file which includes the original illustrations4 ,see #cbcee-;h4htm or #cbcee-;h4zip3 7https3_/_/www4gutenberg4org_/cache_/epu b_/#cbcee_/pg#cbcee-;images4html7 or 7https3_/_/www4gutenberg4org_/files_/#cb cee_/cbcee-;h4zip7 ,,with ,,the ,,children ,,on ,,sundays ,through ,eye-,gate and ,ear-,gate into the ,city of ,child-,soul ,illustration by ,,sylvanus ,,stall1 ,d4 ,d4 ,author of ,what a ,young ,boy ,ought to ,know1 ,what a ,young ,man ,ought to ,know1 etc41 ,methods of ,church ,work1 ,faces ,toward the ,light1 etc41 etc4 ,this book is published and sold exclusively in the ,united ,states by ,the ,uplift ,publishing ,company ,philadelphia1 ,pa4 ,copyright1 #aiaa1 by ,sylvanus ,stall4 ,entered at ,stationers' ,hall1 ,london1 ,england4 ,protected by ,international copyright in ,great ,britain and all her colonies1 and1 under the provisions of the ,berne ,convention1 in ,belgium1 ,france1 ,germany1 ,england1 ,spain1 ,switzerland1 ,tunis1 ,hayti1 ,luxembourg1 ,monaco1 ,montenegro and ,norway4 ,all rights reserved4 ,printed in the ,united ,states4 ,copyright1 #ahic1 by ,sylvanus ,stall4 ,copyright1 #ahif1 by ,sylvanus ,stall4 ,copyright1 #aijg1 by ,sylvanus ,stall4 ,all the drawings and color-pictures in this took have been specially prepared by ,c4 ,m4 ,burd1 of ,new ,york ,city1 for exclusive use in these pages4 ,each of these has been copyrighted in the ,united ,states and throughout ,europe1 and all copyright privileges are reserved4 ,illustration3 ,,sylvanus ,,stall1 ,d4,d4 ,,dedicated ,,to ,,parents ,,and ,,children ,,who ,,desire ,,to ,,make ,,sunday ,,the ,,happiest ,,and ,,most ,,impressive ,,day ,,of ,,the ,,week4 ,,contents ,,page4 ,,preface #i ,,suggestions ,,to ,,parents #ag #a4 ,,oyster ,,and ,,crab--,conscience #bg #b4 ,,worm ,,in ,,the ,,apple--,sin in the ,human ,heart #cc #c4 ,,wayside ,,weeds ,,and ,,garden ,,flowers--,neglected vs4 ,christian ,children #ch #d4 ,,nuts--,god ,means that ,we ,must ,work #df #e4 ,,banks--,gathered and ,guarded ,treasures #ea #f4 ,,chart--,avoiding ,dangers #ef #g4 ,,anchor--,hope that ,lays ,hold of ,christ #fa #h4 ,,husks--,the ,disappointed ,pleasure ,seeker #ff #i4 ,,iron1 ,,low ,,grade ,,and ,,high ,,grade--,character and ,worth #ge #aj4 ,a ,,pocket ,,rule--,how ,god ,measures ,men #ha #aa4 ,,the ,,magnet--,jesus the ,great ,drawing ,power #hf #ab4 ,,keys--,how to ,unlock the ,human ,heart #ib #ac4 ,,traps--,unsuspecting ,mice and ,men #ig #ad4 ,,bread--,universal ,soul ,hunger #ajb #ae4 ,,the ,,stone--,the ,natural and ,changed ,heart #ajg #af4 ,,the ,,polished ,,stone--,perfection ,through ,suffering #aab #ag4 ,,ropes--,habits and ,how ,they ,become ,strong #abj #ah4 ,,watch ,,and ,,case--,soul and ,body #abe #ai4 ,,pearls--,one of ,great ,price #acj #bj4 ,,coal ,,and ,,wood--,jesus the ,source of ,spiritual ,light and ,warmth #ace #ba4 ,,lanterns--,the ,best ,light for ,our ,path #adj #bb4 ,,candles--,how to ,reflect1 ,obscure or ,extinguish the ,light #ade #bc4 ,a ,,broken ,,chain--,breaking the ,whole ,law #aea #bd4 ,,looking-,,glass--,seeing ,ourselves in ,god's ,law #aef #be4 ,,rain--,god's ,wisdom and ,power #afa #bf4 ,,snow--,lessons ,which it ,teaches #afh #bg4 ,,plastic ,,face--,character in the ,countenance #agd #bh4 ,,seeds--,thoughts1 ,word1 ,deeds1--,their ,life and ,perpetuity #agi #bi4 ,,sowing--,the ,spring ,time of ,life #ahe #cj4 ,,reaping--,the ,harvest ,time of ,life #aib #ca4 ,,wheat ,,and ,,chaff--,the ,coming ,separation #aih #cb4 ,,the ,,heart--,the ,most ,wonderful ,pump in the ,world #bjd #cc4 ,,the ,,eye--,the ,most ,valuable and ,most ,wonderful ,telescope #baj #cd4 ,,the ,,eye--,smallest ,camera1 ,most ,valuable ,pictures #bag #ce4 ,,frogs--,the ,plagues of ,egypt #bbb #cf4 ,,blood--,the ,feast of the ,passover #bbh #cg4 ,,pine ,,branch--,the ,feast of ,tabernacles #bcd #ch4 ,,leaves--,the ,lessons ,which ,they ,teach #bdj #ci4 ,,the ,,turtle--,man ,like and ,yet ,unlike the ,animals #bdf #dj4 ,,grasshopper ,,and ,,ant--,negligence and ,industry #beb #da4 ,,balances--,how ,god ,weighs ,people #bfj #db4 ,,white ,,and ,,charred ,,sticks--,good and ,bad ,company #bfg #dc4 ,,dogs--,the ,dogs of ,st4 ,bernard #bgb #dd4 ,,the ,,camera--,god's ,picture ,book #bgi #de4 ,,the ,,phonograph--,books that ,talk #bhe #df4 ,,magnet ,,and ,,needle--,god's ,guiding ,hand #bij #dg4 ,,fish ,,in ,,aquarium--,the ,all-,seeing ,eye of ,god #bie #dh4 ,,the ,,clock--,measuring ,time #cjj #di4 ,,plans--,living with a ,purpose #cjg #ej4 ,,the ,,christmas ,,tree--,the ,lessons ,which ,it ,teaches #caa #ea4 ,,easter ,,sunday--,the ,resurrection of the ,body #cah #eb4 ,,crowns--,we ,are ,children of the ,king #cbe ,a ,,word ,,to ,,parents #cca ,,press ,,notices #ccb ,,preface4 ,,sunday ought to be the most cheerful1 sunniest1 happiest and best day of the week in every home4 ,in most homes it is the dullest and most dreary day of the week to the children1 and the most taxing and the most wearying to the parents1 especially to the mother4 ,it not only ought to be1 but it can be made1 not only the brightest and happiest but also the most influential in the character-building and religious training of the children4 ,in some households ,sunday is looked forward to with anticipations of pleasure throughout the entire week4 ,in these homes1 the father does not come down stairs on ,sunday morning and say3 ,now1 children1 gather up those flowers1 throw them out of the window1 pull down the blinds1 get down the ,bible and we will have an awful solemn time here to-day4 ,neither is the day given to frivolity or the home to demoralizing influences4 ,from morning until night there are two great principles that govern2 first1 the sacredness of the day1 and second1 the sacredness of the ,god-given nature of childhood4 ,the day is not spent in repressing the child nature by a succession of don't do that1 now stop that1 etc41 that begin in the morning and continue throughout the day1 and end only when the little ones lose consciousness in sleep on ,sunday night4 ,in these homes1 the parents recognize the fact that the child nature is the same whether the day is secular or sacred4 ,on ,sunday the child nature is not repressed1 but the childish impulses are directed into channels suited to the sacredness of the day4 ,in such homes the children1 instead of being sorry that it is ,sunday1 are glad2 instead of regretting the return of the day with dislike and dread1 they welcome it as the brightest1 the cheeriest and the best of all the week4 ,the purpose of the author in the preparation of this book in its present illustrated and slightly changed form1 is to afford all parents a valuable aid in making ,sunday not only the brightest1 happiest and best day of the entire week for both parents and children1 but also to aid the parents to make ,sunday pre-eminently the day around which shall cluster throughout the entire life of each child the sweetest1 tenderest and most sacred recollections of childhood1 of father and mother and of brother and sister1 and especially of their knowledge of the ,bible and of everything sacred4 ,did it ever occur to you1 as a parent1 that between the birth and the age of twenty-one years there are three solid years of ,sundays--an amount of time almost equal to the number of years given to an entire course of college training8 ,the ,creator has not laid upon parents the responsibilities of parenthood without giving them ample time and opportunity to discharge these obligations to ,him1 to themselves1 and to their children4 ,the idea which has been successfully demonstrated in hundreds of homes1 where the impulses and natural inclinations of childhood have been turned into sacred channels on ,sundays so as to enable the parents to teach spiritual truths in the most effective manner1 is the method which is suggested by the author to the parents in the use1 on ,sunday afternoons1 of the fifty-two little sermons given in this volume4 ,the parent who fails to use wisely the opportunities of ,sunday afternoons for impressing the children with spiritual truths1 loses the greatest opportunity that family life affords4 ,among the different instances known to the author1 the following three may serve as illustrations of what may be found in many communities3 ,i knew a mother who regularly on ,sunday afternoons gathered her children about her and read them religious books and literature4 ,in her considerable family1 every child became eminently useful4 ,one1 who was a university professor1 told me that those ,sunday afternoons with his mother in the nursery embodied the most formative influences of his life4 ,i know another family1 of some seven or eight children1 where ,sunday was always used for religious instruction with the children4 ,with the reading and other things1 they always played church1 and the experience of those early childhood days made the boys splendid public talkers1 and the girls were also very capable in the same direction4 ,no better school of oratory was ever organized4 ,i know another family of four children1 where the entire family looked forward throughout the week to the special and larger pleasure which ,sunday always brought4 ,they grew up naturally into a religious life1 and developed that ability for public address and service which could not so well be gained in any other way4 ,sunday is about the only day in most of households where the father is home with his family4 ,it adds greatly to the pleasure and impressiveness of the day and its services if the father1 with the mother1 enters heartily into the spirit of that which will be all the more enjoyed by the children4 ,it will enable him also to stamp his personality deeper into the character of his children than possibly any other opportunity which may be afforded him in life4 ,these brief object talks grew out of the necessities found in the author's own parish4 ,when called to the pastorate of the ,second ,english ,lutheran ,church1 of ,baltimore1 ,i found a depleted congregation1 while at the same time the ,sunday-school was one of the largest and most flourishing in the city4 ,it was then for the first time that ,i introduced regularly the preaching of ,five-minute object sermons before the accustomed sermon on ,sunday morning4 ,in a very brief period1 about one-fourth of the infant department and two-thirds of the main department of the school were in regular attendance upon the ,sunday morning service1 and1 even after this particular form of address had been discontinued1 the teachers and scholars continued regularly to come direct from the morning session of the school to the services of the church4 ,these sermons were preached without notes1 were subsequently outlined and then spoken into the phonograph1 put in manuscript by a phonographer1 and1 that the simplicity of style and diction might be preserved1 were printed with only slight verbal changes4 ,the objects used in illustrating these talks have been chosen from among the ordinary things of every-day life4 ,such objects have the advantage of being easily secured1 and on account of their familiarity also prove more impressive1 and being more often seen1 more frequently recall to mind the truths taught4 ,to any thoughtful student who has marked the simple language and beautiful illustrations used by that ,great ,preacher and ,teacher who spake as never man spake1 it will be unnecessary to say a single word in justification of this method of presenting abstruse truths to the easy comprehension of the young4 ,upon all occasions ,jesus found in the use of the ordinary1 every-day things about ,him1 the easy means of teaching the people the great truths of divine import4 ,the door1 the water1 the net1 the vine1 the flowers which sprang at ,his feet1 the birds that flew over ,his head1 the unfruitful tree that grew by the wayside1 the wheat and the tares that grew together in the field1 the leaven which a woman hid in three measures of meal1 the husbandman pacing his field engaged in sowing his grain1 the sheep and the goats which rested together on the slopes waiting to be separated each into their own fold1 the old garment mended with a piece of new cloth1 the mustard seed1 the salt--anything that chanced to be about the ,master was used as an illustration1 that ,he might plainly and impressively teach the people the saving truths of redemption and salvation4 ,may we not also reasonably suppose that if ,jesus were upon the earth to-day ,he would still exercise this same distinguishing wisdom in the use of the common1 every-day things by which ,he would now find ,himself surrounded8 ,let it be distinctly understood that this book is not a substitute for the regular services of ,god's ,house4 ,i believe in the ,church in the house1 but ,i also believe that the entire family1 including the children1 should also be in the ,church on the ,lord's day4 ,the absence of the children from the services of the sanctuary is one of the alarming evils of our day4 ,there are but few congregations where children can be found in any considerable numbers4 ,no one will attempt to deny the sad consequences which must follow as the inevitable results of such a course4 ,the children at eight years of age who have not already begun to form the habit of church attendance1 and are not quite thoroughly established in it at sixteen1 will stand a very fair chance of spending their entire life with little or no attachment for either the ,church or religious things4 ,the non-church going youth of this decade will be the ,sabbath-breakers and irreligious people of the next4 ,who are to blame for this state of affairs1 and to whom are we to look for the correction of this existing evil8 ,manifestly1 first of all1 to the parents4 ,that parental authority which overcomes the indifference of the child and secures his devotion to the irksome duties of secular life1 should also be exercised to establish and maintain a similar fidelity to religious duties and spiritual concerns4 ,if left to their own inclinations1 children will invariably go wrong in the affairs of both worlds4 ,attendance upon the church should be expected and required1 the same as attendance upon the secular instruction of the schools2 for the best interests of the child are not more dependent upon the discipline of the mind than upon the development of the heart4 ,in the formation of the habit of church attendance1 it would be well to remind parents that example will be as helpful as precept4 ,they should not send1 but take their children to church4 ,they should make room for them in the family pew1 provide them with a hymn-book and see that they have something for the collection4 ,parents owe it to their children to teach them to be reverent in ,god's house1 to bow their heads in prayer1 to be attentive to the sermon2 and while requiring these things of their children1 they should also see well to it that after service1 at the table1 in the home1 or elsewhere nothing disparaging of ,god's house1 message or messenger should fall from their lips upon the ears of their children4 ,as these little talks were originally used before the main sermon on ,sunday morning before a mixed audience of adults and a large number of children1 it has seemed best1 in order to carry out the idea of preaching1 that the manner of speaking as though to an audience should be retained in this book4 ,it is better suited than any other method for use also by the parent when reading these pages to the children in the home4 ,the earlier issues of these talks under the title3 ,five ,minute ,object ,sermons to ,children and the second volume3 ,talks to the ,king's ,children were accorded a place of usefulness in nearly every land1 and the author now sends forth this volume in its present illustrated and slightly revised form for a place in every home1 trusting that it may be as influential in the lives of the children of to-day as it has proven in the lives of the children of yesterday4 ,,sylvanus ,,stall4 ,illustration3 ,,dr4 ,,stall ,,with ,,his ,,daughter ,,and ,,his ,,grandchildren ,,driving ,,to ,,church ,illustration3 ,,the ,,little ,,preacher ,,and ,,his ,,interested ,,audience ,illustration3 ,,little ,,billie ,,taking ,,up ,,the ,,collection ,illustration3 ,,dr4 ,,stall ,,reading ,,to ,,his ,,grandchildren ,,suggestions ,,to ,,parents4 ,,helpful ,,methods ,,for ,,making ,,sunday ,,afternoon ,,with ,,the ,,children ,,the ,,most ,,pleasant ,,and ,,profitable ,,day ,,of ,,the ,,week4 ,the idea of playing church is by no means an innovation4 ,what is shown in the pictures upon a preceding page has been actualized in many homes4 ,let me quote from a single letter which lies before me3 ,the writer was one of a large family of children and well remembers the ,sunday afternoons spent in his village home4 ',playing church1' was one of its features4 ,the chairs were placed in regular fashion1 imitating the seating arrangements of a church1 every one of us took his or her turn as preacher1 hymns were sung1 a real collection was taken and one of us1 as preacher1 took his text and preached the sermon4 ,there wasn't a dull moment in those good1 old ,sunday afternoons in our home4 ,occasionally1 the preacher would provoke a smile by his original way of handling the text and of emphasizing some point in his discourse4 ,we have all grown up since those happy days2 some of us attained to a degree of efficiency as public speakers1 and we attribute much of our efficiency and character in life to those profitable ,sunday afternoon hours4 ,from the experiences of the children as narrated above1 the suggestion occurs1 why not use these object talks in like manner8 ,play church ,sunday afternoons1 read an object sermon1 show the illustrations1 ask the questions at the end of each chapter and then follow it up with a discussion from the children1 giving their ideas and experiences4 ,you will find that you will get as much benefit and entertainment from these ,sunday afternoons playing church service as the children will4 ,you will be surprised at their interest and the originality that they will display in these discussions4 ,you will be quickening their faculty of observation and stirring their imaginations1 in a manner that will surely make observant1 thoughtful and considerate men and women of the children1 and consequently1 affect their entire destinies in the years to come4 ,then1 too1 you yourself will be helped mentally and spiritually1 because it is absolutely true that in the devotion that we exhibit and the time and attention that we give to our children in this companionship1 we will ourselves be receiving large blessings in the development of our own character and the finer characteristics that make for good people4 ,,playing ,,church4 ,the following suggestions will be helpful1 to which original ideas may always be added4 #a4 ,make the ,afternoon ,church a real1 not frivolous1 occasion4 ,the time it requires to make careful1 pains-taking preparation on the part of the parent1 is always profitably employed4 #b4 ,the afternoon church should always be a regular1 fixed engagement4 ,it adds to its importance4 #c4 ,do not postpone nor omit it for any trivial reason4 ,treat it as any other important engagement4 #d4 ,when visitors are in the home1 invite them to be present and to participate4 ,it will help them as well as the juniors4 #e4 ,the fact that there is only one child in the family does not preclude the idea of playing church2 for the dolls can be brought to church and even chairs can be converted into imaginary people4 #f4 ,never permit the realness of the occasion to be questioned4 ,always avoid embarrassing the child and never ridicule4 ,refrain from laughing at any mistakes that may be made in speech1 thought or conduct of the child1 unless he first sees the mistake and invites you to join in his mirth4 #g4 ,ask any additional questions pertinent to the subject besides those suggested at the end of each sermon4 ,it will develop wider thought and increase the interest4 #h4 ,encourage the child to ask questions1 but always lead in directing the thought4 #i4 ,adults present should always enter seriously and earnestly into the whole program or plan with the child's spirit4 ,where adults enter upon the execution of the plan with this spirit it adds much to the enjoyment of all4 ,if they cannot do this1 they should not participate4 #aj4 ,a bell can be slowly rung as the time for church approaches4 #aa4 ,use the brightest and most cheerful room in the house for the afternoon church4 ,add to the furnishings on ,sunday anything which may make the room even more than ordinarily attractive4 #ab4 ,chairs may be suitably arranged and a child can drive the others to and from church in an imaginary carriage1 as shown in one of the pictures upon another page4 #ac4 ,when the church is held in another room1 an older child or person can receive the attendants and usher them to seats4 #ad4 ,open the church service with singing4 ,select several simple devotional hymns or songs1 such as are used in the primary department of ,sunday-schools4 ,have all the children learn the tunes and teach a verse of each song to any child that cannot read4 #ae4 ,a collection can be lifted by one of the children4 ,a toy bank may be used in which to save the money received at this child's service1 and subsequently contributed through the ,church or ,sunday-school for missionary purposes4 #af4 ,teach the children the importance of saving from their own spending money1 or earning what they wish to give in the collection4 #ag4 ,this money should always be regarded as sacred1 and care should also be exercised lest this little fund might become a source of temptation to the children during the week4 #ah4 ,at some time during the service a brief prayer should be offered4 ,this may consist of a sentence prayer by each in rotation or by all uniting in the ,lord's ,prayer1 or in some brief selection from the ,prayer ,book4 #ai4 ,when a child is willing or wishes to do so1 have him preach the sermon in his own way of expressing the thought1 using the text or object of the day for his subject4 ,always give the same interested attention to him that is expected from him when another leads4 #bj4 ,some of the objects mentioned in the sermons can be easily and cheaply obtained for use at the church4 ,when such an object is secured1 it should not be shown to the children in advance of being used4 #ba4 ,do not prolong the service too greatly so as to weary the children4 ,effectiveness and pleasure usually terminate at the same time4 ,lend animation to the service and interest will not so soon flag4 ,it is well also to impart interest by having the parent enter heartily into every part of the service4 #bb4 ,a social period after returning home from the children's church should be introduced4 ,if the children have played driving to church before the service1 the idea should be continued and completed by driving home in the same manner4 ,,after ,,church4 #bc4 ,after the conclusion of the church service1 additional exercises or games suited to the sacredness of the day may be appropriately used to entertain the children and continue their happiness4 ,by methods of this kind1 ,sunday may be made not only the most profitable1 but the brightest and best day of the week4 #bd4 ,some light refreshment may be introduced1 as fruit1 cake or candy4 ,this refreshment should be something very simple and inexpensive1 and also something not calculated to spoil the appetite or injure the digestion of the child4 ,in recognition of good conduct1 close attention or special help at the church service1 one of the children may choose what the refreshment is to be for the next ,sunday4 ,this choice should be kept a secret during the week4 #be4 ,pictures and illustrations can be cut from magazines1 and these can be pasted in a scrap book or on blank paper to represent ,bible characters and scenes1 or those used in the sermons4 #bf4 ,many acting games and tableaux can be arranged by the children from the sermons and ,bible stories4 ,chairs can be arranged so as to represent a pit or tent1 and the children within them may be ,joseph in the ,pit 7,genesis xxxvii7 or ,daniel in the ,lion's ,den 7,daniel vi74 ,see illustrations on pages #hj and #ia4 ,,for ,,older ,,children4 #bg4 ,let one child represent an idol4 ,he must stand motionless and give no sign of life4 ,the others are to ask him questions and for favors4 ,if the idol laughs1 moves or speaks1 he loses and another takes his place4 ,idols are lifeless things that cannot move1 see1 hear or speak4 #bh4 ,children's blocks are useful in building a well1 altar1 castle1 temple1 chariot1 etc4 ,have the children give a text or verse from the ,bible referring to the objects builded4 ,a ,bible story may be told about the object1 its history1 use1 etc4 #bi4 ,one child1 or more as may be needed1 can pose to represent a character or scene4 ,the others are to guess the character represented4 ,for example3 ,a child can sit with hands upheld4 ,a child on each side of him hold up the extended arms4 ,they represent ,moses with ,aaron and ,hur during the battle 7,ex4 xvii3 #ab74 #cj4 ,charades1 or words and scenes may be represented by the children in motion4 ,the children may be divided into groups4 ,one group will select a word and represent it in the presence of the others by motions4 ,for example3 ,children come into the room and go through the motion of sowing 7,seeds71 reaping 7,harvest71 threshing with a flail 7,wheat and ,chaff71 picking flowers 7,weeds and ,flowers71 taking pictures 7,eye and ,camera74 ,many of the sermon subjects may be used in this manner4 ,cutting stone1 measuring1 eating husks1 washing dirty face1 etc4 ,the other groups are to guess the word and have their turn4 #ca4 ,children are always fond of riddles2 especially when they are able to guess the answer4 ,the suggested review questions at the close of each object sermon for afternoon church1 may often be effectively used with slight changes4 ,for example3 ,what is it that cannot see nor hear1 but always knows when danger is near8 ,the answer is--,the ,oyster4 ,what is it which no boy or girl can see or hear1 and the approach of which can not be made known by any of the natural senses8 7,sin47 ,what is it which tells us when sin is near8 7,conscience47 ,have the children try to make up their own riddles from the objects shown and their uses1 or lessons learned from the sermons4 ,,slates ,,and ,,crayons4 #cb4 ,provide slates1 or paper and pencils may be provided1 and the children draw the object or something suggested by its use4 ,always have blank paper and pencils on hand for some of the games or exercises mentioned below4 #cc4 ,cheap colored crayons can often be used with added value4 #cd4 ,each ,sunday appoint one child to take charge of the slates1 papers and pencils1 which are to be kept in a safe place and not disturbed during the week1 and then to distribute them on the following ,sunday4 ,,building ,,and ,,word ,,games4 #ce4 ,word building games are always interesting4 ,cut small squares of cardboard and plainly mark each with a letter4 ,many more vowels than consonants will be required4 7,these little squares with printed letters can be purchased at any toy-store47 ,mix up the squares on a table1 and the child who spells the largest number of names of places or objects mentioned in the sermons1 using the letters on the squares1 wins the game4 #cf4 ,this can be played in a variety of ways4 ,for instance3 ,select the name of an object1 person or place1 and the one who first picks out the necessary letters to spell it1 is declared the winner4 #cg4 ,each child is given the same number of assorted letters and all try to make up the largest list of names from his portion of letters in a given time4 ,,bible ,,guesses4 #ch4 ,tell a ,bible story1 or review one of the object sermons1 omitting the names of characters or objects4 ,without warning1 the one reciting the story stops1 and the next player carries on the story if he has been able to guess the omitted names1 without mentioning them4 ,if he has not discovered or guessed the right story1 the next player takes it up1 and so on until the story is completed and everyone knows it4 #ci4 ,one of the children goes out of the room and the others decide on some object used in a sermon1 or a certain thing mentioned in the ,bible1 which is to be described4 ,for example3 ,a watch1 telescope1 or the ,ark1 ,joseph's coat of many colors1 etc4 ,upon entering the room1 the child may ask all manner of questions which can be answered by yes and no4 ,when the right thing is guessed1 another goes out of the room and the game is repeated4 ,two or more children1 or groups1 may be the guessers at the same time4 #dj4 ,the game of thinking is equally interesting4 ,the leader thinks of some character1 place or object in the sermons or mentioned in the ,bible4 ,the thinker then says--,i am thinking of some thing 7person or place7 and the name begins with ',c' 7or the initial letter74 ,each of the other players asks a question in turn1 that can be answered by yes or no4 ,the questions are continued until some one guesses the name4 ,the one who first guessed the name becomes the leader4 #da4 ,make word pictures by describing persons and scenes without mentioning names4 ,the others are to guess what it is4 ,for example3 ,the leader may say--,i see some ladies walking beside the water4 ,suddenly they stop and listen4 ,then one of them wades into the water and finds something1 etc4 ,if the picture is not promptly guessed1 the story or picture of ,pharaoh's daughter finding the baby ,moses 7,ex4 ii3 #c7 is further described1 until the picture is made known4 ,other stories may be used in the same manner4 #db4 ,one or two players go out4 ,the others sit in line and choose a well known proverb1 ,bible verse1 or sentence from the object sermon1 having as many words as there are players4 ,each player having made certain what his word is1 the others are called in4 ,it is their duty to put the sentence together4 ,they ask each player in turn a question on any subject1 and in answering the player must use the particular word given him4 ,the questions may be continued1 and the