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but added that men who brought them such a beautiful message of salvation for the world were welcome in their home. The Colporteurs gave them a New Testament after conversation with them, and they were as pleased as though they had received a precious germ “One case more: on this same day they went to the home of a very aged woman and told, her of the true God and Jesus our Saviour. The woman replied that she had always been an earnest worshiper of the gods, but that her object of worship was the ‘Goddess of Mercy.’ The men explain ed to her with great care that this was a false goddess who could not help her. She replied, ‘I realize from what you have told me that I „have been worshiping only false gods, and you have brought me word of the true God; from this time I will no long er worship the false gods, but will worship only the one true God,’ and she also said that she longed that her children might also believe this Gospel.” [Further information about the above work will be cheerfully furnished upon ap plication to the Secretary of the Bible Hbuse of Cos Angeles, 620 Lissner Build ing, Los Angeles, California.] on such uncertain, treacherous footing he has lost his way. No one is more likely to demand of one a reason than one’s own self, and he should be ready always to give it, in “meekness and fear (reverent humility).” Uncer tainty here is unreasonable. If there is any risk against which we should insure our selves it is that of hearing, in response to our “Lord, Lord, open to us!” His “De part from Me, I never knew you.” An all-sufficient foundation is furnished the believer in these four Scriptures: (1) Revelation 22:17; (2) Romans 10:8-10; (3) First John 1:9; (4) First Peter 3 :15, 16. “Examine yourselves whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves” (2 Cor. 13:5).
among them a man of more than 80; he and his wife still quite hearty. Their family, children and grandchildren, num bered 64. On hearing the Gospel they care fully inquired more about it and invited the Colporteurs to their home for a meal. The Colporteurs declined to accept this. As they started to go on to another home, these aged people said, ‘Such a doctrine as this! We must repent and believe, and we hope that our entire house may believe.’ They said farewell to the Colporteurs with a deep bpw, the extreme Chinese cour tesy. ‘‘Qn another day a family, seeing the Colporteurs approaching, quickly closed and locked all doors and windows, while two children outside made sport of the men. You know how the windows are, lattice work covered with tissue paper so that the sound goes through as well as if it were not closed, so the Colporteurs stood out side and told them of salvation through faith in Jesus our Lord. Soon the people opened the doors and invited them in; they said they had closed the doors for fear, because a few days before some beggars had passed by that place and entered their home and had stolen food and other things, The Holy Spirit says to us through the Apostle Peter, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason for the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: having a good conscience” (1 Peter 3:15, 16). When asked, “Are you a Christian?” “Are you saved?” most professors answer, “I hope so.” The meaning of which is, “I am not sure, but I am ‘indulging a hope.’” But what ground, what reason has such a one for “indulging” this hope? If his rea sons are unsound, he is lost; if they are sound, he has a right to say, “Yes, thank God, I am saved.” There is no middle ground, no Guessland, in the course of a believer’s pilgrimage. If he finds himself
A Reasonable Hope.
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