeemer as the pages of woman's history under Divine favor unfolded before my astonished vision. I could only exclaim, "What a wonderful Saviour is Jesus, my Jesus; what a wonderful Saviour is Jesus, my Lord!" For several years now I have gone forth in God-given liberty, asking no favors from any, simply commending my work to every man's conscience, and leaving The Day to declare of what sort it is; but, at the earnest request of many of God's children, I have decided to publish these papers on "Woman in the Word," and send them forth with the prayer that God will so use them that the unsaved woman who peruses these pages will be led to surrender to the tender wooing of Jesus, the Great Lover, and find all her heart-longings satisfied; and that my sisters in Christ will rise in their Godgiven liberty and do with their might what their hands find to do. To my brothers, fellow comrades, I extend fraternal greetings, and entreat their perusal of these papers with an open mind, willing to see light in God's light; and may we all, like Paul, be led to adore the depths of the love of God. (To be continued.) 10 GOOD NEWS ^ofom-hag |fcg£attumg True Story for Young and Old. Mottlingen is a small place in Wurtemberg, Germany, well known because of the wonderful work of Pastor Blumhardt. It was here in Mottlingen that Freidrich Hanger was saved from a life of misery and drunkenness and later opened a large home where people could come for help for both soul and body. As many as two hundred have been in the home at one time. Mr. Ernest Rilling, of Dusslingen, near Tubingen, the owner of a large factory, tells the following story of his experience in Mottlingen. This story was published in a German paper "More Light," and is translated for us by Mrs. Margarete Gensichen. "To keep my promise, given to a friend, my wife and I went to Mottlingen. We took a large trunkful of food, twenty bottles of wine, and a box of good cigars. We stayed at the capital of Wurtemberg to have a good time with some old friends before going on to Mottlingen, for I knew that at the latter place I could get no alcohol or cigars. "The next evening when we arrived at the station a car from Mr. Hanger's home was waiting for us; I was ashamed to have people see me going in that car so I waited till they were gone. I offered the driver a cigar, but he refused it. I said to my wife, 'Now the pious business begins.' "When we arrived at 'The Arch,' Mr. Hanger's home, and entered the hall, I was amazed and said, 'What kind of atmosphere is this ? We are not able to stand it.' The people did not please me at all, neither did the food. After supper Father Hanger greeted us, and the love shining out of his eyes pierced my heart and made a deep impression on my soul. "Very eagerly I waited for the morning service, though I was not at all in sympathy with these good folks. I did not know that there was an inner longing in my soul for something higher and better. Afterwards some one asked me if I believed my sins were forgiven. I answered, 'Yes, I think so.' Then he asked me if I was married. I answered with a quick 'Yes.' I was sure of that. He told me that in the same positive way I should know my sins were forgiven. After that I could find no rest. On the fourth morning when Father Hanger was praying with me I felt a stream of something running through my body. Then the whole burden fell from my soul. When Father Hanger then asked if my sins were forgiven I quickly and happily answered, 'Yes.' A little later a friend came to me and I said, 'Something has happened with me.' She replied, 'Everybody can see that it has.' "From that moment I was full of praise to God. All desire for alcohol and smoke left me. I was continually at the organ, praising my Lord in song. My wife was also saved, so we returned home very happy and free from burdens. "It was soon known in the factory that the master had become converted. The Bible was seen on my desk, and I was no longer the harsh master that I had been. But mocking and murmuring and even rage were manifested among them. The kinder I was to them, the more restless they became. The minister at the church also mocked me, and stirred the people to despise me. "I had a deep longing to lead all my employes to Christ so that they might become as happy as I, so I invited them all to come to Mottlingen. I did not mind the expenses incurred by such an invitation. I told the men I would take care of all expenses and their salary Would continue during the five days we were gone. Some thirty-five men agreed to go with me. The others laughed and mocked about it. "When we arrived at the station some twenty people JAN. 1st. 1929 from 'The Arch' met us with joyful faces and singing religious songs. The men with me were very much ashamed and hardly knew how to act. They felt, as I did when I first arrived there, that the atmosphere was not congenial. They would have preferred to enter a saloon. But two days later we could see some happy faces among them, and by the fifth day all had been saved; and they were sorry to leave the place. "We arrived home in Dusslingen singing the praise of our glorious baviour. The ioiks there cursed and scolded all the more. Every Sunday the minister railed about us from the pulpit. But I didn't mind that. "Two weeks later I again called my employees together and offered to take them to Mottlingen. Again there came thirty-five men, and though we had to overcome great difficulties we finally arrived at Mottlingen. Again after five days they all had found the Lord Jesus, and went back full of joy and happiness. And the excitement among the inhabitants of our town grew worse. "After two more weeks a third series of thirty-five men were willing to go. These had been the very worst opposers. They told me if they found anything dishonest in the matter they would kill Father Hanger as well as myself, and they would destroy 'The Arch.' On our way thither I was not allowed to disturb theii worldly doings for they had no confidence in me. They believed I was going to trap them somehow—they had known me as a harsh and cruel man. I had great trouble in keeping them from going to a saloon. The reception of Father Hanger did not please them. But day after day conditions became better and one after the other found salvation. On the fifth day we, too, started the return trip. Full of joy, we arrived home, and the others who had been previously converted met us. The excitement in Dusslingen reached highest pitch. "Two weeks later I went to Mottlingen with the fourth series of thirty-five men. We preferred to take the train at another station to avoid trouble. Five days later all returned home praising and shouting. In Tubingen they began to molest us, and had it not been for the Lord Jesus with us, there might have been serious consequences. I had proposed to sing a song each morning before beginning work, and to have prayer with them. And in joyful unity we worked together for some weeks, then I ordered all of them to go to Mottlingen once more. All agreed. "The excitement in our village was so strong that we could not take the train there, and so we walked for an hour to reach the train at the next station. During our absence the situation grew perilous. Many were slandering me and a revolt was breaking out. Friends telephoned me not to get off the train at Dusslingen, so I got off at Tubingen and ran home. "The next day the storm broke, for the minister went to the homes of the communists as well as to the pious ones, and excited them all. The whole of Dusslingen was in tumult. Through the newspapers and by ringing the bells they announced: BATTLE AGAINST THE SECTARIANISM OF THE FACTORY. Meetings were held, speakers coming from other towns. The noise was terrific. They resolved to crucify me. All was ready for it, and people were appointed to arrest me. But just then a special speaker arose and said it was too late at night to take me, for only robbers and murderers worked at night. So they decided to do nothing just then. "I was waiting patiently, looking up to Jesus, feeling no fear for I was safe in His arms. They decided to send a deputation to the town hall, to convince the officers that the mob could not be restrained from lynch-judgment if this Christian employer didn't stop his doings. The next day the magistrate and two councilmen came to tell us we could not count on their protection if we didn't cease with this new religion by which we were leading folks astray. "We told these gentlemen how we had found the Saviour, and advised them to go to Mottlingen to get JAN. 1st. 1929 GOOD NE.W5 saved and happy. We told them Jesus would protect us and we feared nothing. The high church council heard of these events and sent two delegates to interview us. We told them everything, and they asked us if we wished the minister to be sent away. We said we only asked that he should keep silence and not trouble us any more. I was menaced so often I was obliged not to leave my house for some time, but morning- prayers with my factory people were kept up. After a while we invited others to attend our meetings, and each Sunday we had large meetings and some of the brethren from Mottlingen preached for us. The minister of the other church said that if any of us came to his church we would be killed, and he persecuted us until he was removed from the place. For two years we went through many tribulations, but our Lord Jesus kept us and we are still united in His love." —"The Pentecostal Evangel." REFINING SILVER. The following anecdote was related recently from the pulpit by a local preacher. Two ladies in Dublin were unable to understand in the simile in Malachi 3: 3 the reference to "sit"—"He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver"—so they decided to ask a silversmith in the city. The jeweller replied that it was very important that the refiner should sit during the process and keep his eyes fixed on the molten metal, as great care and exactitude were essential. The ladies were quite satisfied with the result of their inquiry, and were leaving the shop when the man came after them and said that he had forgotten to mention the most important matter—that the refining is not complete till the operator can see his reflection in the silver. So Christ is only satisfied when He sees His likeness in the believer. —G.D. HER FINAL CHOICE. "Thy very best at any cost Save me from that which hinders most," Thus prayed the maiden heart. But as God took her at her word Snapping each dear, earth-binding cord, She cried, "Enough! Is heaven's gain Worth all the cost of this keen pain Thus severing a p a r t ? " Again God took her at her word— What wondrous wisdom hath our Lord In dealing with His own! Again she sipped sweets from earth's hand, Plucked flowers from unhallowed land; But naught could satisfy in turn, Still deeper now her heart did yearn For God's rich grace alone. Again the cry from heart that burns, As to her Lord once more she turns In penitence complete. With eager words of longing sore, "Thy best, O Lord, Thy best—no more Will I refuse the rugged cross Or spurn the bitter cup of loss With suffering replete. "Only Thy love can satisfy— How vain earth's tempting spring's supply To quench my thirsting soul. And since I must have Thee alone And Thou no other path hath known Gladly I choose Thy thorny way Accept thy cross, cost what it may— Thy love my heart's control." —ALICE REYNOLDS FLOWER. "LOOK FROM THE TOP." Song of Solomon 4: 7. Crushing weights give the Christian wings. It seems like contradiction in terms, but it is a blessed truth. David out of some bitter experience cried: "Oh, that I had wings like a dove! Then would I fly away, and be at rest." Psa. 55: 6. But before he finished this meditation he seems to have realised that his wish for wings was a realisable one. For he says, "Cast thy burden upon Jehovah, and he will sustain thee." The word "burden" is translated in the Bible margin, "what He (Jehovah) hath given thee." The saints' burdens are God-given; they lead him to "wait upon Jehovah," and when that is done, in the magic of trust, the "burden" is metamorphosed into a pair of wings, and the weighted one "mounts up with wings as eagles." One day when walking down the street On business bent, while thinking hard About the "hundred cares" which seemed Like thunder clouds about to break In torrents, Self-pity said to me: "You poor, poor thing, you have too much To do. Your life is far too hard. This heavy load will crush you soon." A swift response of sympathy Welled up within. The burning sun Seemed more intense. The dust and noise Of puffing motors flying past With rasping blast of blowing horn Incensed still more the whining nerves, The fabled last back-breaking straw To weary, troubled, fretting mind. "Ah, yes, 'twill break and crush my life; I cannot bear this constant strain Of endless, aggravating cares; They are too great for such as I." So thus my heart condoled itself, Enjoying misery," when lo! A "still small voice" distinctly said, " 'Twas sent to lift you—not to crush." I saw at once my great mistake. My place was not beneath the load But on the top! God meant it not That I should carry it. He sent It here to carry me. Full well He knew my incapacity Before the plan was made. He saw A child of His in need of grace And power to serve; a tiny twig Requiring sun and rain to grow; An undeveloped chrysalis; A weak soul lacking faith in God. He could not help but see all this And more. And then, with tender thought He placed it where it had to grow— Or die. To lie and cringe beneath One's load means death, but life and power Await all those who dare to rise above. Our burdens are our wings; on them We soar to higher realms of grace; Without them we must roam for aye On planes of undeveloped faith, (For faith grows but by exercise in circumstance impossible). Oh, paradox of Heaven. The load We think will crush was sent to lift us Up to God! Then, soul of mine, Climb up! for naught can e'er be crushed Save what is underneath the weight. How may we climb! By what ascent Shall we surmount theT carping cares Of life! Within His w ord is found The key which opes His secret stairs; Alone with Christ, secluded there, We mount our loads, and rest in Him." —Miss Mary Butterfield. 12 | G O O D NEWS "drnio ^feuis." 