word must always be used in the answer1 until the one guessing has discovered the particular word that player has1 and so on until all the words in their order are guessed and the sentence or proverb discovered4 ,in the same way1 instead of the questions1 the particular word may be acted1 as charades1 until the person guessing has discovered each word and at length composed the complete sentence4 #dc4 ,distribute paper and pencils4 ,let a single letter be selected and have each child write down the names of characters1 objects and places mentioned in the sermons1 or the ,bible1 that have the same initial letter4 ,for example3 ,the letter ,a may be selected1 then would follow ,apple1 ,adam1 ,apostles1 ,angels1 ,army1 ,asia1 etc4 ,other initial letters may be selected and the game continued4 #dd4 ,have some one call out and write down a ,bible name beginning with ,a1 as ,abram4 ,the next one is to think of a name beginning with ,b1 as ,benjamin4 ,c would come next1 as ,caleb1 then ,david1 ,eli1 etc4 ,the object is to see how many letters of the alphabet can be used and how often without repetition4 ,also names of places1 objects and titles may be used4 #de4 ,ask the children to write down as many as they can of trees1 or stones1 flowers1 birds1 instruments1 animals that are mentioned in the ,bible4 #df4 ,bible geography can be made interesting and profitable4 ,get a shallow box and fill it with fine sand4 ,cities and countries may be wonderfully made4 ,a small pile of the sand will represent a mountain1 strips of blue or white paper can be used for rivers and lakes4 ,use small blocks and spools for houses and temples1 small pebbles for roads4 ,the people can be represented by matches and trees by tiny branches or leaves4 ,when ,palestine1 for instance1 is to be studied1 small pieces of paper may be laid on the sand for the cities2 the names or initials of the cities should be written on the pieces of paper4 #dg4 ,maps may be drawn and colored crayons used to show the roads1 water1 cities1 buildings1 etc4 #dh4 ,from one of the sermons or a ,bible story1 select the name of a person1 place or thing4 ,have each player write a sentence with the selected name embodied in it4 ,when the sentences are read aloud1 it will show quite original uses made of the name4 #di4 ,to supply missing letters is an easy1 simple game4 ,write names of sermon objects or ,bible characters with letters omitted4 ,the children will enjoy supplying the missing letters necessary to complete the name4 ,sentences and ,bible verses may be used with missing words for the children to supply4 ,,bible ,,drills4 #ej4 ,bible drills are entertaining and especially valuable to children old enough to read and commit the lessons to memory4 ,by a simple method the children can figure out the books in the ,bible and their classifications4 ,by pursuing the studies1 the names of the books will soon be learned and in their regular order4 #ea4 ,have the children count the letters in ,old 7#c7 and ,testament 7#i74 ,place them together 7#ci7 and it gives the number of books in the ,old ,testament4 #eb4 ,now multiply these two figures 7#c #i7 and the result will give the number of books in the ,new ,testament 7#bg74 #ec4 ,add together the two sets of figures 7#ci plus #bg7 and you will find the whole number of books in the ,bible 7#ff74 #ed4 ,the figure #f is found in the number of books in the ,bible 7#ff71 the number of known authors or writers of the books 7#cf71 and the number of years during which the ,bible was written 7#afjj74 ,thus we have #cf authors1 #ff books1 #af centuries4 #ee4 ,the books of the ,old ,testament may be divided into five groups3 as the ,pentateuch 7,books of ,moses71 ,history1 ,poetry1 ,major ,prophets and ,minor ,prophets4 ,have the children trace the outline of a hand on paper and the thumb and fingers will represent the groups4 ,thus1 the thumb will represent the ,pentateuch2 the first finger1 the ,history2 the second finger1 ,poetry2 the third finger1 ,major ,prophets2 and the fourth finger1 ,minor ,prophets4 #ef4 ,the ,new ,testament may also be divided into five groups and represented by the other hand in the same manner4 ,the five groups are ,biography1 ,history1 ,pauline ,epistles 7or ,paul's ,letters71 ,general ,epistles 7or letters71 and ,prophesy4 #eg4 ,the number of books in each group of the ,old ,testament are3 #e plus #ab plus #e plus #e plus #ab--;equals #ci books4 ,in the ,new ,testament1 the five groups are made up of #d plus #a plus #ac plus #h plus #a--;equals #bg books4 #eh4 ,the name of each group with the number of books in the group1 may be written on separate cards4 ,the cards are shuffled and the children sort them and place them together in their proper order1 forming the ,old ,testament1 then the ,new ,testament4 #ei4 ,the names of the different books which make up the groups are looked up and written under the name of the group4 ,take the groups in their regular order4 ,thus1 group one would be ,pentateuch1 #e books3 ,gene-sis1 ,exo-dus1 ,le-viti-cus1 ,numbers1 ,deuter-ono-my4 ,the second and fifth groups1 where there are twelve books each1 may be subdivided into threes and fours for greater ease in committing to memory4 #fj4 ,if the proper spelling of the names has also been committed to memory1 or learned1 then a regular spelling-bee may be held and the names of the ,bible books used for the test words4 ,the same tests may be made with the spelling of names of persons1 places and things mentioned in the ,bible4 #fa4 ,after the books of the ,bible1 in their order1 have been learned1 open the ,bible and call out the book at which it is open4 ,name another book and ask which direction 7toward the front or back of the ,bible7 shall the pages be turned to find that book4 ,many other test questions may be asked1 such as3 ,what book is between ,job and ,proverbs8 ,in which group is ,lamentations to be found8 ,between what books is that of ,luke8 #fb4 ,arrange the children in a row1 or let them take their places in tents as shown on page #fj1 and then1 as in a spelling-bee1 ask the preceding or the following questions1 or any other ,bible questions that would be suited to the age of the children4 ,when one fails to answer he loses his place and the child who gives the correct answer moves forward4 ,the element of play is thus maintained4 ,,bible ,,questions ,,and ,,answers4 #fc4 ,who was the first man8 ,adam4 ,who was the first woman8 ,eve4 ,who was the first murderer8 ,cain 7,gen4 iv3 #h74 ,whom did he kill8 ,his brother ,abel4 ,who went to ,heaven without dying8 ,enoch and ,elijah4 ,how old was ,enoch when ,god took him8 #cfe years 7,gen4 v3 #bc1 #bd74 ,the same number of years that there are days in a year4 ,who was the oldest man8 ,methuselah4 ,how old was ,methuselah when he died8 #ifi years 7,gen4 v3 #bg74 ,who built the ,ark8 ,noah 7,gen4 vi74 ,how many persons were saved in the ,ark8 ,eight 7,gen4 vii3 #g74 ,noah and his wife1 his three sons and their wives4 ,how old was ,noah at the time of the ,flood8 #fjj years 7,gen4 vii3 #f74 ,who had the coat of many colors8 ,joseph 7,gen4 xxxvii3 #c74 ,how many brothers did ,joseph have8 ,eleven 7,gen4 xlii3 #c1 #d74 ,what did they do with ,joseph8 ,cast him into a pit and afterwards sold him to the ,ishmaelitish merchantmen 7,gen4 xxxvii3 #bh74 ,where did the ,ishmaelitish merchantmen take ,joseph8 ,to ,egypt4 ,to whom did they sell him8 ,potiphar 7,gen4 xxxix3 #a74 ,who lied about ,joseph and had him cast into prison8 ,potiphar's wife4 ,who were in the prison with ,joseph8 ,the king's chief butler and chief baker 7,gen4 xl3 #a1 #c74 ,who was ,king of ,egypt at the time ,joseph was in ,egypt8 ,pharaoh4 ,why did ,pharaoh make ,joseph ruler8 ,that he might gather the grain during the seven years of plenty to lay up in store against the seven years of famine4 ,what did ,pharaoh dream8 ,about seven fat kine1 or cows1 and seven lean cows 7,gen4 xli74 ,what did ,joseph do with the grain he gathered during the seven years of plenty8 ,put in great store houses4 ,why did his brothers come to ,joseph in ,egypt during the famine8 ,that they might get food 7,gen4 xlii74 ,did his father1 ,jacob1 and family go to live in ,egypt8 ,yes4 ,how old was ,joseph when he died8 #aaj years 7,gen4 l3 #bf74 ,how long did ,jacob's descendants remain in ,egypt8 ,a little more than two hundred years4 ,why did they desire to leave ,egypt8 ,because of the oppressions and cruelty of ,pharaoh 7,ex4 i3 #h1 #ad74 ,whom did ,god raise up to lead the ,children of ,israel out of ,egypt8 ,moses4 ,how long did they wander in the wilderness8 ,forty years4 ,was ,moses permitted to enter the ,promised ,land8 ,no4 ,who led the ,children of ,israel into the ,land of ,canaan1 which was the ,promised ,land8 ,joshua4 ,how did the ,children of ,israel cross the ,red ,sea and the ,jordan8 ,the waters were divided and they crossed dry shod4 ,who was the strongest man8 ,samson4 ,who was the meekest man8 ,moses4 ,who1 as a ruler1 was a man after ,god's own heart8 ,david4 ,who built the ,temple8 ,solomon4 ,who went to ,heaven in a chariot of fire8 ,elijah4 ,on whom did the mantle of ,elijah fall8 ,elisha4 ,who was swallowed by the great fish8 ,jonah 7,jonah i3 #ag74 ,who destroyed the ,temple and ,jerusalem and carried the ,children of ,israel into captivity8 ,nebuchadnezzar 7#b ,kings #bd1 #be74 ,where did he take them8 ,to ,babylon 7#b ,kings #be74 ,how long were they captive in ,babylon8 ,seventy years4 ,who interpreted ,nebuchadnezzar's dream8 ,daniel4 ,how did ,nebuchadnezzar reward ,daniel8 ,made him ruler over ,babylon 7,daniel ii3 #dh1 #di74 ,what were the names of ,daniel's three friends8 ,hananiah1 ,mishael and ,azariah4 ,what heathen names were given them instead8 ,shadrach1 ,meshack and ,abednego 7,daniel i3 #f1 #g74 ,what befell the three friends of ,daniel8 ,they were cast into the burning fiery furnace4 ,why were they cast into this furnace8 ,because they refused to fall down and worship a great golden image which ,nebuchadnezzar1 the ,king1 had set up in the plain of ,dura4 ,were they consumed in the furnace8 ,no1 ,god delivered them 7,daniel iii74 ,what befell ,daniel years later1 when ,darius was ,king8 ,he was cast into the den of lions 7,daniel vi74 ,why was he cast into the den of lions8 ,because he prayed to the true ,god4 ,did the lions harm ,daniel8 ,no1 ,god stopped the mouths of the lions and delivered ,daniel4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the author's intense interest in the safeguarding and saving of the boys and girls from the evils which have wrought the ruin of such countless multitudes1 prompts in connection with this introductory word1 to call the special attention of the parents to an advertisement which has been placed at the close of this volume4 ,through ,eye-,gate and ,ear-,gate ,into the ,city of ,child-,soul ,,the ,,oyster ,,and ,,the ,,crab4 ,,conscience4 ,,suggestions ,,to ,,parents3--,it will awaken the curiosity and add greatly to the interest of the children if the parent will have them secure during the week preceding a couple of oyster shells4 ,in most of cities and towns1 these can be easily obtained4 ,it is better for the children themselves to secure them1 because it makes them participants and important factors in what is to be done4 ,do not tell them in advance what use is to be made of the oyster shells2 simply say that they are for use in connection with ,sunday afternoon4 ,introduce the play idea from the beginning4 ,let the children arrange the chairs to drive to church1 as shown in the preceding pictures4 ,if there are two children who both want to do the driving1 suggest that one can drive to church and the other can drive when returning from church--and a third may drive from the house to the stable when the horses are to be put away4 ,at the church service let everything be done reverently1 and make it a matter of real worship4 ,one of the children can act as usher1 and if there is but one child1 this one can usher her dolls to seats2 or imaginary people may be shown to seats4 ,all of this will appeal very strongly to the child4 ,select hymns suited to the children's tastes and such as they can sing4 ,do not sing too many verses4 ,children like variety4 ,the service ought to be such as is in harmony with that regularly attended by the parents1 and such as the children are familiar with4 ,it may be as informal as the ,salvation ,army1 or a greatly abridged form of the ,episcopal ,service can be used4 ,the ,lord's ,prayer may be repeated in unison1 or sentence prayers used1 or a brief selection from the ,prayer ,book4 ,the preaching by one of the children should precede the reading of the ,object sermon4 ,after carrying out the idea of the church service1 the other ideas presented may be introduced1 and after the imaginary drive home some simple refreshments can be served1 as also mentioned in the chapter of ,suggestions to ,parents on page #ag4 ,illustration3 ,oyster and ,shell4 ,,my ,,dear ,,young ,,friends3 ,i want to speak to you to-day about ,having a good conscience4 7,i ,peter iii3 #af47 ,this is rather a hard subject1 but ,i desire to make it plain by the use of a familiar object4 ,what's this ,i have in my hand8 ,i rather expected that you would say an oyster2 but1 really it is nothing but an oyster shell4 ,i suppose you have all eaten stewed oysters1 or oyster broth4 ,i remember1 when a little boy1 that one day when we had stewed oysters for supper1 ,i found a little yellow something in my broth4 ,i did not know whether my mother had put it in purposely1 or whether it had fallen in by accident2 whether ,i should push it aside of my plate1 that it might be thrown with the crumbs to the chickens1 or whether ,i should eat it to discover what it was4 ,illustration3 ,little ,crab4 ,i suppose you have all seen these little animals in your soup1 and know that they are called crabs4 ,now1 do you know how the crab comes to be in with the oyster8 ,i will tell you how it is4 ,the oyster lives in the water at the bottom of the bay1 and some bright day1 when the sun is shining down genial and warm1 just the same as in the summer1 we open the doors1 and sit out on the porch to enjoy the cool of the day2 so the oyster opens his shells and lets the cool currents of water move gently through his house4 ,but while lying there with his shells wide open1 along comes a great hungry fish4 ,he sees the oyster1 but the oyster cannot see him4 ,the oyster cannot see1 for he has no eyes4 ,he cannot hear1 for he has no ears4 ,of the five senses which each of us have1 hearing1 seeing1 smelling1 tasting and feeling1 the oyster can only tell of the presence of his enemy when he feels himself being dragged out of his house1 and being quickly swallowed by the fish4 ,but his knowledge of what is happening only comes when it is too late4 ,illustration3 ,fish ,going to ,eat the ,oyster4 ,now1 with the little crab1 who also lives in the same neighborhood with the oyster1 it is quite different4 ,the crab has eyes1 and can see the hungry fish that comes to eat him up4 ,he has legs1 with which to try and run away2 but the fish can swim so much faster than the little crab can run that he is sure to be devoured before the race is half over4 ,so what do you think the little crab does8 ,he crawls along quietly1 and creeps into the shell with the oyster1 and the oyster and the crab enter into a kind of partnership for mutual protection4 ,after this1 when the oyster opens his shells1 the little crab uses his eyes very diligently to look around1 and watch for the approach of any fish4 ,as soon as he spies any sly fish coming near1 he pinches the oyster1 and immediately the oyster closes his shells very tightly1 and the oyster and the crab are both within1 safely protected from the fish4 ,now1 boys and girls1 we are something like the oyster4 ,we are constantly exposed to the danger of being destroyed by sin4 ,we cannot see sin1 we cannot hear sin1 we cannot perceive it by any of our senses4 ,so ,god has given us a conscience1 which means to know with ,god4 ,when you are tempted to do a sinful act1 it is conscience that quickly whispers1 ,now that is wicked1 ,if you do that1 ,god will be displeased4 ,let me illustrate this thought4 ,one real pleasant day1 when the birds are singing1 and everything is attractive out of doors1 ,johnnie thinks how hard it is to be studying his lessons in what he calls a prison of a school-room4 ,he knows that papa and mamma will not give him permission to stay at home2 so a little before nine o'clock1 as he saunters towards the school1 ,satan suggests to him to play hookey1 and when he comes to the corner of the street1 looking back to be sure that no one sees him1 he turns the corner to remain out of school1 intending to come home at the regular time for dinner and escape discovery4 ,just as soon as he turns the corner1 and even before that1 conscience has seen the danger1 and whispers strong and clear1 ,johnnie1 this is wicked2 you will surely get into trouble1 and you will make papa and mamma sad1 and also displease ,god4 ,now1 if ,johnnie does not turn right back when conscience warns him1 he is sure to go on without having any pleasure all that forenoon1 because his conscience continues to warn and reprove him4 ,illustration3 ,willie is more frightened than the dog4 ,or suppose that ,willie goes down the street and sees ,mr4 ,brown's dog a little ways off4 ,he looks around quickly for a stone1 and immediately conscience says1 ,now1 ,willie1 don't hit the poor dog1 for the stone will cause him pain1 just as it would if some one were to hit you with a stone4 ,but ,willie does not listen to conscience4 ,he throws the stone with all his might4 ,it strikes on the pavement1 just by the side of the dog1 glances and breaks in many pieces the large plate glass in the window of the drug store4 ,willie is more frightened than the dog1 and without a moment's forethought he runs around the corner1 to get out of sight4 ,and after concealing himself for a time in the alley1 he steals quietly into the house at the back door4 ,how he dreads to meet his father and mother4 ,every time the door bell rings he thinks surely that it is the druggist or the policeman4 ,oh6 how this sin pains him2 just like the oyster would be hurt if he does not heed the little crab1 when he warns him that the fish is coming to destroy him4 ,if ,willie had only listened to conscience1 what sin and trouble it would have saved him4 ,so1 boys and girls1 ,god has given each of us a conscience1 and if we want to be saved from sin and suffering1 we should always be quick to obey our conscience4 ,let each of us try and keep a good conscience4 ,,questions4--,can the oyster see or hear8 ,can it feel8 ,what often destroys the oyster8 ,what lives down under the water near the oyster8 ,can the little crab see8 ,can he get away from the fish8 ,how does he assist the oyster8 ,how does he warn the oyster of danger8 ,can boys or girls see sin8 ,what has ,god given each of us to warn us of danger when sin is near8 ,does every boy and girl have a conscience8 ,does conscience always give warning8 ,do boys and girls always obey their conscience8 ,should conscience always be obeyed8 ,will you always try to obey conscience in the future8 ,the parent may ask additional questions or make application in any other manner they deem best4 ,next ,sunday the sermon will be about the worm in the apple4 ,let one of the children get a nice1 large1 perfect apple1 and also another apple which has been dwarfed and deformed because of a worm inside the apple4 ,these will be the objects which we shall use next ,sunday4 ,,the ,,worm ,,in ,,the ,,apple4 ,,sin ,,in ,,the ,,human ,,heart4 ,,suggestions ,,to ,,parents3--,the objects used to-day are a large perfect apple and a stunted1 wormy apple4 ,have also a knife with which1 at the proper time1 to open the wormy apple4 ,with these preparations made1 let the children drive to church after the manner suggested for last ,sunday4 ,after the singing of a hymn or two1 prayer and collection1 let one of the children1 in the manner of the preacher speaking to his audience1 tell in his own way of the ,oyster and ,crab and of ,god's purpose in giving us a conscience1 and let him or her draw the moral lessons and impress the spiritual truths4 ,even if it is done in but few words1 or a faltering way1 do not embarrass or discourage by criticisms4 ,speak words of encouragement4 ,if preferred1 the little sermon may be a presentation of the sermon preached by the pastor in the morning1 or one child may present the object sermon of last ,sunday and another child the sermon by the pastor in the morning4 ,the more who take part1 the better1 as variety adds to the interest4 ,then gather the children around close so they can see the pictures as you read the following sermon4 ,have the apples at hand also for demonstration4 ,,the object which ,i have chosen to-day1 is one with which ,i am sure every boy and girl is thoroughly familiar4 ,the moment you see it you recognize it4 ,this large and beautiful apple is one of the most perfect of its kind1 large in size1 beautiful in color1 and one which tempts the appetite of any one who is hungry4 ,now1 boys and girls1 ,i have here another object4 ,can you tell me what this is8 ,i expected that you would say that it was an apple1 and that is true4 ,but you have not told me the whole truth concerning it4 ,this is not only an apple1 but it is a wormy apple4 ,it did not grow as large as the other1 and1 by looking at the outside1 ,i see that it is defective4 ,it is stunted1 like wormy apples quite universally are4 ,you might think that the worm went into this apple because it was not full grown and strong and large1 the same as it is sometimes thought that boys who have never improved their advantages1 but have failed to become noble and good1 therefore sin has entered their hearts4 ,the truth is just the reverse2 wickedness first possessed their hearts1 and that has been the cause of their failure to improve their opportunities1 and to become manly1 and noble1 and good1 and kind4 ,if they had first got the evil and sin out of their hearts1 they would surely have stood a much better chance4 ,they would have become ,christians1 and have grown up more and more like ,christ1 to be good1 and kind1 and generous1 and useful4 ,illustration3 ,worm in the ,apple4 ,i want to ask you a question concerning this worm4 ,but to be sure that we are not mistaken1 let me take a knife and cut this apple in two1 and see whether or not there is a worm inside4 ,just as ,i said1 this is a wormy apple4 ,it has evidently had two worms in it4 ,here is one of them1 and the other has taken its departure4 ,now1 boys and girls1 ,i want to ask you1 did this worm eat his way into the apple1 or did he eat his way out of the apple8 ,quite as ,i anticipated4 ,i expected that you would say that he ate his way into the apple2 but the fact is1 he ate his way out of the apple4 ,i am sure that you will ask immediately1 at least in your minds1 how then did he get in1 if he ate his way out8 ,i will tell you how it was4 ,early last spring1 just after the apple trees had been in blossom1 and when this apple had just begun to form on one of the branches1 there came along a bug and stung this apple1 and deposited in the inside the germ of the worm4 ,as the summer grew warmer1 and the apple grew larger1 the germ began to develop1 until finally it grew into a worm4 ,when it began to grow strong1 it discovered that it was confined in the interior of something1 and soon it began to eat1 and continued until it ate its way out of the apple4 ,this other worm1 which still remained in1 had continued to eat in the various portions of the apple1 and possibly because of having less bodily vigor had concluded to remain there for a time1 but you can see from the inside of the apple that it has done great injury1 at the very core or heart1 and ,i suppose that if it had been left to itself1 in the course of a few days1 or a few weeks at most1 it also would have eaten its way out of the apple1 in order to escape from its confinement4 ,illustration3 ,insect ,stinging ,bud4 ,now1 boys and girls1 this worm represents sin in the human heart1 or wickedness possibly presents the thought better1 and when you see a boy or girl doing wrong1 they are simply giving outward expression to the wickedness which exists in their hearts4 ,boys are bad1 not so much because the influences by which they are surrounded are bad1 but because their hearts are sinful1 and wicked1 and bad4 ,but ,i am sure that you will want to know how wickedness gets into the human heart4 ,i will tell you how it is4 ,way back in the spring-time of the history of the human race1 way back in the ,garden of ,eden1 soon after ,god had created ,adam and ,eve1 ,satan came and inspired in the hearts of these first people the desire to disobey ,god4 ,god told ,adam and ,eve that they should not eat of the fruit of the forbidden tree1 and that when they did they would die1 that is1 they would be separated from ,god4 ,satan came and told them that they would not die1 but that when they ate of the fruit of this tree they would become very wise4 ,they believed ,satan rather than ,god1 and they did that which was wicked and wrong4 ,and so throughout all the generations since1 there has been that willingness to believe ,satan and to do what he wants us to do1 rather than to believe ,god and do what ,god would have us to do4 ,boys and girls who find themselves inclined to disobey their father or mother1 to be disrespectful to those who are older than they1 to do wrong on the ,sabbath1 to remain away from the ,sunday-school and church1 and to enjoy the beautiful spring-day1 by strolling through the fields or wandering through the woods1 do so1 not alone because the day is pleasant or because of the opportunities from which others turn away1 but because there is wickedness in their hearts4 ,so when boys quarrel and fight1 or steal1 or do any other thing that is wrong1 it is not so much the influences by which they are surrounded1 the temptation from without1 but the wickedness and the evil and the sinfulness which there is in the human heart1 eating its way out through their heart into their lives1 and deforming their lives1 which otherwise would be upright1 honorable and manly and ,christ-like4 ,i trust that when you are tempted to do wrong you will recognize the fact that there is evil in your heart1 and that you will go to ,jesus and earnestly pray ,him to take away this evil out of your heart1 and to give you a new1 clean heart4 ,just the same as with these apples1 if you had the privilege of choosing1 ,i am sure you would prefer the large one1 which has not been spoiled because of the destructive worm inside1 so ,i trust you will choose to have the good heart1 which ,god can give you1 rather than the heart that has wickedness and sin within4 ,if you will go to ,god in prayer and ask ,him1 ,he will give you a good heart1 a true heart1 one that has no sin and no wickedness within4 ,questions4--,which is nicer1 a big1 red apple or a little stunted one8 ,what prevented the little apple from growing big and beautiful8 ,when did the little worm get into the apple8 ,if it had not been for the worm in the apple1 would the apple have grown large and well formed8 ,what causes boys and girls to desire to do wrong8 ,who tempted ,adam and ,eve to do wrong8 ,did they listen8 ,did they believe ,god or did they believe ,satan8 ,are boys and girls still tempted to do wrong8 ,are they likely to yield to temptation8 ,to whom should we go when we are tempted to do wrong8 ,who alone can cleanse our hearts from sin8 ,should we always go and ask ,god for strength when we are tempted8 ,which would you choose1 a good heart or a wicked heart8 ,suggest to the children 7or better still select one or have them select one7 to procure for next ,sunday some weeds that grow by the wayside and also a few cut flowers or potted plants4 ,after driving home from church and after putting the horses away1 which little action gives the children a few moments' diversion1 then other methods contained in the chapter of ,suggestions to ,parents can be selected according to the age1 intelligence and interest of the children4 ,after this1 refreshments or whatever is best suited to the thought of the parents and the conditions of the household may be introduced4 ,illustration ,,wayside ,,weeds ,,and ,,garden ,,flowers4 ,,neglected ,,versus ,,christian ,,children4 ,,suggestions ,,to ,,parents3--,the objects to be used to-day are a bouquet of flowers or some potted plants and a bunch of weeds that grow by the wayside4 ,these will illustrate the difference between neglected1 untaught and undisciplined children1 and the children of a well trained household4 ,make the lesson impressive1 so that the children will appreciate that the restrictions and discipline which are imposed upon them are all for their own good--that without these careful attentions they would grow up like the children in the slums4 ,the neglected character of the clothing of undisciplined and uncared for children is only indicative of the minds and hearts and character of these children4 ,arrange the chairs1 drive to church2 let the ushers show the different real or imaginary persons to seats4 ,then let the hymn1 prayer or opening service precede the preaching of the object sermon of last ,sunday or the regular sermon at the morning church service by one or more of the children1 after which a hymn may be sung1 and the parent gather the children close so they can see the pictures1 and read the following sermon on ,wayside ,weeds and ,garden ,flowers4 ,during the reading1 or before1 or after1 let the children gain the impressive lessons from the colored picture which so beautifully illustrates the sermon4 ,illustration3 ,wayside ,weeds and ,garden ,flowers ,,the land of ,palestine1 in which ,jesus lived1 has always been noted for its flowers4 ,they grow everywhere in great abundance1 and oftentimes in very great perfection and beauty4 ,one time1 when ,jesus was preaching on the mountain1 ,he used the flowers which were growing on the side of the mountain1 