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T HE K I N G ’S B U S I N E S S nabas as their delegate to Antioch, they probably sent the best man available. Acts 11:24. He was a true son of con solation. On the whole and in the long run it is better to be a Barnabas than one of the Boanerges. The son of thund er has his place in the great assemblies and on notable occasions but the quiet unobtrusive ministry of the son of con solation is always needed by the bed side of the sick and in the humble abodes of the poor. Few can be great but anybody can be good. Goodness is the true greatness in the sight of Heav en. Barnabas was so fully in*sympathy with the Gospel plan and understood it so well that he rejoiced in the salvation of the Gentiles. It required a special vision of God to bring Peter to this way of thinking. SUNDAY, July 31. Acts 12:20-25. The Ministry of Mark. When Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem where they seem to have remained during the persecution of the church by Herod, they took with them John Mark the nephew of Barnabas, who later became the writer of the Gospel that bears his name. His companion ship meant added help in the missionary journey about to be undertaken. What a unique and exalted privilege was his! What Xenophon was to ¡Socrates and Boswell to Johnson, John Mark was to some extent in turn to Peter and to Paul. Who woud not have been honored and happy to have sharpened Shakspeare’s, pens or cleaned the brushes of Raphael? To have saved the great Apostle of the Gentiles some inconvenience, to have helped him on his way, to have perform ed even some menial office for him as Elisha did for Elijah, 2 Kings 3:11, this was a privilege indeed that angels might well covet. m m THE SERMON OF LIFE I would not give much for your reli gion unless it can be seen. Lamps do not talk; but they do shine. A lighthouse sounds no drum, it beats no gong; and yet far over the waters its friendly spark is seen by the mariner. So let your ac tions shine out your religion. Let the main sermon of your life be illustrated, by all your conduct and it shall not fail to be illustrious.—Spurgeon.
STERN FACTS The thought of the future punishment for the wicked which the Bible reveals is enough to make an earthquake of ter ror in every man’s soul. I do not ac cept the doctrine of eternal punishment because I delight in it. I would east in doubts, if I could, till I had filled hell up to the brim; I would destroy all faith in it; but that would do me no good; I could not destroy th e . thing. Nor does it help me to take the word “everlasting," and put it into a rack like an inquisitor, until I make it shriek out some other meaning; I cannot alter the stern fact.—Beecher. FAMOUS LAST WORDS “I wonder if it’s loaded. I’ll look down the barrel and see.’’ “Oh, listen! That’s the train whistle. Step on the accelerator, and we’ll try to get across before it comes.” “They say these things can’t possibly explode, no matter how much you throw them around.” “I wonder whether this rope will hold my weight.” “It’s no fun swimming around in here. I’m going out beyond the life lines.” “Which one of these is the third rail, anyway?” “There’s only one way to manage a mule. Walk right up in back of him and surprise him.” ' “That firecracker' must have gone out. I’ll light it again.” “Watch me skate out past the ’Danger sign.’ I bet I can touch it." “These traffic policemen think they own the city. They can’t stop me. I’m going to cross the street now. Let the chauffeurs look out for me.” “What a funny noise that snake makes. I think I’ll step on him.” “I’ve never driven a car in traffic be fore. But they say it’s perfectly simple.” “I think I’ll mix a little nitric acid with this chloride of potassium and see what happens.”—Life.
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