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plexed by th e conduct of a b right boy in his class one day; he seemed dull, heavy, irresponsive. I did not know un til later th a t his mother had ju st died, and th a t he was nearly heartbroken. Before being puzzled and-annoyed by ano th er’s conduct, are you quite sure th a t you have all the facts? Before you pass you r judgment, is it likely th a t perfect knowledge would possibly make you not merely uncritical bu t actually sympa th etic?” Grace an Unfettered' Thing There is a peculiar incident linked up w ith th e reign of Elizabeth, Queen of England. It is said th a t soon afte r the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots, a F rench lady who had been in her ser vice attem pted to assassinate Queen E lizabeth. She was arrested while hanging about th e royal court. She boldly announced h er name and design, expressing her reg ret th a t she failed to accomplish her purpose. She was brought into th e presence of Elizabeth, who said to her, “What, th in k you, is my duty upon the hearing of such a case?” “Do you pu t the question to me as a queen or a judg e?” asked th e prisoner. “As a queen,” was th e reply. “Then you should g ran t me a pardon,” she answered. “But,’’ inquired the queen, “what assurance can you give me th a t you will no t abuse my mercy and attem p t my life again? Should I pardon, it should be based upon con ditions to be safe from your murderous revenge in the fu tu re .” “ Grace fettered by precautions— grace th a t has condi tions— is no grace,” exclaimed the woman. And history states th a t th e rem ark so charmed E lizabeth th a t she immediately ordered h er release. How much historical tru th th ere is in th is incident we do not know. But somehow it does give us a picture of grace, fo r “grace fettered by precautions — grace th a t has conditions— is no grace.”
GOD’S MOVINGS IN BIBLE LANDS “ One thing becomes more evident as th e months pass by,” says Dr. A. T. Schofield of London, “lands connected w ith Bible times or history are in th e hands of a H igher Power th an any set of politicians or earthly ru lers by w hat ever name known. Note th a t Ireland, which was never w ithin th e Roman Em pire, is largely out of the P arliam en t of the B ritish Empire, which doubtless will be included in th e coming ten kingdoms. P alestin e was to be for th e Jews, bu t it looks more like falling m eantim e into the hands of th e Arabs (half-brothers of the Jew s), or worse still, into th e hands of the Turk. India, th e sta r of the B rit ish Empire, is seething w ith unrest, op position to rule and mission work is openly m anifest in many parts, and once Ind ia’s millions awake and arise who can foretell w hat may follow— an Indian Armageddon? which God forbid! To draw a map of the N ear E ast, as it will be five years hence, would puzzle th e Johnsons, Philips, and other map- m akers for ages. Yet no t one of these affect in the slightest degree th e cer tain ty of the coronation of th e Christ of God as “K ing of kings and Lord of lords” in th e city where He died, a t th e appointed tim e on the g reat Dial of E te rn ity (Dan. 2. 31-45; Zech. 14. 9; Rev. 11. 15). ¿Mfc' 15S ERRAND OF AFFLICTION God tak es th e most em inent and choicest of H is servants fo r th e choicest and most em inent afflictions. They who have received most grace from. God are able to bear most afflictions from God. Affliction doth not h it th e sain t by chance bu t by direction. God doth no t draw His bow a t a venture. Every one of His arrow s goes upon a special errand and touches no b reast b u t his against whom it was sent. I t is no t only th e grace, bu t th e glory of a believer wbe; he can stand th e butt-m ark , and tak e affliction quietly.— Joseph Caryl.
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