to preach an object sermon to the multitudes about ,him4 ,he said1 ,consider the lilies of the field2 how they grow2 they toil not1 neither do they spin1 and yet ,i say unto you that ,solomon1 in all his glory1 was not arrayed like one of these4 7,matt4 vi3 #bh1 #bi47 ,let us to-day take the same object lesson1 to set forth to our minds a clearer understanding of some truths1 which are very important to every father and mother1 as well as every boy and girl4 ,as you see1 ,i have here two bouquets4 ,this1 which ,i now hold in my hand1 is indeed very beautiful4 ,here are some lovely roses1 some tulips1 some peonies4 ,here is a dahlia and heliotrope4 ,here are some tube roses1 and a great variety of other flowers1 which together constitute a very beautiful bouquet4 ,now1 here is another bouquet4 ,i see you smile1 but indeed it is a bouquet4 ,i spent a great deal of time gathering these flowers1 at which you laugh4 ,i sought them in such places as would afford the best varieties of these several kinds4 ,now1 boys and girls1 ,i want to ask you where these flowers grew8 ,i will hold up this beautiful bouquet and ask the question4 ,i know what will be your answer2 you will say that ,i bought it from a man who keeps a hot-house1 or that ,i gathered them in some flower garden which was very carefully tended2 and such1 indeed1 is the case4 ,now1 ,i will hold up this other bouquet4 ,can you tell me where ,i gathered these8 ,i did not think that you would have much difficulty in determining4 ,i gathered them along the roadside1 in the fields and in the woods4 ,these flowers are what the farmer calls weeds4 ,here is a rose with a single leaf that grew in a neglected corner1 along the outskirts of a woods4 ,it is a genuine rose1 but it is by no means pretty1 or at all to be compared with those in the other bouquet4 ,i will tell you why there is such a difference in the appearance of these two bouquets4 ,one grew in the garden1 where it was protected by a fence from being tramped upon4 ,the weeds that grew about it were all pulled out of the ground1 and the stalk upon which this flower grew was given a fair chance1 so that it might grow successfully4 ,the roots of the plants were carefully nourished1 and whenever there was not sufficient rain the flowers were all watered1 and thus the plants and flowers grew to their greatest perfection and beauty4 ,now1 these other flowers which ,i gathered in the fields and along the roadside and in the woods1 have had a hard time of it4 ,in their growth they had to contend with other weeds4 ,they have been tramped upon by the cattle4 ,they have been scorched by the sun4 ,and year after year they have grown in these neglected quarters with great difficulty1 consequently they are stunted and have never attained any perfection or beauty4 ,do you know that these very beautiful flowers in this bouquet at one time grew just the same as the flowers in the other bouquet8 ,but they were removed from the roadside1 and from the fields and from the woods1 and placed by themselves where they could be properly cared for and cultivated1 and they grew more beautiful from year to year1 until we have this present satisfactory result4 ,boys and girls are very much like flowers4 ,those who are neglected1 who are permitted to walk the streets1 to stroll along the roads and over the fields1 to go along the streams fishing on ,sunday1 instead of being in ,sunday-school and in church1 those who are permitted to run out at nights and play with all kinds of company--these are the boys and girls who are like the flowers which grow by the roadside4 ,nothing very beautiful1 or very good1 or very perfect can reasonably be expected from them4 ,this beautiful bouquet represents those boys and girls who have ,christian fathers and mothers1 who surround them by influences which are well calculated to make them pure in thought and upright in life1 so that they may grow up to be good ,christian men and women4 ,these flowers represent the boys and girls who grow up in the ,sunday-school and in the ,church1 who give their hearts to the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and grow up into ,his likeness1 and into ,his image1 and into ,his stature1 and become noble ,christian men and women4 ,when parents permit their children to run wild1 they cannot expect them to grow up ,christians4 ,it is only by culture and education and ,christian influences that they can be improved1 so as to become honorable and upright4 ,nearly all the products of the field have been improved by cultivation1 just the same as these flowers have been improved4 ,wheat in its native state1 as it may still be found in ,france and ,italy along the shores of the ,mediterranean1 was a stunted and straggling plant1 with a small and inferior seed1 but after long years of patient and continued cultivation1 it has grown to its present plump and prolific proportions4 ,all the beautiful fruits which now grow in our orchards were at one time unsightly and undesirable4 ,the apple was small and sour1 and unpalatable2 but by pruning and grafting and fertilizing1 it has grown to be not only beautiful to the eye1 but delicious to the taste4 ,the acrid and unwholesome berries1 which formerly grew on the mountain ash1 have been developed into the sweet and juicy pear4 ,by cultivation1 the acrid and bitter sloe has grown into the beautiful plum4 ,the same is also true of the potato1 the turnip and the cabbage4 ,boys and girls can only be developed into useful men and women by the influence of the week-day and ,sunday-school1 the ,christian home and the ,church1 by reading and studying the ,bible and other good books4 ,when you are restricted or corrected by your parents1 you may oftentimes feel very much irritated and may feel rebellious1 and may think that you do not have as many privileges or as much freedom as some of the other boys and girls whom you know4 ,but you must remember that all this is done by your parents for your good1 and later on in life you will see the value of it all and be very grateful to your parents for what they have done for you4 ,when ,i was a boy1 in the little village where ,i lived they organized a cannon company of six or eight boys1 who were to accompany the men who went to other villages to listen to political speeches before elections1 and then to march in a torch-light procession4 ,i was at that time a boy about twelve years old4 ,i was asked to join4 ,the boys were all to wear red blouses and red caps1 and to my thought just then1 nothing in the world was so much to be desired as the torch-light procession and the red blouse and cap1 and to be permitted to march behind the drum and the fife1 hauling the little cannon after us4 ,i shall never forget how ,i cried and how ugly ,i felt toward my father when he would not let me be one of the cannon boys and wear a red blouse and a red cap4 ,he said that at night ,i ought to be at home and in bed1 and not be exposed to possible bad influences1 the danger of catching cold and of other bad results which he could clearly see1 but which ,i1 at that time1 thought were only imaginary4 ,when ,i grew to be a man1 ,i saw that my father was right1 and later when at intervals ,i journeyed back to my boyhood home and visited the cemetery1 ,i frequently placed one elbow on the tomb-stone of my father and the other elbow on the tomb-stone of my mother1 and with my face buried in my hands thanked ,god that ,he had given me ,christian parents who were wise and judicious enough not to let me have my own way in all things when ,i was a boy1 but who had restricted me and guided me wisely and well4 ,so1 boys and girls1 it will be with you when you have grown to the estate of manhood and womanhood4 ,you will be1 oh1 so thankful again and again that father and mother have oftentimes denied you things which you have most desired to have4 ,questions4--,which are the prettier1 flowers which are neglected by the roadside1 or those which are cultivated in the garden8 ,are boys and girls like flowers8 ,which boys and girls are the best1 those who are neglected and not taught1 or those who are cared for and carefully trained8 ,is it more pleasant for boys and girls to have their own way in everything1 or would they prefer to be taught and trained by their parents8 ,which kind of flowers are the heathen boys and girls like8 ,can wild flowers be made more beautiful by care and cultivation8 ,can the boys and girls in heathen lands be made like ,christian boys and girls8 ,what is necessary to effect this change8 ,how can ,bibles and missionaries be sent to them8 ,did the writer of this book want to have his own way when he was a boy8 ,what did he want to be8 ,what kind of a cap and blouse did he want to wear8 ,when he became a man1 was he thankful to his father for not allowing him to have his own way at that time8 ,will all good boys and girls1 when they become men and women1 be thankful to their parents for right training8 ,illustration3 ,the ,cannon ,boys4 ,,nuts4 ,,god ,,means ,,that ,,we ,,must ,,work4 ,,suggestion3--,the objects used are some nuts of various kinds4 ,if the parent has not already familiarized himself with the different methods of entertainment in connection with the reading of the object sermon to the children1 he would do well to turn to the chapter on ,suggestions to ,parents on page #ag and introduce some one or more of the play ideas which have accomplished so much of pleasure and profit in many homes4 ,arrange chairs and drive to church1 let the audience1 both real and imaginary be shown to seats1 and after the opening service let one of the children in his or her own way present the lessons remembered from the sermon of last ,sunday1 or recast what was said by the pastor in his morning sermon4 ,after the collection and singing1 let the children drive home and let refreshments or some one of the ,scriptural entertainments previously suggested round out the pleasure and profit of ,sunday afternoon4 ,,now1 boys and girls1 ,i have here some hickory nuts1 walnuts1 butternuts1 chestnuts1 and filberts1 or hazel nuts as they are sometimes called1 and ,i want to tell you something that ,i suppose ,god means to teach us by these nuts4 ,illustration3 ,nuts4 ,many people remember that when ,adam and ,eve were driven out of ,eden1 ,god told them that ,in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread 7,gen4 iii3 #ai71 and also that ,god drove them out of the garden to till the ground from whence man was taken4 7,gen4 iii3 #bc47 ,on this account some people suppose that if ,adam and ,eve had not sinned it would never have been necessary for us to work1 but that is a mistake4 ,if you turn to the second chapter of ,genesis1 in the fifteenth verse1 you will find that it says1 ,the ,lord ,god took the man1 and put him into the ,garden of ,eden to dress it and to keep it4 ,so you see that ,adam was required to work1 even before the fall4 ,of course his work was not as severe as it was after he was driven out of ,eden and his labor brought him a richer fruitage4 ,now1 what do these nuts teach us8 ,i think that most all boys and girls like to eat hickory nuts and butternuts1 and chestnuts and filberts1 and indeed all kinds of nuts4 ,but did you ever stop to think that ,god has made it necessary that we should crack the shell before we can eat the kernel that is inside8 ,god has purposed to teach us that labor is necessary before we can eat even of that which ,he gives us1 so on the outside of this desired food he places the shell1 in some instances hard and difficult to be broken1 in order to teach us that labor is necessary before we can eat of ,his gifts4 ,now the same thing is true with regard to the grain that grows in the field4 ,no one ever saw potatoes grow without being planted and cultivated4 ,rye and oats and wheat do not grow wild4 ,weeds will grow without being sown or planted1 but grain and vegetables not only have to be planted1 but have to be taken care of4 ,possibly you might think that my statement was not wholly correct1 because we go out into the orchard and gather apples and pears and peaches1 and other kinds of fruit which have no hard shells on them1 and which do not have to be planted in the spring of the year4 ,but do you know that we could not gather this kind of rich fruit from the trees unless trees of these kinds had been cultivated for long centuries1 grafted and developed so as to produce the rich fruit which is now placed upon our tables8 ,so you see that even this has cost labor1 and if we were to neglect the trees in the orchard1 it would only be a few years until they would produce only a very small variety of fruit1 and even that would be sour and have an unpleasant taste4 ,but ,god means to teach us this lesson also in another way4 ,man has found it very necessary to use the different kinds of metals1 iron and copper1 silver and gold4 ,god has not laid these metals on top of the ground1 but has made it necessary that we should dig down into the earth and secure these metals at the cost of a great deal of labor4 ,the same is also true with regard to the coal and the oil1 and all the rich mineral products which ,god has blessed us4 ,none of them can be secured without labor4 ,illustration3 ,apple ,tree4 ,we are all naturally lazy4 ,i have oftentimes thought that we are all born lazy4 ,some learn to be industrious with less effort1 but all have to be taught to work4 ,god means that we should work4 ,have you ever thought that ,god could feed us without our labor if ,he chose to do so8 ,he could rain down our food from heaven1 just the same as ,he gave manna to the ,children of ,israel1 while they were journeying to the promised land4 ,he could not only feed us1 but ,he could also clothe us from heaven4 ,i am sure that if ,god gave us our clothing from heaven1 ,he would not make such foolish fashions as wicked people over in ,paris invent1 and which all the rest of the world seem to think they have to imitate4 ,not only our food and clothing1 but ,god could also have made it necessary that there should be no preachers4 ,instead of giving us ,his ,word in the ,bible1 and then asking us to go into all the world and to preach it to all creatures1 ,he might have used the stars at night1 just the same as the printer uses the different kinds of type and prints the letters and words upon the page2 so ,god could have used the stars in order to write ,his law upon the heavens in a universal language that would be known by all peoples1 and so at night1 and even in the daytime1 people could look up into the heavens and read ,god's law4 ,thus it would have been unnecessary ever to have printed ,bibles1 or to send preachers to preach4 ,the cost of building churches and supporting ministers would thus have been unnecessary1 but ,god does not do things in that way4 ,lazy people might desire that things were arranged in this way1 but ,god has seen fit to make it very different4 ,but why do you think that ,god means that you and ,i should learn to work8 ,there are two or three good reasons which ,i can think of4 ,we are so constituted that no one can be in good health for any considerable period without physical exertion1 and so you see that if we want to be well--and no one can be happy who is not well--it is necessary that we should learn to work4 ,you will always find that lazy people who eat a great deal suffer many physical ailments4 ,they are always complaining1 and ,i think you will always find that they really are sick1 but they could be well if they would only go to work as ,god meant they should4 ,then there is another reason4 ,an idle man is always a dissatisfied man4 ,a boy or girl with nothing to do is sure to be unhappy4 ,if we desire to be happy and contented we must learn to work4 ,but there is also another reason4 ,our spiritual well-being also renders it necessary that you and ,i should have something to do4 ,work is really one of ,god's greatest blessings1 and we are told that those who are idle tempt ,satan to tempt them4 ,i do not believe that an idle person can be a good ,christian4 ,an idler is of no use either in the world or in the church4 ,god can make no use of him1 and ,satan must surely despise him also4 ,so if you desire to be delivered from sickness and to remain well and strong1 if you desire to be contented and happy1 if you desire to be good and useful1 if you desire to be helpful in the great purpose for which ,god has created you and placed you upon this earth1 you must learn to work1 and the best time to learn to work is when we are young4 ,we are to learn to labor with our hands1 with our minds1 always remembering that whatsoever we do1 we are to do all to the glory of ,god4 ,now let us all join in singing1 ,work1 for the night is coming4 ,,questions4--,did ,god assign some work to ,adam when he was first created8 ,what was he to do in the ,garden8 ,why does ,god place the kernel of nuts inside of a shell8 ,do vegetables and grain grow without being planted8 ,will weeds grow without being planted8 ,why did ,god place the metals1 and coal and oil down below the surface of the ground8 ,are we naturally industrious or lazy8 ,could ,god clothe and feed us without our labor8 ,why does ,he not do it8 ,how could ,god have printed ,his law so that it would not be necessary to have ,bibles and preachers8 ,are idle people healthy and contented8 ,why not8 ,whom do idle people tempt8 ,can an idle person be a good ,christian8 ,when is it easiest to learn to work8 ,what should we always remember in our work8 ,,banks4 ,,gathered ,,and ,,guarded ,,treasures4 ,,suggestions3--,objects for use3 ,a child's bank and a metal kettle of any kind to show how people used to place their money in boxes1 kettles1 etc41 and then bury them in the ground4 ,use the methods suggested in the preceding sermons4 ,examine the chapter on ,suggestions to ,parents and introduce new features from ,sunday to ,sunday4 ,children like variety4 ,,my ,,dear ,,young ,,friends3 ,what is this ,i hold in my hand8 7,voices3 ,bank1 penny bank1 money bank47 ,yes1 you are right1 this is a bank1 and ,i suppose many of you1 perhaps all of you either now1 or at some past time have had such a place to deposit your money4 ,illustration3 ,a ,penny ,bank4 ,in the time of ,christ the children did not have little banks like these4 ,even the big people did not have banks where they could deposit their money4 ,when they had jewels or money they would place them in a box1 or a copper kettle1 and bury them in the earth4 ,they would hide them away from other people1 and thus seek to secure them for themselves4 ,in that period of the world1 there were many thieves and robbers2 ,palestine was often invaded by hostile armies2 there were occasional earthquakes1 which destroyed whole cities1 and so the people used to bury their money for safe keeping4 ,after burying it1 sometimes they were killed in war1 or perhaps died suddenly1 before they had time to tell anybody where they had concealed their money1 and on this account all over that land there were buried treasures1 or hid treasures as they are called1 and to-day if you were to go to ,palestine you would see many people digging here and there everywhere to find money or treasures that have been hidden away for long centuries4 ,even in the time of ,job people must have dug for treasures1 as they are doing in ,palestine to-day1 for ,job says of the miserable and unhappy1 that they often long for death1 and dig for it1 more than for hid treasures4 7,job iii3 #ba47 ,it is altogether right for you to economize and save your pennies4 ,i hope every boy and girl will have a little bank1 but while you are learning to save1 you should also learn to give to every good cause1 to give in ,sunday-school and to give for the support of the ,church1 for missions1 and to give to assist the aged and the poor1 and to contribute something for those who are in poverty and in distress4 ,if you simply learn to save1 or hoard up money1 and do not learn at the same time to give1 you will become what people call a miser1 and that word means miserable4 ,misers are always miserable1 not because they do not already have sufficient1 but because there is so much more that they desire4 ,they always wish for more4 ,illustration3 ,hiding ,treasures in the ,earth4 ,but while you are learning to save money and to gather treasures here upon the earth1 you must not forget that the ,bible says1 that we are to lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven1 where moth and rust do not corrupt1 and where thieves do not break through nor steal4 ,it says1 ,seek ye first the kingdom of ,god and ,his righteousness1 and all these things shall be added unto you4 ,god means that first of all you and ,i shall give our hearts to ,him1 and then afterward1 in all our getting1 we should constantly remember that we are only stewards of ,god--that is1 that all the money and everything else we possess in this world belongs to ,god4 ,he simply permits us to have it and to use it in ,his name1 and we must honor and reverence ,him by giving to help on every good work4 ,now1 after we have given our hearts to ,god1 and have become followers of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 we are to lay up our treasures in heaven by living right1 by seeking to be good1 and by doing good to others4 ,we are to lose no opportunity to do that which will be a blessing to those about us4 ,one of the boys or girls said this was a penny bank4 ,that name is very suggestive4 ,a bank is a place where you deposit money4 ,now1 if you have a bank like this1 do you only put into it silver dollars1 five-dollar bills1 ten-dollar gold pieces8 ,if each boy who is here were to wait until he had a ten-dollar gold piece1 or a five-dollar bill1 or until he had come into possession of a silver dollar before he placed any money in his bank1 ,i am sure his bank would always remain empty4 ,the way to fill a bank is to put pennies in it--to save each cent and each five-cent piece4 ,to-day a penny1 and to-morrow a few pennies1 and so on through the week1 and through the year1 and at the end of the year you will find that you have saved quite a goodly sum4 ,now1 there are some people who want to lay up treasures in heaven1 but they do not want to lay it up there1 little by little4 ,they prefer to wait until some opportunity comes when they can do a great deal of good at one time4 ,but the person who does not do good every day and every hour1 little by little1 will never have any treasure in heaven4 ,it is the pennies that make the dollars2 it is the many mites that make the muckle4 ,it is the constant doing of little things1 for the glory of ,god and the good of others1 that makes a man great4 ,great men are great in little things1 and if you desire to be great men and great women1 you must always use the little opportunities1 and use them well4 ,lay up treasure in heaven1 each and every day1 just the same as1 day after day1 you would save your pennies1 and thus fill your banks4 ,if you want a large treasure in heaven you must constantly be engaged in laying up your treasure there4 ,never lose an opportunity to do good1 and in this way you will have an abundant treasure in heaven4 ,,questions4--,where do people put money for safe keeping8 ,is it only silver and gold which is put into a bank8 ,do thieves ever break into banks8 ,can any treasure be laid up in the earth where it is absolutely safe8 ,where does the ,bible tell us we are also to lay up treasure8 ,when boys and girls are obedient1 is that laying up treasure in heaven8 ,does being great in little things make a great man or a great woman8 ,should boys and girls learn to save their money8 ,what would they be called if they spent all their money8 ,what would they be called if they hoarded up all they could get8 ,should we always use all our money in the fear of ,god8 ,after the conclusion of the services and after driving home from church1 introduce some other interesting features so as to make the day sacredly impressive4 ,illustration ,,the ,,chart4 ,,avoiding ,,the ,,dangers4 ,,suggestions3--,objects3 ,a geography1 or detached maps will serve to show that the portions of the earth which are under the water are quite like the portions of the earth which are above the water4 ,islands are only mountain summits or elevations4 ,drive to church1 have the ushers show different real or imaginary persons to seats1 have the little sermon and service precede the reading of the following object sermon4 ,illustration3 ,outline ,map of the ,united ,states4 ,,my ,,little ,,men ,,and ,,women3 ,we are all travelers4 ,now when a traveler starts out upon a journey he always desires to have in his possession one of these things which ,i hold in my hand4 ,i know you will recognize it at once1 and say that it is a map4 ,this map tells you the name of the country2 it shows you where there are mountains1 where there are rivers1 where there are valleys1 where there are cities1 and shows you the entire ,united ,states of ,america4 ,in traveling through a strange country1 if you do not have a map1 you might be lost upon the mountains1 or your journey would be obstructed by the rivers which you could not cross1 and in various ways you would find it absolutely necessary to have a map4 ,now1 when a traveler goes out upon the sea1 it is just as necessary that he should have a map1 or what the sailors call a chart1 as it is for the traveler upon the land4 ,the chart which the sea captain has1 shows the mountains and the valleys and the rivers which are in the sea2 for these exist in the sea1 as well as upon the land4 ,the rocks1 against which ships are sometimes dashed to pieces1 are simply the tops of high mountains that come very near to the surface of the sea2 and the captain without a chart1 not knowing where they are1 is likely to run against them with his ship4 ,the islands are simply the tops of these mountains1 that rise higher above the water1 and form a place of abode for man2 and we call them islands1 because they are very much smaller than the great continents on which you and ,i live4 ,a chart of the sea always locates the dangerous places4 ,they show where other ships have been foundered1 and oftentimes where hundreds and thousands of lives have been lost4 ,it also shows what are really rivers in the sea1 or great currents1 one of which we call the ,gulf ,stream4 ,when a ship is crossing the ,gulf ,stream the motion or current of this water might carry it many hundreds of miles out of its course1 and if the captain had no chart he would not be able to allow for this distance1 which the ship is being carried1 either north or south4 ,now1 you and ,i are travelers in this world4 ,we are out upon a great voyage1 and it is necessary that we should have a chart1 and therefore ,god has given us the ,bible1 which you and ,i can use greatly to our advantage4 ,in the ,bible1 ,god has pointed out the dangers which lie like the hidden rocks under the surface of the sea4 ,in the commandments ,god marks out the great dangers which beset you and me4 ,there is the rock of ,idolatry4 ,whole nations of the earth have been wrecked on this rock4 ,then there is another1 ,profanity1 swearing3 ,oh6 how many boys and men are ruined because they do not observe how ,god has marked this dangerous rock1 against which no one can run without danger of losing his immortal soul4 ,then there is ,sabbath breaking1 another rock2 and there is reverence due to parents2 and ,god marks another1 ,thou shalt not kill2 and then there are others1 against stealing1 against bearing false witness1 against covetousness4 ,all these dangerous rocks ,god has marked in the ,bible1 in order that you and ,i may not run against them1 and thus be shipwrecked in our voyage to the haven of everlasting rest4 ,illustration3 ,rocks and ,mountains at the ,bottom of the ,sea4 ,god also marks the influences which you and ,i must come in contact with4 ,every boy who goes to school feels the influence of other boys1 some of whom are very bad4 ,if he permits himself to be moved by these things he will go wrong1 just the same as the ship that is crossing the ,gulf ,stream is carried out of its course4 ,so the ,bible warns us against bad company4 ,now the chart which the sea captain has1 indicates also the ports of safety4 ,it shows the location of these different ports1 and the direction the captain must take in order to reach them4 ,so the ,bible shows us where you and ,i can find refuge in the day of storm1 and in the day of trial1 and in the day of sickness1 and in the day of distress4 ,to the sea captain1 out upon the great ocean1 there are ten thousand directions which are sure to end in shipwreck4 ,there is only one safe way to go1 in order to reach his desired port in safety4 ,now what would you think of a captain out upon the seas who folded up his chart and laid it carefully away1 and never looked at it1 never studied it1 never sought to know what is on the chart8 ,do you not see how he would go upon the rocks8 ,his ship would go down to the bottom of the sea1 just as surely as if he had no chart on board his ship4 ,it is important that he should have his chart in constant use4 ,so it is important1 not only that we should have the ,bible1 but that we should use the ,bible1 that we should read it1 that we should study it1 that we should know what it says4 ,i trust that each and all of you not only have a ,bible1 but that you study it daily1 and that you seek to avoid the dangers which ,god has pointed out1 and that you desire to know the will of ,god concerning you4 ,,questions4--,what should a traveler always have in a strange country8 ,what must a sea captain always carry with him on his ship8 ,what does the chart show8 ,are we travelers8 ,to what country are we journeying8 ,has ,god given us a chart to show the dangers to which we are exposed in our voyage or journey8 ,should we read the ,bible every day8 ,what are two principal parts of the ,bible8 ,do you know how many books there are in the ,old ,testament8 ,do you know how many books there are in the ,new ,testament8 ,do you know who was the first man8 ,who was the first woman8 ,who was the