1 JAN. 1st. S929 What a picture of life is here presented to us! We, too, can become a spent force. We, too, can come to the end of our usefulness in the world. We, too, like the dying embers, can become BLACK OUT—die to the responsibility of doing more and better work. How? Why? When? The OFFICIAL ORGAN of the APOSTOLIC. FAITH MISSION of AUSTRALASIA. PUBLISHED MONTHLY -- EDITOR, J. LANCASTER. The Editor is responsible for the soundness and general character of every contributed article—but not for every detail of interpretation. Writers must be allowed latitude to express their own thoughts; At the beginning of another year, correspondents are reminded that if their letters to Headquarters are confidential they should mark them "Not for Publication," as the Editor is always on the look-out for choice morsels with which to feed the Shepherd's sheep and lambs; at the same time we would remind all of the blessing attending witnessing for God. "They overcame him (accuser of the brethren) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony." Rev. 12: 11. Well, just when we cease from casting the warmth of the flame of love around some other life. We die out when we fail to be active and red hot in God's service, when we stop seeking to inflame other lives, not with evil passions, but with the pure, unfeigned love of Jesus Christ. Our spirituality becomes a spent force when we fail to envelope the things of Christ with the flame of a living faith and the passion of a burning love. No one can be more than a heap of dying embers, or a spent force, unless the fire of God is burning in his soul. We must add more fuel to the fire if we would radiate more warmth and light. We must have the fuel of spiritual communion and fellowship with Him; the fuel of "The Word" must be used. How can we give ^g, light and warmth without partaking of the living Word, and also of the written Word ? The soul of service is that love that draws us to the Christ, ana sends us forth in His service amongst men. 2. The Pivot of Service. By Rev. A. Gordon Bennett. Perhaps you have sat with others around a camp fire and talked and talked well into the night, or even until the early hours of the morning; or you have gathered around the glowing fire in the grate. The warm cheering flame drew you near and you were loath to leave it, just like some people on a winter night at church time— the fire was so cheering, so pleasant, so comforting, and you sat there chattering, about one thing or another, and the hours sped by. Perhaps, one by one, friends left for their own homes, other members of the family retired to bed, but you remained by the fireside, gazing into its red and golden glow in a thoughtful mood. You pondered long on many things until you became somewhat imaginative, and as you looked into the live coals in the grate you saw many changing ,forms. The coals seemed to model themselves,into moving pictures; first a man, then a lion, or a horse, or a heart, etc., all fashioned out of the glowing coals. Ag you continued to watch, you noticed the fire had grown smaller, and the shimmering coals became ashcovered, and at last the red coals became black—the dying embers, changed to ashes; the fire was gone. I wonder if you stopped to think of the message of the dying embers? for they had a mesage for you, as they have for every other soul. It was the message concerning the way to success, or to failure in life. The dying embers speak to us of at least three things. 1. The Soul of Service. The dying embers in the grate were a spent force. They had gone as far as they could. They came to an end of their usefulness and their capability so far as being a fire was concerned. The flame died down, the heat had gone. Why ? Because of the lack of fuel. There was nothing* left to embrace and use, and so a state of inactivity was set up. What was the purpose of the fire of which our dying embers and ashes were the remains ? Was it the imparting of warmth and comfort to us ? Was it for the preparation of food ? If the fire really contributed to these things, then it was by no means in vain. But what shall we say of that which is merely a flare and a flame, that spent itself in accomplishing nothing in particular? Some fires mentioned in the Scriptures fulfilled a great purpose. There was the Burning Bush which attracted Moses and brought him to the place where God unfolded His purpose for him. Ex. 3: 2. There was the Pillar of Fire that spoke of the presence and guidance of God. Ex. 13. There was the Fire of Mt. Carmel that demonstrated ^J the power of God. 1 Kings 18. Each fire was for a purpose. Behold another picture of life. Some people are living for a great purpose, giving forth their very souls for the betterment of others. Such was Christ. How fittingly the title: "The Light of the World," applies to Him. He was the light of life that warmed many hearts and prepared the spiritual food for many souls. Within Him was the flame of a consuming love, burning the sacrifice that was laid on the altar of service. He came to give "light to them that sat in darkness." His life was the light of men. Christ's life was indeed a great light, a mighty flame, a warming fire of deep divine affection. To What Purpose Have We Lived Our Life? Have we made a contribution in life that has kept some soul from growing lukewarm or cold in the work of Christ? JAN. 1st. 1929 GOOD NEWS Have we been responsible in some measure for the strengthening food of grace reaching some hungry one ? Was our life's purpose such that it made the fare of God more palatable to some soul? If so, a noble purpose has been fulfilled in us, we have not lived in vain. A noble purpose is the pivot on which successful service turns. There are uncontrolled fires that burn, but their burning means destruction only. A life uncontrolled by the Spirit of God is a destructive fire, helping to destroy all that it touches. Have we been like that? Just burning away to no good purpose, but destroying opportunities, character, and even the lives of others, because, like the forest fire, we have lived but to destroy ? Such indeed is the influence of a life that is not consecrated to the purpose of God. It is a wasted and a wasting life. 3. The Limit of Service. ^ There are such things as dying embers of time and life on this earth plane of ours. Sooner or later, we all come to the end of earth's time and life. Just now we have come to the last few hours, the dying embers of another year of grace. We are, so to speak, looking on the shimmering, glowing, yet dying embers of this year. With what high and noble aspirations we began it. Have they been fulfilled? What do we think of the scene? Of what use has the year been to us ? Has the time been consumed by care, pleasure, greed, etc. ? Or has it been used in the service of God, to which you have made all other things subservient ? Oh! Supposing this were indeed to us the very time of the dying embers of life, what would we think of our life's achievement? Even the fire that goes out leaves some trace behind it. The going out of Christ's life on Calvary meant the kindling of a brighter flame in the lives of others. Christ's spent life was a great achievement. The flame had spent itself in contributing a great blessing to men. If God should see fit to spare us another year, what shall we do and be ? May our lives radiate the heat of love and the cheerful light of truth and hope that will bring joy to some sad heart and a smile to some careworn face ? Let us look to God who maketh His angels spirits and His ministers a flame of fire. Ps. 104: 4. Our influence may live on long after we have passed away, but the service that will build that influence must be rendered now, whilst in this life, for that is the limit of our service. Let us meditate on our past and on our future and ask ourselves: "What will the story be that men will read in the ashes of our lives?" Up, ye saints! Arouse, be earnest! Up and work while yet 'tis day, Ere the night of death o'ertake you, Strive for souls while yet you may. The Spirit of God is the Power to witness, But more than that, for it is through bestowal of the Spirit that God gives eternal life to those who, by patient continuance in well-doing, seek for glory and honor and immortality. (Rom. 2: 7.)—Ed. 13 ^ p t i r i s anfr fflesttmcrttt^ . . • • ; / ; it Brother Hannah, of Chermside, immersing candidates at Ipswich. eleven Through God's gracious healing of their little girl when in extremis Brother and Sister Hannah gave their hearts to the Lord, and have ever since been shining as lights in this dark world, holding up the greatest light of all, JESUS. Nambour, 19/12/28. My Dear Brother in Jesus,—I praise the Lord for what He has done for me and praise Him more for what He is going to do. We have been having glorious times with the Lord. I believe the Lord will pour out His Spirit in a mighty flood on us, as His promise is in Acts 2: 17, 18. Praise His name! Please pray for us who have not got the baptism that we may receive it. "For the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." The Lord has shown me two visions. The first was a bright shining light in the heavens, and it shone right in front of me, and, as I was saying, "Praise the Lord!" I could see it printed on the light and going up to the throne of God. The second one was more glorious than the first. I saw Jesus coming just like the picture on the front of the "Good News" paper. Then I saw a stairway, all beautiful and white, leading right up to where God was sitting in all His glory. No man at any time hath seen God, for His glory is too dazzling. Prom there I could see all over the beautiful city with white palaces. (St. John 14: 2, 3.) Later.—Glory be to God who baptised me with the Holy Ghost! Yesterday, Sunday, 23rd, He took me right through, Praise His name!—Your sincere brother in Christ, EDWARD MAYERS. Thurlow, December 20. Dear Sister Winnie,—I am writing to say that I am very happy and pleased for what the dear Lord has done for me. My side is very much better, praise His name, and I'm still praising Him for His goodness to me. When I put the handkerchief on my back, I went to my promise box, and the text was: "I am the Lord that healeth t h e e " Don't you think that was wonderful? Your loving sister in Jesus, M. Gosney. GOOD NEWS 14 To the Editor, "Good News." Once again the year draweth to a close, and in looking back we are forced to exclaim, "Who is like unto our God?" Sing unto the Lord, ye saints of His, give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness, truly the Lord of Hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge. While there has also been much to discourage during the year there has also been much to uplift and strengthen our souls, while there have been valley experiences there have also been times when the breath of the Delectable Hills has filled our hearts to overflowing, and the radiant shining of our Jesu's face has caused the earth to grow dim and the heavenly vision to stand forth in wondrous beauty, truly a foretaste of our inheritance in Christ. We offer praise to our Heavenly Father for supplying all our needs in the work. Our members and adherents have been true and faithful. Some have had to leave for work in the country, but, like the disciples of old, when scattered they are carrying the four-square Gospel with them. We have had the dropping of the showers, in some saving and healing; baptisms in water and the Holy Spirit. The open-air services have prospered, and testimonies from all sides speak of help and cheer; our souls go out in prayer for a revival of God's work in Perth, and already the clouds are presaging showers indoor and out. God called us to labor amongst the children of East Perth who attend no Sunday-school, and while indifference among parents hinders somewhat, we praise Jesus for many tokens of encouragement, and are looking forward to increased membership and a hall of our own in the near future. We remember at this time, also, the help of our president and his sweet wife, our leaders Edith and Ruby (Sister Ruby is always helping lame dogs over stiles), our loved members at Cottesloe, our dear Sister Sutherland in her little bush school, our dear Sisters Murray and Boaler who are laid aside from active service, and whose prayers are our strength in the battle, and all who with us are occupying till He come. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. H. S. KILPATRICK, Hon. Sec. WERRIBEE ASSEMBLY. The Secretary, Brother G. P. Barnham, reports that the meetings have been progressing favorably, with an occasional visit from Pastor Field of Geelong. A Committee of eight has been formed under the leadership of Bro. T. Sharman, and a greater extension of the work is expected during the first quarter of the New Year. WHITTLING JOHNNY. A True Story for Young and Old. As 1 was rushing along one of Baltimore's crowded streets my attention was drawn to a crowd gathered around a man in a narrow alley. Curiosity led me to stop for a moment. The man was blind, but with wonderful skill he was carving out wooden fans from pine blocks. I was about to pass on when he spoke. The voice was very soft and clear, his face had lit up, and I had curiosity to hear what he would say. "Won't you please step this way a little more, so as not to block the street? I want to say something to you. Please do!" The crowd gathered nearer. "Watch me, now, watch me, and see the goodness of God. See how he has put eyes in the tips of my fingers, so that I can see just where to cut. Isn't it wonderful ? JAN. 1st 1929 How good He is! how wonderful He is! how mighty He is! O men why won't you love Him ? We are all of us here this bright day. How much we owe to God! The blessings that come every day, how sweet! how beautiful! Think of it, consider it, ponder it, and let Jesus come into your life!" All this time he was whittling away on the fan, ana the crowd was getting larger. He spoke in a conversational tone, but there was the power of the Spirit in what he said. I was deeply conscious of God's presence. In many years of service I have seen outpourings of the Spirit on audiences, and have been conscious many times of His blessed presence, but never have I felt and seen His power as I did in this alley, while this blind man whittled, and talked of Jesus. I stayed an hour watching the crowds, then went away, only to be drawn back again and again, so that I spent several hours that d a y listening to Johnny. He would talk for a while, then for a time he would remain silent. I asked him what the silent spells meant. "Oh," said he, "I stop and meditate on God; then I ask, 'Now, what shall I say next?' Then He tells me, and I go on." All that day he had large crowds. Many times they were melted to tears. And all the time there was that strange power of the Spirit resting down on the alley. I saw one colored man who seemed much impressed. Finally he stepped away from the alley, and stood with thoughtful face. Thinking I might have a chance to win a soul, I spoke to him. "That's an interesting sight," said I. " 'Deed it is, sah." "What did you think about what he said?" I asked. "Dat man am full of the Holy Ghost; he am speakin' wid power, sah. Why, my soul was just filled! I was apassin' by and heered somewhat goin' on, and I stop. Den just dat moment de Holy Ghost fill my soul, and I had just to come