THE K I N G ’ S BUS I NESS (3) They had sought to kill him, hut he sought to kiss them. (4) The devil seeks to destroy, but God delivers. (5) For a revelation of the heart of Jesus, go apart with Him. (6) The brothers planned to do evil, but God purposes in it to do good. (7) Incomparable tenderness is seen in the tears of Jesus. (8) The destinies of men are under the immediate direction of God. (9) The dreamer became the deliverer. Forgiving Spirit Necessary A soldier writing from France said, “ there is one bird that never leaves the battlefield. When the shells are burst ing and the din is almost unbearable, if there is a minute of DESSON lull, you can hear the IM j USTRA- lark singing above the TIONS strife.” How like the notes of the lark is this spirit of forgiveness which Joseph had. A grevious wrong ha'd slumbered in his bosom for years, but he did not allow revenge to control him, but rather for giveness. The garden is beautifully laid out, the straight lines and curves are exact; the terraces are arranged with artistic taste; but no seed is sown, and the Slimmer says, “ One thing thou lackest.” The machinery is perfect; cylinder, pistop and valves are in excellent order, there is no flaw in the wheel, no obstruction in the flue; finer engineer never stood on the iron way; every thing is there but steam, and the intend ing traveller says, “ One thing thou lackest.” The watch has a golden case; the dial is exquisitely traced and figured; the hands are delicate and well fixed; everything is there but the mainspring, and he who inquires the time says, “ One thing thou lackest.” And the person who had an unfor giving spirit may be educated and cul-
1083 tured, yet lack the main spring of life. Strife is Dangerous. “ Any fool can open the flood gates, but when the waters have once broken out, who can recall them?” A question well Worthy to be weighed by those who create strife. They can with few hasty words set loose a torrent of anger and uncharitableness and cause the sweep ing away of much good service and sweet fellowship, but who shall rule, restrain, or call back the raging flood. O meddler, pause ere thy sad work be actually commenced, for “ woe unto that man by whom the offence cometh!” “ When the Moors were conquering Spain, one of the' Spanish leaders who was dragged before buitan Hakam, told him in the heat of his fanatical rage, that, in hating him, he was obeying the voice of God, to which the Sultan made reply, “ He who commanded thee, as thou dost pretend, to hate me, com mands me to pardon thee. Go and live in God’s protection.” Malibran, the great operatic singer, had but one rival, Henrietta Sontag; and the feeling of rivalry between them, intensified by their admirers, grew very severe. But when Sontag fell ill, Mal ibran volunteered to sing for Sontag at a benefit concert given in Paris, and secured for her a large sum of money. Henceforward there was nothing but true esteem and affection between them. Forgiveness Never Mentions the Wrong. A wife wronged her husband. Under' the conviction of her sin she 'confessed the wrong to him and asked his forgive ness. He said, “ Wife I forgive you and will never mention it again.” Tears passed but the deed was never men tioned. ' A man met a little fellow on the road carrying a basket of blackberries, and said to him, “ Sammy, where did you get such nice berries?” “ Over there, sir, in the briers.” “ Won’t your mother be glad to see you come home with a bas ket of such nice, ripe fruit?” “ Yes, sir,” said Sammy, “ she always seems glad
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