first murderer8 ,who built the ark8 ,who had the coat of many colors8 ,who led the ,children of ,israel out of ,egypt8 ,who was put in the lion's den8 ,after the entire service has been completed and after the drive home from church1 chairs can be arranged with their backs toward each other1 set a little way apart1 with a shawl1 blanket1 or even a sheet1 thrown over them so as to form a little tent4 ,a number of tents can be made to illustrate the ,children of ,israel camping in the wilderness4 ,they were travelers tenting by the way1 who forgot about their chart and fell into sin1 and ,god had to turn them back in the wilderness for forty years of wandering4 ,all this suggests important lessons to the parents4 ,a series of tents can be arranged like the one shown in the picture below 7see also pages #bji and #bga7 and then1 with one child in each tent the questions can be asked4 ,when a child fails to give the correct answer1 he moves down to the last tent in the row1 the other children move up1 and the question is passed to the child next in order1 the same as in a spelling-bee and other progressive plays4 ,questions like those given on this page and on pages #be and #bf can be used2 also questions such as are found in the chapter on ,suggestions to ,parents1 especially from paragraphs #ej onward4 ,illustration3 ,the ,children of ,israel ,camping in the ,wilderness4 ,,the ,,anchor4 ,,hope ,,that ,,lays ,,hold ,,of ,,christ4 ,,suggestions3--,object3 ,anchor of any kind4 ,one cut from paste-board would answer4 ,during the week the little ones might be interested to cut out both anchor and the chain1 using paste-board4 ,before reading the following sermon1 drive to church and after the audience has been shown to seats1 begin the service with singing1 have the regular prayer and have one of the children preach over the sermon at the church in the morning or the object sermon of last ,sunday4 ,,my ,,dear ,,young ,,friends3 ,i want to talk to you to-day about a very important subject4 ,the ,bible speaks of hope1 and says1 ,which hope we have as an anchor of the soul1 both sure and steadfast1 and which entereth into that within the veil4 7,hebrews vi3 #ai47 ,illustration3 ,the ,anchor4 ,i suppose most of you have been on board a ship or large boat4 ,very near the bow1 or front end of the boat1 you have doubtless noticed a chain1 at the end of which was an anchor1 made in the form of this one which ,i hold in my hand4 ,now1 ,i would not care to go out to sea on any ship which did not have an anchor on board4 ,in crossing the ,atlantic you may sometimes be out for days and weeks1 and sometimes even for months1 and have no need of using the anchor4 ,but all the time1 while the weather is pleasant and everything is moving along prosperously1 the fact that the anchor is on board the ship and that it can be used in time of danger1 gives a sense of security to all the passengers4 ,if it were not there you would constantly fear1 lest the storms or fog might come when your ship was near land or dangerous rocks or shoals1 and then your ship might be lost with its many hundreds of lives on board1 simply because it had no anchor4 ,every man and woman1 and every boy and girl1 needs to have hope as an anchor to his soul4 ,we should have faith in ,god1 and then at times when all is well1 when we are prosperous and blest1 and everything goes along like the ship in pleasant weather1 we will constantly have peace and rest in our minds and hearts1 because we know that our hope is staid on ,god1 and that though the world be removed1 yet ,god will not disappoint us4 ,some people seem to think that religion is a good thing to have when they get sick1 or when adversity or sorrow or great affliction comes4 ,but the fact is that religion is a necessary thing at all times4 ,we need it when we are well and strong1 as well as when we are sick and weak4 ,we need religion in this world to live by1 as well as to die by1 as well as for our salvation in the world to come4 ,the anchor is very serviceable indeed in time of storm4 ,often it has to be used in order to secure the ship and save the lives of all who are on board4 ,if it were not for the anchor the ship might be thrust upon the rocks1 or it might be dashed to pieces by the waves that break upon the coast4 ,the anchor is oftentimes very serviceable4 ,so it is with the religion of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,when trials and perplexities and adversities come1 as they do in every life1 then it is that this anchor is a source of very great blessing1 because it saves from shipwreck1 occasioned by unbelief and the perplexities into which those are cast who have no hope1 or trust in ,god4 ,illustration3 ,anchor ,laying ,hold of the ,rocks4 ,to be serviceable the anchor must take hold of something4 ,if it simply drags along it will not hold the ship2 but the ship may go to pieces on the rocks1 even though it has an anchor1 which has already been cast over4 ,now in time of sorrow and perplexity or distress every one throws out an anchor4 ,that is1 he tries to take hold of something which will sustain him and keep him1 just the same as a boy who falls into the water would grab after a board4 ,they say that a drowning man will even grasp after a straw in order to help to support his body1 so that he may save his life4 ,so every one in perplexity reaches out to lay hold of something4 ,but the text which ,i quoted in the beginning says that this hope which we have as an anchor to the soul lays hold of something1 and that something is the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,it is like the ship whose anchor goes down1 far below the waves1 deep down out of sight1 and lays hold of the rocks which form the foundation of the earth4 ,so the faith of the ,christian is staid1 not on things which are seen1 but on the things which are not seen4 ,as the text expresses it1 it lays hold of those things which entereth into that which is within the veil4 ,that is1 this figure refers to the ,temple at ,jerusalem1 where the ,holy of ,holies was concealed from the rest of the ,temple by a large curtain or veil1 and no one was permitted to go into this ,holy of ,holies except the ,high ,priest1 and he but once a year4 ,but when you and ,i have the faith of the ,christian1 although we may not be able to enter into the great mystery of ,god's grace and mercy1 yet our faith lays hold of that which is beyond our understanding1 and beyond our possibility to see or fully to comprehend1 and thus our faith lays hold of that which is within the veil4 ,with our understanding1 you and ,i cannot enter into the mysteries of ,god1 but by faith we can enter into them4 ,i trust that every boy and girl here will have that faith in ,god1 which will be as an anchor to his soul1 sure and steadfast1 entering within the veil at all times4 ,i will tell you how this anchor of faith and hope can be of service to you4 ,there are times when you see other boys and girls who have many more comforts and luxuries and possessions than you have4 ,you may even be discouraged sometimes because you think your lot in life is more than usually hard and difficult4 ,when ,i myself was a boy1 my father died1 and only three years later my mother died4 ,i was left an orphan and without a home4 ,i had to become an errand boy in a store1 and for a number of years ,i had a hard struggle4 ,i was a ,christian boy1 and ,i had this anchor of faith and hope4 ,i trusted in ,god that ,he would make all of these things to work out eventually for my good4 ,i could not at that time understand how4 ,it was beyond my understanding1 but later on in life ,i found how all the trials and struggles of my earlier years had worked together for my good4 ,i understood that passage of ,scripture which says3 ,all things work together for good to them that love ,god4 7,romans viii3 #bh47 ,so1 when you see others who have it easier and who have more comforts and luxuries than you have1 if you have this hope which the text speaks of as laying hold within the veil be sure that in ,god's own good time1 in ,his infinite wisdom and love1 ,he will work out for you also the blessing and the good which you can only hope for1 but which at the present time you can neither see nor understand4 ,,questions4--,what does every ship carry8 ,would a ship be safe without an anchor8 ,when the anchor is let down into the deep water1 must it take hold of something8 ,when is the anchor used8 ,if a ship did not have an anchor in time of storm along the rocky coast1 would it be safe8 ,do men and women1 boys and girls1 also need an anchor8 ,can we have peace and happiness without hope8 ,is religion necessary only when we are in trouble8 ,on what does hope lay hold8 ,can we see the things on which the ,christian's faith lays hold8 ,can we always understand ,god's providences8 ,did the writer of this book have trials when he was a boy8 ,could he understand them then8 ,did he understand them later on in life8 ,do all boys and girls have trials8 ,if received in the proper spirit1 will they always work out for their good8 ,,husks4 ,,the ,,disappointed ,,pleasure-,,seeker4 ,,suggestion3--,if the children can obtain some of the pods which are called husks in the ,scripture1 which can be had in some towns and cities1 and which the children usually call ,johnny-bread they will be able to taste the husks which the prodigal fed to the swine and which he himself desired to eat4 ,if these cannot be had1 the pods from the sweet locust tree will be serviceable4 ,i ,,hold in my hand what ,i suppose most of you have seen1 and perhaps many of you have eaten4 ,it is what boys oftentimes call ,johnny bread4 ,it looks very much like the long pods which grow on the honey locust trees4 ,it is sometimes called ,johnny bread1 because some people mistakenly think that this was the kind of locust that ,john the ,baptist ate when he came in the ,wilderness1 preaching that the kingdom of heaven was at hand and that men should repent4 ,we are told in the ,scriptures that he ate locusts and wild honey4 ,the locusts which he ate were very much like our grasshoppers1 such as are still eaten by very poor people in the ,east4 ,illustration3 ,husks4 ,in the #aeth chapter of the gospel by ,st4 ,luke1 we have a very beautiful parable1 called the parable of the prodigal son4 ,in connection with the husk which ,i hold in my hand1 ,i want to tell you something about this prodigal son4 ,in this parable ,jesus tells of a very kind father who had two sons1 but the younger son was dissatisfied and discontented4 ,he was a boy very much like many who live in this country and at this time4 ,he was a boy who wanted to have his own way4 ,he thought that his father was an old fogy4 ,the son wanted gay company and gay clothing4 ,he wanted to travel and see something of the world2 so he asked his father to give him the money which would come to him at his father's death1 in order that he might go immediately and have his own way1 and have a good time1 as he supposed4 ,his father was very sad1 for he had tried to bring up his boy in the right way4 ,but when he could not prevail upon him1 and his son would not listen to him any longer1 but insisted upon having the money1 and going away from home1 the father granted his request4 ,when the money had been counted out1 the son gathered it all up1 bade his father and brother and all his friends good-bye1 telling them what a happy time he was going to have1 and started out for a far country4 ,this same desire to see something of the world has induced many boys to run away from home4 ,many years ago1 when there were numerous ships that went out on long voyages to catch whales1 oftentimes boys who had run away from home went away to sea with these ships4 ,now1 however1 restless and discontented boys1 who have read worthless and deceptive books1 sometimes go to live a wild life on the plains in the ,west4 ,sometimes boys even become tramps4 ,scores and sometimes hundreds of them can be met any week by going to the ,breakfast ,association1 in ,philadelphia2 or some of the ,rescue ,homes1 in ,new ,york1 where poor1 wandering boys and tramps are given a free meal on ,sunday morning or ,sunday evening4 ,prodigals now1 as in the time when ,christ lived1 have a very hard time of it4 ,they start out with high hopes1 sometimes with money in their pockets1 with fine clothing and bright anticipations1 expecting to have a good time in the far country which they are seeking4 ,but their experience is always the same4 ,when this prodigal came to the far country1 for a few weeks1 or possibly a few months1 he had plenty of money4 ,he thought his money would always last4 ,bad men and women gathered around him1 for they all wanted to enjoy what his money would secure for them4 ,but it didn't take long2 his money was soon spent1 and when his money was gone his pretended friends were gone also4 ,he soon found himself penniless1 friendless and hungered4 ,he had to go out and seek for work4 ,perhaps he had been too much indulged at home4 ,he had never learned a trade1 and possibly had never learned to do work of any kind1 and so there was nothing for him to do but to accept the humblest and meanest kind of labor4 ,he was a ,jew1 and for a ,jew to tend swine or hogs was one of the meanest things in all the world4 ,and yet he was willing because of his poverty and his want1 to do even this most degrading service4 ,this boy who wanted to be his own master1 now became the most menial of slaves1 even to the tending of swine4 ,he wanted gay company1 but he had only pigs for his companions4 ,he wanted wine and feasting1 but now no one even offered him husks to eat4 ,he left his home to seek happiness1 but he found only misery4 ,illustration3 ,the ,disappointed1 ,hungry ,prodigal ,tending ,swine4 ,these husks which ,i showed you1 which some boys call ,johnny bread1 are exactly what this wayward1 disappointed1 disheartened1 hungry boy was given to feed to the swine which he was hired to tend4 ,he was so hungry that he would have been glad to eat these husks with the pigs1 but no one gave him any to eat4 ,when this wayward boy was thus brought down to poverty and hunger in that far-off country1 while he was tending the swine1 he began to think4 ,if he had only stopped to think before he left his home1 he would never have started away4 ,he would surely have known that he was better off at home than anywhere else4 ,but now that misery and want had come to him1 we are told that he came to himself4 ,that is1 he came to his senses4 ,it was sentiment which led him from his home4 ,it was sense that brought him back4 ,the trouble with boys and girls1 and with older people too1 is that they do not stop to think4 ,they follow their fancies and sentiments1 and they are led astray in this way4 ,god wants us to stop and think1 and ,he says1 ,come1 let us reason together4 ,god does not ask any unreasonable thing of us4 ,he simply wants to treat us as thoughtful beings1 but we want to follow our own inclination and our own desire4 ,god treats us very kindly4 ,he gives us every needed comfort and every daily blessing1 and yet oftentimes people are discontented and dissatisfied with ,god2 they complain and think they have a hard time of it4 ,instead of being faithful and true to ,god1 they turn away from him4 ,they desire to forsake ,god and serve ,satan4 ,they desire to accept what ,satan says1 and so turn away from ,god and all that is good4 ,but they have the same experience over and over again that this young man had4 ,he went out with fine clothes and plenty of money1 and with high hopes2 but he returned home in rags1 without a penny in his pocket1 disappointed1 penitent and ashamed4 ,illustration3 ,the ,returning ,prodigal ,but ,i must not forget to tell you1 that when he had journeyed many a week1 toiling wearily over the long road that had separated him from his father's house1 at last he came near his old home4 ,in going away he had nearly broken his father's heart4 ,with sorrow he was bringing his aged father down to the grave4 ,but his father still loved his wayward boy1 and expected him home4 ,as he sat watching at the door looking over the hills1 he saw the returning prodigal when he was yet a great way off4 ,this loving and forgiving father had compassion upon his son1 ran and fell upon his neck and kissed him1 and welcomed him back home again4 ,the wayward boy's heart was all broken up by such kind treatment4 ,he fell upon his knees at his father's feet and said to his father1 ,father1 ,i have sinned against heaven and in thy sight1 and am no more worthy to be called thy son2 make me as one of thy hired servants4 ,but the father called his servants and commanded them to bring the best robe and put it upon this boy who had given him so much sorrow2 to bring the ring and put it upon his finger2 and then to kill the fatted calf1 so that they might make a great feast1 in order that all might be made very glad1 because this his son1 who was dead1 was alive again1 he who had been lost was found4 ,so when we come back to ,god after we have sinned against ,him1 and are repentant and sorry for what we have done1 in love and great tenderness ,he forgives our sins4 ,and like the prodigal1 in the time of his sorest misery1 found in his father's heart the greatest mercy1 so you and ,i may come to ,god knowing that in the day of our dire distress ,he is always willing to love us and to forgive us as ,his own dear children4 ,let us be careful not to sin against ,him1 and then we shall not have the humiliation and the sorrow of coming back1 like this poor prodigal1 when he returned in rags and poverty to his father's house4 ,never make the mistake of going away from your ,god and then you will not have the remorse which will bring you back in sorrow and shame4 ,,questions4--,who first told the parable of the prodigal son8 ,why did the prodigal leave his home8 ,what did he do with his money8 ,did his pretended friends stay by him after his money was gone8 ,in his poverty what did he do8 ,did he have enough to eat8 ,when he was in want and came to himself1 of whom did he think8 ,what did he resolve to do8 ,what do boys who run away from home generally become8 ,are tramps happy8 ,was the father sad all the time the boy was away8 ,how did he receive the returning prodigal8 ,does ,god love us even though we do wrong8 ,will ,god forgive us and accept us8 ,is ,god glad when we repent8 ,after driving home from church a series of tableaux could be arranged3 7#a7 ,showing the father counting out the money to the boy4 7#b7 ,the boy bidding good-bye to his father and friends4 7#c7 ,surrounded by flatterers for whom he is spending his money4 7#d7 ,in poverty tending swine4 7#e7 ,in rags returning home4 7#f7 ,being welcomed by his father4 ,or the children may arrange a tent in which the prodigal is presumed to live on the plains while tending the swine1 which may be represented by a series of books1 toys or any objects2 for the imagination of the children will convert any object into any other object1 person or thing4 ,illustration3 ,the ,prodigal's ,tent4 ,,iron--,,low ,,grade ,,and ,,high ,,grade4 ,,character ,,and ,,worth4 ,,suggestion3--,objects used3 ,a piece of old iron1 some nails1 broken clock and watch springs1 and also a piece of native iron ore1 if convenient4 ,,my ,,dear ,,boys ,,and ,,girls3 ,i want to show you to-day that there is a great difference in the value of things1 even though they are made of the same material4 ,in the second chapter of ,genesis we are told1 ,and the ,lord ,god formed man of the dust of the ground4 ,so1 you see that all men and women are made of the same material1 yet men differ greatly1 both in character and works4 ,illustration3 ,iron ,products4 ,i have here some iron ore1 some old iron1 some nails2 here are some clock springs1 and here are some springs of watches4 ,this iron ore is as it is dug from the earth4 ,it is called the native iron1 but mixed with it there is much earth and stone and dross1 which must be separated from it in order to make it pure4 ,this is done by casting the ore1 together with limestone and other materials1 into a huge furnace1 where the fire is so intensely hot that all are melted and thus the iron is separated from the dross1 or stone and earth1 which is now mixed with the ore4 ,when the iron is thus separated and molded into large bars1 it is worth from a fraction of a cent to two cents per pound1 according to quality and market price4 ,after it has been cast into great iron bars1 and is known as pig iron1 it is afterward bought and melted over again and molded into the form of stoves and wheels1 such as are used in factories1 and a variety of other forms for manufacturing and other uses4 ,illustration3 ,nail1 ,pen and ,clock ,spring4 ,now1 here ,i have some pieces of iron1 such as boys call old iron4 ,they often find pieces of this kind of iron1 which have been thrown away1 and gather and sell them at a price varying from one-quarter to a cent or more a pound1 according to circumstances4 ,then it is melted over again and made into stoves1 or whatever the manufacturer may desire4 ,now1 here are some nails1 such as sell at five cents a pound1 and here are some steel pens1 which are worth from one to four and five dollars a pound4 ,here are some springs1 such as are used in the construction of clocks4 ,these are the springs which make clocks go4 ,when you wind up the clock you simply tighten this spring1 thus storing the power which is necessary to keep the clock in motion for twenty-four hours1 for eight days1 or even a longer period4 ,now here are some springs1 such as are used in watches4 ,these springs are worth1 according to their size and quality1 from twenty to fifty or sixty dollars a pound4 ,here also are some little screws1 such as are used in the construction of watches1 and which are worth even a hundred dollars a pound4 ,while these different articles are all made of the same material1 you see there is a great difference in their value4 ,one is not worth a single cent a pound1 and another may be worth one hundred dollars a pound4 ,now this difference in value is due to two things4 ,one is1 difference in quality1 and the other is the use which is made of the article into which the iron is manufactured4 ,illustration3 ,watch ,spring and ,screws4 ,i suppose1 if these different pieces of metal could think1 and had the power of speech1 this piece of old iron would complain to the other pieces which are of more value1 and say to the watch spring1 ,i am just as good as you are1 we were both dug from the same ore bank4 ,i remember the time when we were both cast into the hot fire and melted in the furnace2 after that ,i was taken to the foundry1 and made into a stove1 and after a few years of use ,i was rejected and cast into the alley4 ,i have had to lie about in the mud and in the cold and snow1 and men have passed me by and scorned me as though ,i were of no value4 ,but ,i want you to understand1 ,mr4 ,clockspring and ,mr4 ,watchspring1 that ,i am just as good as you are1 and there is no reason why ,i should be cast out into the mud and cold1 while you are placed in a gold case and carried in a gentleman's pocket4 ,the nail also would cry out1 and say that he was just as good as the little screws which are used in the watch1 and would complain against being driven violently into a board1 where it is compelled1 year after year1 to hold a board on to the side of a building2 to have putty placed over its head1 and then paint over the top of that1 so that nobody could even so much as see where it was1 or know what it was doing4 ,now1 the old iron1 and the nail1 and the others have no right to complain4 ,there is a vast difference of quality1 and there is also a difference of work4 ,the higher grades and better qualities of metals are secured by refining processes4 ,again and again the metal is cast in the fire and melted4 ,sometimes it is beaten on the anvil into such shapes and forms as will render the metal of greater service1 and consequently of more value4 ,suppose this metal had feeling1 and the power to express its wish4 ,do you not see how it would cry out against being cast into the fire1 and being beaten with great hammers upon the anvil8 ,i am sure the fire1 the hammers1 and the anvil bring no sense of pleasure to the metal while being refined and being beaten into such forms as render it of greatest value4 ,just so1 in some senses at least1 are all boys and girls alike4 ,if they were all permitted to grow up in neglect1 without being governed by thoughtful parents1 without being educated and refined1 without being sent to school and required to attend church1 without being taught at home and being instructed in the ,catechism and in the ,bible1 and without being shown their duty to ,god and their fellow men1 they would all be pretty much alike4 ,it is the difference in the influences that are made to refine some boys that causes them to differ so much from others who are about them4 ,the boy who has only been taught to pick stones1 or sweep the streets1 or dig ditches1 may cry out against the boy who is gentlemanly1 and obliging1 and obedient1 and truthful1 and reliable1 and who has a position of great responsibility in a bank1 or in the office of some man who occupies a very responsible position2 yet oftentimes1 and quite universally1 there is a very great difference in the merit and value of these two boys4 ,one has been disciplined and governed and controlled1 educated and taught1 while the other has likely been neglected1 and consequently has not learned the importance of these things4 ,god designs to refine all of us1 and therefore ,he desires that all should be taught to study1 should learn to read and write1 should learn all they can from the schools1 should be taught to work1 should be taught to expect trials and self-denials1 and should be led to expect sickness and disappointments1 and all these things by which ,god designs to make us better from year to year4 ,but1 just the same as the iron would cry out against being cast into the fire and being beaten upon the anvil1 so do boys and girls1 and men and women also1 cry out against the providences by which ,god is refining them and making them better for this world and fitting them for the world to come4 ,if we desire to be of largest service in this world1 and to occupy a place of honor in the world to come1 we must expect that ,god will deal with us1 as ,he has told us in the ninth verse of the thirteenth chapter of ,zechariah1 in which ,he says1 ,i will refine them as silver is refined1 and will try them as gold is tried4 ,and in the book of ,malachi ,he says that ,he1 that is ,god1 is like a refiner's fire1 and like fullers' soap1 and ,he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver1 and purge them as gold and silver4 ,when the gold and the silver is cast into the crucible to be purified1 the fire is made very hot1 and the metal is left in the crucible until the man who is refining it and who sits looking into the crucible can see his own image reflected in the metal4 ,so we are cast into the fires of affliction1 and ,god looks down upon us2 but when we become like ,him1 so that ,god sees ,his own self reflected in our character1 and in our disposition1 and in our temper1 then we shall have been refined as ,god desires1 and ,he will then be ready to receive us into ,his own home on high4 ,,questions4--,can you name different things made from iron8 ,is a horse shoe as valuable as a watch spring8 ,what makes the difference in their value8 ,how are iron and steel refined1 or made more valuable8 ,are unrefined and untaught boys and girls all quite alike8 ,what makes them become different8 ,do some boys and girls become more useful and valuable in the world than others8 ,what causes the difference8 ,would the iron cry out against being refined8 ,do boys and girls object to being taught and disciplined8 ,how does the ,bible say that ,god refines us8 ,can the refiner see his image in the melted metal8 ,does ,god want to see ,his own image reflected in us8 ,illustration3 ,joseph in the ,pit4 ,a ,,pocket ,,rule4 ,,how ,,god ,,measures ,,men4 ,,suggestion3--,objects3 ,a yard-stick1 pocket-rule1 tape-measure and any measure or scales convenient4 ,use the measures and scales for measuring the height and weight of the different children1 and explain to them that if they continue to grow1 they will eventually become full grown men and women4 ,so ,god measures them to-day in moral things1 and if they will learn what ,god requires and be obedient to their parents1 they will increase in moral stature as well4 ,,my ,,dear ,,young ,,friends3 ,i am sure you will be able to tell me what these are which ,i hold in my hand4 ,this you would call a yard-stick2 the other1 because it folds1 you would call a pocket-rule1 and here is another1 which you would call a tape-measure4 ,illustration3 ,yard-,stick1 ,pocket-,rule and ,tape-,measure4 ,now1 if ,i were going to measure any of you1 to tell how tall you are1 ,i would use one or the other of these rules2 as each is divided into even inches1 ,i could use any of these three ,i should prefer4 ,i would say one boy is four feet two inches1 another four feet nine inches and another five feet four inches1 and so on according to the height of each person4 ,we speak of this kind of measure as feet and inches4 ,when it is used in measuring cloth1 or other goods in a store1 we speak of it as yards and parts of a yard4 ,then there are also other forms of measures1 dry measure--quarts1 pecks1 bushels2 and liquid measure--quarts1 gallons and barrels4 ,there is also a standard of weight--ounces1 pounds and tons4 ,illustration3 ,farmer's ,measures4 ,it is necessary to have standards of weights and measures4 ,this is absolutely necessary1 or we could not tell in purchasing cloth or lumber1 in buying sugar or molasses1 or other things1 whether we are getting the right quantity1 or whether we are not getting the right quantity4 ,so1 everywhere you go in the ,united ,states we have the same size or standard of weights and measures1 and the ,government appoints men in each city to go about