ober heah to keep from shoutin'. I was a-feard I'd break up his meetin', or I'd 'a' shouted, 'Glory!' I tell you, brudder, dat man's got it." Shrewd busines men would stop, expecting to stay only a moment, but were held as by an invisible power. It was not so much what the man said, but it was God's power behind the message. Sometimes, with tears in his eyes, he would plead with them to accept Christ:— "God has sent me out here to speak to you. Sometimes I get rebellious and don't want to come. I get tired, and think I'll try some other business. God has to whip me until I come back. So do please listen. Watch me whittle. I am so thankful for your staying so long. Please do remember what I said; serve Jesus." It took him half an hour to make the fan, and as he was about finishing it he would say: "Now I won't talk any more about this; but don't forget it, will you? Now see me; watch me: I will show you the power of touch." He would then take a needle from his vest, and proceed to thread it with his tongue. "When you you go home to-night, father, as your little family gather around the supper-table, and as you look into the beautiful eyes of your dear ones, tell them about the blind man who threaded the needle with his tongue, and don't forget to serve the Lord and lead the family right. "Now my fan is finished. Who will buy it? I make my living this way. The price is ten cents, or, if you do not care for the fan, you can drop what you please in my box, and it all goes to make up the day's wages." Then he would take a seat on a box and say, "Thank you" to all who placed anything in his box. Then he would say: "Don't go away; stay a little longer, if you can, and see me whittle. But if you must go, God bless you and go with you." The crowd generally dispersed, but Johnny would take a fresh stick, and in five minutes have as many more listeners. —"Pent. Evang." .": "-4w _en \'" JAN. 1st. 1929 ; GOOD NEWS 15 HOW I CONVINCED A SCEPTIC THERE WAS SOMETHING IN RELIGION. • It was a few weeks after I had been converted and lifted out of an awful life of sin, that I noticed, whilst walking along a street in one of our Sydney suburbs, a man digging in a spare piece of ground. I stood for a few minutes watching him. It was a very hot day, and the perspiration was running down his cheeks. I passed a remark about how warm it was. "Yes," he said, and, looking at me, he threw down his pick, and added: "Ain't you Charlie Woodward?" "Yes," I replied, "I am." "And didn't you go into a church to pinch the organ?" "Yes, that is true; I did." Then, in a sarcastic sort of way, he went on, "If you can tell me one good thing religion can do for a man, I will have some of it. Anyhow, what has it done for you?" For a moment I was puzzled. I didn't know anything about theology. I was no scholar. The only school I ever attended was a two-up school; and you only learn two things there—how to bet and to bite. While I was thinking, like a flash of lig'htning I saw an illustration just over the man's head. Where he was working a beam jutted out, and on it was hung a waistcoat, and in the pocket was a watch and chain. Referring to these articles, I asked: "To whom do they belong?" "To me," the man replied. Why?" "Listen," I said, "if I had been passing this way a month back, before I turned religious, they would have been mine." For a moment he was amazed; then, straightening himself up, he said very earnestly, "Keep going on the way you are, old man; and I won't want to buy another waistcoat, watch and chain." He had been convinced that there was something in religion! "Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold all things are become new." u SCEPTICS ANSWERED BY THE WORD OF GOD. Sceptic: "How, when and where can I find God?" By Charlie Woodward, a Converted Crook. A PIECE OF MUD. w , I picked up a newspaper one day and read that a number of atheists were assembled together to criticise the Bible. The speaker took for his subject the creation of man, and very scornfully did he speak of God. He said: "What man, with any common sense, could believe that nearly six thousand years back, God stooped down, picked up a piece of mud in His hand and, breathing on it, changed it into a m a n ? " "Absurd!" came the cry from his followers. You might ask me many things about the creation of man which I could not answer, but I tell you there is one thing I know, God stooped down one night, on January 5, 1905, in a suburb called Redfern, and picked up the dirtiest bit of mud in it, and He breathed upon it by His Spirit, and from that very moment it was new created, changed from a gambling, drinking, thieving wretch, into a man of God. And for twenty-three years that changed bit of mud has never gambled, drank, or thieved—and I was that piece of mud. It is easy to raise cheap sneers at the Bible, but it is not so easy to answer such a changed life as mine. THERE IS A GOD!—HE IS LOVE! There is a God, all nature cries, I see it painted on the skies. I see it in the flowering spring, I hear it when the birdlings sing. I see it in the flowing main, I see it on the fruitful plain. I see it stamped on hail and snow, I see it where the streamlets flow. I see it in the clouds that soar, I hear it when the thunders roar. I see it when the morning shines, I see it when the day declines. I see it in the mountain's height, I see it in the smallest mite. I see it everywhere abroad, I feel— I know, there is a God. Answer: "And ye shall seek me, and find me when ye shall search for me with all your heart."—Jeremiah 29: 13. Sceptic: "How can I prove there is a God?" Answer: "If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God."—John 1: 17. Try doing His will. Sceptic: "How can I be convinced I am a saved m a n ? " Answer: "He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself."—1st Epistle John 5: 10. Believe it, and you will be convinced. Sceptic: "There is no God." Answer: "The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works."—Psalm 14: 1. This is what the Word of God calls sceptics. Sceptic: "What must I do to be saved?" Answer: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved."—Acts 16: 31. ROCK OR SHAMROCK. While a Christian was speaking in the open air on. Christ as "the Rock," he was continually interrupted by a by-stander, an Irishman. The Irishman was always saying, "What about the Shamrock?" The Christian man let him alone for awhile, until he thought it was time to give the interrupter an answer; so, turning toward him, he shouted with great gusto: "On Christ the solid Rock I stand; all other rocks are sham rocks," 16 GOOD NEWS JAN. 1st 1929 Pages 16 to 19 are the four pages of February No. of "Good News" which we promised to supply this month. They will be devoted mainly to recounting some Spiritual experiences of the Holiness veteran Miss Sisson. I was in unbroken communion with Him, walking in His undimmed presence, up to the highest notch of By Elizabeth Sisson. all the grace He had ever revealed to me, and yet there was a wordless groan in my soul after God that it I have been asked to write my experience on the seemed could not intensify were I a lost soul, just fire line, and do so to the glory of God. sinking into hell. It was a very interior though allI was converted when twenty years of age, in 1863, devouring hunger. I was never so still in my life. New London, Conn., U.S.A., and joined the Second In one of the first calls at the convention, to Congregational Church. It was a powerful conversion. Christians seeking sanctification to come to the altar, God then gave me the full assurance of faith that I at the risk of being misunderstood, because promiwas born of the Spirit, an assurance undisturbed by nently before the people as one of the callers of the doubts in all these sixty years' walk with God, save convention and one of the leaders and teachers on these very lines, I rushed forward, saying, "There is more of a few hours of wandering mind in a fit of illness. I had been converted but a few weeks when my at- God for me, and I must have it." I found, as they followed suit, that I had voiced tention was called to the keeping power of God, through Jesus, made of God unto us sanctification. I sought the need of many another worker and teacher. It and obtained this wondrous experience. My mouth was a wonderful service to my soul. I distinctly felt was full of laughter and singing. I could not say —i.e., knew—that in the act of obedience something too much of the completeness I found in Jesus my gave way in my spirit before God as never before. Saviour. In Him I was as free as a bird. I asked no- I could not tell what He had done for me, but I realised thing. I seemed to soar a thousand miles above all a luxury of abandonment to Him that was new. Still I knew to be sin. He made it constant victory. But He was leading the blind by a way she knew not. He how long! Soon I heard the whispers among Christian had a test prepared for me that would launch me far people, "She thinks she is holier than we." I was de- out and enable me to cut away shore lines. spised for what was considered self-righteousness. Among the large body of Christian workers that Satan suggested, "Live it; say nothing about it." Thus filled our platform that day was a young lady, secreI tried to save my reputation. I became silent and tary to a prominent writer. Her case, with its diffisoon lost the light God had so gloriously kindled in culties, was confidentially known to a little inner my soul. circle and stirred all our tenderest sympathies. Many Seven years later, on the eve of going to India as precious touches of God had been upon her spirit from to time for years, yet a taste for strong drink, a missionary of the A.B.C.P.M., I felt I must know time acquired in youth through a doctor's prescription to again the mighty keeping power of God's sanctifying ease pain, was a tiger let loose in her appetites. Again grace at any cost. In those last days of packing and and again she fell under its power, only renewedly to preparation for my journey, God sent to our town rise and cast herself upon God. We who knew her Pastor W. S. and Mrs. Boardman and Miss Drake to sin and her sorrows had been holding in God by faith hold what was in those days (1871) a novelty, a holi- for deliverance for nearly two years. ness convention. He graciously permitted me to attend, The morning of which I speak—next day after the and after a public confession to my townspeople of my previous victorious experience, and loss of it altar service where God had so met me—this young through base desire to preserve my reputation, God woman, whom for convenience I will call A, with another most tenderly met me again, taking me into close re- was to sing a duet. Simultaneously a note was passed me from the one to whom she was secretary, saying, lation with Himself. Oh, how He manifested Himself to "Hold some victory of God in A. She is in blank to me on shipboard and in the lonely land of strangers despairfor this morning." and heathen homes! Seated at the back of the platform, all unobserved, The time passed on in busy working for the Master I had closed my eyes, and was having a definite transin India, and afterwards in Great Britain in a house action with God over A. I asked, and by faith reof the Lord's healing (Bethshan, London). For God ceived, a working of God with her there. I remember had healed of incurable disease my body, and let me stretching out my hand and closing_ my fingers over know the joy of the Holy Ghost life in it, and the joy the answer, as if it were something material, reof thus recommending Him to others. ceived to sense, and thanking God for it, so definite In 1887 He brought me to this country and into was my faith. service in the city of Chicago. In writing, teaching, While thus praising Him, an inexpressible sweetness and meditating on the Holy Ghost life, I often won- fell upon my spirit, and something which I thought was dered what was meant by "the fire," in John the Bap- faintness got hold of my body. Not recognising a tist's words—"He shall baptise you with the Holy Ghost connection between the two, I tried to rouse myself and with fire." into my usual vigor of mind and body, and in an inBless God for His infinite condescension and grace, stant I was back again, and all alive to life around I was destined to know. In my case, however, there me. But oh, the darkness that fell upon my soul! Feeling that I had committed some sin, I knew not was to be a great emptying before the filling. In connection with- the Lord's work in our hands we what, I looked up to God and cried, "What is it? had an annual convention, called in 1889, in the month What have I done?" "You cannot trust Me," was the solemn rebuke. of June, at Western Springs. For months previous With consciousness of trust in Him as the very to this gathering I had been possessed with an alldevouring hunger for more of God. I knew not spring of all my life, I said. "But, Lord, I do trust what I was after, for I had passed all the definite mile- Thee in everything." stones set up in my theories of the pathway into God. "No, you cannot trust Me to bless you in My own He was my Saviour in fullest assurance of faith. He way." was my sanctification in daily experiences of life for The answer was clear, distinct; and the light fell service. I walked in the power of the Holy Ghost. upon that shaking off of the weakness or faintness, as THE HOLY GHOST AND FIRE. JAN. 1st. 1929 GOOD NLW5 I called it, which accompanied His heavenly blessing. Instantly I felt a great recoil to be blessed in that way. Innumerable fears vexed me, that if I should yield I might be carried, I knew not whither. I had always had a strong self-control. Even in a dentist's chair, I would use nothing that would take me out of my self-holding, and I feared to give up my own control, even to be overpowered by God Himself! How deeply I was convicted of distrust in Him! Yet there was such a struggle that before I could even pray that God would make me at that hour what He wanted me to be, He was before me in Spirit with the question, "Will you be willing to let Me bless you, even by overpowering your spirit with My Spirit?" But oh, if Satan should come while I was beyond self-holding, and make me do some monstrous or fanatical thing! was the bugbear fear with which I withstood my Lord. At last I said, "Lord, give me a promise to stand on, and Thou shalt have Thy whole way with me." "He that was begotten of God keepeth him, and the evil one toucheth him not" (1 John 5: 18, R. V.), flashed into my mind, with a great light on the faithfulness of Christ the only-begotten Son of God, my keeper. How could a God of such faithfulness let Satan have what I abandoned to Him ? It swept all fear away. My whole being let go to God as I had never known the possibility before. I was away