The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1875-04-29
The Tack Hammer.

[From an address to children, by Rev. E. P
Hammond.
A few weeks ago, little boy in Brook
lyn was amusing himself with magnet
tack-hammer and needles of different
sizes. He was greatly interested to no
tice how quick the little needles sprang
ct once toward the hammer whenever it
was placed near them.
You have all, children, seen a magnet,
have MT you "a small piece of iron that
picks up other lite bits of iron as soon
as it touches them, and sometimes
sooner? Yes, l know you have. Well,
there was man who thought he would
invent new kind of hammer; so he
makes one end of the hammer like a
magnet, and when he goes to tack down
the carpet, he picks UP the taelzs--with
one end of the hammer, and drives them
in with the other. Have you, children,
ever seen this kind of hammer? In
stantly up flew a number of little hands, ]
All, see many of you have. Well, the
Gospel is something like this hammer.
1t draws the little tacks, while the big
nails won't move. Now suppose you
were to bring near the magnetized end
of the hammer a number of fine needles,
what would be the effect? Answer, by
several voices, at would draw them"
Yes, that's right; it would draw them
They would seem as if they had life.
They would spring toward the end of
the hammer and cling to it, just as a
child springs towards its mother and
clings upon her neck. What makes this
o, dear ones, there is some mystery here.
We can't explain it, but you can under
stand the fact, for you see it with your
own eyes.
But who are those little needles? Can
you tell. up go the hands Well,
who are they? By several voices, "They
are the little childrenl"l Right; they
are And what is it that draws them
Again the little hands are up-"It is
Jesus!] Yes: how sweetly and strange
ly he draws them But they must come
or be brought dear to him; for don you
notice that if the little needles are not
brought near to him, they don't move
toward him But when you lay them
him, as if they could MT help clinging to
him.
o, beautiful thought Parents and
Sunday-school teachers, think of it.
Bring your little ones near. There is
sweet drawing power in Jesus. Bring
them and lay them near, and see if they
are not drawn as by the chords of love
into his arms!
But now, dear children, you observe
that the big ones are not so easily drawn.
While the little ones are clustering, as if
all alive, around the center of attraction,
the big ones lie as if dead; they don't
move at ALL even when the hammer is
laid upon them, or strikes hard blow,
they scarcely seem to move. o, these
big sinners-how hard it is to move them !
And now, dear children, if, while you
ire little and can come to Jesus so much
more easily, SO to speak, you keep at a
1istance-keep too far off from Jesus to
feel his drawing power-when you get
big, as you soon will, you will be like the
big needles, and perhaps will never be
lrawn to the bosom of Jesus. How
dreadful that will be!
Don't you recall beautiful passage in
The New Testament which speaks of
esus drawing hearts to him? Who can
quote it? [Silence. Can none of you
repeat it? [Silence still Well, repeat
It after me, then: ''And I, if l be lifted |
lp," in a subdued voice, "And l, if be
lifted up, - will draw all men unto me"
will draw all men unto me. Now
tx that text in your minds, and connect |
it in your thoughts with the little ham,
ner and the needles. Yes: Jesus was
lifted up on the cross by his enemies, in |
order to render him ignominious; that
is, that all people might scorn one that
was crucifed. So they meant it for evil;
but God meant it for good, that he might
draw all men unto him.
The Roman centurian who ordered the |
soldiers to drive the nails into His feet
that hard hearted Roman gazed on the
cross until he felt his heart melted and
and he cried out, Truly, this
was the Son of God"
And the dying thief, who was crucifed
with Jesus, very wicked man, turned
his eyes upon our Lord and felt his heart
drawn toward him. "Ah l' said he,
'this Jesus is righteous but what sim
ner l ami And he looked at the blood |
oozing from that thorn-clad brow, and
streaming from his pierced hands, and |
he said, Surely, that blood can wash my
sins away" Then he puts up prayer,
Lord, remember me" See how he was
drawnl And Jesus did remember him,
and took him with him up to heaven.
And now, children, have you been |
drawn to Jesus? Has his dying love, |
like sweet cord, drawn you to this pre-
eious Savior? If so, cling to him now
and forever. And bring other little ones
near to him. Perhaps they will draw
also. Ifyou have not yet come to him,
come now, while so many are flocking
to him, and clustering around his feet,
and nesting as it we're in his loving
bosom.
"CoMES TO JESUS: COME NOW.