and examine whether the scales which the storekeeper uses for weighing sugar1 and the measures which he uses when he sells vinegar and molasses--whether these are perfectly accurate1 as the law requires4 ,illustration3 ,scales and ,measure4 ,but1 if you look on the other side of this tape-measure1 there is a different standard of measure4 ,this1 on the reverse side1 is the metric system1 used in ,france and many other countries4 ,if you were to go into a store in ,france and wanted to purchase cloth1 you would not ask for a yard1 you would ask for a metre of cloth1 which instead of thirty-six inches1 which makes our yard1 would be a little over thirty-nine inches2 so the standard of measures and values varies in different countries4 ,there is a slight difference in the length of the ,english yard and the ,american yard4 ,in this country we also speak of dollars and cents4 ,in ,england they have the penny1 shilling1 pound or sovereign4 ,and so in different countries there are different pieces of money1 having a great variety of values4 ,i have spoken of these things simply to call your attention to the fact that ,god has a standard of measure1 and a standard of value1 as well as men4 ,when the ,government enlists soldiers into the army every man is measured1 and he must be of a given height2 if he is not as tall as the requirement1 then he is rejected4 ,when ,napoleon chose his body-guard the men all had to be exceedingly tall4 ,god also has ,his standard of measure4 ,he does not measure us according to the height of our body1 but according to our moral character4 ,he measures us to see whether we are good or bad4 ,god's standard of the measure of our moral character is found in the ,bible4 ,you will find it1 both in the ,old ,testament and in the ,new ,testament4 ,in the ,old ,testament we have the ,ten ,commandments1 in which we are required to worship ,god1 and to worship nothing else2 to keep the ,sabbath day holy2 to honor our parents2 and various other requirements4 ,in the ,new ,testament we have a great many principles for moral government which ,jesus announced when ,he was upon the earth4 ,we have all broken some one or more of the ,ten ,commandments and the precepts which ,jesus left for us to follow4 ,if you desire to see how you should live1 if you would keep the law perfectly1 you will have to look at the life of ,jesus ,christ4 ,he was the only perfect man who ever lived4 ,he came to this world to set a perfect example for men to imitate4 ,just the same as you copy after the lines correctly written at the top of your writing book1 so you and ,i are to copy after the life and character of ,jesus ,christ4 ,the moral law is a perfect law2 the ,psalmist says1 the law of the ,lord is perfect1 converting the soul4 ,i showed you how in ,france they have a different standard of measure from that which we have in the ,united ,states1 but with the moral law the standard is the same everywhere and at all times4 ,it is wrong to lie or steal in ,america1 and it is equally wrong to lie or steal in ,france1 or in ,africa1 or in ,india1 or on the islands of the sea1 or anywhere in all of the universe4 ,if it is wicked now to swear1 or to commit murder it always was wicked4 ,it was just as wicked three thousand years ago as it is to-day1 and it never will be right to take the name of ,god in vain1 or to destroy human life4 ,god has but one standard of morality for all people and for all time4 ,what ,god requires of the young in order that they may be pure and holy1 ,he requires also of grown-up people4 ,if it is wrong for the preacher and the ,sunday-school superintendent to go to the theatre1 or to do anything else1 it is equally wrong for every member of the church and for every member of the ,sunday-school4 ,before ,god we must all be measured by the same standard of morality4 ,if ,i had one year ago measured the height of each of you and written it down1 and then measured you again to-day1 ,i would find that during these twelve months each of you had grown4 ,you are taller to-day than you were a year ago4 ,now1 ,god has given us a standard of moral character1 right and wrong1 and ,i want you all to study it very carefully1 so that you may see how tall you are1 how far you come short of the character of ,jesus ,christ4 ,and as you grow taller in body1 so you should grow in moral character1 and if you will study ,god's word carefully1 you will be able to discover what progress you are making in becoming more like ,christ1 in becoming better boys and better girls1 and afterward better men and better women1 from year to year1 than you were each preceding year4 ,may ,god bless you abundantly1 and may you grow daily unto a perfect man1 unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of ,christ4 7,eph4 iv3 #ac47 ,,questions4--,how many kinds of measures can you name8 ,are the standards of weights and measures the same in all countries8 ,how many standards of measure does ,god have8 ,where can ,god's standard of measure be found8 ,are ,god's standards the same for all persons in all countries1 in all parts of the world8 ,is there any place in the world where it would be right to lie or steal1 or murder8 ,who was the only perfect man8 ,does ,god's standard ever change8 ,should we constantly strive to become like ,christ8 ,how can we tell what progress we are making in becoming more like ,christ8 ,illustration ,,the ,,magnet4 ,,jesus ,,the ,,great ,,drawing ,,power4 ,,suggestion3--,a small magnet can be purchased in almost any hardware store at trifling cost4 ,with this1 also have some little tacks1 nails both small and large1 together with some old rusted and crooked nails1 and a pocket knife4 ,do not omit driving to church and the other play features suggested in previous sermons4 ,i ,,am sure that there is not a boy or girl here1 who has not at some time felt a desire to be good and do right4 ,when you have felt this way1 it has been due to the fact that the ,holy ,spirit has come to you and has put these good thoughts and good desires into your heart4 ,there is not a person living who has not at some time felt this same drawing and desire to do right and to be good4 ,the results1 however1 have been very different with different people4 ,i shall seek to illustrate this drawing power to you to-day1 and to do so have brought this magnet4 ,i have also brought these tacks and nails of different sizes2 and here are also some old1 rusted1 crooked nails4 ,let these several kinds represent the different kinds of people4 ,illustration3 ,magnet and ,tacks4 ,when ,i take this magnet1 and move it around among these small tacks1 and then hold it up1 you will see that very many of these tacks cling to the magnet4 ,they hold on by some unseen power4 ,sometimes the tacks are even not able to touch the magnet1 but are drawn through the influence which extends through other tacks1 and so large clusters hang on to the magnet4 ,if ,i shake the magnet you will see that some fall off4 ,these small tacks represent the youngest children4 ,in the early years of our lives we are more easily drawn to the ,lord ,jesus4 ,it is then more easy for us to come to ,christ and give ourselves fully to ,him4 ,it is much easier to be ,christians when we are young4 ,yet many put it off till they are older1 when it is much more difficult and they are less likely to be successful in living a ,christian life4 ,illustration3 ,magnet and ,small ,nails4 ,now1 if ,i remove these small tacks1 and place the magnet among these small nails1 you will see that several of the small nails cling to the magnet1 and ,i can lift them up4 ,there are not as many1 however1 as there were of the tacks clinging to it4 ,in like manner1 as boys and girls grow older1 they find it more difficult to come to ,christ4 ,illustration3 ,magnet and ,larger ,nails4 ,here are some larger nails4 ,when ,i place the magnet among them1 but very few are attracted to it4 ,and when ,i attempt to lift the magnet1 most all of these large nails tall off4 ,only one1 sometimes two1 hold on successfully4 ,here are some nails that are still larger4 ,now1 when ,i attempt to lift one of them with this magnet1 you see that ,i can only lift one end of the nail4 ,that is due to the fact that while the magnet draws these nails1 the earth also draws them4 ,that is the reason why these smaller nails1 when they fall from the magnet1 fall to the earth2 because the earth draws them4 ,the earth draws with so much greater force and power upon these large nails than the magnet draws that ,i cannot raise them by the magnet4 ,it is on this account that they continue to hold fast to the earth rather than to the magnet4 ,illustration3 ,magnet and ,large ,nails4 ,this represents the people who have grown old2 who have large cares and responsibilities2 who have become worldly-minded2 who are drawn away by the deceitfulness of riches and the lust of other things1 and who1 although they feel a desire to do right1 yet have a stronger desire to do that which is not well-pleasing in the sight of ,god4 ,now1 here are some old crooked1 rusty nails4 ,let us see what effect the presence of the magnet will have upon them4 ,just as we might have expected4 ,these rusty nails do not seem to feel the power or the influence of the magnet's presence4 ,if ,i place the magnet up against the nail1 and attempt to lift it1 it does not seem to be drawn at all4 ,it simply lies still1 unmoved4 ,these old1 crooked1 rusty nails represent people who have grown very old and very wicked1 and who have become greatly hardened in sin4 ,jesus ,christ and ,his love seem to make no impression any longer upon them4 ,they are joined to their idols4 ,god's ,spirit has taken ,his departure1 and they are left alone4 ,let me warn you1 both young and old1 that if you feel the drawing of ,god's ,spirit1 you should yield to ,him1 so as not to become more corroded and rusted1 and coated over by every sinful influence1 so that at last the love of ,god shall fail to have any effect upon you4 ,if now we take these different classes of nails and mix them together1 and then stir the magnet among them1 you will see how the smaller nails1 in larger numbers1 cling to the magnet4 ,these bright nails are also affected by it4 ,oftentimes the influence of the magnet is seen1 as it is communicated from one nail to the other2 but these rusty nails1 not only do not themselves yield to the influence of the magnet1 but they also fail to communicate that magnetic influence to any of the other nails around them4 ,in like manner1 wicked people seem to come between ,christ and others who would be drawn to ,him4 ,let me say to you1 keep out of bad company4 ,avoid wicked companions--those who swear1 or lie1 or do anything that is wrong1 for their influence over you will be bad1 and they will prevent the good influences of holy things from acting upon you4 ,suppose now that ,i take my knife blade and move it among these nails1 you will see that it does not attract them like the magnet did4 ,it has no magnetic power4 ,if ,i draw the knife blade across the magnet a few times1 it receives this magnetic power from the magnet4 ,now1 when ,i move it among the nails you will see how these little tacks and some of the larger nails are drawn toward it4 ,just so it is with each of us as individuals4 ,without coming in contact with ,christ and receiving ,his ,spirit1 ,his drawing power1 we will never influence others to do that which is right and good and holy4 ,if we desire to have an influence for good in this world we must1 first of all1 come to ,christ ourselves1 and receive this drawing power from ,him4 ,you have doubtless seen those who have become ,christians1 and after they have given their hearts to ,christ they have immediately begun to draw others4 ,they go out and invite others to come to church1 they invite others to go with them to the prayer-meeting1 to come with them to the ,sunday-school1 and so in every way they seek to influence others that they may draw them to ,christ4 ,when ,jesus was upon the earth vast multitudes attended ,him4 ,where ,he went they followed4 ,but now when ,jesus is no longer bodily present upon the earth1 when we cannot see ,him with our natural eyes1 we speak of walking by faith1 and you may be curious to know what is meant by walking by faith4 ,i think that ,i can illustrate it in this way3 ,here is a sheet of writing paper4 ,now above the writing paper ,i will place this magnet1 and then below it ,i will place this small bit of iron4 ,the attracting power of the magnet holds the iron up against the paper4 ,now1 when ,i move this magnet on the upper side of the sheet from place to place1 you will observe that this little piece of iron on the lower side of the sheet goes in the same direction4 ,it follows the magnet very closely4 ,the paper is between them4 ,now1 if this paper were enlarged so as to be as long and as broad as the ceiling of this room1 of course you would not be able to see the magnet4 ,it would be hidden from your view4 ,but as you would move the magnet from place to place1 the little iron below would continue to follow it4 ,so ,jesus ,christ is no longer visible2 we cannot see ,him with our natural eyes1 but ,he draws the ,christian who is in this world1 and so the ,christian follows ,him4 ,he walks in the footsteps of the ,lord ,jesus4 ,and it is on that account that we say that the ,christian walks by faith1 and not by sight4 ,just before ,jesus was crucified ,he said3 ,and ,i1 if ,i be lifted up from the earth1 will draw all men unto ,me4 7,john xii3 #cb47 ,so ,he draws you and ,he draws me4 ,and so also by ,his love ,he would draw every person in all the world to ,him4 ,let us not resist the drawings of the ,holy ,spirit1 but come to the ,lord ,jesus ,christ and love ,him with our whole heart4 ,,questions4--,what can the magnet do8 ,can the power of the magnet be seen8 ,can the magnet lift as many nails as tacks8 ,are old rusty nails drawn by the magnet8 ,who are like the little tacks8 ,who are like the small nails8 ,who are like the rusty nails8 ,does everybody desire at times to be good8 ,what draws them in the right direction8 ,can we see the power that causes us to desire to be good8 ,what is the name of the power or force that causes the nails to fall from the magnet8 ,what power draws people from doing right8 ,should we always yield to the power that draws us in the right direction8 ,does ,christ have to be seen in order to accept ,his influence8 ,illustration3 ,daniel in the ,lion's ,den4 ,,keys4 ,,how ,,to ,,unlock ,,the ,,human ,,heart4 ,,suggestion3--,objects used3 ,locks and keys of any form or size4 ,if possible open the lock and show how the key fits into the different wards of the lock4 ,explain how other keys would not fit4 ,,my ,,dear ,,boys ,,and ,,girls3 ,i have here to-day quite a variety of locks4 ,here are also quite a variety of keys4 ,you will notice that there are several more keys than there are locks4 ,now1 ,i suppose that we would have no very great difficulty in selecting the keys that would be most likely to turn backward and forward the bolts in these different locks4 ,we would naturally expect that these larger keys would fit these larger locks and the smaller keys would be adapted to lock and unlock the smaller ones4 ,illustration3 ,lock and ,key4 ,here is this large lock2 ,i suppose it is very possible this large key may be suited to lock and unlock it4 ,yes1 it just fits4 ,you see how it turns the bolt in and out as ,i turn the key4 ,now1 here is another lock2 let us see if we can find a key that will fit it4 ,this key seems about the size1 but after passing it into the lock it seems to strike something that prevents it from turning1 and consequently is of no service4 ,let us try another4 ,that seems to work much better1 and turns the bolt backward and forward4 ,illustration3 ,lock and ,key4 ,here is still another lock2 let us try this key with this lock4 ,that seems to work very well4 ,possibly we might be able to lock and unlock this other also4 ,let us try it4 ,yes1 this key fits both these locks4 ,this key is what the locksmith calls a skeleton key4 ,it is so made that it avoids the obstacles which are placed in the different locks to prevent them from being opened by all varieties of keys4 ,here is a still smaller lock4 ,this lock has a very peculiar keyhole1 and ,i know at once that there is no need of trying to unlock it with most of the keys which ,i have spread out here4 ,i recognize it at once as what is called a ,yale lock4 ,the key is thin1 is bent in various ways1 and along the edge has several notches4 ,let us try a couple of these keys4 ,this one seems to fit very well to the grooves4 ,it passes into the lock1 but ,i cannot turn the bolt4 ,let us try another4 ,yes1 this seems to be the one that was made by the locksmith to fasten and unfasten this lock4 ,illustration3 ,yale ,lock and ,key4 ,a key then is simply something which unlocks the door or the gate1 so you may open it and pass inside4 ,now1 there are a great many kinds of keys4 ,sometimes a book is called a key to business4 ,perhaps another book is called a key to the study of medicine2 another the key to the study of law4 ,and so there may be a great many kinds of books which are called keys4 ,when properly used or studied they open the way for a clear understanding of how to transact business1 how to study medicine and how to study law4 ,and so there are various books that are keys to the understanding of very1 very many subjects4 ,when you indicate to me the kind of difficulty that you have to overcome1 it would be reasonably easy to indicate the kind of book you need in order successfully to meet that difficulty4 ,when ,i find a book that teaches a boy good business habits and helps him to become a good business man1 ,i know that book was written with that object in view4 ,when ,i find a book that teaches one how to understand the human system1 the nature of disease and the character of the remedies which are to be used when people are sick1 ,i know that book was written with a view to help people to understand the nature of disease and the character of medicine4 ,just so it is with every other book4 ,each is like the lock and the key1 for the locks have inside a peculiar sort of winding way1 and when ,i find a key that exactly fits into this winding passage ,i know immediately that the locksmith designed that the key should fit into that particular lock and turn back the bolt4 ,now1 ,god wants to get into the human heart1 and ,i find that ,god has a key with which to unlock it4 ,i do not think you would be long in guessing what book ,god has made the key with which to unlock the human heart4 ,i think that every boy and girl would at once say that it is the ,bible4 ,yes2 it is the ,bible4 ,it fits exactly into all the wards and chambers1 and winding passages which characterize each and every need of the human heart4 ,the moment ,i bring this wonderful key of divine truth to the human heart1 ,i find that the lock and the key were both made by the same infinite ,creator4 ,some locks are very complicated and intricate1 and the keys are also very peculiar4 ,they are made especially for that particular lock1 and no other key in all the world will unlock it4 ,the moment ,i get that particular key and turn it around in the lock ,i know at once that both the lock and the key were made by the same person1 and that the lock was made to be opened by no other key4 ,so ,god has created the human heart and made it very difficult to be opened1 and there is no key in all the world that can open it except the ,bible4 ,as a robber or a burglar may try to get into a house by the use of a skeleton key1 or by picking the lock1 so men have often tried to gain admission into the human heart by the use of various substitutes for the genuine and the real key4 ,they have tried amusement1 and wealth1 and sinful pleasure1 and very1 very many things2 but they never succeed in getting into the inner sacredness of the human heart4 ,unless the heart is opened by ,god's ,word1 and the ,holy ,spirit is admitted so that ,god can take possession1 there is always a sense of loneliness1 a sense of dissatisfaction1 a desire for something that the person does not possess2 he is at unrest1 he is restless and dissatisfied1 like a boy or girl who is away from home1 and has a homesick longing to return to that home4 ,you never will be able to understand the hidden mystery of your own spiritual life and spiritual being until you use the ,word of ,god to help you to solve the mystery4 ,the ,word of ,god is not only designed to unlock the human heart1 so that ,god and the ,holy ,spirit may gain admission1 but this key is also designed to lock the door against ,satan and sin and keep them out of our hearts4 ,unless we daily use our ,bibles to lock our hearts against evil thoughts1 and wicked purposes1 and sinful desires1 we will find that they will steal into our hearts2 and like the evil spirit that had been driven out and afterward returned and brought seven other spirits more wicked than himself1 so sin and ,satan will again take possession of our hearts and lock them against ,god and all that is good4 ,,questions4--,are there many kinds of locks8 ,must there be as many kinds of keys as there are kinds of locks8 ,is the human heart like a lock8 ,does ,god desire to get into the human heart8 ,with what key does ,he unlock it8 ,are the lock and its key made by the same man8 ,who made the human heart8 ,who made the key to unlock it8 ,can the ,bible be used to lock the human heart against the entrance of sin8 ,what are skeleton keys8 ,do men try false keys with which to open the human heart8 ,what are some of the things with which they try8 ,is the human heart ever satisfied until unlocked by the ,bible and possessed by ,god8 ,illustration ,,traps4 ,,unsuspecting ,,mice ,,and ,,men4 ,,suggestion3--,an ordinary mouse trap will be serviceable4 ,the trap can be set and instead of a mouse1 a child can spring the trap with his finger4 ,the parent had better try his own finger first1 to see that the trap is not too strong4 ,a rat trap should never be tried in this way4 ,,my ,,dear ,,young ,,friends3 ,you may think that possibly there was a time when wicked men did not desire to destroy others1 as is so often the case in this day4 ,hundreds of years ago1 ,god said1 ,among my people are found wicked men3 they lay wait1 as he that setteth snares2 they set a trap1 they catch men4 7,jeremiah v3 #bf47 ,illustration3 ,mouse ,trap4 ,i suppose you have all seen traps4 ,there are a great many different kinds4 ,some are very dangerous1 and yet you cannot see the danger until you are caught1 or until you see some other person who has been caught in the trap4 ,now here is a trap4 ,i suppose that you have all seen such traps as this1 and possibly have them in your own homes1 to catch the little mice which destroy your food1 and oftentimes do much injury4 ,now1 this trap does not look dangerous to the unsuspecting mouse4 ,the little wire1 which is to be drawn up by a strong spring to choke the mouse to death1 is concealed1 and he does not know that there is a wire there at all4 ,he simply smells the piece of cheese4 ,this tempts his appetite1 and1 as he is fond of cheese1 he desires to obtain it1 and so he attempts to crawl in through this small hole to get the cheese2 but the moment he nibbles at the cheese1 it disturbs the little catch which holds the spring1 and when it is too late to escape1 the little mouse finds that he has been caught4 ,then he does not think of the cheese1 but struggles to get loose and escape out of the trap4 ,but all of his struggles are in vain1 and after a few moments he is choked to death4 ,then the man1 or the housewife comes1 takes the little mouse out of the trap1 and with the same piece of cheese the trap is again set for another unsuspecting mouse4 ,so people go on1 day after day1 catching one mouse after another1 with the same trap and with the same bait4 ,illustration3 ,mice and ,trap4 ,now1 there are traps which men set for boys and girls1 and men and women1 such as story papers1 bad books and pictures1 that might be called pest papers1 printed poison1 moral leprosy4 ,to the innocent1 the unthinking and the unsuspecting these things may not appear very dangerous1 but they are very deadly in their effects1 and they result in the temporal and eternal ruin of thousands upon thousands of people every year4 ,then there are also the saloons1 with gilded signs1 frosted windows1 and showy looking glasses4 ,rooms which are made attractive only to catch men1 to rob them of their money1 and of their self-control1 and of their reason1 and of their homes1 and of all temporal good1 and of all hope of heaven--destroying men's souls and bodies1 both for a time and for all eternity4 ,then there is the theatre1 with its glittering lights1 with its tinseled show1 with its corrupting play1 with its scenes upon which no pure-minded man or woman can look without blushing2 scenes which deaden the moral sense1 pollute the mind1 such as are calculated to rob the individual of virtue1 and of integrity1 and of faith in ,god1 and of hope of heaven4 ,then there are other dangerous traps which are set for young men and for older men--tobacco1 cigarettes and cigars1 and beer4 ,these traps which are set for our money1 which so often rob of health and strength1 for no boy who uses tobacco in any form can be strong like the boy who does not use tobacco4 ,boys begin with the deadly cigarette1 and then go on to the cigar1 and then follow with drinking beer1 and so1 step by step1 they go on down to ruin4 ,if you have ever gone fishing on a calm1 beautiful summer day1 and have looked down through the water1 you have often seen the fish as they gathered around the hook1 and then watched them as they nibbled at the bait4 ,first they come up very shyly1 and barely touch the bait with their nose4 ,then they come again1 and possibly just bite a small trifle--barely taste of it4 ,then1 again and again they nibble at the hook1 until finally they undertake to get a large bite1 when they discover that they have swallowed the hook4 ,then it matters not how much they flounder about1 and struggle to get away1 it is too late1 it is impossible for them to escape4 ,they are pulled into the boat or upon the bank1 and a few hours later they are on the stove1 being cooked for some hungry fisherman4 ,just so ,satan comes to those whom he wishes to catch4 ,he comes with money1 and with pleasure1 and with the thought of having a good time4 ,he tempts people by presenting to their thought something which they desire4 ,he leads them on step by step1 and when they see others all about them who are being destroyed in the effort to obtain the same pleasure which they are seeking1 ,satan makes them think that in their own case the result will be very different4 ,illustration3 ,fish ,doing a ,dangerous ,thing4 ,you will notice that this mouse trap has four different places where mice can be caught1 and is it not strange that when one mouse enters on this side1 and is caught1 and is lying there dead1 that another live mouse should come along1 and see the same trap and desire the same thing1 and walk right in to the same danger1 and the same sure death8 ,you would think that when he saw the other mouse had been caught1 and had lost his life1 that he would turn away4 ,but instead of that1 he smells the cheese1 walks right into the trap1 and is caught1 and in a few moments is as dead as his neighbor4 ,so boys see others who have been ruined by smoking cigarettes1 who have paved the way for their destruction by smoking cigars1 by keeping bad company1 by drinking beer1 and by going on step by step4 ,they see drunkards all about them who have squandered all their money and lost all their friends1 and been forsaken by their own parents1 their wives1 and their children2 who have become outcasts1 and for whom no one longer has any respect4 ,men see these things daily1 and yet they go on in the same way1 beginning with beer and going1 step by step1 from social drinking1 until they themselves become drunkards and outcasts1 and go down to fill a drunkard's grave4 ,the ,bible says that no drunkard can inherit the kingdom of heaven4 ,i trust that none of you who listen to me to-day will be so foolish as to permit ,satan to deceive you4 ,look about you and see the results of worthless story-papers1 of card-playing1 of theatre going1 of social drinking1 of round dancing1 lying1 swearing1 cheating1 and all forms of wickedness1 and then remember that these same influences1 if wrought into your life1 will also produce the same result4 ,do not be like the foolish mouse1 which sees its dead companion in the trap1 and then walks up unthinkingly and pokes his head into the same inevitable death and destruction2 but remember that ,satan waits to destroy you1 just the same as he has destroyed others4 ,in the book of ,job 7xviii3 #aj7 it says1 ,the snare is laid for him in the ground and a trap for him in the way2 and in the #hth verse of the same book and chapter it says1 ,he is cast into a net by his own feet1 and he walketh upon a snare4 ,satan has laid traps and snares all along your path through life1 and you will need to be very1 very cautious1 lest you are ruined for time and destroyed for eternity4 ,remember the text for to-day1 which says1 ,among my people are found wicked men2 they lay wait1 as he that setteth snares2 they set a trap1 they catch men4 ,,questions4--,what are traps for8 ,are there different kinds of traps8 ,is a trap a dangerous thing8 ,does a dangerous trap always look dangerous8 ,are there traps set for boys and girls1 and men and women8 ,who sets these traps8 ,what are some of the traps8 ,how are fish caught8 ,who tries to trap and destroy boys and girls1 and men and women8 ,what does ,satan sometimes use8 ,when the mouse sees others caught1 what should he do8 ,does he run away8 ,does he go and do the same thing8 ,does he suffer the same result8 ,if ,satan's traps destroy others1 will they destroy us8 ,have you ever seen any persons who were caught in ,satan's traps8 ,can anybody do wicked things without great danger8 ,,bread4 ,,universal ,,soul ,,hunger4 ,,suggestion3--,bread1 rolls or biscuit can be used if thought necessary1 and these can be used for refreshments later4 ,if the children are tired of driving to church in an imaginary carriage1 let them drive in an imaginary sleigh1 with imaginary bells1 amid winter scenes4 ,,my ,,little ,,friends3 ,i am sure that every boy and girl in this room knows what it is to be hungry4 ,it is a part of our childhood experience to feel hungry almost every day4 ,while the body is growing there is almost a constant demand for nourishment and food4 ,illustration3 ,loaf of ,bread1 ,roll and ,biscuit4 ,we have here a small loaf of bread2 it is called a ,vienna roll1 and here is a small biscuit4 ,now1 this is bread1 only it is baked in small loaves4 ,as people all over the world have hunger1 so bread in one form or another has become the universal food of the world4 ,when in the ,lord's ,prayer we ask ,god to give us this day our daily bread1 we mean not simply bread made of flour1 but we mean necessary food1 food of all kinds2 and so the word bread has come to be used to signify all kinds of wholesome food4 ,god gives us our food day by day1 just the same as each morning the manna rained down from heaven for the ,children of ,israel while they were journeying through the desert4 ,god does not send it to us in just the same way1 but each day ,he furnishes us a sufficient amount of food to sustain our bodies4 ,now1 as there is universal physical hunger1 and as ,god has made provision to supply the food necessary to satisfy the hunger of the body2 so there is a universal hunger of the soul1 and ,god has also made provision to satisfy this universal hunger of our higher spiritual nature4 ,in the sixth chapter of the ,gospel by ,st4 ,john1 you will find much said about the food for the higher1 the spiritual nature4 ,jesus said1 ,verily1 verily ,i say unto you1 ,moses gave you not that bread from ,heaven2 but ,my ,father giveth you the true bread from heaven4 ,for the bread of ,god is ,he which cometh down from heaven and giveth life unto the world4 ,the body is sustained by the food which grows up out of the earth1 because the body is earthy4 ,but to sustain the higher and spiritual nature of man1 which is from heaven1 the food is sent down from heaven1 and therefore ,jesus says of ,himself that ,he is ,the bread of ,god which cometh down from heaven1 and giveth life unto the world1 ,i am the bread of life1 he that cometh to me shall never hunger1 and he that believeth on me shall never thirst4 ,and in the forty-eighth verse of that same chapter ,he says1 ,i am the bread of life2 your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness and are dead4 ,this is the bread which cometh down from heaven1 that man may eat thereof and not die4 ,i am the living bread which came down from heaven2 if any man eat of this bread he shall live forever1 and the bread that ,i will give him is my flesh1 which ,i will give for the life of the world4 ,illustration3 ,plants ,reaching ,out ,toward the ,light4 ,now1 when you desire to be good1 when you desire to live like ,christ1 you desire to know more concerning ,him2 and when you desire to read ,god's ,word1 and to learn of that which is holy and good and right1 then you have this spiritual hunger4 ,that is the kind of hunger of which ,jesus was speaking in this chapter4 ,the presence of ,jesus in the soul and the knowledge of ,him that is given in the ,bible is the best kind of food for our spiritual nature4 ,this was the kind of spiritual food upon which ,joseph fed when he lived in the midst of idolatrous ,egypt4 ,it was upon these spiritual truths that ,david and ,daniel and ,paul and ,luther fed daily1 and this nourished their spiritual natures4 ,i trust you all have this hunger for the bread of life4 ,jesus said1 ,blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness1 for they shall be filled4 ,did you ever see a plant growing at the window in a crock and observe how it bends or reaches out toward the light8 ,if you turn the crock around so that the plant bends inward toward the room1 after a day or two you go to the plant and it will have changed its direction1 and instead of bending into the room1 it will be bending out toward the window4 ,now this plant feeds on the light from the sun1 and on that account it reaches out toward the sun4 ,so if you hunger after that which is good1 you will reach out after ,god1 just as the plant reaches out after the sun4 ,this kind of bread which ,i hold in my hand costs something4 ,flour costs several dollars a barrel1 and bread from five to ten cents a loaf4 ,in times of famine bread has sometimes been sold at many hundreds of dollars for one single loaf4 ,but the bread of life is free2 it costs nothing4 ,everybody can have spiritual food for the simple asking for it4 ,therefore it is that we go to ,god in prayer and ask ,him for every good and helpful grace and blessing2 that we ask ,him for ,his presence in our hearts1 and to make us good1 and to help us to become like ,christ4 ,but there are some who have this hunger after that which is good1 but they do not know about ,god and about the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,they do not have any ,bibles4 ,therefore it is my duty and your duty to send them the bread of everlasting life4 ,it is for this purpose that we give our money for missions so that missionaries may be sent to them to tell them of ,god and ,his love1 and of ,jesus ,christ the ,saviour1 and to take them the ,bible4 ,in order that we may be strengthened by bread1 it is necessary that we should eat it1 and that we should assimilate it or make it part of our own bodies1 in order that we may become strong1 otherwise we would die of hunger in the midst of great store-houses of food4 ,so men and women die spiritually in the midst of churches1 in the midst of ,bibles1 ,bible influences1 and ,bible privileges2 yes1 die without ,christ4 ,in order that our spiritual natures may be fed with spiritual food1 we have every ,christian influence in our homes1 we have the ,sunday-school and the ,catechetical class1 and the ,church with its preaching service1 and prayer-meetings and other services4 ,if you desire to be good1 you must study your ,bibles1 go to ,sunday-school and to church1 and seek to know all you possibly can concerning the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and receive ,him into your hearts1 and live a ,christian life by ,his aid and the grace which ,god will grant you from day to day4 ,,questions4--,do all boys and girls get hungry8 ,what food is most universally used in the world8 ,does the body require food every day8 ,why8 ,do we have a spiritual nature as well as a physical nature8 ,is there a spiritual hunger as well as a physical hunger8 ,will food which satisfies the physical ,hunger satisfy the spiritual hunger8 ,who does the ,bible say is the bread of life8 ,can we obtain food for the body without buying it either with money or effort8 ,must ,jesus1 the spiritual food1 be bought8 ,can salvation be purchased8 ,if ,god did not give it to us could we ever pay for it8 ,where can we learn most about this spiritual hunger and about the bread which came down from ,heaven8 ,how shall we send the ,bread of ,life to the people in heathen lands8 ,,the ,,stone4 ,,the ,,natural ,,and ,,changed ,,heart4 ,,suggestion3--,objects3 ,a small cobble stone and a larger one1 to represent the heart of a child and the heart of an adult1 and a pin with which to prick the stone and prick the hand4 ,illustration3 ,pricking a ,stone4 ,,now1 boys and girls1 ,i have here a stone1 which because of its peculiar shape reminds me of the human heart4 ,but if ,i take a pin and prick this stone it has no feeling whatever4 ,if ,i take this pin and prick the back of my hand1 ,i feel it immediately4 ,it is very unpleasant4 ,indeed1 ,i do not like to endure it1 but this stone has no feeling4 ,if ,i were to love this stone1 the stone would never be conscious of it4 ,i might bestow great gifts upon this stone1 ,i might purchase fruit for it1 and everything that you and ,i might love for food2 the finest clothing also1 the most costly lands and houses1 or we might even bestow upon it very great honor1 and yet this stone would know nothing of it4 ,it would always be insensible of all that ,i might do for it4 ,illustration3 ,pricking the ,hand4 ,now the ,bible represents the natural heart as being wicked4 ,we are told in the ,bible that our hearts have no feeling2 that ,god loves us1 and yet that we do not appreciate it2 that ,god bestows upon us our daily food1 and that ,he clothes us1 and blesses us with every good1 and has provided for us mansions in the skies1 and that ,he desires to give us everlasting salvation4 ,he loves us so much that ,he gave ,his only begotten ,son1 ,jesus ,christ1 to die for us1 and yet with the natural heart no one ever loves ,god1 or appreciates anything that ,he has done for us4 ,and so ,god desires1 as ,he tells us in the ,bible1 to take away1 out of our flesh this heart of stone1 and give us a heart of flesh1 so that we may appreciate and love ,him in return for all that ,he has done for us4 ,the heart is spoken of in the ,bible as the seat of the affections1 and therefore it is that ,god desires us to have a new heart1 a changed heart1 a heart that can love ,him4 ,the ,bible says that each one is to keep his heart with all diligence1 for out of it are the issues of life4 ,we are told also that the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked4 ,illustration3 ,assaulting the ,city of ,child-,soul4 ,many years ago in ,england there was a man by the name of ,john ,bunyan4 ,i suppose you have all heard of his wonderful book entitled the ,pilgrim's ,progress4 ,i hope that many of you have read it4 ,all of you should read it1 if you have not yet done so4 ,get your mother or father to read it for you1 if you cannot read it yourself4 ,this man ,bunyan also wrote a book entitled the ,holy ,war4 ,in this book he represents the human soul or the human heart as a city1 and calls it the ,city of ,mansoul4 ,this city has various gates1 and at all these gates the enemy is trying to gain admission into the city1 so that he may capture it4 ,it is1 indeed1 a very apt illustration of the human heart4 ,do you know that your heart is like a city1 and that ,satan is trying to capture and to get possession of it8 ,indeed1 he may already have possession of it4 ,and when ,god by ,his grace shall come and cast out ,satan and all his evil companions1 they will come back and try to get into the city again4 ,they will come to the various gates of the city2 for your heart has various avenues of approach1 which may be called gates4 ,there is eye-gate4 ,satan comes and he appeals to you and tries to get into your heart through the eye4 ,bad pictures that are posted upon the bulletin boards along our streets1 and wicked things upon which you and ,i ought not to look--worthless papers1 bad books--these ,satan desires to have us look upon1 and in that way get evil thoughts into our minds and wicked purposes into our hearts1 so that he can once more get possession of our hearts4 ,then he comes to ear-gate1 and tries to get into our hearts through our ears4 ,there are wicked songs1 and bad stories1 and wicked words that men pour into our ears1 even when we walk along the streets4 ,and so ,satan tries to get into our hearts through ear-gate1 and he tries to get into our hearts through what ,i will call mouth-gate4 ,he tempts our appetite1 and would have us eat things which would injure us1 or to drink that which would harm us4 ,and so he tries to get a boy to smoke1 or to drink1 if at first only beer1 or something else1 until at last ,satan makes a drunkard of him4 ,so ,satan would get into the heart through mouth-gate4 ,and when he cannot get into the heart through mouth-gate1 or any other way1 he oftentimes approaches mouth-gate by way of nose-gate4 ,by the smell of something that is pleasant he tempts the appetite1 and thus would lead us astray4 ,and then he would also approach our hearts through the sense of feeling4 ,there are many wicked things that ,satan tempts people to do in order to give them pleasure1 and so he seeks to get into their hearts1 and to get entire control of them1 and in that way to get ,god out of their hearts4 ,the best thing that you and ,i can do1 is to accept of ,god's invitation1 where ,he says1 ,my son1 give me thine heart4 ,i trust that you will give your heart earnestly and fully to the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,he will take away this heart of stone out of your flesh1 and give you a heart of flesh4 ,he will keep your heart securely for you1 if you will only give it fully to ,him4 ,,questions4--,does the stone have any feeling8 ,are our natural hearts like a stone8 ,can a human heart that is insensible like a stone be conscious of ,god's love8 ,who offers to give us a heart that will be conscious of ,god's love8 ,who wrote the book picturing the human heart like a city8 ,who is trying to capture this city8 ,through what gates does ,satan try to enter8 ,how does he try to get into ,eye-,gate8 ,how does he try to get into ,ear-,gate8 ,how does he try to get into ,mouth-,gate8 ,can you tell any other methods that he tries8 ,to whom had we better surrender the city of our soul8 ,if we commit the city of our soul to ,god1 will ,he protect and defend it8 ,is there any other way of safety8 ,,the ,,polished ,,stone4 ,,perfection ,,through ,,suffering4 ,,suggestions3--,a piece of polished stone1 or a polished jewel1 or piece of polished metal will answer for the object to be used4 ,,my ,,little ,,men ,,and ,,women3 ,i trust you are all trying to be good1 and perhaps while you have been trying to be a follower of ,jesus you have desired many things and hoped that ,god would give them to you1 because you were trying to do right1 and yet1 perhaps1 you have been disappointed because ,god did not grant your wish4 ,you have been seeking to be faithful1 and yet1 perhaps1 sickness has come to you1 or disappointment and sorrow4 ,perhaps sickness and death have come into your family4 ,your papa or your mamma has been taken away by death1 and you have been left very sad and lonely1 and you have come to wonder how it is1 if ,god loves you1 that ,he does not grant you just what you wish1 and that ,he permits sickness and sorrow and bereavement to come to you and to your home4 ,illustration3 ,stones ,being ,prepared for a ,great ,building ,copyrighted #aiaa by ,sylvanus ,stall4 ,when you have looked about you1 you have seen many good people who have been in much distress1 oftentimes in poverty1 afflicted with sickness1 bereaved of their loved ones1 and left in great sorrow and disappointment4 ,when you have taken up your ,bible you have found that the same was true many hundreds of years ago4 ,david was greatly afflicted4 ,paul had his thorn in the flesh4 ,the disciples were often cast into prison1 and it is very likely that all of them were put to death1 as their ,master had been before them4 ,now ,i want to illustrate to you to-day why ,god permits sorrow and affliction to come to us4 ,i have here two stones1 both taken out of the same quarry4 ,this one is polished and has a very beautiful surface4 ,it is very beautiful1 not only to look at1 but it would be beautiful in any place you might choose to put it4 ,this other is rough and jagged1 and not at all pleasant1 either to handle or to look upon4 ,this rough stone can be made useful1 but it would be no more useful than any other rough and unsightly stone4 ,it would do very well to place in the foundation of a building1 to be all covered up with mortar and have other stones laid on top of it2 to be built in the foundation down below the ground1 where no one would ever see it4 ,but it would be of no special value in its present condition for anything other than that4 ,i think this polished stone may very properly represent ,christian people4 ,for long1 long years this stone had been lying peacefully and quietly in its rocky bed4 ,but one day a man who purposed to build a very beautiful palace came along1 and he found that the great rocks in a certain portion of the country contained stone that could be polished very beautifully4 ,they could therefore be made very useful in constructing his palace or cathedral4 ,so he sent a large number of men to the quarry and they began to drill great holes in the rock4 ,now1 if these rocks had any feeling you can see at once that they would object to having such great holes drilled into their sides1 because it would hurt a great deal4 ,but after the men had the holes drilled they put powder in them and blasted off great pieces of these rocks4 ,then these great blocks were hauled away and placed in the hands of stone masons1 who began with chisels and mallets to cut and carve4 ,after that1 with some fine sand or emery1 or something of that kind1 other men ground and polished the face of the stone until it became very beautiful4 ,illustration3 ,stones ,being ,polished4 ,now1 if these stones had had feeling1 you can see at once that they would have objected to being chiselled and cut1 and carved1 and ground1 and polished4 ,this process would have hurt so much that the stones would have cried out1 and asked to be delivered from such a painful process4 ,illustration3 ,the ,beautiful ,angel ,was ,carved ,out4 ,it is related of ,michael ,angelo1 that one day he was passing a quarry where large blocks of beautiful marble were being taken out4 ,in one large block he saw a beautiful angel4 ,he ordered the block to be taken to his studio1 or the place where he studied and worked4 ,and then he put his men at work to chisel off the rough corners1 and thus to deliver the angel out of the rough pieces by which it was surrounded4 ,after many days and weeks1 and perhaps months of working1 in which this large block of marble had to submit to a great deal of chiselling and carving1 and cutting1 and polishing2 lo6 and behold1 the beautiful angel was all carved out and stood complete and perfect4 ,it was polished and was made very beautiful1 and when it was set up1 it was the delight of every one who looked upon it4 ,but all this1 you easily see1 was only made possible by that cutting and carving1 which would have been very painful to the marble if it had been possessed of feeling4 ,i think you will begin to see that these things which we call troubles and trials1 after all1 are well calculated by ,god to bring out that which is noblest and best in us4 ,when you grow older you will come to say like ,paul1 that you know that tribulation worketh patience1 and patience experience1 and experience hope1 and hope maketh not ashamed4 ,you will then come to understand that these things work out for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory1 and like ,paul1 you will learn to be patient in tribulation4 ,one time when ,paul and ,barnabas were at ,lystra and healed a cripple1 the people were moved against ,paul by some wicked ,jews from ,antioch and ,iconium1 and they pursued ,paul and threw large stones at him and hit him with such great force that he fell down1 and they supposed that he was dead4 ,but ,paul was not dead1 and afterwards when he met some of the ,christian people at that and other places1 when they talked to him about it1 and thought that it was very hard that ,god should have permitted these wicked people to stone him1 ,paul told these ,christians that through much tribulation we must enter into the kingdom of heaven4 ,but ,i must not detain you longer4 ,i want simply to say in closing that when ,st4 ,john had been banished to the ,isle of ,patmos and was permitted to have a view of heaven1 and looked into that glorious city1 he saw a great company1 and he inquired of the angel who these people were4 ,the angel replied3 ,these are they which came out of great tribulation1 and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the ,lamb4 ,therefore are they before the ,throne of ,god and serve ,him day and night in ,his temple2 and ,he that sitteth upon the ,throne shall dwell among them4 ,they shall hunger no more1 neither thirst any more2 neither shall the sun light on them1 nor any heat4 ,for the ,lamb which is in the midst of the ,throne shall feed them1 and shall lead them unto living fountains of water2 and ,god shall wipe away all tears from their eyes4 7,rev4 vii3 #ad-ag47 ,if in our sickness1 or sorrow1 or disappointment here upon the earth1 we are sad or lonely1 let us remember that in the happy home to which we go we shall be forever with the ,lord1 and that all tears shall be wiped away1 and that we shall be happy forever and ever on high4 ,it is only through these tribulations that you and ,i can be prepared to enter heaven4 ,if ,god were to give us everything we want1 like children who are indulged1 we would soon be spoiled and would not be fit for the enjoyment of heaven or the companionship of the angels4 ,,questions4--,what is rough stone used for8 ,does the stone have feeling8 ,if it had feeling1 would it object to being cut and chiselled and polished8 ,could it be used in a great building unless it was first quarried and prepared8 ,how can the rough stone be made beautiful8 ,can it be polished so that you can see your face in it8 ,who prepares people to be builded into ,his kingdom8 ,how does ,he do this8 ,who composed the great multitude whom ,john saw in the glorious city8 ,what had happened to them8 ,what should we remember in times of sickness and sorrow8 ,why are trials necessary to fit us for heaven8 ,will we be in the presence of ,god there and have angels as our companions8 ,,ropes4 ,,habits ,,and ,,how ,,they ,,become ,,strong4 ,,suggestions3--,objects to be used are a spool of thread1 a piece of string or twine and a piece of rope4 ,after the sermon has been read1 the thread and strings could be used to tie the hands and feet1 and thus illustrate how impossible it is to break them when they are wound again and again around the hands and the feet1 even though the thread be very fine4 ,so with habits1 seemingly insignificant4 ,,my ,,dear ,,boys ,,and ,,girls3 ,i have to-day a piece of rope1 and also some different kinds of string4 ,if ,i take this rope and try to break it1 ,i find that it is impossible4 ,i do not believe that any five or six ordinary men could pull with sufficient strength to break this rope4 ,i am sure that no twenty boys and girls could pull hard enough to break it4 ,illustration3 ,rope4 ,here is a very strong string4 ,perhaps a couple of boys1 possibly four boys1 might be able to break it4 ,but here is a thinner string4 ,possibly ,i may be able to break this4 ,yes1 ,i can1 but with great difficulty4 ,it takes all the strength ,i have to break it4 ,now1 here is some that is still thinner4 ,it is about as thick as heavy thread4 ,i can break it very easily4 ,but now1 when ,i take this heavy rope and cut off a piece1 if ,i unwind these different strands1 ,i find that this rope is made by twisting smaller ropes together4 ,if ,i untwist this smaller rope1 which ,i have taken out of the larger rope1 ,i find that it in like manner is also made of smaller ropes1 or strings4 ,if ,i take these smaller strings1 and untwist them1 ,i find that they are made of still smaller strings2 if ,i take any of these smaller strings out of the rope1 ,i can break them easily1 but when ,i twist several of them together1 ,i cannot break them4 ,illustration3 ,string4 ,i think that these smaller cords1 out of which this rope is made1 will very fittingly illustrate habits4 ,it is a very dangerous thing to form bad habits4 ,we should be very careful to form good ones1 but bad ones are very dangerous4 ,the boy who remains away from ,sunday-school but once1 thinks little of it4 ,the boy who remains away from church1 or stays at home from school1 or disobeys his parents1 or spends the evenings on the streets instead of in the house reading good books1 or breaks the ,sabbath1 or does any one of many things1 may think very little of it at the time2 but do you know that when we go on repeating the same thing over and over again1 the habit grows stronger and stronger until at last we are not able to break loose from that habit8 ,there are men who think that they can stop smoking4 ,they began with only an occasional cigarette or a cigar1 until the habit grew upon them1 and now possibly they think they are able to stop1 but when they undertake to break off smoking1 they find that it is a very difficult task1 and very few smokers who undertake it succeed permanently4 ,the old habit is likely to overcome them again and again4 ,so it is with swearing1 and with telling falsehoods1 and with being dishonest1 and with drinking liquor1 and everything else that men and boys often do4 ,these habits at last become very strong1 until they are not able to break loose from them4 ,now1 if you take one of these strong habits from which a man is not able to break loose1 and untwist it1 you will find that it was made strong by a repetition of small habits4 ,habits are made strong by doing the same thing over and over again4 ,it is just the same as when ,i take this spool of thread and wrap it around the feet of a boy4 ,i can wrap it around and around1 and while it would be easy for him to break the thread if it was wrapped once or twice1 or three or four times around his feet2 yet after ,i have succeeded in placing it ten or twelve1 or twenty-five or fifty times around his feet1 he is not able to walk at all4 ,illustration3 ,hands ,bound4 ,i could tie his hands by wrapping this small thread around and around1 just a few times4 ,at first it could be broken1 but after a little it becomes so strong that he is not able to break it at all4 ,so it is with habits4 ,when we do the same things again and again1 the habit becomes stronger and stronger day by day1 and year by year1 until at last ,satan has the poor victim bound hand and foot1 and he is absolutely helpless4 ,no one is able to come and snap the cords1 and set this poor helpless prisoner free1 until ,god in ,his grace comes and liberates him from the evil habits with which he has bound himself1 or with which he has permitted ,satan to bind him4 ,it is very important that in the very beginning of life1 we should all form the habit of doing those things which are right4 ,the doing of the right may at first afford us but very little pleasure1 yet we are to continue to do right1 and after a while it will become pleasant for us to do right4 ,illustration3 ,feet ,bound4 ,at first it may not be very pleasant for a boy to go to school4 ,he prefers not to exert himself2 not to put forth any mental effort4 ,but after he becomes accustomed to going to school1 and to putting forth mental effort1 it becomes more and more natural to him1 and finally he comes to love study4 ,after he has completed his studies in the primary school1 he goes to the intermediate1 and to the grammar school1 and high school1 and possibly to college1 and continues to be a student all his life4 ,so it is with going to church2 those who begin when they are young and go regularly1 ,sunday after ,sunday1 become regular church attendants all their lives4 ,habits are formed very much like the channel of a river4 ,gradually1 year after year1 the river wears its course deeper and deeper1 until finally through the soft soil and the hard rock1 through the pleasant meadow and the beautiful woodlands1 it has worn out for itself a very deep channel in which it continues to flow to the ocean4 ,so the mind1 by repeated action1 marks out its course4 ,whether the mental effort or manual work be pleasant or difficult1 we become so accustomed to it1 that we go on day by day1 and year by year doing the same thing4 ,the ,bible gives very wise instruction to parents when it says1 ,train up a child in the way he should go3 and when he is old1 he will not depart from it4 7,prov4 xxii3 #f47 ,it has also been wisely said1 ,sow an act and you reap a habit2 sow a habit and you reap a character2 sow a character and you reap a destiny4 ,be careful1 boys and girls1 what you do1 for by doing anything you are forming a habit4 ,if you do wrong things you will form bad habits1 but if you do right things you will form good habits1 which are always the best4 ,,questions4--,are small ropes or strings used to make big ropes8 ,can you tie a boy's hands and feet with thread so that he cannot make himself free8 ,how are strong habits made8 ,is it a good thing that habits are formed in this way8 ,does this make it easy to form good habits8 ,does it also make it easy to break away at first from a bad habit8 ,which is easier1 to form a bad habit or to break away from it8 ,who tries to bind us with bad habits8 ,who alone can break the ropes of habit with which ,satan binds us8 ,what does the ,bible say about training up a child in the way he should go8 ,,watch ,,and ,,case4 ,,the ,,soul ,,and ,,the ,,body4 ,,suggestion3--,a watch and case 7preferably a double case7 from which the works can be easily removed will answer the purpose4 ,jewelers often have such old watches that they would be glad to sell for a trifle1 or even to give away4 ,a small old clock from which the works can be removed would also answer the same purpose4 ,keep up the play idea with the children4 ,older persons may weary of repetition1 but to children their play is always new and interesting4 ,after driving to church1 being shown to seats1 and after some opening services1 let one of the children preach in his or her own language the truth which most impressed them in last ,sunday's object sermon1 or the truth which they remember from the morning sermon in church1 or from any passage of ,scripture which they may prefer4 ,no better school of oratory was ever formed1 even though the primary purpose is devotional and religious4 ,,now1 boys and girls1 what is this that ,i hold in my hand8 7,many voices1 ,a watch47 ,i expected that you would say it was a watch4 ,every boy knows a watch when he sees it1 and every boy desires to have a watch of his own--one which he can carry in his pocket1 and one which will tell him the time of day