with God, "whether in the body or out of the body" I did not take reckoning. It was probably but a few seconds, but it seemed an eternity of His holy presence, when the Lord approached me. I saw nothing, but I felt His approach as a person, and, standing before me, He spoke into my spirit as clearly as a human being might speak to the mortal ear, "When they have done singing (for they were going on with the duet), go to A, and say quite loudly, so that all can hear (there were now perhaps 1000 assembled in the tent; it was crowded), 'If you will confess to the people and ask them to pray for you, God will now come and deliver you.' " In an instant there was a recoil in my whole being to which the other was mild. A torrent of thoughts and objections rose up within me. Oh, what a foolish plan! That will never do. A is so reticent, refined in her instincts, withal so high-spirited. Why, it would be the very way to defeat the end desired, etc. When the rapid action of my mind had spent itself, I came to silence. God, as a person, imperturbable, was quietly waiting before me. Shall I ever forget the majesty of that hour ? It was burned into me that I had to do, not with a plan, but a God. What would I say to Him? In my soul the stillness deepened in His awful presence. He was waiting. What should I say ? But the plan was so foolish! Besides, I felt it was in a way a breach of confidence thus to expose her. The struggle was intense—the desire to please God and the revolt from the way. In the radiancy of His presence, felt but not seen, I was held. At last my heart said, "Give me a prayer to pray, dear Lord." "Make me willing for Thy way," came and with it, "My thoughts are not your thoughts," for "the foolishness of God is wiser than the wisdom of man." I felt my spirit being lifted over to God's side in the matter, only a little fear how she would take it remaining, and I said, "Lord, give me another prayer." At once I felt at liberty to cry, "Lord, prepare her for my coming, and I will go." I knew in an instant it would be so. And let me say here that when all I am about to relate had passed, dear A said, "While I was singing I was told Miss Lizzie was coming and something would happen to me." My whole being now in deepest rest, I listened for the last line of the hymn, and with its very last I 17 rose in God. I cannot describe it, but it seemed as if God were walls around me, ground beneath me, ceiling over me. Thus shut in, I went forward to the front of the platform, and, with my face toward A, and back to the congregation, I repeated very loudly, so that all could hear, as He had told me, my message from the Lord. Had I been an automaton I could not have moved more mechanically, or with less sense of responsibility. As my human reason had foretold, she thrilled with indignation, and stiffened in my embrace. She seemed a rod of hot iron. I felt her fiery spirit leap out upon me fromj every pore of her flesh. I was unmoved. Imbedded in God! The affair was His, not mine. "Such grace to me was given." As I stood in simple mechanical obedience before the resistance of this fiery spirit, suddenly heaven opened above my soul, and from the throne of God came flowing down great streams of love in hot tides—a heat of Divine love that, in comparison, made her spirit seem cool. Through and through, and through me, swept the Divine currents, and out upon her in such words as God gave. I knew very little about it—automatically used. The Spirit clothed Himself with me that hour! (Judges 6: 34, R. V., margin). I was pre-occupied with the amazing revelation that was being made through my being, that "God is love." By her drooping upon my shoulder weeping, my attention was recalled to A. "Love's resistless current sweeping" had borne away all the heat of her indignation, and, bruised and broken, she lay sobbing in my arms. She afterwards said to a friend, "I never knew Miss Lizzie loved me so." Ah! it was no love of mine. As much, perhaps more, a revelation to me than to her; and now the heavenly tides turned all to love's divinest strength of encouragement as I besought her to obey the Lord. He would certainly free her now. After a few minutes, or seconds, perhaps—for I am aware all this takes more time in telling than it did in passing—she raised her head and confessed to the wondering congregation that she was among them "a hypocrite and a sinner, etc."; would they pray for her deliverance? then fell on her knees, calling on God for mercy. It is safe to say nearly the whole company was instantly in the same position. The place was rocking with the power of God. There was weeping everywhere, and such praying! But upon me, as I essayed to receive by faith her deliverance, fell the most severe spiritual and physical struggle of my life. I seemed carried away out in a conflict among the spiritual forces of good and evil, and as I sought there to touch the throne of God with faith's finger, Satan leaped upon my body. I could with difficulty breathe, and fell writhing to the floor. It seemed long ere empowered of God, I broke the dark forces withstanding me, but as I did, the power that caused my suffering fell off my body except one arm, and I rose to my feet, begging the people to take with me by faith her deliverance. As many of them began to realise their privilege, and thus come over to the victory side, she rose, radiant, declaring it was done. In the meantime that evil power, that still had hold of my right arm, was twisting it into inconceivable positions. It was lame in the socket for a couple of days thereafter. But as A rose to her feet the last vestige of this fell away from me, and the hot tides from the heavenly land began to sweep again through my being; but now it was all Glory. I was dazed with the Glory of God. Capt. Eelso Carter, of Baltimore, had been announced to preach that morning, as Dr. A. B. Simpson, of New York, had the day previous; but everything seemed swept from the boards by the Holy Ghost. Many since have told me how wondrous was my talk at an altar service, at that hour. I, however, was responsible for none of it, for Another used me, while 18 GOOD NEWS so pre-occupying me with Himself and His Glory, that I have since no recollection of what was said or done among the people. As I staggered about the platform, filled with unutterable glory, I could but say to myself, "Oh, this is the Holy Ghost and fire. Glory!" Suddenly there flashed in upon me the account of Acts 2: "These men are filled with new wine." "No wonder," I thought, "they called them drunk!" There was new light on how they all appeared that morning in Jerusalem! Yes, the ascended Jesus, "having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear." Glorjr! Glory! Glory! to His ever-blessed name. The whole time that elapsed from "the glory of the Lord" thus gathering me up (Isa. 8: 8, margin) till He lifted the power and let me down again amidst the passing events of life, was about three and a half hours. I had always been greatly opposed to all demonstration and excitement in religion, and when all was over, my gratitude to my heavenly Father was unbounded, that He had put this marvellous demonstration through me, ere He put it before me in another. It was a joy to bear any ridicule and loss of respect that came to me through this public demonstration of the power (1 Cor. 2: 4) of the Holy Ghost, God had seen fit to grant upon me. I could meekly remember that before God had so handled me, I, too, would have despised the same demonstration in another. But, oh, how wily is Satan! For some months he succeeded in robbing me of some of the lessons my Father was teaching me. For I thought (how Satan helps our thoughts!) this was a thing not often to be spoken of, lest it bring other souls into bondage, seeking a like experience, which, of course, they will never get! It was an exceptional dealing of God with me for another'; special power for special service. God is not likely ever to repeat any such thing, etc. But as the weeks rolled into months I was astonished to find the effects of this fiery baptism upon me were permanent, and far greater than any power it had over A, or any others who were that day blessed at the Western Springs Convention. My whole being was responsive to God in a new way. I was in the Holy Ghost before, but now, oh, how different! In trying to explain it to myself, it seemed the Holy Ghost wrapped around me as the atmosphere the folded bud, but now that same blessed Holy Ghost atmosphere had warmed every petal to unfolding, till it lay a full blown rose, luxuriating in the heavenly atmosphere, its very heart all response to God. We all know language is lame and language is tame. I only speak comparatively, for I should have said previous to this that my whole heart was in response to God. It certainly found no response to any but Him. Now, however, there seemed some new capacities Godward. Yet there was little change in my teaching on the Baptism of the Holy Ghost. No urging others to seek the holy fire, thinking it was a peculiar experience God had given me, until in November of the same year I attended Mrs. Woodworth's meetings on the west coast. Here in Oakland I heard her boldly voicing and allowing others to testify to experiences that I could but recognise as similar to what God had put through me. And in proportion as the privilege was urged upon all to come under the power and fire of the Holy Ghost, the witnesses to it increased. Alone in my room, flat on my face before God and His open Word, what days I had as I searched out His will in this matter! It was going to mean much to me, to go back to Chicago and teach this power and fire, for I saw in proportion as the power increased JAN. 1st 1929 in that Oakland work, the Satanic rage increased around it. But God settled many things so securely in His Word that I could not go back from the experience and teaching of the fire of the Holy Ghost, not even when Satan came not only upon the work, but into the work, as he did somewhat in Oakland before it ended. But this lesson was needed, and perhaps to me most needful of all. "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits." "Many false spirits are gone abroad." From this I learned that there were false spirits, so there was false power and false fire, and that upon every new plane of life God puts us, a fresh demon will there contend with us. Too wise to meet us with what Jesus has conquered for us before, Satan assails our inexperience, and, as an angel of light, he counterfeits the real. Alas for those who fall into the counterfeit! Alas for those who, seeing the counterfeit, fall into Satan's trap by confusing the real with the false! Both are crippled for Christian life, and liable to suffer dwarfage in the higher forms of Christian development. There is a Scylla and a Charybdis here. But God, rich in mercy, can restore such. For a time I fell into the counterfeit by believing some prophecies uttered by one under a power which I took for the power of the Holy Ghost. The prophecies proved false. I was guilty of an error of judgment, and in the recoil that came among Christian workers all over the United States about those false prophecies, I was spiritually beheaded, because as an actual eyewitness of the power of God, displayed in those meetings I could not but (letting God sift things for me) stand by the true as well as against the false therein. And now I learned the mighty benefit of the Baptism of fire as power to suffer. Blessed, thrice blessed, is he who knows the fire of the Holy Ghost as power for service! But what shall I say of him who feels within him the fire of love as power to suffer? The fellowship of His suffering (Phil. 3: 10) is a greater gift than the fellowship of His service. God, who is a liberal giver, withholds neither. Bless Him! Through general distrust of me on the above account, from a wide sphere of service I sank into comparative obscurity. In the inconspicuous corners where God put me, He made my heart to sing as He showed me He was not after quantity, but quality, in the work of God; and I had the joy of seeing souls brought out, under the fire of the Holy Ghost, on far deeper lines than ever before my privilege in any service with Him. One thing more: God has taught me it is not a Baptism of fire in the power of which we walk hence- * forth, but that while we live in Him, walking in all obedience, all abandonment to Him, He will teach us ever deepening abandonment, and from time to time, at His sovereign will, there might come mightier avalanches of fire upon our abandoned spirit. As, for instance, God came upon me, at the close of a convention in Old Orchard, some years ago, and the power of the Holy Ghost was not lifted from about half-past ten one night until a quarter to four next afternoon, and resulted in a great gathering of God's people upon their knees, in an all-night and all-day meeting of much blessing. Next year at a neon prayer meeting in John Street, New York, I heard a minister say that two hundred ministers received the Holy Ghost at that Old Orchard meeting. I have no means of knowing the exactness of this statement, but it is true that since that day I have continued to meet both ministers and lay people from north, south, east, and west, who, in that meeting, received a mighty inletting into God. I perhaps knew less of what was being done in the meeting (except as God showed it to me in the Spirit) than anyone present, never having met the visible leader, Benjamin Luscomb—a warrior who has since fallen on Africa's mission field—nor did I see his face till taken out of JAN. 1st. 1929 GOOD NEWS the power of the Spirit when the meeting closed, nor learn his name till the next day. It was much the same with my relations to others. I was transported in the immediate presence of God; like a great bell ringing in the Divine hand, "Victory! Victory! Victory!" As He kept me thus, in the power of the Spirit, on the victory side the people fell under Him. Again, while laboring one time on the island of Nantucket, I was conversing with an infidel, in his home, when the power of God came mightily upon me. His invalid mother, who had not walked a step or stood for twenty-two years (lacking a month or two) was instantly filled with the same mighty power, and, shouting, "Glory to God!" rose out of her bed, and came into the room in which a number of us sat, perfectly healed. Addressing her son, she said: "Mark my words, George; I shall yet walk the streets of this Nantucket, leaning on your arm, and you converted to God." The miracle shook out his infidelity, the Holy Ghost began to convict of sin. Three months from that day he was baptised in the Atlantic Ocean, she standing by. We have no right to discount God's operations because they fall outside of our experiences, or even our philosophies, if they yield the fruit of the Spirit; "By their fruits ye shall know them." There may be others like myself. I bound God in """•' with a hoop of my theories and my experience, but lo! when He opened my eyes, I found God was greater outside of my hoop than He ever had been in it. I am convinced there is a boundless reservoir of grace in the "diversities of operations" (1 Cor. 12: 6) of the Holy Ghost, that Satan's cunning hides from the people of God. "If any man think that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know" (1 Cor. 8: 2). "Quench not any manifestation of the Spirit" (1 Thess. 