Year: 1874

As was riding over the open prairios
Of Illinois, cast Of the village Of New Rut-
land, one fine spring morning, | came across
some men who were tearing and digging the
earth, in the road and by its side, with picks
and shoyels, as if they were searching for
something very valuable that was covered
there somewhere asked them what they
we're searching for 80 carefully. They told
me they were trying to find a small stone
that was covered there somewhere. Now
in the East this would be needless for the
stones are plenty there, and it would seem
strange to Gnd a place where there wore
none, but on those prairies they arc seldom
seen. There was one near where these men
were digging, but they could not easily End
il. II was only common stone. asked
them what they wanted it for. They said
it was put there for a landmark, and they
wanted to find it so they could run a straight
line from it, and measure OF piece Of land.


asked them why they were SO partcu-
lar A few inches was not much in the
starting point. But they said IL would
make many acres difference in the result,
They would not measure a single chain uu-
til they found that stone, If it took them
days to find it.


| asked them how they knew there was
a stone there. They said the records gave
an account Of its being there, and the records
were true. went on and left them, and
when | returned in the afternoon the stone
had been found, and the line measured for
the land.


And as rode on | was led to reflect on
this as an illustration of the necessity OF
being careful Of the old landmarks and
measurements. The Lord has laid down
certain landmarks Of truth By which we are
to be guided in our service to Him. and yet
how often men get careless about them.


Christ and Ills teachings are the land
marks laid down for US. And yet men
think they can get along very well without
Christ. They think they can choose some
other guide, and do just as well But the
result in the end will show their folly As
it is impossible for men to measure land
correctly without due regard to the starting
point and landmarks, 20 it is as impossible
to arrive at correct results in the way Of
life without beginning with Christ, and fol-
lowing the directions given in the record,
which is the Bible.


These men were looking for particular
stone in particular spot. No other would
do, for that place was marked by that one
stone alone. So in the Christians life,
Christ must be found, and no other. And
He occupies the very place the record iudi-
Gates, and nowhere else As other stones
might be found to closely resemble the one
these men we're looking for, so other char.
acters may be found resembling Christ, and
deceive many.


But as these men wanted the stone that
lay in that particular place, so we must find
the Christ of the Bible if we would be cor
rect. Aud as a slight variation from the
stone at starting would produce serious re.
suits at last, so, unless we start with Christ,
we shall certainly fail at last.


Then let US be particular in this work
Have we found Christi Is He the Christ
Of the Bibe2 Aud are We working upon
the line the record gives us2 o, that men
would be as faithful in eternal things as in
temporal The kingdom Of God is to be
reached. A little deviation, aud we may
miss it. Let Us be prayerfw. Some have
tried to hide the landmarks. Let US find
them again. Search on, and have faith, a.
these men had, that the record is tr1le


o, for a church with overcoming faith
Then we shall have the correct landmarks
-W'oy7d's Crisis.