whenever he looks at it4 ,but you cannot be sure1 even from appearances1 that this is absolutely a watch4 ,it might be only a watch-case4 ,in order to tell whether it is a watch1 let us open it4 ,after all1 it is not a watch4 ,it is only a watch-case4 ,you would not wish to spend your money when you expect to get a watch1 and on reaching home find that you have been deceived1 and that you had nothing but a watch-case4 ,illustration3 ,watch-case4 ,now1 boys and girls1 what is this8 7holding up the works of the watch74 ,a watch4 ,this time you are right1 this is a watch4 ,it is a watch without a case around it4 ,now we will put the works into the case1 and then we will have a complete watch4 ,the works and the case together more properly constitute a watch4 ,illustration3 ,a ,watch-case and ,works4 ,you have1 ,i suppose1 been at a funeral1 and have seen the body of the dead man or woman or child lying in the coffin4 ,unless somebody has told you differently1 you may possibly have thought the person whom you had known was lying there in the coffin4 ,but this was not the fact4 ,every man1 woman and child consists of a soul and a body1 and when a person dies the soul returns to ,god1 who gave it4 ,god made our body out of the dust of the ground1 and when the spirit leaves the body1 it is a dead body1 and it begins to decay1 and soon becomes offensive1 and so we bury the body out of our sight1 putting it again in the ground1 and finally it moulders back again to dust4 ,it is not so1 however1 with the soul4 ,that is a spirit4 ,when ,god had made ,adam out of the dust of the ground1 ,he breathed into his nostrils the breath of life1 and man became a living soul4 ,now1 this soul never dies4 ,god has created it to live forever and ever1 throughout all eternity4 ,those who are good and trust in the ,lord ,jesus ,christ will be received at death to dwell forever with the ,lord4 ,and those who are wicked and do not repent of their sins1 ,god will banish forever from ,his presence2 for sin is hateful in the sight of ,god1 who cannot look upon it with any degree of allowance4 ,illustration3 ,case and ,works ,separated4 ,the moment you look upon a body1 without being able to tell how1 you can nevertheless quickly distinguish between one who is asleep and one who is really dead4 ,even animals can tell a dead body4 ,when a dead horse lies along the road1 it is very difficult to drive a live horse near to the dead one4 ,the living horse knows at once that the other is dead1 although we do not know how he knows it4 ,now1 ,i want to show you that death does not affect the existence of the soul4 ,i will now lift these works out of the watch case4 ,i now hold the case in my left hand1 and the works in my right hand4 ,as these works constitute the real watch1 so the soul constitutes the real person1 and as these wheels and hands continue to move1 and to keep time regularly even after they have been removed from the case2 so the soul1 when ,god removes it from the body1 continues to exist and to be possessed of all that makes the reasoning1 thinking1 immortal and indestructible being of man4 ,i might take this case1 which ,i hold in my left hand1 and bury it in the ground1 but the works would not be affected by this fact1 but would continue to run on just the same4 ,suppose ,i were to leave this case buried in the ground until it had all rusted away4 ,then suppose that1 as a chemist ,i could gather up all these particles again and make them anew into a watch case1 and then put the works back into the case which had been restored or made anew2 that would represent the resurrection of the body1 and the reuniting of the soul with the body1 which will take place at the resurrection day4 ,some years ago there was a great chemist1 whose name was ,faraday4 ,it happened one time in his laboratory that one of the students1 by accident1 knocked from the table a silver cup1 which fell into a vessel of acid4 ,the acid immediately destroyed or dissolved it1 and the silver all disappeared1 the same as sugar dissolves or melts in a tumbler of water4 ,when ,professor ,faraday came in and was told what had happened1 he took some chemicals and poured them into the acid in which the silver had disappeared4 ,as soon as these two chemicals came together1 the acid began to release the silver1 and particle by particle the silver settled at the bottom of the vessel4 ,the acid was then poured off and the silver was all carefully gathered up and sent to a silversmith1 who melted the silver and made it anew into a silver cup of the same form1 design and beauty4 ,it was the same cup made anew4 ,so1 my young friends1 our bodies may dissolve in the grave and entirely disappear1 but ,god is able to raise them up again4 ,he tells us in the ,bible that these bodies which are buried in corruption shall be raised in incorruption1 and that these mortal bodies shall put on immortality4 ,i trust that ,i have illustrated to you how the soul and the body are separated when we die1 and ,god's ,word assures us that they shall be reunited again in the morning of the resurrection1 for all these dead bodies shall hear the voice of the ,son of ,god and shall come forth4 ,it matters not whether they were buried in the ground1 or in the water1 they shall arise from every sea and from every cemetery1 and every grave in all the world1 and shall live anew and forever1 either in happiness with ,god in heaven1 or in misery with ,satan in eternal banishment from ,god's presence4 ,,questions4--,what are the principal parts of a watch8 ,which part is like the body8 ,which part is like the soul8 ,which is the real watch8 ,could the works alone run and keep time without the case8 ,when does the soul become separated from the body8 ,does death affect the existence and life of the soul8 ,if a watch case were buried and rusted away1 could it be made new again8 ,does the ,bible say our bodies are also to be raised again from the grave8 ,what is that raising up of the body called8 ,will it make any difference whether a body was buried in the sea or in the earth8 7,the sea shall give up its dead74 ,whose voice shall call the body to immortality8 ,will the immortal body ever die8 ,,pearls4 ,,one ,,of ,,great ,,price4 ,,suggestion3--,a single pearl1 or a string of pearls will serve well for illustration4 ,illustration3 ,string of ,pearls4 ,,my ,,young ,,friends3 ,here is a whole string of pearls4 ,one time ,i found a large pearl in an oyster4 ,i thought it might be valuable1 and ,i took it to a jeweler1 but he soon told me that it was not worth much1 because it was not perfect4 ,it was unusually large1 but to be valuable it must be perfectly round and have no defects4 ,when ,jesus was upon the earth ,he told of a merchant who went in search of a very valuable pearl1 and when he had found it1 he sold all that he had and bought that pearl1 in order that he might have the largest and most valuable jewel in all the world4 ,illustration3 ,diving for ,pearls4 ,cleopatra1 ,queen of ,egypt1 had a pearl that was worth three hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars1 and one day she dissolved this costly pearl1 and drank it in a glass of wine to the honor of ,mark ,antony1 one of the ,roman rulers4 ,there are pearls to-day worth two and three hundred thousand dollars1 and possibly more4 ,the pearl in this parable is the symbol of salvation4 ,now1 salvation has cost more1 and is worth more than all the farms1 and houses1 and stores1 and wealth of all this nation1 and all the nations of all the globe1 and all the created universe about us4 ,it cost the life of the ,son of ,god1 and it is desirable1 therefore1 that you and ,i should obtain it1 because of the many blessings it secures to us1 both in this world and in the world to come4 ,for two thousand years men from all the largest nations of the earth have gone to the island of ,ceylon1 seeking pearls4 ,it is a barren and deserted island1 but during the months of ,february1 ,march and ,april1 every night at ten o'clock1 many boats sail out about ten miles1 to the place where men1 with large leaden weights at their feet1 dive down through the water until they come to the banks where the large pearl oyster has his home4 ,they quickly pick up several of these oysters and drop them into a basket of network1 and in about sixty or seventy seconds are again drawn up by their companions into the boat4 ,men and women could not have pearls if it were not that these men are willing to risk their lives by diving way down under the water to obtain them4 ,no one could secure salvation had not ,jesus left ,his throne in heaven and come down to this wicked world to suffer and die1 that ,he might make atonement for our sins upon the cross1 so that you and ,i might not perish but have everlasting life--so that you and ,i might have salvation1 both here and in heaven4 ,when ,i went to the jeweler1 he told me that the defects on the pearl which ,i had found could not be removed and the rough places polished4 ,diamonds have to be cut and polished4 ,many precious and costly jewels when found look only like rough stones in the field1 but the pearl is perfect when found2 nothing can be done to make it more perfect or more valuable4 ,just so is the salvation of ,jesus perfect2 no human wisdom can improve upon it4 ,the best book that any man ever wrote has been equaled by what some other man has thought and written4 ,the religion of the heathen can be greatly improved1 but the ,bible and the salvation which it reveals1 man has never been able to equal1 much less to improve upon4 ,to-day1 as thousands of years ago1 pearls are worn as ornaments to the body1 but the salvation which ,jesus ,christ came to bring is an ornament to the soul that possesses it4 ,the pearl is valuable and desirable1 because it cannot easily be stolen away from its owner4 ,when ,jesus was upon the earth they did not have banks1 with large iron safes where people could deposit their money and jewels for safe keeping4 ,there were many robbers then1 and people buried their money and valuables4 ,often the places where these were concealed were discovered1 and then all that they had was stolen4 ,a pearl is small1 and could therefore easily be hidden in a place of safety4 ,if war occurred1 or for any reason a man and his family had to flee from their home or their country1 they could easily carry even the most valuable pearls4 ,the owner could hide it in his mouth1 or even swallow it if necessary4 ,if a man had much gold1 it was too heavy to carry1 and it could readily be discovered and stolen4 ,but a pearl was not so difficult to hide and keep4 ,the ,bible tells us that salvation is something that the world cannot give1 and which the world cannot take away4 ,daniel had this pearl of great price1 and even though the king cast him into the den of lions1 he could not get it away from him4 ,his three companions with those hard names1 ,shadrach1 ,meshach and ,abednego1 had this pearl of salvation1 and even in the furnace of fire it was not destroyed or taken from them4 ,if you have this pearl of salvation1 you can keep it in spite of all the wicked people in the world2 you can hide it away in your heart1 and all the armies of the world cannot take it away from you4 ,in sickness or in health it will be yours1 and even death itself can not rob you of it4 ,it will stay with you in this world1 and it will be your joy and gladness in the world to come4 ,as the merchantman went out seeking the most valuable pearl1 so all the world is to-day seeking for something which will satisfy and render their owners happy4 ,there are many good things in this world1 but none of them can make any one contented and happy1 like the salvation which ,jesus gives when we repent of our sins and in faith accept ,him as our ,saviour4 ,before you get1 or even desire any other pearl1 ,i want each of you to accept of this ,pearl of great price1 which is ,jesus ,christ4 ,,questions4--,of what is a pearl the symbol in the ,bible8 ,are pearls valuable8 ,is salvation valuable8 ,where are pearls principally found8 ,how are they obtained8 ,are pearls polished like the diamond8 ,why do people wear pearls8 ,can we lose pearls by having them stolen8 ,can we lose salvation8 ,who would steal it away8 ,who can give us the ,pearl of great price8 ,it is well to have the children learn the answers to many of the leading ,bible questions4 ,try them in the following3--,who was the first man8 ,who was the first woman8 ,of what did ,god make ,adam and ,eve8 ,who was the first murderer8 ,who was the oldest man8 ,who built the ark8 ,who had the coat of many colors8 ,who was the strongest man8 ,who slew ,goliath the giant8 ,with what did ,david slay ,goliath8 ,who was the wisest man8 ,who was cast into the den of lions8 ,who went to ,heaven in the chariot of fire without dying8 ,upon whom did ,elijah's mantle fall8 ,a goodly number of similar questions are found on pages #be and #bf4 ,,coal ,,and ,,wood4 ,,jesus ,,the ,,source ,,of ,,spiritual ,,light ,,and ,,warmth4 ,,suggestion3--,the objects used to-day can be a piece of wood1 a piece of coal1 a candle and a piece of electric light carbon1 such as are daily thrown away in towns where the arc lighting is used4 ,,dear ,,boys ,,and ,,girls3 ,when ,jesus was upon the earth1 ,he said of ,himself1 ,i am the light of the world4 ,now1 ,i desire to-day to illustrate to you something of the truth which ,jesus had in mind when ,he uttered these words4 ,illustration3 ,the ,sun and ,moon4 ,we are told in the ,bible1 that when ,god created the world1 on the fourth day ,he created the sun and the moon to give light upon the earth1 the sun to rule over the day1 and the moon to rule over the night4 ,i suppose you all know that the earth is round1 and that while the sun is shining on our side of the earth1 and making it day here1 on the other side of the earth it is night and is all dark4 ,now1 ,i want to tell you that the sun is the source of all light upon the earth4 ,the sun shines and dispels the darkness1 and makes it light4 ,and do you know that the moon does not shine by its own light1 but it simply throws back again1 as we say1 reflects1 the light of the sun1 just the same as when a boy takes a small piece or looking-glass and throws the light across the street8 ,there is no light in the looking-glass itself1 but it simply takes the rays of light which fall upon it from the sun and bends them1 or turns them1 so that the boy can throw the rays of light across the street1 or upon anything that he desires that is in range of him4 ,so the light of the sun falls upon the moon1 and is turned again or reflected back upon the earth4 ,god has so placed the moon in the heavens that it reflects the light of the sun upon those portions of the earth which are in darkness4 ,or1 in other words1 as ,he says in the ,bible1 the moon has been made to rule the night4 ,so you see that even the moon does not shine by its own light4 ,jesus ,christ is the ,sun of ,righteousness4 ,all the good there is in the world1 all the righteousness1 all that is holy and pure1 come from ,jesus ,christ4 ,the ,church is also a source of purity1 of holiness1 of religion1 and of ,christianity4 ,but the church does not shine of itself4 ,it does not have these influences within itself4 ,all its light is derived from the ,sun of ,righteousness4 ,all influences which tend for goodness and holiness and purity are derived from the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,he is the source of all that is good1 and only in so far as the ,church reflects the life of ,jesus1 and the truth which is revealed in ,his ,word1 and in the teachings of ,jesus1 does it become the source of saving power in the world4 ,illustration3 ,candle1 ,coal and ,wood4 ,now1 here ,i have a piece of coal1 and a piece of wood1 and a candle1 and a piece of carbon from an electric light4 ,you might ask me whether the light that comes from the coal when it burns1 or the wood when it burns1 and the candle when it is lighted1 and the electric light when it illuminates the street so brightly1 whether they are not shining by their own light8 ,no2 they are not shining by their own light4 ,all the light that there is in the wood1 or in the coal1 or in the candle1 or in anything else that makes a light at all1 derives its source and origin from the sun4 ,the light that comes from the burning of this wood is simply the releasing of the light that has been accumulated from the rays of light shining from the sun upon the tree while it was growing1 year after year1 in the field or forest4 ,and now1 when it is burning1 it simply releases or throws out that light which it received from the sun1 and which was stored up in the wood of the tree while it was growing4 ,this coal is simply a portion of a tree which grew many1 many hundreds or thousands of years ago1 and which1 in some great convulsion of nature1 was buried deep under the surface of the earth in what we now call coal mines4 ,the coal has undergone some chemical changes1 but1 nevertheless1 all the light there is in the coal is simply that buried sunshine1 which was stored up centuries and centuries ago1 in the form of vegetables and trees4 ,now1 when it burns in the grate or in the furnace it simply releases that heat and warmth and light1 which was stored up in these trees many1 many centuries ago4 ,it is simply buried sunshine which ,god has stored up for our use4 ,the same is true of the light of the candle2 if it were not for the light of the sun there would be no light giving power in any oil or tallow1 or in this carbon1 which is used in the electric light2 they all derive their light from the sun itself4 ,just so it is with all the truth and righteousness there is in the world4 ,when you see a man who is good and ,christlike1 it is not because that man has the power in himself to be good1 but it is because he has received that power from the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,the light of the ,sun of ,righteousness has shone into that man's heart1 and the light that goes out through his daily conduct and character1 is only the light of the ,son of ,god shining out through that man4 ,all objects which live in the sunlight drink in this light-giving power1 and all people who live daily in the light of the ,sun of ,righteousness will partake of ,his nature and of ,his character1 and then live that nature and character in their own daily lives4 ,in this way they do as ,jesus commanded1 let their lights so shine1 that others seeing their good work1 glorify their ,father which is in heaven4 ,you should be careful to note that ,jesus does not say that we ourselves are to shine so that others may glorify us4 ,no1 not at all4 ,many people try to shine or to attract the attention of others to themselves1 but that is not what ,jesus said or meant1 but rather the reverse4 ,neither are we to attempt to shine1 or to attempt to attract the glory or honor to ourselves4 ,let not yourself so shine1 but let your light so shine that others seeing your good works may glorify--not you1 but your ,father which is in heaven4 ,we must let ,jesus ,christ shine in and through us4 ,whenever you see men or women1 or girls or boys who are living beautiful ,christian lives1 it is not they that light up the moral darkness that is in the world1 it is ,jesus ,christ who lives in them and shines through them1 that makes them good and holy1 and consequently a source of light and blessing to all about them4 ,,questions4--,what does ,christ call ,himself8 ,what is the source of the light of the natural world8 ,does the sun shine by its own light8 ,does the moon shine by its own light1 or does it reflect the light of the sun8 ,what is the source of light displayed when coal and wood and other substances are burned8 ,does all natural light come from the sun8 ,who is the source of our spiritual light and knowledge8 ,are the ,church and ,christian people lights in the world8 ,do they shine of their own goodness like the sun1 or are they like the moon in that they reflect the divine light8 ,does any person have the power in himself to be good8 ,where does this power to be good come from8 ,does ,christ want us to shine as lights in the world8 ,are we to let our lights shine to glorify ourselves1 or to glorify ,christ8 ,illustration ,,lanterns4 ,,the ,,best ,,light ,,for ,,our ,,path4 ,,suggestions3--,a lantern of any kind may be used4 ,if one of the old-fashioned tin lanterns1 perforated with holes through which the light was to shine1 is available it would add greatly to the curiosity and interest of the children1 although these are now very rare1 as they were in use a half century ago4 ,after driving to church1 and after preaching by the children and the reading of the following sermon on lanterns1 a few ,japanese lanterns--one for each of the children--would enable the parents to form a little torch-light procession 7although no lighted candles need be in the lanterns74 ,after marching through the different rooms1 give the children a talk upon the conditions existing in heathen lands like ,china and ,japan1 and the changes which are being wrought through the introduction of ,christianity and the work of the missionaries4 ,illustration3 ,old ,lantern4 ,i ,,do not believe that there is a boy or girl here to-day who could tell me what this thing is1 that ,i hold in my hand4 ,it is a lantern1 a very different lantern possibly1 from those which any of you have ever seen4 ,this is the kind of lantern that your grandfather and my grandfather used many years ago1 in the days when they did not have lamps1 and gas1 and electric lights1 and such things as we enjoy to-day4 ,when ,i was a small boy in the country we used to have only candles4 ,later on in life1 ,i remember when they first had fluid lamps1 and then kerosene oil1 and then gas1 and then1 as we have it now1 electric lights4 ,in the second congregation to which ,i ministered1 there was an old gentleman who had one of these lanterns4 ,he lived some distance from the church1 and very dark nights you could always see him coming across the hill1 carrying this strange lantern4 ,after the candle was lighted and placed inside1 the light shone out through these small holes1 and if the wind blew very hard1 the light was liable to be blown out4 ,now1 here is a better lantern4 ,david says of ,god's ,word1 ,thy word is a lamp unto my feet1 and a light unto my path4 ,on a dark night in the country1 you could not go out of doors and move about without running up against a tree1 or the fence1 or falling into the ditch1 or soon finding yourself involved in serious difficulties2 and on this account people in the country carry a lantern at night4 ,in the ,eastern countries where ,jesus lived1 where they did not have gas and electric lamps to light the streets1 when people went out at night they always carried a lantern4 ,and so ,david said1 ,thy word is a lamp unto my feet1 and a light unto my path4 7,ps4 cxix3 #aje47 ,illustration3 ,coming ,across the ,hill ,carrying this ,strange ,lantern4 ,when people go out of doors into the darkness with a lantern they do not hold it way up high1 but hold it down near their feet1 so that they can see the path1 and it enables them to walk with security and safety4 ,sometimes there are men who have gone to college1 and have learned ,latin and ,greek1 have studied the sciences and philosophy1 and they think they have learned a very great deal4 ,perhaps afterwards they have studied medicine and become physicians1 or have read law and become lawyers1 and they think that they are able with all they know to find the true path of blessing through life4 ,they think they have light enough of themselves4 ,they do not seem to know that all about them there is a darkness of great mystery2 that sin and death and destruction lurk all along their way through life1 and that their pathway is full of snares1 and pitfalls1 and dangers1 but they try to walk with the little light that there is in the human understanding4 ,there is another class of men who go through college and who may1 perchance1 study much1 and the more they study the more they come to realize how little they know1 and how much there is beyond them that they do not understand at all4 ,with the little light of human understanding they comprehend how very dense and dark are the mysteries all about them1 and so in order that they may walk safely through life1 and come at last to the city of eternal safety1 they take ,god's ,word as a lamp to their feet4 ,just the same as a person in the country carries a lamp in order that he may find his path1 so these good people take the ,word of ,god and they make it the lamp unto their feet1 and the light unto their path4 ,boys and girls often look at learned men and women and think that when they get to be as old and to know as much as these people1 that then they will know everything4 ,but that is a great mistake4 ,the more we know and the more learned we are1 the more we discover that there is still further beyond us that which we do not understand4 ,no one has ever been able to tell how the bread and the meat and potatoes and other food which we eat is made to sustain our life1 how it is converted into and made a part of ourselves4 ,how on our heads these things become1 or are changed into hair1 on the ends of our fingers to nails1 and how other parts become flesh1 and bone and eyes and ears and teeth4 ,nobody can understand how the ground in the garden can be changed by some life principle into fruit and vegetables and flowers and hundreds of different things1 and yet all this wonderful variety1 all growing out of the very same soil1 or ground as we call it4 ,and so as you grow older and become more and more learned you will come more and more to appreciate how much there is that you can never understand4 ,there is mystery all about us1 and we all need the light of divine truth1 the light of ,god's ,word1 the ,bible as a light to guide us through the darkness and the mysteries that are all about us4 ,if you have ever been in the country upon a dark night and have seen the railway engine come dashing along1 with the great headlight that throws the rays of light far down along the track enabling the engineer to see very far ahead of him1 you would understand what the ,bible purposes to do for us1 when ,god says that ,he will make it a lamp unto our feet1 and a light unto our path4 ,as you grow older1 and sorrow and sickness and trials come to you1 you will need ,god's ,word to be a lamp unto your feet4 ,and when at last the messenger of death shall come and summon you into ,god's presence1 and you go through the valley of the shadow of death1 you will then need this lamp for your feet1 and you will need the ,lord ,jesus ,christ with you1 that you may lean upon ,him and that you may say as ,david did3 ,yea though ,i walk through the valley of the shadow of death1 ,i will fear no evil1 for thou art with me1 thy rod and thy staff they comfort me4 ,may ,god give you this light through the journey of this life1 and bring you to that city of light and life on high4 ,,questions4--,why did the people of the ,east carry lanterns at night8 ,what did ,david call the ,bible8 ,should the lantern be held above the head1 or down near the feet8 ,which is the best light to our spiritual pathway1 human wisdom or ,divine revelation8 ,which is the safer light for us to follow1 books which men write1 or the book which ,god has given us8 ,can we understand all that we find in the book of nature8 ,can we understand all that we find in the book of revelation8 ,do they both have the same author8 ,is ,god infinitely greater than man8 ,does this explain to you why we cannot understand all that ,god has done or said8 ,can we put a bushel basket into a quart measure8--the smaller can not contain the larger4 ,,candles4 ,,how ,,to ,,reflect1 ,,obscure1 ,,or ,,extinguish ,,the ,,light4 ,,suggestions3--,a candle1 a silver dollar1 a large-necked bottle and a flask-shaped bottle are the objects used4 ,it will add to the interest of the children if the parent will show the simple experiments of placing the bottle over the candle to illustrate how quickly the light is extinguished as the oxygen is exhausted4 ,the same is the result when a light is hid under a bushel4 ,the flame may also be concealed by the dollar2 and in a darkened room a polished piece of metal or a small looking-glass will show how the light can be reflected by money properly used in ,christ's cause4 ,,my ,,little ,,men ,,and ,,women3 ,to-day ,i have brought some candles in order to illustrate the text1 ,ye are the light of the world4 ,in a previous sermon ,i have shown you how all the light in the world is derived from the sun1 and how all the light in the spiritual world is derived from ,jesus ,christ4 ,now1 to-day ,i want to show you that we can extinguish this light4 ,while we cannot prevent the sun from shining1 or put out the light there is in the sun1 yet we can extinguish1 or put out the light of a candle4 ,we can blow out the light1 we can turn off the gas1 we can cut off the electrical current1 and thus prevent the carbon from burning and giving light4 ,just the same as the firemen can extinguish a large fire that is making a great blaze in the midst of a dark night1 so we can put out these several lights4 ,before this candle1 which ,i hold in my hand1 can be of any service to me in giving light1 it must first itself be lighted4 ,so it is with every person who is born into this world4 ,he has no light in himself4 ,before ever he can exert any influence for good upon others1 or let any ,christian light shine1 he must come to the ,lord ,jesus ,christ and receive this light4 ,he must be lighted from above4 ,but now after the candle has been lighted1 suppose that ,i take this silver dollar which ,i hold in my hand1 and place it in front of the light1 you will see immediately how it makes it impossible for the light to shine out in front of the dollar4 ,those who are sitting down there in front of me cannot see this light4 ,the light is entirely concealed by the dollar4 ,so some people allow the love of money to gather around their hearts1 until at last their