5: 19, Rotherham.) Oh, I feel to call upon my soul and all that is within to go on with the Lord to all the mighty things of the Spirit as He shall be pleased to lead. We have gone but a little way with God. May the writer and reader of this humble account of His past grace be "strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in (our) hearts by faith, that (we) being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height, and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that we might be filled with all the fullness of God." Prom "Faith Reminiscences and Heart to Heart Talks." OWN UP—SIGN UP—PAY UP. W 19 the owner? Deeper yet. Who owns you? Own up. Do you believe that God meant it when he said, "The silver and the gold is mine" ? Own up. Do you believe that those early Christians, under the spell of the first Pentecost, were sound and sensible and spiritual in this attitude: "Among all those who had embraced the faith there was but one heart and soul, so that none of them claimed any of .his possessions as his own"? Own up. Are you ready to stake your all without hesitation and without reservation on the statement of St. Paul that "you are not your own, for you have been redeemed at infinite cost"? Own up. Own up. Own up. We cannot proceed until you do. This is definite dealing with God. We are not in the realm of Scriptural juggling. We are face to face with the most fundamental principle in Christianity. It is folly supreme to begin to make excuse. It is impossible to dodge the issue. Who owns you? Own up! Sign Up. As a part of the Centenary Campaign, we sounded out the call, "A Million Tithers in Methodism." Some of you thought it was a clever device to get you to subscribe heavily to the Centenary Fund. It was not. Tithing is a test of your acknowledgment of the ownership of God over your whole life. Your life includes the management of your money. Tithing is an indication that you have acknowledged that you are only a trustee of your property, and not the owner. God is the owner; you are the trustee. Tithing is your acknowledgment of that fact. All you have belongs to God. You agree as a trustee to administer at least onetenth of your income for God's enterprises in the world. You agree to administer that money just as sacredly as you would if you were the sole executor of the estate of your nearest kin or friend. Concerning that one-tenth of your income you regard it as the sacred possession of God. It does not belong to you; it belongs to Him. It must not be diverted from His enterprises. If you diverted the funds of an estate of which you are the executor, you would regard yourself as a robber. That is exactly what the preacher, Malachi said years ago about his congregation, who withheld or diverted or used for themselves money that rightfully belonged to God: "Will a man rob God?" he cried out in agony. "Ye have robbed me," said God to His people. "Wherein?" they asked in consternation. "In tithes and offerings," came the swift, searching reply. They argued that their money belonged to themselves. They withheld their tithes. In so doing they diverted God's money. They robbed God. Pay Up. It is a rare exception when a modern Methodist needs the special protection of the pastor at the point of giving too much money to Christ and His Kingdom. Ordinarily our people have their benevolent impulses under complete control. It is seldom necessary to chide any of our members for giving too lavishly. The Spirit of God has enough difficulty in showing the average Christian the vital relation between both the making and the expenditure of money to personal spirituality. Christ has more to say about a man's relation to his possessions than He says about heaven. Christ taught that what we do with our money determines what we will do with our life. In a real sense my money is myself. The creed of the burglar or highwayman seems to be, "Your money or your life." My creed is different, viz.: "My money is my life." It takes my life to get it; it tempts my life to keep it; it tests my life to give it. Own Up. Who owns the house in which I live ? Who owns the factory which I conduct ? Who owns the business which I control? Who owns the soil of the farm which I cultivate ? Who owns my income ? Own up. Who is There are three definite steps in this transaction with God. First, own up. Second, sign up. Third, pay up. There are pastors in Methodism who fear that their people are already burdened, and perhaps overburdened, with financial obligations to the Kingdom and the Church. There may be a few exceptions of this sort. But they are the rare exceptions. What do the records show? The average giving of the average member of our Church amounts to less than two cents per day per member for the Centenary Programme, with all that it includes. I recognise there are current expense budgets to be met. I cannot forget the numerous and sometimes stupendous church-building enterprises. But I register my conviction that if every pastor would press this tithing campaign to the limit, there would be ample resources for every local project and for every world-wide enterprise. It is here we are weakest. It is here we falter. Our people are not overburdened. They are not overtaxed. They are under-consecrated as Kingdom partners. There are exceptions. There always are exceptions. The records prove the rule. How much owest thou my Lord? Own up—sign up—-pay up. ; , \ 20 GOOD NLW5 ^amgtt <SS&S&WXXSL DIVERS FOR SOULS. Down amid the depths of heathen darkness There are heroes true and brave; Shrinking not from death, or toil, or danger, They have gone to help and save: But we hear them crying, "Do not leave us, 'Mid these dreadful depths to drown, Let us feel your arms of prayer around us, Hold the Ropes as we go down." —A. B. Simpson, D.D. C/o Mrs. M. Taylor, P.O. BOX 328, Sanno Miya, Kobe, Japan. 20/11/28. Greetings to all in the precious name of Jesus, our risen Lord and soon-coming King. We praise God for a safe journey back to Japan, and for His loving care over us all the way. We arrived here on Saturday morning, and were welcomed by Sister Taylor and Sister Makota, her helper in the Lord's work, and Brother Ogawa, from the Kyoto Assembly, and Sister Oki and Brother Uchimura from Osaka, and some of the other Christians. Praise God, we are so glad to be back among them all in the work that the Lord has called us to. May we ever be obedient unto the heavenly vision. On Sunday morning Bro. Smith took the meeting, and afterwards Marie testified to receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit in Sunday School in Brisbane, and of a vision she had before we left Australia. She said she saw a Cross with Jesus on the Cross, and children of all nations were kneeling around it, and Jesus said: "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel. The harvest is great, but the laborers are few." As she was speaking I realised what a debt of love we owe to the teachers of our Brisbane Sunday School for the interest they have shown in helping the children pray through to the baptism of the Holy Spirit. We have a Sunday School here in the afternoon, and Sister Taylor suggests a Tarrying Meeting also. Then Open-air, and Indoor Meeting at night. Meetings every week night except Saturday. Sister Oki and Brother Uchimura are holding up the work in Osaka, and Brother Ogawa at Kyoto. We are looking forward to going to Osaka and Kyoto to see how the Lord is working there. Sister Taylor tells us they have had some trials indeed, but God has blessed their work in a wonderful way. We covet the earnest prayers of all the members of the Assemblies in Australia for the widening of the work. God is touching the hearts of the people here. There are great possibilities. May God bless you all, in body, soul, and spirit. Lovingly yours in His service, Herb., Thera, and Marie Smith. Bangalore, India, 4/12/28. Beloved in the Lord Jesus Christ,—Peace and joy be multiplied unto you through His Precious Blood. I am so glad to say the Lord has given me my sight, and you will rejoice with me. I was able to conduct both day and night meetings all this week, and never used my glasses. Praise God, to Him be all the glory. I left Bangalore on November 26 for Madras. I met with a few dear ones there and had sweet fellowship, especially with dear Mother Timothy and her helpers, and we had a very blessed time together before the Lord. Also I went to Pallavaram, and saw two of our folks there who have accepted the truth and are waiting on God for the blessing. One dear brother and his wife are suffering very much through persecution for going through the waters of baptism, but he is a most determined chap, and of the right material, and JAN. 1st 1929 going right on with the Lord. Hallelujah! Pray much for this dear one, who is so anxious to follow the Lord all the way. I also saw our Brother Ezekiel, who has fully consecrated himself to the Lord for service, and intends to step out into the vineyard of the Lord as a worker, in the beginning of the New Year; so the Lord has permitted me to have and partake of some of the fruit of my labors. Praise Him! How wonderful. He was brought in and baptised in "The Pull Gospel Tent" meetings at Perambur, which we had some time ago. Glory to God! Oh, that others, also, would be as faithful as this young Jewish brother, who has been tried in the furnace of affliction, and has been faithful right through. So the Lord has now called him for higher service in His vineyard. I am sure you will all rejoice with me. Glory to God! Praise Him! Hallelujah! I left Madras on the 22nd evening. One dear brother from Puswalkam and two from Perambur came to see me off and wish me God-speed and blessings on the meetings I was to hold in Kolar Goldflelds. I was met at the station by Brother Phillip's son Lionel, who had brought their car, and drove me from the railway to their place, where I was welcomed by Brother Chas. Cummins, a beautiful worker in the Lord's vineyard for many years. (He was the first to meet Bro. Athel and me, in 1912, and welcome us to Bangalore.) We had sweet fellowship, and spent much time together before the Lord. We visited a few houses, and gave the message to some hungry souls, to some, also, who had turned aside. On Friday evening we went to the Wesleyan chapel, where a noted preacher was proclaiming the higher Life Truths. He was holding a full week's meetings, hence not so many came to our cottage meetings; but they got rich blessings to their souls, and went away with joyful and smiling faces. We had a meeting at Edgar's Reef—a very fair attendance, most of them R.C. Many were moved by the love of Christ giving His life for them. D.V., I am again to go to Kolar for another weekend from Friday next. Brother Cummings is also helping me, and we are visiting as many houses and holding as many cottage meetings as we can. Brother Ezekiel has sent in his resignation and finishes up probably by end of December, and will be with me in January. Glory to God! It is cheering. Pray earnestly for us and that we will have guidance in all these affairs. Pray through.—Yours at the feet of Jesus, —H. N. TODD. A TESTIMONY TO THE GLORY OF GOD. Beloved Brethren in Australia:—Sweet peace to thee in Jesu's Name and through His shed blood on Calvary's Cross. By His grace I feel constrained to give forth this my testimony and pray that the dear Lord will bless it to those of the other sheep outside the fold. The dear Lord graciously saved and brought me to His fold. I was a moral, regular Church-going Christian, following all the rites and ceremonies of the Church, but all to no avail, having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof. (2 Tim. 3: 5.) From such turn away, for my life was one of sinning and repenting, not having that heart-felt experience of regeneration. "Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3: 3.) I was a young man of worldly fashion and dress and enjoyed all earthly pleasures (such as dancing, smoking, drinking, picnic and other parties, picture shows, card playing, lover of girls, a lover of sentimental songs, up to all the mischief and wickedness, and lent my tongue to all filthy language). I used to stand at the street corners and listen to the open air prayer meetings, which were conducted by Brother Todd and others. All this seemed strange ^ JAN. 1st. 1929 GOOD NEWS to me, and my stubborn heart would not yield to the Lord when the kind invitation was given to sinners to repent. As time went on, 1 was down in bed with a severe attack of influenza, left quite helpless, none to cheer me or even to attend to my need, but the dear Lord watched over me, preserved and healed me, and brought me safely through my sickness, while many others passed away in this epidemic. 1 then did see the Lord's hand upon me, and began to be a little careful. As time went on again I made up my mind to marry, and fell in love with my boarding mistress' sister. We married and took up a separate house. Next door to us cottage meetings were held by Brother Todd. I used to listen to the singing and the reading of the Word of God; but still, sad to say, my stubborn heart would not yield to the Lord. But one night about 11 oclock a brother by the name of Ebenezer was under the power of the Spirit: he sang a hymn "He was nailed to the cross for me." I got out of bed and ran out to the back yard, and listened. I was then realizing how Jesus must have suffered for us sinners, but being a Jew, doubts were coming into my mind, when all of a sudden. I found myself trembling and the tears streamed down my cheeks. I then resolved in mind to know the Lord, and His blessed Word concerning me. The time then came on to Easter. While going out one day I saw a large tent erected, with a flag flying—"Jesus is coming soon." I began to attend the meetings conducted by Brother Todd, I shall say it did bring into my heart such a longing desire and there I did hear the real simple four-fold gospel truth of God's Holy Word, and there God opened my blind eyes to see my sinfulness, and I then confessed all my sins to Jesus, and He forgave me and cleansed me from all sin; when the altar call was given I could not resist the calling of God; I stepped right out and oh such a wonderful joy and peace came into my heart that night when I gave it to Jesus, I was much comforted, and it was a happy day when Jesus washed my sins away. I then came to know that Jesus was my only Saviour, Redeemer, and Friend. After being instructed in the Word of God for about 2 months or more, I willingly obeyed the command of baptism by immersion as recorded in John 3: 5, and on the 30th day of August, 1926, I and four other candidates were immersed in water in a large open tank; after awhile we came together for the laying on of hands, when one sister received the full blessing (Acts 2: 4). The remainder of us were swayed under the mighty power --- of God's Holy Spirit, after which we all tarried for the -W blessing (Acts 2: 4) but none received till some time after. Anyhow, from that time every desire for things that I once craved for now seemed to have left me; for I had been on my knees before God and asked him to remove all these filthy and evil desires. I began to search the Word of God carefully, first on smoking, drinking, etc., and I found it quite plain and clear in 1 Cor. 6: 9, 10, and 11. