THE KING’S BUSINESS
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cakes,” cried the little boy, as he ran toward the'table. “ No, no,” said his little sister, pulling him back, “You must not touch them.” “Mother won’t know it, she did not count them,” he said. “Well,” said his sister, “ God counted them.” Jesus counts what we give, he counted what the widow gave. A little boy was once persuaded to give 50 cents to help educate a little Syrian girl. In after years this same boy became secretary o f one o f our church missionary boards and received a gift o f $200 to be used in foreign work, from this same lit tle girl, now grown to womanhood. God multiplies our giving. Think o f how this widow’s mite has grown as the story has been told down through the centuries. A little struggling mission in Guatemala City heard o f the poor natives in East Africa who needed the Gospel. They gave $17.50 for the Africans. The poor Indians in the Mohave desert heard o f the need o f the Gospel in Guatemala and they sent a gift o f $5.45 to this struggling mission which had given for Africa. This is a reproduction o f 2 Cor. 8 :2 : “How that in much proof o f affliction the abundance o f their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches o f their liberal ity.” claims o f God. How far in submission and obedience to government shall we go? (Rom. 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:3-7). God’s Word puts hut one limit. When man’s command goes counter to God’s Word— when there is a clear issue between human authority and God’s (Acts 5:29; 4:19).— S. Ridout. ■Any government at all is bet ter than no government or anarchy. Paul wrote Romans 13 when he was under the government o f Nero, yet he even then declared that the “power was o f God” . It is inconsistent and unscriptural to have
men looked upon him and said, “ This is the grandest work of all, for love wrought this.” Love Your Neighbor .—When Dr. Duff first read to some young Brahmins in the' government school, the precept, “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you; do good to them that hate you,” etc., one o f the youths cried ou t: “ Beautiful; this must have come from the true God. I have been told to love those that love me, but I have not always done that; but to love my enemies is a divine thought.” Louis X II o f France had many enemies, and when he succeeded to the throne he caused a list o f these to be drawn up and marked each with a black cross. When this became known the enemies were frightened and fled, thinking it was a sign that he intended to punish them. The king, hearing of their alarm, recalled them, and gave them an assurance of his good-will, saying that he had placed the cross beside their names to remind Jiim o f the cross that brings pardon to all. He urged them by his own example and especially by the example o f Him who prayed^ for His enemies, to go and do likewise. Stewardship.—N plate of sweet cakes was brought in and placed upon the table. Two children played upon the hearthrug before the fire. “ Oh, I want one o f those R ENDER to Caesar (v. 17). Note the change from “give” (v. 14, 15) to ‘'render or pay” (v. 17). This gives the whole principle. It was not a question o f giving, but o f paying what was lawfully claimed. Caesar gave them the benefit of stable government—were they to take it and decline to pay anything toward its maintenance? Discharge o f duty to Caesar in no way interfered with the discharge o f duty to God—indeed, the one was included in the other.—Plummer. Pay tribute to the government, but do not forget the
COMMENTS FROM SUNDRY SOURCES
By K. L. Brooks.
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