March 1929
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and of the life of joy they are to lead together? If your heart overflows with this love, this message, oh, let it out to a thirsty world! It may be that you are one of those contagious Christians, who somehow communicate their personal love of Jesus Christ to those to whom they speak. Another thing! Do we realize that it is the business of young Christians to be radiant for Him? Not just their privilege but their special role. Before “th’ inevitable yoke” descends upon them with the years, while the beauty of the morning is in their faces, let them look unto Him and be radiant. Let us allow that Light of the world, who has shined into our inner darkness, to use our eyes in which to-set His signal lamps, and it may be many a ship wreck in other lives may be averted. Perhaps, if, like Moses, we spent time upon the mountain top with Him, we should come away, transfigured with His glory, remind ing others of Him though we “wist not that our faces shine.” One more thought! Are we fearing to go forward into the new experiences that the Lord has for us? Do we hesitate to ask ourselves the searching question, “What lack I yet?” There is an old Frankish story of Berthe au grand pied—the Bertha who became the mother of Charlemagne. She left her father’s hall to go to her bridegroom, whom she had never seen, Pepin, the hero-son of Charles the Hammer, who saved Europe from the Crescent of Mo hammed. As she rode along on her palfrey she was so unwise as to lend ear to the tales against Pepin which were eagerly poured forth by some malicious relatives in her train. Her bride’s heart became filled with fears as to what this bridegroom who awaited her would require of her. Was he as bad as they said ? She came to believe in the distorted picture of him that was manufactured by the self-seeking parents of her cousin Aliste. The story of her hasty flight to avert giving herself wholly into the hands of this bridegroom, and the almost fatal consequences of her flight to herself, are well-known parts of the story. When we read on in the old chronicle, we discover that the bridegroom mourned and sought her, and finally almost lost his life in finding her. And so the story only needs its conclusion to perfect the parable. For when Pepin le Bref was crowned king he tenderly raised his fond bride to his side as queen. What a destiny of glory she almost missed! Let us press toward the mark in full trust in our Heavenly Bridegroom. Let us believe unalterably in His love for us and turn a deaf ear to every whisper against Him—even the lying whispers of our own deceitful hearts. Joseph Parker said: “Abraham believed God, and said to sight, ‘Stand back!’ and to the laws of nature, ‘Hold your peace!’ And to a misgiving heart, ‘Silence, thou lying tempter!’ ” Abraham believed God! Study Soul-W inning Make it an object of constant study, and of daily re flection and prayer, to learn how to deal with sinners so as to promote their conversion. It is the great business on earth of every Christian, to save souls. People often complain that they do not know how to take hold of this matter. Why, the reason is plain enough; they have never studied it.— Finney.
:: H e a r t to H e a r t ::
Easter Dawn B y F lorence N ye W h itwell Tis the time of Spring. “For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone.” March was the last month in the old Jewish calendar and April first must have been New Year’s day to Israel (Exodus 12:2). Winter dies in March, and in April “the flowers appear on the earth; the time o f the singing of birds is come; and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land.” Here in California we may go on and say with the wise king:— “The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines zmth the tender grape give a good smell.” Every year at Easter time earth itself teaches us over again the old lesson that life will upspring from the dark tomb of earth. Wonderful natural parallel of our own supernatural Easter—rending of earth’s bars! “Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here but is risen.” Who, of the readers of this column, has not known the blessedness of opening the Book in the quiet early hours of Easter morning, with the glory of the white Easter sun shine just beginning to flood the room—as it does at this time of year—and in the mysterious radiant hush that seems to possess that quiet time on that day, of reading: “The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early . . . . . ” And then, turning back a little from the Gospel of John the beloved, just quoted, of reading in Luke 24: “Now upon the first day o f the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepu lch re ................. and they found the stone rolled away.” How many who have been meeting the mental prob lems that arise in every young life—the longing to believe, quenched by the fear of not believing-—how many have felt at this hour the wondrous peace that is high above all understanding come upon their hearts! As if, indeed, some great stone had been rolled away! And then, if the time of prayer and feeding on the W °rd is continued, as we deeply desire it, the knowledge comes rolling in, like a mighty tide, that “out of the heart are the issues o f life”; that our mental anguish over problems that have to do with faith is largely superficial; that deep within our being we know that Christ is indeed “risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.” We are wondering Are there young Christians who are withholding their testimony or refusing to teach a Sunday-school class, and so on, because they have “nothing new” to tell, or “never could speak anyway,” and so forth? Do you know you are running the danger of slighting the Beloved? God’s Beloved—and our beloved Saviour! What bride in love with her bridegroom, doe? not wish to hear repeatedly of his perfections, of his love for her
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