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God ? Be not deceived:—Neither fornicators, nor idolators, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God; and such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are glorified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God—then in 1 Cor. 3: 16, 17, I read of how the body should be cared for (know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you ? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are), also in 1 Cor. 6: 15, 16, to 20, which all suit these habits of sin. Then I searched regarding pride of dress and fashion and worldly pleasures, etc., and found that 1 John 2, verses 15, 16, 17, 21 read '"'Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (Verse 16.) For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, the pride of life (or walk in life, the position that a man wants in the world), all these are not of the Father, but of the world. (Verse 17.) And the world passeth away and the lust thereof, but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever. These portions gave me a very definite idea as to how a child of God should both walk and forsake these sins which separate us from God, who answers our prayers, and, praise God, I may truly say that Jesus has helped me in the forsaking of these filthy habits and devices, and from the time of my entering into the New Birth Jesus has helped and kept them far from me. Glory to His name. Though troubles, trials, and temptations assailed me Jesus has strengthened and helped me through them all. People began to criticise and ridicule the things I said of the truth, and my forsaking of filthy desires, worldly fashions and pleasures, but this I know of Jesus: "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. (Matt. 10: 32, 33; also Matt. 16: 24.) If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me (also in Mark 8: 34-38); and praise God He is still helping me to follow Him on to Victory—and now, beloved, having a full desire to serve the blessed Master in service on foreign fields, I am leaving relations, friends, and all worldly pleasures, and even my secular employment, for it is better to labor for the Master till He comes, making a clear cut so that I may be an instrument in God's hands,, for the Heavenly Potter hath power over the clay, so let Him do whatsoever He will. Jesus says: "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." (Matt. 4: 19.) Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy. To the only wise God our Saviour be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. (Jude, verse 26.) And now, beloved, let me once more repeat that I desire you all to remember me in earnest prayer before God for the ministry of the Gospel that I may be a fruit-bearing branch to the glory and praise of His name. God bless you all. Yours in Christ Jesus, and at His blessed feet, Bro. Patrick Ezekiel. THE LOGIC OF FAITH. An infidel once made the following statement:— "Did I firmly believe, as millions say they do, that the knowledge and practice of religion in this life influences destiny in another, religion would be to me everything. I would cast aside earthly enjoyments as dross; earthly cares as follies; and earthly thoughts and feelings as vanity. Religion should be my first waking thought, and my last image before sleep sang me into unconsciousness. I should labor in its cause alone. I would take thought for the morrow of eternity alone. I would esteem one soul gained for heaven worth a life of suffering. Earthly consequence should never seal my hand nor seal my lips. Earth, its joys and its griefs, would occupy no moment of my thoughts. I would strive to look upon eternity alone, and on the souls around me. I would go forth to the world and preach to it in season and out of season, and my text would be:—What shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" When Mr. C. T. Studd, a wealthy young Cambridge cricketer, who played for England, read these words they made such an impression upon him that he threw up a legal career to go to the dark places of the earth GOOD NLW5 22 as a missionary. H e s a y s : " T h e y decided m e a t once to l i v e ' o n l y a n d u t t e r l y for C h r i s t . " L a t e r he gave a w a y his e n t i r e f o r t u n e of £ 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 to Christian w o r k , and followed Christ in v o l u n t a r y p o v e r t y . L a s t y e a r Mrs. S t u d d , a f t e r a s e p a r a t i o n of eleven y e a r s on a c c o u n t of h e a l t h , visited h e r h u s b a n d in Ibambi, C e n t r a l Africa. " A f t e r eleven y e a r s , " she says, " t h e r e w e r e b o u n d to be changes, b u t I w a s n o t p r e p a r e d for so g r e a t a difference. I f o u n d t h e shell of w h a t he h a d been. I f o u n d a frail f o r m — a b e n t , spent body. I f o u n d w h a t seemed t o m e t o be t h e spectre of m y h u s b a n d . H e w a l k e d a n d t a l k e d , a n d was really t h e r e , b u t h e seemed as of a n o t h e r world as t h o u g h he had b e e n to a n o t h e r world, and h a d b e e n allowed to come back. I felt as t h o u g h I w a s w a l k i n g in a d r e a m , a n d would a w a k e t o find it all a m y t h . Y e t behind all this frailty a n d b r o k e n n e s s , and this poor, shrivelled-up b o d y I f o u n d a g i a n t m e n t a l l y a n d spiritually." I t rejoices our h e a r t s to see t h e w a y in which God is leading our beloved brother, S t a n l e y P. F r o d s h a m , whose f o r w a r d m o v e m e n t we h a v e watched ever since he edited t h e " V i c t o r y " in E n g l a n d . Not only h a s he rescued t h e costly p r i n t i n g p l a n t of our l a t e beloved b r o t h e r , Samuel Otis, b u t is p u t t i n g it to t h e best possible use in s t r e n g t h e n i n g t h e h a n d s of B r o t h e r Swanson of t h e Russian and E a s t e r n E u r o p e a n Mission, and his devoted associates who a r e l a b o r i n g so a r d u o u s l y t o b r i n g in t h e M a s t e r ' s other sheep in Russia, Poland, and B u l g a r i a . We commend t h i s g r e a t work to our r e a d e r s , and solicit p r a y e r s for all engaged in it. —Ed. THE ONE TALENT. Only one t a l e n t small, scarce w o r t h y t o be n a m e d , T r u l y H e h a t h no need of this. Oh! art thou not ashamed ? H e gave t h a t t a l e n t first. T h e n use it in His s t r e n g t h , Thereby, thou knowest not, He m a y work a miracle at length. M a n y t h e s t a r v i n g souls now w a i t i n g to be fed, Needing, t h o u g h k n o w i n g n o t t h e i r n e e d of, C h r i s t t h e Living B r e a d . If t h o u h a s t k n o w n this love, to others m a k e i t k n o w n , Receiving blessings, others b l e s s ; no seed abides alone. A n d w h e n t h i n e eyes shall see t h e holy, r a n s o m e d throng, In heavenly fields, b y living s t r e a m s , b y J e s u s led along. U n s p e a k a b l e t h y joy a n d glorious t h y r e w a r d , If b y t h y b a r l e y loaves one soul has been b r o u g h t "home t o God. FOREIGN MISSIONS. A m o u n t s sent t o t h e G e n e r a l S e c r e t a r y f o r t h e m o n t h s of A u g u s t , S e p t e m b e r , and October, 1 9 2 8 : — B r o u g h t f o r w a r d from J u l y , £ 3 / 4 / 4 . Receipt No. 128, F o r e i g n Mission, 1 8 / 9 ; 129, India, 1 0 / - ; 130 F o r eign Mission, £ 1 ; 1 3 1 , F o r e i g n Mission, 1 2 / 6 ; 131a, F o r e i g n Mission, 7 / 6 ; 132, India, 3 / 4 ; 132a, F o r e i g n Mission, 1 5 / 6 ; 132b, India, £ 2 ; 133, India, £ 5 ; 134, India, £ 3 ; 135, China, 1 0 / - ; 136, F o r e i g n Mission, £ 1 ; 137, India, £ 6 / 3 / 8 ; 138, Foreign Mission, 1 6 / - ; 139, F o r e i g n Mission, 1 0 / - ; 140, India, £ 3 / 1 0 / - ; 1 4 1 , China, £ 1 ; 142, F o r e i g n Mission, 1 5 / - ; 143, India, £ 2 ; 144, J a p a n , £ 2 ; 145, India, 2 / 5 i . T o t a l , £ 3 5 / 1 9 / 0 i . D i s t r i b u t e d to A.F.M., India, B r o t h e r Todd, £ 2 8 . China, B r o t h e r T u r n e r , £ 1 / 1 0 / - . B a l a n c e on h a n d , £6/9/0i. JAN. 1st. S929 NOTICES OF THE APOSTOLIC FAITH MISSION of AUSTRALASIA. VICTORIA :-HEADQUARTERS. Good News Hall, 104 Queensberry Street, North Melbourne. Sunday—11 a.m., Breaking Bread; 2 p.m., P r a y e r ; Sunday, 4,30 p.m., Open-air, cor. Little Bourke and Russell Streets. 7 p.m., Gospel Service. Tuesday, 8 p.m.—Prayer for the Holy Spirit. Thursday, 8 p.m.—Bible Study. Friday, 8 p.m., Open-air a t Victoria Market. Saturday, 8 p.m.-—Fellowship. Prayer every morning, 10 a.m.; Monday and Wednesday, 7 p.m. BALLAEAT. A.W.TJ. Hall, Grenville Street. Sunday, 11 a.m., Breaking of Bread and Fellowship. Sunday, 7.45 p.m., Gospel Service. Monday, 8 p.m., Tarrying Meeting at Secretary's Home. Wednesday and Saturday, 7.45 p.m., Open Air Meeting a t corner Grenville and Sturt Streets. Thursday, 8 p.m., Tarrying Meeting at Sister Grinley's. Secretary: Bro. M. Anstis, 79 Clayton Street, Ballarat; 'Phone, 692. W r i t e to him for information. GEBIiONG. The Lecture Room, Central Hall, Ryrie Street. Sunday, 11 a.m.—Breaking of Bread. Sunday, 7 p.m.—The Full Gospel. Saturday, 8 p.m.—Lecture Room, Central Hall—Prayer and Fellowship. For place of meeting on Wednesday night write to the Secretary, M. Field, "Riversdale," Barwon Terrace, South Geelong. P a s t o r : O. Field. Heidelberg. Outhwaite Road, Heidelberg. Wed., 8 p.m.—Bible Class. Bro. Tom Warburton. KORUMBURRA. At Mr. C. C. Buchanan's, "Arolfblane," Kardella Road, Korumburra. Sunday—7 p.m. Prayer for Holy Spirit. Wednesday—8 p.m., Prayer. At Brother Fisher's, Leong a t h a Road. Saturday—8 p.m., Bible Reading. At Bro. Buchanan's, Kardella Road Secretary, Chas. Hogan, Station Street, Korumburra. WONTHAGGI. At Sister Henderson's, Drysdale Street. Sunday, 3 p.m.—Prayer and Fellowship. KLLCUNDA. Cooloongatta. Friday, 8 p.m., Bible Class. Sunday, 2 p.m., Sunday School. Sunday, 8 p.m., Gospel Service. Sister Ray Ridgway, Secretary, "CooJoongatta." FOOTSCRAY. J. Jenkins, 45 Stirling Street, Footicray. Thursday, 8 p.m.—Prayer. WERRIBEE. Brother Johnstone, "Glenora," Station Street, Werribee. Wednesday, 8 p.m.—Bible Study and Prayer. Sunday. 3 p.m.—Bible Study and Prayer. MBENIYAJT, At Brother B. Rldgway's, Friday, 7.45 p.m., P r a y e r and Bible Study. JAN. 1st. 1929 FOR THE 5UPPLE.Mt.NT to GOOD NEWS YOUNG PEOPLE. * — THE REMARKABLE DELIVERANCE OF A RUSSIAN NOBLEMAN. When Nicholas I. became Emperor of Russia his first task was to put down a formidable sedition among the aristocracy of his realm. Many nobles detected in guilt, and many who were simply suspected, were thrown into prison. One, who was innocent, was by nature a man of fiery temper; his wrongful arrest infuriated him, and he raved like a wild animal. Day after day, brooding over his treatment, he would stamp, shrieking through his cell, and curse the Emperor and curse God. Why did He not prevent this injustice ? No quiet came to him save in the intervals of exhaustion that followed his fits of rage. A venerable clergyman who visited him on the ninth day of confinement advised him to take it patiently, but without effect. The Christian's prayer was heard with sullen contempt; and when he repeated to the weary man the Divine words, "Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest," they sounded like mockery to the embittered prisoner. The aged minister went away, leaving a Bible in the cell, which he begged the prisoner to read. As soon as his visitor was gone the angry nobleman threw the Bible into a corner. What to him was the Word of a God who let tyrants abuse him? How could God love him, to allow him to be treated so ? But when the terrible loneliness of succeeding days had nearly crazed him he caught up the volume and opened it, and his first glance fell on the 15th verse of the 50th Psalm—"Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee." The text surprised and touched him. Truly this was the day of trouble for him! Would He deliver him ? Should he call upon Him ? But his pride resented the feeling, and he dropped the Book. The next day desperation drove him again to the only companion of his solitude. Its words gave rays of hope—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego called upon God, and He delivered them from the burning fiery furnace; Daniel called upon God, and was delivered from the lions' den. From that time he read the Bible constantly, began to study it, and commit whole chapters to memory. The entrance of God's Word gave light, exposing to him his own sins, and he saw that his many offences against God, who had always done him only good, were far blacker than the Emperor's wrong to him. Yet this God had sent even His own beloved Son to die for HIS sins, and was now offering him forgiveness, saying that "the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth from all sin." Such love won his heart. Has it won yours, dear reader? He did now call upon God in the day of trouble; and reading with enlightened eyes the story of the Saviour's life and death totally changed him. He was suffering unjustly, but had not Christ, the Holy One, been unjustly accused, ill-treated, and slain. Beholding the meekness and patience in Him under worse treatment than his own, revengeful rage gave way, and a deep calm took its place. Like the persecuted Christians shut up in the Roman catacombs, he forgave his enemies, and cursing gave place to blessing. The shadows of wrong and death vanished in the new light of grace and glory. His lonely hours, before spent in harsh thoughts and words, were now filled with prayer and praise. The company of a book—the one Book in all the world that could have done it—had given the proud noble a new life. Madame Dubois, once a beloved prison missionary in New York, from whom comes this story, was in Russia when the condemned man's aunt and sister, with whom she was visiting, received a letter, which was believed to be his last. It was the outpouring of an exalted soul superior to death. He had undergone his trial, and, unable to prove his innocence, had been sentenced to death. On the day of his execution, while the ladies of his mansion walked in tears through the crape-hung parlors, suddenly the sight of their doomed kinsman himself astonished them at the door! Then they learned how the God upon whom he had called in the day of his trouble had not only delivered him from prison and death, but saved his soul from eternal doom. It was an unhoped-for deliverance at the last moment. When the gaoler's key unlocked his prison cell that morning, instead of his executioner, his Emperor stood before him. A conspirator's intercepted letter had placed the innocence of the suspected nobleman beyond question, and the Czar made what amends he could by bestowing on him a splendid castle and a general's commission. He never tired of telling others of the Great Deliverer. Though years have passed since then, and with them the life of the almost-martyred Russian, the fruit of his labors among his fellow-men, the hospital he built for the sick and friendless, and the very Bible that led him to the Saviour, still bear witness to the faithfulness of Him who says, "Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee." Unsaved reader, this same mighty Saviour is able and ready to deliver you from the wrath to come. "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10: 13). —SEL. A LITTLE SILVER, The following writings:— is a parable taken from Jewish "One day a certain old rich man, of a miserly disposition, visited a rabbi, who took the rich man by the hand and led him to a window. 