The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-10-21
Aoasehula atjoras.
The Golden Rule.

OuC6 upon tluue IutIC was yOuhS
carpenter, who was learning the trade as
an apprentice. He began when he was
about fourteen years of age, aAd he was
to be free when he came TO be twenty
one. When he was about sixteen years
of age he had present of half crown.
What do you think he bought with it g?
He was poor boy, and very rarely
had any money of his own to spend
When he got his half-crOwn, he thought
the best thing to do would be to buy a
tool of his own to work with. In the
shop where he worked there were many
tools, but they all belonged to his en-
ployer. The apprentice had none of
his own. But he wished very much to
own some; and he thought now would
be a good time to begin. So he went to
the tool makers and looked in at the
window to consider what he should buy.
He looked at a great variety of tools.
Some cost too much, others were too
large to carry about him, for be thought
he would like one that he could carry in
his pocket; others were such as he would
very rarely want to use. At last he de-
cided that he would buy a rule. There
was jointed rule that was two feet long
when it was open and stretched out
straight, but it would fold up so as to be
only six inches long.
Why do you think he chose the rule
Because he could carry it in his pocket.
That's one reason. What was another
Because it would be very useful.
Well, what is the use of a rule?
To measure by.
Yes. Sometimes to measure length
by; sometimes to draw straight lines by.
That's what rule is for. 1t is to make
things right by. Suppose you had rule
you could not measure with, would it be
good for anything?
No, not for rule
Suppose a carpenter were to go away
to his work and leave his rule at home,
do you suppose he could do his work
right?
No. He wants his rule all the time,
because he needs to measure almost every
thing so as to make it right.
Therefore the apprentice, when he had
bought his rule, had pocket made for
it in his clothes, just big enough to hold
it and nothing else; so that wherever he
went, and whatever he was doing he
might have his rule all ready to measure
by.
Now, suppose this young carpenter
with his rule in his pocket had gone to
work making a box, and instead of tax
Ing out his rule to measure the boards be-
fore he sawed them of, had left the rule in
his pocket, and sawed the boards out by
his eye, as nearly as he could guess the
proper size. Would that have been fool
ish or wise?
Very foolish. If he had not any rule
it would be different; but when he had
rule in his pocket all the time, to cut
out his board without Winding his rule
would ID. perfectly foolish. l do not be-
heve there ever was u young carpenter
quite so foolish as that, do you?
But | know a great many boys and
girls who are quite as foolish. Do you
want to know how!
Who knows the golden ruler You all
know it hope. You may repeat it.
Whatsoever We would that men
should do to you, do We even so to them"
Who made that rule!
Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Then We may be sure it is right rule.
Have you all got the rule? Have you
all got it by heart?
Now, children, what is a rule made
for?
To make things right by.
This is what Christ gave US all the
golden rule for. You have it in your
heart, just as the young carpenter had
his twO-fOOt rule in his pocket. But /
am afraid that great many of you are
so foolish that you dom use your golden
rule. When some playmate, whom per-
haps you do not like very well asks you
to do him a favor, and you say, mo, l
won't; you won't do anything to oblige
me, and | won't obige you, that's not
going by your rule. Stop, little boy,
little girl, take out your rule here is
something to measure. VIVA: does the
rule say? do as you wonld be done
by" Go by the rule That's what the
rule is for. When some boy strikes you,
or calls you names, and you clench your
hand to strike him in return-stop.
Where is your rule? You would be
more foolish than the carpenter appren-
tice if you were to strike back while all
the time you had Chrisr's golden rule in
your mind, which tells you to do as you
would be done by.
Remember that Christ's golden rule is