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THE KING’ S BUSINESS
Indeed, just as Christ suffered for the redemption o f the church, so the church must suffer for its upbuilding. There was no crown without suffering for H im ; nei ther will there be for us (cf. 2 Timothy ii. 12; iii. .12). Strange that the followers o f Christ suffer for well-doing! Yet so it is. So did Christ suffer; so will His follow ers. This is the mystery o f the cross which the reason o f man cannot reconcile. The sufferings o f the church are the trials o f Christ. It is as though they were inflicted on Him, so closely identified is Christ with His church (cf. 1 Corinthians xii. 12). The sufferings o f life are a discipline in the school o f experience. They are for our comfort, confidence, and sympathy (cf. Hebrews iv. 15). Only as we suffer do we know the comfort o f God and are we able to comfort others in like circumstances. As to ourselves, such suffering awakens our conscience (i. 12), draws us nigh to God (i. 9), imparts hope to our longing hearts by bidding us look to the future (i. 10), and puts us into sympathy with others (i. 7). T o shrink from suffering is to lose the. opportunity for helpful comfort to others. The soldier who sits around the campfire will not know what true bravery is. “ The admonitions o f a veteran general haie a power which no young captain can have.” He who lacks suffering lacks equip ment for his work. God’s comfort extends to every and all trouble—whether o f body or mind. No less than ten times in these verses is the com fort which God gives us under all circum stances referred to. ■ . " O Simply Good "D E not simply Good, but Good for Something.” Every truth we know is a candle given us to work by. All truth is lost which ends in the knowing. Think o f the storehouse o f truth in the Bible, which is found in almost every home, yet probably most o f us have never studied it two hours at any one time, in all our life. Have you ever known a person who loved and studied the Bible, who was not
niiHiiiuiiiniiiuiniiniiiiiiiiiiiNiiiiiiiiniJiiiiluiiilriiiiiiiiniiuiiiiiiiiiiHUHniiiiiiiiiiiiirMiiirniiiiliiliiiiiiiiii^ An Appeal j \\T E are extremely .desirous to j i ’ * have some February numbers | | of T he K ing ’ s B usiness , the entire | | edition having been unexpectedly | I exhausted. If a number o f our sub- I 1 scribers will send us their copy after j i reading it, we shall be most grateful. 1 I There is a constant demand upon | ¡ us to send the magazine to mis- | I sionaries and other persons wbo are | | unable to-pay for it. Will not our ¡ ■ friends replenish the now exhausted | | fund for this purpose ? a great and useful character? Their touch with the Bible was the secret o f their suc cess. I do not wonder at this when I read the following: “ This Book contains The mind o f God, the state of man, the way o f Salvation, the doom o f Sinners, and the happiness of Believers. Its doctrines aré holy, its pre cepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read -it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the 'soldier’s' sword, and the Christian charter. Here Paradise is restored, Heaven opened, and the gates o f hell disclosed. Christ is its grand subject, our good its design, and the glory of God its end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, prayerfully. It is a mine o f wealth, a par adise o f glory, and a river o f pleasure. It is given you in life, will be opened at the judgment, and be remembered for ever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor, and condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents.” • “It is an awful responsibility to own a Bible. Some people will be surprised, by and by, to find that God knows'more than they do, and that He says what He means and means what He says.” “My soul apply thyself wholly to the Word, and apply the Wbrd wholly to thy self.” Be like the Psalmist who said, “ I will delight myself in thy statutes, I will not forget thy word.” Aiiitii!ii!iiiiiiiiHiiÍMiiii()iili(lttiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiniiiyijjjHÍíipi[uiiiiinniiHiiiiiiiiiiiiií((tjliiifiiiii|iiiii{ffi
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