'Look out there,' he said. And the rich man looked into the street. "'What do you see?' asked the rabbi. " 'I see men, and women, and little children,' answered the rich man. "Again the rabbi took him by the hand, and this time led him to a mirror. 'What do you see now?' " 'Now I see myself,' the rich man replied. "Then the rabbi said, 'Behold! in the window there is glass, and in the mirror there is glass. But the glass of the mirror is covered with a little silver, and no sooner is the silver added than you cease to see others, but see only yourself.' " ^iram forget By SARA C. BOOTH. FIRST SECRETARY OF THE YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION, MELBOURNE. I-, JOHANNA; OR, FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH. " There's an everlasting daylicht And a never-fading spring, Where the Lamb is a' the glory In the palace o' the King." She was a strong, homely Scotch girl, but underneath that plain exterior there beat a loving, true heart, capable of great deeds. Although an orphan, all alone in the world, never was there a brighter, happier girl, with a perfect passion for children. "Ye needna' be lonely where ye hae children," she used to say, in her broad Scotch dialect. "Ye ken, children always love me." For a time she assisted in the Home for Neglected Children, in connection with Mrs. Armour. One day I met her as she was coming up the steps of the Assembly Hall, with two of the children beside her and one in her arms. "Ah, now, I suppose, you are happy, Johanna," I said. "I ken ye know that right well," she answered. "I ken ye are laughing at me, but isn'a this a bonny lassie?" she added, looking at the little girl in her arms with a fond look which made her plain, homely face quite beautiful, then down at the others with pardonable pride. "I would rather you had the care of them than I," I said, laughingly. "Ah, I ken right well ye're only teasing me. I ken ye love the weans yourself." I went on my way thinking what a wonderful thing love was when it could so transform a face and make it almost akin to an angel's. Soon after this changes were made in the Home, and Johanna became a nurse in a Scottish manse. I had not seen so much of her lately, as the family went into the country for a while, and took her with them. One day I heard that Johanna had been brought from the country to the Hospital and was dying. She had fallen from a swing and broken her back. My poor, brave Scotch lassie. I hurried down, and found her in No. 5 Ward, in the care of one of the nurses of whom I cannot speak too highly. Poor Johanna was lying on her back, with a piece of netting over her face to keep off the flies. She was paralysed, and was never able to use again those dear hands and arms, which had fondled and soothed many a wean; but, in spite of all the pain, there was just the same brave, cheerful look. "My poor, poor child," I said, with a great sob in my throat; for the sight of her lying there so helpless and weak quite unnerved me. "Ye mustna' greet sae sair," she said, "dear Miss Booth. It is all right. I ken right well the Feyther knows what is best for poor Johanna, and I think He is muckle in a hurry, to get the lambie hame to its mither. I was a wee bit thing when she left me, but it seems nae time now, but I am awearying to see her again." "But how did it happen, Johanna? Can you tell me?" "Well, we were in the country, at such a nice place, and there was a large swing; I had been playing with the bairns and swinging them, when I turned dizzy and fell. I kenned right well one must fall. Waa it not good of the Lord to let it be poor Johanna, not one of the dear weans? It is a' right. I am just wearying to get hame. Dinna' greet, just read a bit about the Feyther's hame. It will comfort ye. I kenned ye would fret, but ye mustn'a the noo." I read a few verses from the 14th of John, and she made her own comments. "He is coming Himself. I like to hear it. He could nae mair forget poor Johanna than she could forget the bairns. I wonder will He come the nicht?" She was growing very faint, and I saw I must not stay longer. "Say a wee bit prayer before you go, just a bairn's prayer. I like fine to hear ye, ye have always loved Johanna." So I knelt by her bed, and repeated the old, familiar words, "Lord, look upon a little child"— "Lord, look upon a little child, By nature sinful, rude, and wild, Oh, put Thy gracious hands on me And make me all I ought to be. "Make me Thy child, a child of God, Washed in my Saviour's precious blood, And my whole heart from sin set free, A little vessel full of Thee." The nurse brought a cup of tea, and she said: "Ye see, they are aye good to me." The next time I went to see her the minister's dear little children, whom she had so loved, had been before me, I found, for, on making* the remark that her lips were very red, and not so awfully parched as when I saw her the last time, a faint smile came over her white face. "Dinna' ye ken my bairns have been in to see me, and brought strawberries for their Johanna, and the wee bit things that I have so often fed hae been feeding me, and muckle fun we have had ower it. Wasna' it good of them?" Then she laughed and added, "The world's full of love, and ne'er so lonely at all, if ye only hae the children." And I could not help thinking of Longfellow's words:— "Ah, what would the world be to us If the children were no more? We should dread the journey behind us More than the dark before." "I just lie here and pray for all the weans I have ever nursed," she added. "Many of them are grown up the noo, but they will ne'er forget their old nurse. I thought I should hae been awa' before this, but I canna' make much of the mansion. I'd like fine to play on the green with the weans, with Him and mither looking on and making us sae happy and good." "Well, Johanna," I said, "I believe you will have your heart's desire. There are many children in heaven, and all good and lovely. The Lord knows just the right place for us, and just where we will be happy. He won't put you in the mansion. Why," I added, laughing at the thought, "you would fill it with children, wouldn't you?" "Aye," she said; "I kenned you would understand me, Miss Booth; I never talked like this to anyone else, but you always ken what a body's thinking about." We were going away for our summer holidays and I had put off telling her as long as possible, for I felt sure every day would be the last. On entering the ward the same bright smile greeted me, though she could not turn her head or move. This day, though so very, very ill, her face looked as if she had been talking with the angels. "Miss Booth," she said, "did you ever go to a large party, a very large one, and did you lie awake the nicht before thinking about it, and the pretty new dress you were to wea-r? Well, I mind it well, I did JAN. 1st. 1929 5UPPLLMLNT to GOOD NE.W5 when I was a wee oit lassie, and last nicht it all came over me as if it had been yesterday, and I kenned sae weel how proud I was when I was dressed, and my mither looked sae pleased at her bairn. Well," she said, "I feel just as I did that day. I am going to a large party in the Feyther's hame, and aye the dress it is sae lovely I canna' even begin to tell you about it. All nicht long I have gone over it in my mind— white, but nae like any white ye see, with a silver sheen on it like the glory. Didna' ye tell me I should be like Him? Like Him? Plain Johanna? I mun believe it, mun believe it, for He said it, He said it." She looked so radiantly happy that involuntarily I answered, "Ah, child, 'tis true, gloriously true. Nothing would' satisfy Him but having us made exactly like Himself; but, oh, Johanna, I envy you, and almost wish I were going too." "Ye munna' say that; ye must stay and look after the lonely girls, and love them as you hae loved me. Kiss me, and say you will." And so I promised the dying girl, and tore myself away. I could not tell her we were leaving on the morrow, or in any way disturb her peace, for she most likely would be in glory. "I would like fine to hear you read my hymn," she said, in parting, "if I dinna' gang hame first." The next day came. We must leave in a few hours, so again I went to say good-bye. The very peace of God was on her face, and reminded me of Christian waiting in the land of Beulah. I told her, the best I could, that I had come to say good-bye. It did not distress her as I thought it would. Even in death the beautiful unselfishness of her character came out. "Dinna' ye fret," she said; "dinna' ye fret. I ken right well the girls will come in your place, if I dinna' gang hame the nicht." Then she repeated part of her own hymn, which I had just read to her. "He is faithful that hath promised And He'll surely come again, He'll keep His tryst with me, At what hour I dinna' ken. "But He bids me still to wait, An' ready aye to be, To gang at any moment To my ain countrie." Oh, the joy in her face, like a glad, happy child going home. "Good-bye, Johanna, dear." "Miss Booth, is it good-bye?" she answered. "Yes, darling, I must say good-bye, but it means 'God be with you,' darling child. His left hand is underneath you and His right hand is round about you. I leave you with Him." "Oh, yes, He is here. Good-bye, dear Miss Booth, good-bye. I may be watching at the gate, ye ken, till ye come hame." And in God's keeping I left her. I knew, with her Scotch reticence, she would not talk to others as she had to me. She lingered a few days, then they sent me word that Johanna had exchanged faith for sight, having a right to enter in through the gates into the city. We can almost hear her say— "I shine in the light of God, His likeness stamps my brow, Through the valley of death my feet have trod, But I reign in glory now. "I have reached I am one of For my head a And a harp the joys of heaven, the sainted band, crown of gold is given, is in my hand. "Oh, friends of mortal years, The trusted and the true, Ye are watching still in the valley of tears, But I wait to welcome you." 3 THE WIDOW'S KEVENGE. In a small house in the outskirts of the village of C lived a poor widow. She supported herself by her labors as a washer-worn an. There was a small garden attached to her house. In it she cultivated a few vegetables and flowers. It also contained a peach tree, which bore excellent fruit. One year this tree was laden with fruit when all other trees in the vicinity were barren. As the peaches approached maturity they were watched by covetous eyes. Some of the more vicious boys determined to rob the poor woman. They formed their plan, and, in the dead of night they entered the garden and surrounded the tree. They were disappointed. They found nought thereon but leaves. Whether the owner of the peaches suspected their design is not known; but just before sunset, on the very day, or, rather, night, appointed for the robbery she gathered her fruit, and thus saved it. Angry in consequence of their failure, they drove some, swine into her garden, and went home. In the morning she discovered the mischief that was done. While driving out the swine she found near the peach tree a knife with the name Henry F engraved on the handle. Summer was succeeded by autumn, and autumn by winter. The lone widow was without the winter vegetables which had been destroyed through the wantonness of those whom she had never injured. A revival took place during the latter part of the winter. It took some professing Christians by surprise, as it found them busy in giving and going to parties of pleasure. It did not take the poor widow by surprise. She had been praying, waiting, and watching for it. Among the first hopefully converted were those who had been carefully instructed in Divine truth. By degrees those who seldom visited the house of prayer became interested. Some of the hardened and hopelessones were, in the judgment of charity, born again. Among these was Henry F . While under conviction he had felt inclined to go to the poor widow and Confess his faults, and ask for her prayers; but something prevented his visiting her until he was rejoicing in hope. He then went and made his confession to her. "I knew it was you," said she. "I knew it the next morning." "How did you know i t ? " said he. "This informed me," handing him his knife. "Why did you not send for me, and make me pay damages?" "There was a more excellent way. I took that." "What was i t ? " "To pray for you, in accordance with the Master's directions" (Matt. 5: 44). —SEL. A minister one day visited a school for the purpose of hearing the children repeat the catechism. He asked a boy, "What is the fifth commandment?" and the boy promptly replied, "Honor thy father and thy mother." Then the minister said, "But do you know the meaning of that verse?" The boy, his face covered with blushes, said, "Yesterday, sir, I showed some strange gentleman over the mountain. The sharp stones cut my feet and made them bleed. The gentleman gave me some money to buy me some shoes. I gave it to my mother, for she had no shoes either, and I thought I could go barefooted better than she." The minister smiled, for he saw that the boy had learned the meaning of the verse. I do not attempt to ripen my apples by throwing stones at them. Oh, that we could be as patient with each other as we are with apple trees! —HENRY WARD BEECHER. 