Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-11
fin Local Churches.

they ever with me.
90 1 have more understanding than all
my teachers. for thy testimonies are my
meditation.
100. L understand more than the ancients
because 1 keep thy precepts.
1O1. have refrained my feet from every
evil way. and keep thy word.
1O2. have not departed from thy judy
ments: for thou hast taught me.
103. How sweet are thy words unto my
tastel Yea, sweeter than honey to my
mouth!
1O4. Through thy precepts I get under
standing; therefore I hate every false way.
The Lesson.
"A man may be so situated that though
his life is in imminent danger, he cannot
perceive the danger, and consequently
makes no effort to escape. Further, his
mind may be so prejudiced that he still
counts the beam on which he stands Sc
cure, although a neighbor has faithfully
given warning that it Is about to fail; 1t
may be that because he stands on it he
cannot see its frailty. Let some friend who
knows his danger, but wishes him well,
approach the spot and hold a mirror in
such position that the infatuated man
shall see reflected in 1t the under and
ailing side of the beam that lies between
him and the abyss The work is done: the
object is gained: the confident fool, made
wise at length. reaps for life upon the solid
ground.
The parallels are like these mirrors, In
tended to show to those who would not
see the danger nor listen to the warning,
what was their real situation. The true
disciple does not need the parable for his
heart is open to the truth, and ready to
receive the warning, and to him the para
pie but makes clearer the truth which he
has accepted.
j. Munro Gibson says on this subject of
the parable:
The whole thing turns on the distinction
between earnest inquirers and careless
hearers. There must have been many Of
the latter in His audience for this was no
selected company, like that which listened
to the Sermon on the Mount. The earnest
inquirer has ears to hear; the other has
strikingly set forth in the strong declara-
ton: "Whosoever hath. to him shall be
given and he shall have more abundance:
but whosoever hath not, from him shall
be taken away even that he THAT is
instead of being the better for what he had
heard, he Is the worse; not apprehending
the truth. he is only perplexed and con-
FUSED by 1t, and instead of going away en-
riched. he is poorer than ever What then,
is to be done? If, instead of doing the peo-
pie good it only does them harm, why
try to teach them at all? Why not let
hear. ready to receive? Happily, this sad
alternative is not the only resource The
truth may be put in such a way that it
mas both a shell and a kernel Of meaning;
shea that 1t may be kept safely there,
ready for the time when the inner fruit,
which is the true food of the soul. can
De used. For this purpose the parable
is pre-eminently serviceable. The shell of
meaning is so simple and familiar, that
even a child can understand 1t, being of the
nature OF a story, 1t is very easily re-
membered. and connected as it is with that
Whlch Is frequently observed, 1t will come
up again and again to the minds of those
In whom the thought has been lodged: SO
mat, even II. on first hearing 1t, there is
no possibility of understanding its deep
spiritual significance the time may come
when 1t will flash upon the spirit the light
Which has been concealed within, and SO
preserved from waste"
We are to fearn from Christie ufe bo,, ..
conduct our own In the right way. That
Chrlst used parallels often instead of direct
Ieacning is sign of His wonderful wisdom
and tact In dealing with souls The gentle
soul who YOU'D stand back in horror from
the question: Madam, are YOU prepared To
die?'' from the lips of an earnest but
Dungling worker for Christ. will be led by
the wisdom of gentle word in the form Of
picture warnings. 1t is not everybody to
whom we can deal outwarnings and threat
enlngs; some need 1t and will profit by II.
out others VIII simply turn from the warn
er with shudder and reject the truth. We
are directed to be wise as serpents and
harmless as doves"
The parallels are beautiful pictures to
hahs upoh tLe Walls OF the gallery of our
memory. Take your friends in sometimes
to see these pictures and to ponder the
truth hidden behind each, for every good
picture tells story. and all such stories
nave meaning.
Applied Truth.
The parallels Of Jesus have been lived
over and over again in real life Mr. Moody
used to tell of a preacher in London who
found poor man sick and dying and in
great anguish of soul. He talked and pray-
ed with him until he gave himself to Jesus,
ara a. last the man said: II could die ham
Ply If l could only hear my father say: I
forgive you! He lives in East London, but
he has taken my name out of the family
records and he treats me as If I was dead
The preacher said he would go and see the
father. He found him living in beautiful
waited upon by liveried servants. When
the man came down he said: IT believe you
have son Joseph" NO" said the man,
Il have no son of that name. l had but 1
about him." But" said the minister, .'he
is your boy" us my Joseph sick?' asked
the man. He Is at the point of death. He
wants you to forgive him. Tell me that you
sage to him. mo. no." said the man
quickly, If my SON is sick will go to him."
So he took the carriage and drove down the
dark alley and the boy cried out: Father,
VIII you give NE. anu the IdtneT cTleQ.
20 Joseph, would have forgiven you long
ago If had known you wanted me to. Let
my servants take you and put you into the
carriage"
An infide1 and ex-convict was brought to
Christ through Mr.. Wheatley of st. Giles
Christian Mission. The following is taken
from his story: How Is it with you to-
day." well, nothing but well; it's all
well now. 1 was thinking this morning how
I've fought against God all my days, and
He's saved me like this. Why! He loved
me-what for 1 don't know; but He did,
and He's delivered me. But what a deliv-
erance! Who knows the thoughts I had
Of Him at times! Who knows how hated
the name Of religion! But God knows; He
knew 1t all the time. Seems to me first
thing I'll do when He shuts my eyes here
Is go straight to His feet and tell Him
I've never deserved it, And the curiousest
thing about 1t Is, 1 don't know how He's
done 1t. He conquered me, I don't know
how. The arguments I'd pick up seem like
as good as ever IL 'twere a matter of argu-
ment but 1t amt; it's fact and there's an
end to II. Seems like blind eyes opened,
and there 1t was bright and clear. I tell
you what. argument is no good an unbe-
lieving man don't know what you're talk