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number, 120 (Acts 1:15). Never were such great things undertaken by such a handful as that of discipling the nations by the min istry of the apostles.—Henry. v. 32. Becometh greater than all. Pre figures a rapid but unsubstantial growth from insignificant beginnings to a great plate in the earth. The figure of fowls finding shelter in the branches, is drawn from Dan. 4 -20-22. How insecure was such a refuge, the context in Daniel shows.— Scofield. Christepdom has developed into a powerful world institution and become the lodging place of the fowls of the air. (See 4:4, 15), An abnormal growth is pro duced.—Gaebelein. Fowls. —Outsiders attracted to its shel ter, for the sole purpose of . picking away its seeds. Birds are only lodgers; they fly away. Fraudulent professors always do that. Some new attraction of false teach ing, some modern ism, stirs them to depart. Only “branches in the true vine abide.”— Needham. existence is to make Christ known. A light is placed at the dangerous place in the street or road to show people the danger and point the safe way. We are not to enjoy Christ alone, hug Him within our selves, hide Him under our bushel (v. 2), but to lift Him high—give Him to others, that others may be blest. In addition to God,, we are the sum total of all that we see and hear. That our chimney be not smoky or our light dim, Christ cautions us, “Take heed what ye hear,” for nothing so quickly reveals or betrays a girl's character as the thing she loves to hear and pass on. A Christian girl, if forced to hear scandal, foul language, or blasphemy, should treat it as she would treat a loathsome or infected atmosphere— leave it at once if possible. A soldier before telling a vile story looked about and asked, “Are any ladies present?” General Grant
the same confidence in the seed he sows?— Echoes. v. 28. Fruit of herself, by the concur ring power of the God of nature. Thus the Word, when received in faith, is in the heart, a work of grace, and the preacher contributed nothing to it. The Holy Spirit is carrying it on when he sleep's.—Henry. Not that there is no cause for its growing, but that the cause does not proceed from us. “God clothes the grass.” (See 1 Cor. 3 : 6 , 7), “God giveth the increase.”—Galen. v. 30. With what comparison? Lit. “In what parable shall we place it?” The par able is a wrapper to contain the truth.— Cam. Bible. ' v.- 31. Mustard. Among the' rabbis, “a grain of mustard” was a common expres sion for anything very minute.—Master- man. How often our Lord illustrated truth by nature, and never by art or the artificial methods of men.—Needham. A cfiurch was sown in the world for God and was all contained in one room, and the W HAT would this world be without light? Would anjrthing grow? Christ said, “I am the light of the world.” The moment a girl surrenders to Christ she opens the door of her heart and Christ comes within to dwell (Rev. 3:20). Christ, the Light, within her at once begins to shine so that she become^ the light of the world (Matt. 5:14). Have you ever seen the light in lamp or lantern burning most brightly, but the chim ney so dirty and smoky that the light could not shine through? Christ by this series of stories and parable^, fs trying to arouse all Christians to see that He wants to reach people through them, so they must be clean chimneys, their hearts must be good soil (review last lesson) or He will be hindered and there wiil be no fruit. The only business of a light is to give light. The only reason for a Christian’s
“MY GIRLS”
B y Mrs. H. J. Baldwin.
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