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and, Donald, choose something out of God’s Word for us.” Even the little wood creatures seemed to hush their drowsy murmurs, as the heads were bowed and the praise went up from a boy’s heart to the great Creator of the universe, who is so close to the seeking human soul that it need only draw near to Him through the blood of His only Son. After the prayer, Donald was discovered with His Bible open at the book of Proverbs, from which he read: “Pride goeth before destruction and an haughty spirit before a fall. “Better is it to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.” Uncle Alan smiled as he thought of the Lemon King’s daughter who had not an obedient ear, but his eyes grew tender for Donald as he read bravely and steadily on, evi dently taking unto himself the following admonitions, which he had been told he needed: “The sweetness of the lips increaseth learning. “Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.” Straight through the verses read Donald and never faltered. “The lad has splendid stuff in him,” reflected Uncle Alan, as Donald closed with, “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.” cernment. Two men look upon a piece of coal. To one, it is merely a black lump. The other sees in it eras of his tory and vast primaeval forests compressed into abbre viated area. Two men look upon a masterpiece. One is entranced. The other prefers the flaming posters of the roadside billboard. Two men listen to the sonatas of Beethoven. One hears the music of the spheres. The other detects nothing but noise and din. The difference between the men is in each case a difference in discern ment. Just as there are degrees in scientific and artistic discernment, so there are degrees of spiritual judgment. The truth planted in our hearts by the Spirit of God will be discovered only as the proper facilities are exer cised. “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit” (1 Cor. 2 :9, 10). The natural man cannot understand the things of God because they are spiritually discerned. But the Spirit-taught believer may know, and God has decreed that he shall know, all the revealed will of God. The Work of the Cross Every controversy can be settled at the cross, can be completely settled, finally settled; and no soul will retire from that center saying that he has got an advantage over his brother. When Christians meet there they will be bowed down in a common penitence, they will be chastened by a common humiliation. The church is an impossibility without Christ. We have been unkind, ungracious, un charitable. Now, in sight of the bleeding Lamb of God, let us cease to see one another’s littleness and begin to see one another’s excellences!— J oseph P arker . WHAT DO YOU KNOW? [Continued from page 395]
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over there in the pit will be coming after you,” laughed Elise. Donald merely glowered at the blaze. Uncle Alan smiled. He loved the Scotch lad’s granite ruthlessness as a defendant of the faith, but he thought it wise to temper it. He shifted the conversational base a trifle. “When the Spirit falls upon us, and we are led of Him, it is wise and right to override every human hin drance to obedience. But there is a quietness and a sweet ness and serenity about Spirit-led activity, that is far removed from the bitterness of human haggling over doctrine or manners.” Donald relented visibly, and his harsh young face took on a new softness. After all, Uncle Alan really agreed with him, but he was older and riper and more mellow. Perhaps some day he, Donald, would be so, too. But just now it was glorious, to his way of thinking, to face a crowd of jeering people or a group of indifferent church goers, and “just tell ’em”—to give them the gospel! Althea returned alone. “Where is Beatrice?” asked Pauline from her place at Constance’s side. “Up in the tent. She wishes to be alone. She’s been talking with me as we looked over those virgin snows up there, glowing in the sunset. It was wonderful. But poor Bee! She says she has been wondering if she is a sort of liability, as it were, in God’s work. She wonders if she ought not to stop or go somewhere where they dislike human restrictions on the Lord’s business as much as she does. She spoke of her father’s great-heartedness, his love of God’s handiwork in nature, and so on. She wishes there were more great-hearted people in the church.” “There are too few!” cried Djemileh. “I think she is grieved and wounded in her heart, which is really large, but I see no indication of bitterness.” “Good!” said Uncle Alan. “I am going to call on the Lemon King’s daughter next week and make a few things clear to her that have been clouded. Beatrice’s uncle is not a felon, though he tried to get her father’s heritage.” A gasp of relief went around the group. The Thin Red Line had been holding out for Beatrice, and would have been loyal even had this blot upon her family escut cheon really been there, but their hearts rejoiced that the need was removed. “And now let us gather round the fire as the night darkens and the stars shine down on us like Christmas candles up among those branches that fairly seem to tan gle with their shining. Lawrence, you lead us in prayer,
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