719
December 1928
T h e
K i n g ' s
B u s i n e s s
Gold Tried in th e Fire It has been said that “a sanctified person is like a silver bell—the harder he is smitten, the better he sounds.” This has been brought to mind by a letter recently received from a missionary from whom God has seen fit to take a precious little daughter. We quote the father’s letter : “She was a great joy to our hearts during the little time that she spent with us, seldom having caused us the loss of a moment’s sleep, which was unusual in this trying climate. She was just getting to the age where we could see continual growth and really enjoy her.. She was just beginning to pick up cute things and only a day or two before she went to bed sick, I remember when ‘grace’ was said at the table the only part she could say was ‘Jesus, Jesus’, and would put her little hands to her eyes after laying down her spoon when the rest of us bowed our heads. Sometimes she would come in with the ‘Amen.’ While we cannot see why she was taken from us so soon in life, we know that some day we shall know, if not here on this earth, then in the hereafter. The Lord has given and the Lord has taken away, as Job said. ‘Blessed be the name of the Lord.! ” Who can fail to see that the gold of these missionar ies' hearts has been tried aiid made more beautiful in the furnace of trial ? Who knows how far-reaching the results may be in that far-away land? Here is another para graph from the letter: ’ ‘!The highest French official here at Sibut and those under him, as well as traders and all the white people in Sibut, were out to Olive’s funeral and we pray that something may have been said that will awaken them. When the High Commandant of this whole district, including a number of the posts besides Crampel and Sibut, beard one native pray at her funeral, he asked Mr. Seymour afterward if he (Mr. S.) had written out the prayer for him. Then he was impressed with the-singing of the natives at the grave. Surely the power of the Holy Spirit can change lives and we pray that these French people will recognize that it is God’s changing power and not man’s, in their hearts. Seven natives were baptized afterward.” Chrysostom affirmed that had not Satan pierced through the body of Job, the bright beams of his graces would have remained hidden within him and would not
There is urgent need of great humility, but there is equal need of living, unswerving faith, that the soul who would minister in His name and in the power of His Spirit may be able to speak the things which he has “seen and heard” and his “hands have handled of the Word of Life.” The Master has said, “Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me,” and this vision is real and living. “He that hath my commandments, and keepefh them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” There can be no changing from glory unto glory into His likeness save as this mani festation is a real, living, vital experience. “Blessed are the eyes that see, and the ears that hear” the things of God. Not only does our own spiritual transformation de pend upon the reality of these experiences, but “where there is no vision, the people perish.” It is this mani festation of our Lord in fulfillment of His promise that brings the joy of salvation, and when the Lord restores the joy of His salvation then we “teach transgressors His way and sinners shall be converted unto” Him. Has Satan been, winning in your own life? Has he prevented you from communing with God enough to hear His voice? Do you know His presence in times of persecution and of darkness and of bitter opposition from those about you, or has your life been comforted and transformed by the vision of Him till you, with the be loved apostle, have been able to write, “We beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” ? Few experiences are more needed than this, and none are more freely offered in all the boundless grace of God. Lonely Pilgrim! Weary Toiler! Storm-tossed soul! The Master waits to ful fil for you this sure promise, “I will manifest myself.”
THE FIRST PRAYER IN THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS In “Thatcher’s Military Journal,’’ under date of December, 1777, is found a note containing the identical “first prayer in Congress,” made by the Rev. Jacob Duche, a gentleman of great eloquence. The prayer is as follows: O LORD, our Heavenly Father, high and mighty King of kings, and Lord of lords, who dost from Thy throne behold all the dwellers o f the earth, and reignest with power supreme and un controlled, over all the Kingdoms, Empires and Governments! look down in mercy, we beseech Thee, on these American States, who have fled from the rod of the oppressor, and thrown themselves on Thy gracious protection, desiring henceforth to be only dependent upon Thee. To Thee they have ap pealed for the righteousness of their cause: to Thee do they now look up for that countenance and sup port which Thou alone const give. Take them, therefore, Heavenly Father, under Thy nurturing care. Give them Wisdom in council and valor in the field. Defeat the malicious designs of our adver saries; convince them of the unrighteousness of their cause; and if they still persist in Sanguinary pur poses, oh! let the Voice of Thine own unerring justice, sounding in their hearts, constrain them to drop the weapons of war from their unnerved hands in the day of battle. Be Thou present, 0 God o f wis dom, and direct the councils of this honorable assembly. Enable them to settle things on the best and surest foundation, that the scenes o f blood may be speedily closed, and order, harmony and peace may be effectually restored, and truth and justice, religion and piety prevail and flourish amongst Thy people. Preserve the health of their bodies and the vigor of their minds: shower down upon them and the mil lions they here represent such temporal blessings as Thou seest expedient for them in this present world, and crown them with everlasting glory in the world to come. All this we ask, in the' name and through the merits o f Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Saviour. Amen!
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