4 SUPPLEMENT to CHANGED INTO THE SAME IMAGE. We had an incubator once. Friends came out to the farm. We brought the incubator that was just hatching into the parlor. The friend's each took a candle and used its light to look through the front glass, back into the incubator, where the eggs were being pecked, and one by one the little chicks were making their way out of the shells. The friends were city raised and had never witnessed such a sight before. Their excitement, their surprise, their enthusiasm, was a great tonic. Such remarks as these came forth: "Oh, how do they know how to peck a shell?" "They haven't any of them got feathers." "They get their eyes open right away. I thought it took nine days." "What cute little feet. How long before they learn to walk?" And why shouldn't they get excited. Why shouldn't they glow with enthusiasm when the greatest of miracles was being performed right before their eyes? These eggs were laid by some very highly bred stock, Gome prize-winning Rhode Island Reds. The colored print of the father of the chicks was shown all around. "Why, they don't look anything alike," came the statement from one after the other. "Will that fluff turn to feathers, and if it does, how?" Yes, that is the question. They surely did not look much like their parents, and still less in a few weeks, when they were running about the yard with long, skinny, featherless necks, backs, and legs. A few feathers were on their wings, but their poor sunburned backs soon drew your attention from the start of feathers. Their voices sounded like the squeak of a hinge. Their rough, awkward feet were far from resembling the colored picture of the parent bird. But fall came, and with it one day came the friends again. They went to the chicken yard all together to see_the little chicks; but, no, they were not there. In their place was a wonderfully feathered flock, more beautiful by far than the colored picture. There also stood a professional chicken fancier, bidding high for the first chick that had pecked a shell at the party. This young rooster was a beauty, with his wealth of color overtopped by his scarlet, five-pointed comb. He, too, became a prize winner, because the parents had passed on their life to him. So, through shell, past fluff, past sunburned back and awkwardness, he had come to the fulness of the life within him. Jesus came through death, burst the tomb and ascended far above all principalities and powers and every name that is named. He says: "Because I live ye shall live also." He alone can give His life to another. If you ever get to heaven it will be because you have been born again; from His life being put within your soul. And if His life is in your soul you need not worry about your looks now, for you will come to His fulness. "Beloved, now are we the sons of God; and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him" (1 John 3: 2).—Paul Rader. "WE SHALL BE CHANGED." "Alas!" cried the worm, as the parchment walls Of his chrysalis tomb grew thick and dry, "The end has come! Oh, the beautiful world! Oh, the beautiful life that I leave to die! "I never again shall crawl over the sheen Of the swaying leaves, nor pillow my head In their shelt'ring hearts when noon heat falls; I am shrouded away with the dead, the dead." CTOOD NEWS JAN. 1st. 1929 A fair morning came when his fast-sealed tomb Was riven by wings its wall could not bind, And he whom they bore need never crawl more O'er the shimmering sheen of the leaves in the wind. 'Twas the same old life, yet so new, so new! New eyes for beauty that never could pall, New tastes for sweets in the flower's deep cup, New joys, new powers, and wings for it all! No more could he sigh for his idle couch In the heart of the rose he left behind, But, singing in limitless air, he cried, "Oh, the beautiful life that I died to find!" I*| —CO. HOW TO MAKE A QUARREL. Be tactless. Say things that hurt. Backbite. Mind another's business. Disparage all that they do. Look black when they come near. Resemble a thunderstorm when they speak to you. How To Mend A Quarrel. Confess your fault like a man. Don't want to retaliate. If you cannot see any fault in yourself to confess, look for it; it's there right enough. Don't allude to the other's fault, even if it's hitting you in the face. Don't want the other to apologise or to make amends. Your part is to confess your own. Be content with your own humbling; the Lord will do the rest, How To Live Without A Quarrel. Be tactful above all things. In other words, be wise. Be kind. Look kind. Keep your voice low at all costs when you are discussing anything likely to lead to a quarrel. If you do, ten chances to one you won't have a quarrel. Not many people can quarrel in a low tone of voice. And for goodness' sake never allude to another's faults, either in their presence or in their absence. Remember always this rule of Spurgeon's: "Of the dead and the absent, nothing but good." - " The W a t c h m a n . " MY MOTHER. By John H. Styles, Jnr. My mother is my heart's ideal Of all that's dear and good. Her life is radiant with love And gracious womanhood. She's sympathetic, gentle, kind; She understands a lad; And oh, she's just the truest friend A fellow ever had! My mother never turns me down, Or fails me when in need. To sacrifice herself and serve Her loved ones is her creed. She practises her faith in God With joy and eagerness; Her ministry's a miracle Of sweet unselfishness. My mother is my pal of pals; She's all the world to me! I owe her everything I am And all I hope to be. I want to live a life like hers, And, oh, I want to prove Myself deserving of her faith And worthy of her love!" Published by the Victory Press, 106 Queensberry Street, North Melbourne, Australia. QUEENSLAND:-BRISBANE. Central Assembly. Druid's Hull, George Street. Sunday, 11 a.m.—Fellowship. Sunday, 2.5 p.m.—Tarrying" for the Holy Spirit. Sunday, 6.30 p.m.—Open Air, Corner George and Tank Streets. Sunday, 7.30 p.m.—Gospel Service. Wednesday, 7.45 p.m.—Bible Class in School of Music, Entrance Little Roma Street, off Turbot Street. The sick will be prayed for. BRISBANE. West End Mission, Cr. Montague Road and Raven Street. Thursday and Saturday, 7.30 p.m.—Prayer for the Holy Spirit. BRISBANE. "Bethel" Assembly, Wilmington Street, Sunday, 11 a.m.—Breaking" of Bread. Sunday, 3 p.m.—Afternoon Service. Sunday, 7 p.m.—Fellowship. Wednesday, 7.45.—Prayer. Saturday. 7.45.—Prayer for the Holy Pastor: H. Martin. Wooloowin. Spirit. CHBRMSIDE. At Brother Hannah's, Hamilton Road. Tuesday, 7.45 p.m.—Prayer and Exhortation. Thursday, 7.45 p.m.—Tarrying Meeting for the Holy Spirit. Saturday, 7.45 p.m.—Gospel and Prayer. .Monday, 8 p.m.—Albany Creek. The sick prayed for and visited. TOOWOOMBA. Philharmonic Hall, Herries Street, near Ambulance. Sunday, 10 a.m.—Sunday School, also Bible School for all. Sunday, 11 a.m.—Breaking of Bread; Exhortation to Believers. Sunday, 7 p.m.—Pull Gospel Address; Song Service. Evangelist J. Larsen. MARYBOROUGH. The Tabernacle, Alice Street. Sunday, 11 a.m.—Breaking of Bread and Exhortation. Sunday, 3 p.m., Bible School; 7 p.m., Song Service and Prayer; 7.30, Full Gospel Service. Monday, 8 p.m., Island Plantation, Tarrying Meeting. Tuesday, 3 p.m., Sisters' Tarrying Meeting. Tuesday, 8 p.m., at Sister Clarke's, Praise, Prayer, and Bible Study. Wednesday, 8 p.m., Prayer, Praise and Bible Study. Thursday, 8 p.m., Central Tarrying Meeting, Tabernacle. Saturday, 8 p.m., Open-air, Main-way Corner. Pastor, G. E. Burns, Walker Street, Maryborough. 'Phone, 549. Local Secretary; J. W. Will, Tooley Street, Maryborough, Queensland. CROYDON JUNCTION. Sunday, 3 p.m.—Sister Croom: Bible School. Friday 8 p.m., at Sister Clarke's, Praise, Prayer Bible Study. Bro. Townsville. Sunday, 11 a.m., Breaking of Bread, Oddfellow's Hall, Sturt Street. Sunday, 7.45 p.m., Gospel Meeting, Oddfellow's Hall, Sturt Street. Tuesday, 7.30 p.m., Gospel Meeting, Women's Association Rooms, above A.A.A., Sturt Street. Wednesday, 7.30 p.m., Tarrying Meeting, Bro. Swenson's Home, Belgian Gardens. Friday, 7.30 p.m., Prayer Meeting, Townsville Association Rooms, Sturt Street. Sunday Afternoon, 3 p.m., Sunday School, Oddfellow's Hall, Walker Street West. Sunday Afternoon, 3 p.m., Tarrying Meeting, Women's Association Rooms, Sturt Street. Open Air Meetings.—Saturday, 7.30 .p.m., "Lowth's Corner," Flinders Street; and Sunday, 7 p.m., "Victoria Bridge Corner." Pastor, W. Knticknap. WOOMBYE. At Brother Banks'. Sunday, 11 a.m.—Breaking of Bread. Sunday, 2 p.m.—Prayer and Tarrying. NAMBOUR. At Brother Conwell's. Saturday, 7.30 p.m.—Tarrying Meeting. WEST AUSTRALIA :-- a PERTH. Meetings:—Women's Service Guild Rooms, 191 Murray Street—Opp. Boan's Ltd., HQ) Sunday, 11 a.m.—Breaking of Bread. ffj Sundays, 7.30, Gospel Service. Tuesday, 7.45.—Open air in Forrest Place. Friday, 7.45.—Fellowship and Prayer. Saturday, 7.45.—Full Gospel Service, at 197 Murray Street. Sisters Edie and Ruby, 1 Knebworth Avenue, Perth. SOUTH AUSTRALIA :-ADELAIDE ASSEMBLY MEETINGS. Leavitt Hall. Sunday, 3 p.m., at Botanic Park.—Open-air. Sunday, 7 p.m.—Full Gospel Service. Wednesday, 8 p.m.—Bible Study, "Beth-Car," Hughes Street, Mile End. Saturday, 4.30.—Prayer Meeting. Saturday, 8 p.m., at Kingston Statue.—Open-air. Please address correspondence to G. H. Jansen, "BethCar," 4 Hughes Street, Mile End, S.A. 'Phone, Cent. 8749. Evangelist, Sister P. Heath. and CAIRNS. Chas. Kajewski, Sheridan Street. Sunday, 10.30 a.m.. Breaking of Bread at 274 Sheridan Street, Pastor Kajewski. Sunday, 3 p.m.—Sunday School, Bro. F. G. Schipke, 42 Upward Street. Sunday, 7.30 p.m.—Gospel Service, Oddfellows' Hall. Wednesday, 7.30 p.m.—Bible Study at Pastor Kajewski's Home, 274 Sheridan Street. Thursday, 3 p.m., "Women's Help Meeting, 274 Sheridan Street Friday, 7J0.—"Waiting Meeting and Exhortation at 274 Sheridan Street. Local Secretary: Bro. Geo. Schipke, 42 Upward Street, Cairns. ROCKHAMPTON. Old Oddfellows' Hall, Denham irswiCH. Over Nixon's Cafe, Brisbane Street. Lord's Day, 11 a.m.—Breaking of Bread and Exhortation to Believers. Lord's Day, 2.30 p.m.—Tarrying Meeting. Lord's Day, 7.15.—Gospel Service. Tuesday, 7.30 p.m.—Tarrying Meeting. Thursday, 7.30 p.m.—Prayer Meeting. Saturday, 7.45 p.m.—Bible Class. Pastor: J. Armstrong. Street. Sunday, 11 a.m. and 7.30 p.m. Tuesday Evening.—Study of the Scriptures. Thursday Evening.—Divine Healing and Prayer Meeting for those only who seek to be nearer to God. Saturday Evening.—Open-air Meeting and Testimony Meeting. Communion alternately morning and evening each week. Pastor- J. H. Smith, 184 Archer Street, Rockhampton. NEW SOUTH WALES :-SYDNEY. Tent Mission, Military Road, opposite Fire Station, Mosman. See advertisement in Sydney "Herald." Evangelist Mina Ross Brawner. Permanent address: "Chevin," Tunks Street, Northbridge; 'Phone, X 1317. Members of the Apostolic Faith Mission of Australasia are hereby notified that the third Annual Conference will begin D.V. at Good News Hall, North Melbourne, on Friday, March 29, with an all day of prayer. Business commences Saturday, March 30. Secretaries are requested to forward name or names of delegates who will represent' their Assemblies. Assemblies with more than 50 members are allowed one delegate for the first 50, and one for each subsequent 50 or part thereof who possess a Credential of Fellowship of the Mission in accordance with Section 8, Clause (c) of the Constitution. Reports from Assemblies and subjects for discussion should be forwarded to the General Secretary by February 20, that the agenda may reach the Assemblies a fortnight before Conference. W. ANDREWS, Sec 24 GOOD NEWS (JHagazme, tHratt, 8c ^aok JWttu HELPFUL BOOKS FOR BELIEVERS. Evangelist Van Eyk's book, "Stupendous World Changes Imminent," now on hand, 1/1 post paid. JAN. 1st. 1929 Ololorec ;|Jttitfrral JUntaiiacs for 1929 Two designs to choose from. Very beautiful pictures. Prices: 1/6, posted 1/7. Order Early. Testaments from 3d. upwards. Nicely bound Testaments, with psalms in back 4 / - each "The Thrilling Story of Sadhu Sundar Singh" . . 1/6 Rotherham's New Testament 10/"Prayer a Mighty Force," by A. Sims . . , . . . lOd. "A Prayer Answering God" 5d. "C: G. Finney" 5d. "Startling Signs" 1/3 "Coming Great War" 1/3 "Present-day Miracles: The Story of the Ministry of Pastor Stephen Jeffrey" 2/9 "With Signs Following." By Stanley Fradsham 9 / "Satan's Last Dread Counterfeit" 1/1 "The Voice of God Unheard, and the Reason Why." By J. A. D. Adams 3/6 "God's Tfs': The Problem of Unanswered Prayer." By J. A. D. Adams 3/6 When ordering books, kindly add money for postage. BOOKS FOR CHILDREN. Books for children with good stories bearing on the Scriptures 6d. Scripture Books from 6d. upwards. Childhood Bible Stories—Series 5 1/Childhood Bible Stories—Series 4 10d. Childhood Bible Stories—Series 3 8d. Sheets of Gospel Tickets for S.S. Children . . 3d. sheet Scripture Seals for backs of letters—72 in pet. 8d. pet. Sunday School Reward Cards—10 in pet 8d. pet. Sunday School Reward Cards—10 in pet 4d. pet. Big Book of the Bible for Children, illustrated . . 3/6 Anointing Oil Vials, 3 / - ; posted, 3/1. We have just received from England a fine assortment of illustrated books, carefully selected, so that parents and Sunday School Superintendents may know their children will not only receive enjoyable reading but that Christian principles will be inculcated. Prices from 1/- to 4/6. There are also Bible Story Books, illustrated. Prices from 1/- to 3 / - . In addition there is a line of touching stories (paper covers) at the popular price of 3d. For Sunday School teachers there are Reward Sheets 3d. each, also Reward Cards in packets. Beautiful Wall Texts ranging from Id. each to 2/-. On all these, postage is extra. For free tracts on a varietv of subjects send to H. W. Patterson, Box 222, El Cajon, California, U.S.A. Write name and address plainly with pen and ink. RETURNS FROM HOME AND FOREIGN MISSION ROXES RECEIVED WITH THANKS. No. 2, 5/6; 3, 7/4; 5, 4/6; 6, 5/9J; 7, 5 / - ; 8, 5/-; 10, 5 / l | 11, £1/10/-; 12, 6/-; 13, 1/6; 17, 5/5; 18, £1; 19, 5 / - ; 20, 5/21, 2/4; 22, 10/-; 23, 5/-; 25, 10/-; 26, 4/-; 29, 11/1 36, 15/4; 38, 5 / - ; 50, 4/1J. Total, £10/3/0i. We also t h a n k Bro. Barnham and Bro. Mortomore for their kind offering to same. Bro. and Sister SELF, Missionary Agents. The two poems on page 2 are the respective productions of — H. S. Kilpatrick, Bayswater, W.A. Maud E. Powell, N.Z. Published by the Victory Press, 106 Queensberry Street, North Melbourne, Australia.