money is placed between them and the people whom ,god intends that they should benefit and bless in this world4 ,instead of being a help1 their money is only a hindrance to their ,christian life4 ,they love their money so much that they permit the poor to go hungry1 the destitute to be unblessed1 and the ,church to be without the money necessary to carry on its work4 ,they allow the heathen to die in their ignorance4 ,selfishly grasping their money1 they neglect to do that for which ,god has given them the means and the money4 ,illustration3 ,light ,obscured by ,money4 ,i believe that money is a good thing4 ,the ,bible says that it is the love of money1 the undue love of it1 that is the root of all evil4 ,money itself is a blessing and not a curse2 therefore ,i want to show you how this dollar can be made to help in making this light shine even more brightly4 ,you will see that if ,i have this side of the dollar ground off and polished1 so that it is very smooth and bright like a little looking-glass1 and then place it back of the candle1 instead of acting as it did when ,i placed the dollar between you and the candle1 it will then reflect the light and throw the rays of light out further than they could otherwise shine4 ,it helps to accomplish for the candle the same important service which the great reflector does when placed behind the lamp in the headlight of the railway engine1 throwing the light way down the track in advance of the coming of the train4 ,in the same way1 when a ,christian has money1 you see how he can readily use it in such a way as to enable him to accomplish a very great and grand work in the world4 ,the man who has lots of money and has a consecrated heart1 and who is willing to use his money to help him in his work for ,christ1 will be able to accomplish very much more than the man who has no money4 ,he can use his money in such a way that it will enable him to cast a light in many a dark corner of the earth1 to bring light in many a desolate home1 and to cast the rays of his ,christian influence even across the ocean into benighted heathen lands4 ,in this way his money can be used as ,i could use this dollar if it were polished1 and thus carry his influence to the ends of the earth and to the end of time1 and become a great blessing to himself and to others for all eternity4 ,illustration3 ,money as a ,reflector4 ,jesus said1 ,men do not light a candle and put it under a bushel1 but on a candle-stick that it may give light to all that are in the house4 ,there are some people who do not like to let their light shine for ,christ4 ,they do not want others to know that they are ,christians4 ,they do not want others to know that they are trying to be good4 ,and so they seek to conceal their light1 to hide it1 as ,jesus says1 under a bushel4 ,if you were to light a candle and put it under a bushel1 or under a box1 the box would prevent it from shining1 and therefore you would not know that there was any light at all in the room4 ,but ,i want to show you1 by the aid of this large necked bottle1 what is the effect of our trying to hide our light4 ,i have chosen this bottle because you can see through it1 and observe what is going on inside of this glass bushel or bottle4 ,the neck being very large1 you can readily see that the light is not absolutely smothered4 ,now1 when ,i place this bottle over the light1 you will see how very quickly it begins to grow dim1 and then more dim until it dies out altogether4 ,there1 you see1 it has gone out already6 ,just as quickly as it burns out from the air in the bottle the oxygen which it contains1 the light dies1 because it has nothing to feed upon4 ,if ,i had not placed this bottle over it1 it would have continued to burn4 ,illustration3 ,light ,under a ,bushel4 ,just so it is with those who try to hide their light under a bushel4 ,after the light has been placed there1 it gradually grows more faint1 and more faint1 and then goes out in darkness4 ,you can never be a ,christian if you are ashamed of ,christ4 ,you must be willing to let your light shine2 you must be willing to confess ,christ before men2 you must be willing to have other boys and girls know that you are a ,christian1 and that you are trying to do right4 ,then with ,god's help you will succeed4 ,but if you try to hide your light under a bushel1 you will never succeed in being a ,christian4 ,here is another bottle4 ,i am sure that the shape of this bottle will suggest to you the kind of stuff which is oftentimes sold in this kind of a flask4 ,sometimes when young men have given their hearts to ,christ1 and young women too for that matter1 they go out in company and are invited to take a drink of wine or a drink of beer1 or something else1 and without any purpose or thought of ever becoming a drunkard1 often they soon form the habit of drinking4 ,soon they have formed a love for the taste of liquor1 and before ever they know it1 like hundreds of thousands of others who have preceded them1 they have become fond of liquor1 and are on a fair road to become drunkards4 ,as soon as a young man starts out in this direction he takes the road that leads down to death and destruction1 and the love of ,god which he had in his heart soon dies out4 ,let me place this bottle over the candle4 ,you will now see how the candle begins to grow dim1 and the light shines more and more dim1 after a very few seconds1 you will find that it goes out in darkness1 the same as it did under the other bottle4 ,illustration3 ,a ,dangerous ,bottle4 ,let me say to you1 always carefully avoid the terrible and destructive influences of drink1 of which this bottle is the symbol4 ,if you want to keep the love of ,god in your heart you must never1 never take the first step which leads toward the love of liquor1 toward intemperance and a drunkard's grave4 ,,questions4--,can an unlighted candle give light8 ,can a candle light itself8 ,who must first give us the light if we are to be a light to the world8 ,can the light of the candle shine through a silver dollar8 ,if a silver dollar is polished like a little looking-glass and placed behind the light1 what does it do8 ,does this suggest how we can use our money to send the light to the heathen8 ,under what kind of a measure does the ,bible warn against hiding our light8 ,when people light a candle1 do they put it under a bushel or on a candlestick8 ,if it is put under a bushel what is the result8 ,is that the result with people who are ashamed to be known as ,christians8 ,does intoxicating drink often put out the light of ,christian people8 ,how can all persons avoid the use of liquor8 7,by never taking the first glass47 ,illustration ,a ,,broken ,,chain4 ,,breaking ,,the ,,whole ,,law4 ,,suggestion3--,a chain of any kind1 even a watch chain1 will answer4 ,children could use paste-board and cut out ten links to represent the ,ten ,commandments4 ,these links could be numbered and the older children could be asked to repeat the ,ten ,commandments in their order4 ,,my ,,little ,,men ,,and ,,women3 ,i have here a chain2 it is very strong indeed4 ,it has ten links in it4 ,you will remember how that1 more than three thousand years ago1 ,god gave the ,ten ,commandments to ,moses on ,mt4 ,sinai4 ,these ,ten ,commandments are often called the ,decalogue1 because there are ten of them2 the ,greek word deka means ten4 ,illustration3 ,a ,broken ,chain4 ,now the ,bible tells us that whosoever will keep the whole law1 and yet offend in one point1 he is guilty of all4 7,james ii3#aj47 ,illustration3 ,suspended ,over the ,edge of a ,great ,rock4 ,when a boy1 ,i often wondered how it was that when a person broke one of the ,commandments he was guilty of breaking the whole law4 ,i could not understand it4 ,now1 ,i desire to illustrate this truth to you to-day4 ,suppose that ,i were suspended over the edge of a great rock by this chain4 ,if the chain should break1 ,i would be plunged headlong1 hundreds of feet down a very great embankment1 upon rocks at the bottom of the chasm1 and lose my life4 ,you will readily see that it would not be necessary to break every link in this chain before ,i would begin to fall4 ,in order to break this chain1 it is only necessary to break a single link4 ,the moment one link breaks1 the entire continuity of the chain is broken4 ,i think you will see that it is just the same way with the law of ,god4 ,if you break one of these ,commandments1 you have broken the law4 ,if you fail to remember the ,sabbath day to keep it holy1 or if you disobey your parents1 and thus break the ,commandment which says1 honor thy father and thy mother1 or any other of the ,commandments--if you break a single one1 you have broken the entire chain of the ,ten ,commandments4 ,now1 there are a great many laws in this land of ours4 ,there are laws against murder1 and there are laws against stealing1 and there are laws against getting drunk1 and thousands of other laws4 ,if a man simply steals and should be caught in the act and brought before the judge1 he would be convicted of the crime and be sent to prison4 ,it is not necessary that a man should be a murderer and a thief and a robber1 and should be guilty of breaking all the laws of this land1 before he is cast in prison4 ,it is simply enough that he should have violated one law4 ,by breaking only one law he becomes a criminal1 and therefore he is cast into prison4 ,the man who has committed but one murder has his entire liberty taken from him4 ,the man who has been caught in the act of stealing but a single time is adjudged a thief1 and all his liberty is taken from him4 ,so ,i think you will see that1 in order to become a criminal1 it is not necessary that we should break all the laws of the land1 but if we break a single law we become criminals4 ,so it is with the law of ,god2 if we break only one of the ,ten ,commandments we are criminals before ,god1 we are guilty of all4 ,now the laws which men make in this and every other country are human laws4 ,they are not absolutely perfect4 ,they are changed and improved from time to time4 ,but the ,psalmist tells us1 and we all know it to be true1 that ,the law of the ,lord is perfect1 and ,god requires us to keep ,his law4 ,he says1 ,my son forget not my law1 but let thine heart keep my commandments2 for length of days and long life and peace1 shall they add to thee4 7,prov4 iii3#a47 ,if you and ,i are faithful in the keeping of ,god's law1 then we can say like ,david1 ,i shall not be ashamed when ,i have respect unto all of thy commandments4 7,psalm cxix3#f47 ,now1 if ,i take this chain1 and attempt to break it1 ,i find that ,god has not given me sufficient strength4 ,samson could have snapped it in a moment1 but ,i am not strong enough4 ,god has given to some men much more strength than to others4 ,if ,i were to pull very hard on this chain so as to break it1 where do you suppose it would break first8 ,why the weakest link in the entire chain would be the first to break4 ,no chain is stronger than its weakest link4 ,so it is with you and with me1 our greatest goodness is no greater than our greatest weakness4 ,when men want to think how good they are1 they think of the best things they have ever done4 ,but the fact is that no man is better than the worst things he has ever done4 ,a man who has committed murder is a murderer4 ,he might have done hundreds of good things1 but the law does not estimate him by the best things he has done4 ,the law estimates that man by the worst thing he has done1 and by that worst thing he is judged and condemned4 ,and so it is with you and me before ,god4 ,the worst things which we have ever done will be the things which will condemn us in the sight of the ,judge of all the world4 ,while ,i am not able to break this metal chain1 yet ,god has made it possible for every person to break the chain of the moral law4 ,god has given human freedom to all men2 ,he has told us what we should do1 but ,he has left us free to obey or to disobey4 ,now1 when we examine into the requirements of the ,ten ,commandments1 we find that everybody has violated some one or more of them at some time4 ,there is not a man or woman or child any where who is not guilty of having broken ,god's law4 ,and when ,i turn to the ,scriptures1 ,i find in ,galatians the third chapter1 #ajth verse1 that ,god says1 ,cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them4 ,i see then by ,god's ,word that we are all sinners1 that we are all guilty before ,god1 because we have violated ,his law1 and next ,sunday ,i will tell you what is to be done in view of the fact that we are all guilty before ,god4 ,,questions4--,what are the different parts of a chain called8 ,how many links must be broken in order to break the chain8 ,what did ,god give to ,moses on ,mount ,sinai8 ,how many commandments are there8 ,who makes the laws for the nation1 the state and the city8 ,are laws perfect which are made by men8 ,do human laws change8 ,is ,god's law perfect8 ,do moral laws ever change8 ,was there ever a time or a place where it was right to lie1 or steal or murder8 ,will there ever be such a time or place8 ,how many murders must a man commit before he is a murderer8 ,how often must he steal before he is a thief8 ,are men put into prison for breaking a single law8 ,is the entirety of ,god's law violated if we break only one commandment8 ,illustration ,,looking-,,glass4 ,,seeing ,,ourselves ,,in ,,god',s ,,law4 ,,suggestion3--,the object used is a looking-glass of any desired size4 ,,my ,,dear ,,boys ,,and ,,girls3 ,in my sermon last ,sunday1 ,i showed you that ,god had made the law perfect1 but that none of us has perfectly kept the law1 that we have all broken the law1 and ,god has said1 ,cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them4 7,gal4 iii3#aj47 ,if the law is perfect1 and no one has ever kept it perfectly1 but all have broken the law in some one way or another1 and on that account all are guilty before ,god1 you may ask1 what is the purpose of the law8 ,why did ,god make the law8 ,now1 ,i desire to explain that to you to-day4 ,i have here a looking-glass4 ,now the ,bible compares the law to a looking-glass4 ,in the epistle or letter of ,james1 in the first chapter1 we are told1 ,if any be a hearer of the word1 and not a doer1 he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass2 for he beholdeth himself1 and goeth his way1 and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was4 ,but whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty1 and continueth therein1 he being not a forgetful hearer1 but a doer of the work1 this man shall be blessed in his deed4 7,james i3#bc-be47 ,illustration3 ,seeing ,ourselves in the ,looking-,glass of ,god's ,law ,in other words1 the ,bible means to say that the law of ,god is like a looking-glass4 ,when we read the law of ,god1 we see just what ,god requires that we should both be and do4 ,he enables us to see what ,he requires of us4 ,it shows us also how imperfect we are4 ,it shows us our sins4 ,it reveals to us the importance of doing something in order to get rid of our sins4 ,it is just like a man whose face is all dirty4 ,when he goes to the looking-glass and looks into it he sees the dirt upon his face4 ,if he did not look into the glass1 other people might see that his face was dirty1 but he would not see it himself4 ,but when he looks into the glass1 he sees for himself that his face is all black and dirty4 ,now1 when the man finds that his face is all dirty1 he does not take the looking-glass with which to wash his face4 ,the looking-glass was not made to wash our faces with4 ,it was only made to show us that our faces needed to be washed4 ,and then1 instead of using the looking-glass to wash our faces1 we go and use soap and water4 ,now1 the looking-glass did not make the man's face black1 neither will it wash his face4 ,it simply shows him that his face is dirty4 ,so it is with the law of ,god4 ,the law of ,god does not make us sinful4 ,we are sinful1 whether there be any law or not4 ,the law is simply designed to show us that we are sinners1 and that we are wicked1 and that we need a ,saviour4 ,and when this law reveals to us our sin1 and shows us our need of a ,saviour1 it purposes1 as we are told in the ,scriptures1 to lead us to ,christ 7,galatians iii3#bd47 ,no man can cleanse or wash away his sins by the aid of the law4 ,but the law plainly shows him his sins1 and then leads him to ,christ--to the fountain which has been opened for sin and uncleanness4 ,it is all very beautifully expressed in that hymn which1 ,i trust1 you all know3 ,there is a fountain filled with blood1 ,drawn from ,immanuel's veins2 ,and sinners plunged beneath that flood1 ,lose all their guilty stains4 ,now1 ,i want to tell you the effect of coming to this fountain and washing4 ,when we come to ,christ our sins and guilt are washed away1 and we become more like ,christ4 ,and then we grow up into ,his likeness and into ,his image4 7,eph4 iv3 #ac47 ,we become more and more like the ,lord ,jesus ,christ from day to day4 ,this change which takes place in our hearts and in our lives is very wonderful4 ,we cannot understand it1 but we cease to be intentionally wicked4 ,more and more we become holy4 ,it is this wonderful change which is referred to in ,second ,corinthians1 third chapter and the #ahth verse1 where it says1 ,but we all1 with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the ,lord1 are changed into the same image from glory to glory1 even as by the ,spirit of the ,lord4 ,i think now1 you will understand why we have the law4 ,it is not to make us wicked1 for we are wicked already4 ,but it is to show us our wickedness1 it is to reveal to us the fact that we are sinners1 and that we are lost and undone without a ,saviour4 ,and then it reveals the ,lord ,jesus ,christ to us1 and we come to ,him1 the same as men with blackened faces go to the fountain to wash4 ,so we come with our sins and our guilt to the fountain which has been opened for sin and uncleanness1 and we wash all our sins and guilt away2 and then we are changed into ,his image and into ,his likeness1 from glory to glory1 until at last1 in the world on high1 we awake in the likeness of ,jesus4 ,,questions4--,to what does the ,bible compare the law of ,god8 ,for what purpose do people use a looking-glass8 ,what does a man whose face is dirty see in the glass8 ,what does it show that his face needs8 ,does it suggest that he should wash his face with the looking-glass8 ,what does he use with which to wash his face8 ,what does ,god's law show us8 ,does the law make us sinful8 ,can the law remove the effects of sin8 ,who is the fountain for the cleansing of our sin8 ,are we saved by the law1 or by the grace of ,god8 ,,rain4 ,,god',s ,,wisdom ,,and ,,power4 ,,suggestion3--,a bottle partly filled with dust from the roadway will help to illustrate the condition which would quite universally prevail if the earth were not refreshed with frequent rains4 ,,my ,,dear ,,young ,,friends3 ,in view of the fact that the weather is so very warm1 the earth so dried and parched and we have had no rain for a period of weeks1 ,i thought it might be useful to-day to consider what would be the result if ,god should withhold the rain altogether1 and then to tell you how1 or in what manner ,god brings us the rain and refreshes the earth and makes it fruitful4 ,in order that you might see something of the present condition of the earth1 ,i have brought in this bottle some dust1 taken from the centre of the road4 ,as ,i turn the bottle around1 you see how dry it is and how it floats in the air1 leaving the inside of this bottle all powdered with dust4 ,the dust in this bottle is only a sample of what all the earth would soon become1 if ,god did not send rain at frequent intervals throughout the year4 ,i suppose you could all tell me of a number of instances in the ,old ,testament where we have accounts of drouths that extended throughout a period of years1 and of the hunger and famine and death which followed4 ,when you are out of doors and look about you1 you cannot but be impressed with how dry and dusty the trees and grass and everything about you is4 ,if this dry weather were to continue long you could understand that soon everything would wither and die1 and if it were to continue for a few years1 men and beasts would not only die of thirst1 but even the air itself would suck out from our bodies the moisture that is in our blood1 and death would speedily follow4 ,but if you were to remove all the moisture from the air1 the earth would not only become barren1 but it would become intensely cold4 ,it is due to the moisture which is in the atmosphere that the warmth which comes to the earth from the sun is retained near the earth after the sun has gone down4 ,if it were not so1 even in a summer's night after the sun has gone down1 the coldness which exists above the clouds would quickly come in contact with the earth1 and the cold would become so intense that every person and every living thing would be in danger of being frozen to death in a single night4 ,you will remember that the great ,sahara ,desert is a vast tract of thousands of square miles where no rain falls1 and where the heat is intense4 ,there is1 however1 much moisture in the air that floats over the plains1 but the reason that no rain falls is because there are no mountains in that portion of the globe for thousands of miles4 ,now suppose that there were to be no rain at all1 and people should undertake to water the earth by bringing the water from the rivers4 ,on an average of about thirty-three inches of rain fall upon the surface of the entire earth each year1 in some places more1 in others less4 ,the weight of this water in one single square mile would be nearly two and one-half millions of tons1 and if this water which falls upon one single square mile had to be drawn in cars1 it would require #ajj1jjj carloads of water to keep this one single mile as wet as ,god usually keeps it throughout the year by the rain from heaven4 ,i think you will see1 from what ,i have said1 that all the cars in the entire ,united ,states1 and there are hundreds of thousands of them1 would not be sufficient to haul water from the rivers for any considerable distance to keep more than ten miles square of earth watered4 ,but you can also see that if all these cars were to be run on a piece of ground only ten miles square1 that entire piece of ground would be almost completely covered with railroad tracks1 and we would scarcely be able to raise anything on it in the way of grain or vegetables or food of any kind4 ,but even if we could successfully water ten miles square of land1 what would that be compared with the absolute necessity of watering the entire continent and all the continents of the globe in order to make life possible upon the earth4 ,now the question arises1 how does ,god accomplish this great result8 ,illustration3 ,train of ,cars4 ,i suppose you have all noticed the teakettle when it is upon the stove and the steam is coming out of the spout1 and around the lid4 ,you have there had a practical demonstration of how ,god can cause the water1 which is #hjj times heavier than the atmosphere or the air1 to rise and float1 for you know that any substance heavier than air will always fall to the earth4 ,in the instance of the teakettle you will see how heat causes the water to become steam and thus to rise in the air and float away1 rising to the height of the clouds which float two1 three and four and sometimes more miles high above the earth4 ,now1 just in this same way ,god makes the heat from the rays of the sun to cause that from every river and lake and all the expanse of the ocean1 as well as from the surface of the earth1 there shall constantly arise a very fine vapor1 which1 although it is somewhat like steam1 is still so much finer that you and ,i cannot see it with our unaided eyes4 ,it is by means of this vapor that ,god raises the moisture from the oceans and all bodies of water and from the earth1 to fall again in gentle showers4 ,illustration3 ,steam ,rising from ,teakettle4 ,but when this vapor has been lifted up from the ocean1 you will see readily that if it were to descend again in rain upon the very places from which it had been lifted it would accomplish no good4 ,it is necessary that instead of falling back into the ocean and into the lakes and rivers1 it must be carried over the land4 ,so you see that we might aptly compare the vapor to a great pump1 by means of which ,god lifts millions of gallons of water every hour from the sea into the atmosphere4 ,now just the same as men load grain and fruit and other things into the cars to ship them to some distant place1 so ,god loads these vapors into the atmosphere or into the clouds4 ,when the clouds are all loaded with vapor1 or that which is to descend upon the earth in the form of rain1 ,god sends the winds1 and these winds blow the clouds from over the ocean far inward over the land until they come to the place where ,god wants to pour them out in showers and rain1 and in snow and blessing4 ,illustration3 ,clouds and ,rain4 ,but now1 you will see that there is another difficulty4 ,when all this vast quantity of water is held in the clouds1 a mile or two above the earth1 if it were to be poured out1 it would come with such force upon the earth that it would destroy every living thing4 ,now1 as ,god used the warmth from the sun as ,his agent to lift the water into the clouds1 so also1 when ,he desires to unload the clouds1 to pour the rain upon the earth1 ,he causes the warm air which carries the water to be blown upon by the colder air which floats above it1 and as the heat lifted the water1 so the cold causes it to descend2 and immediately it begins to form as clouds1 one particle or atom of moisture touches another1 and the two form the larger atom1 and these again unite with others1 until finally a drop is formed1 and it begins to descend and comes down in gentle showers upon the earth as though it were sifted through a very fine sieve4 ,these small drops fall upon the earth so gently as not even to bruise the leaf of the tenderest flower or the tenderest insect that walks upon the earth4 ,possibly some children may not fully understand1 but the older ones will get some idea of the vast quantity of water which ,god pours upon the earth1 when they are reminded that all the water that flows in the rivers has been let down from the clouds4 ,god is daily pumping up from the ocean and other bodies of water rivers as vast as the combined waters of the ,mississippi1 ,missouri1 ,susquehanna1 the ,hudson1 and every creek and streamlet and river that flows1 not only on this continent1 but in all the world4 ,and ,god is doing this constantly by ,his own infinite wisdom and infinite might4 ,the machinery with which men pump the water from the river for the supply of a single city wears out2 but these great engines with which ,god is constantly keeping the earth supplied with water for man and beast1 for tree and flower1 for garden and field1 never wear out4 ,truly with the prophet we may exclaim3 ,he that calleth for the waters of the sea1 and poureth them out on the face of the land3 the ,lord is ,his name4 7,amos v3 #h47 ,from what ,i have said ,i think you will all see how constantly we are dependent upon ,god for everything which we enjoy4 ,if ,god were to withhold the rain or the sunshine1 famine and want and death would soon follow4 ,yet in the most wonderful way ,god is constantly providing that with which we are daily to be fed and always to be clothed4 ,god is not unmindful of us4 ,he never forgets1 but in ,his own good time and in ,his own most wondrous way ,he sends us the rain and every needed blessing4 ,god never forgets us1 but ,i fear that we often forget ,him and forget when we drink the refreshing glass of clear1 cool water1 that it is ,god who gave it to us4 ,when you sit down at the table1 do you remember that it is ,god who gives you the food1 and do you thank ,him for the food which ,he gives you1 or do you1 like the unmannerly boy who receives a gift and never thanks the donor1 sit down and eat and go away without ever thanking ,god the ,giver8 ,when ,he watches over and keeps you during the night1 do you forget to kneel down and thank ,him in the morning8 ,when day after day ,he clothes you1 do you thank him8 ,when ,he feeds and clothes you1 do you love and serve ,him1 or do you accept of these blessings and then run off and serve ,satan1 ,god's great enemy8 ,these are serious questions1 and ,i trust you will think seriously of them1 and daily1 when you receive ,god's blessings1 that you will turn to ,him in grateful thanksgiving and faithful service4 ,,questions4--,what would the entire earth become if there should be no rain8 ,if all moisture were removed from the atmosphere1 what would be the result8 ,what is the average rainfall8 ,what is the weight of rainfall in a single square mile8 ,how many cars would it require to carry water for one square mile8 ,how does ,god accomplish this8 ,how is the water raised up from the sea and the rivers8 ,can you explain it by the teakettle8 ,where does ,god store this vapor8 ,how do the clouds carry the moisture to the places which need it8 ,how does the moisture in the clouds fall8 ,does ,god do all things wisely and well8 ,is ,god ever unmindful of our needs8 ,do you ever forget to thank ,him8 ,do you always remember to serve ,him8 ,,snow4 ,,the ,,lessons ,,which ,,it ,,teaches4 ,,my ,,dear ,,boys ,,and ,,girls3 ,when ,god desired to set ,job to thinking1 among other questions ,he asked him3 ,canst thou enter into the treasures of the snow8 7,job xxxviii3 #bb47 ,while coming to church to-day1 when ,i saw you frolicking and glad in the midst of the snow1 which was falling all about you1 ,i wondered whether you had ever stopped to think much about the snow4 ,so ,i thought to ask you the question which ,god asked of ,job nearly thirty-five hundred years ago3 ,hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow8 ,when you were all so glad on account of this first snowstorm of the winter1 did you stop to think that the snow comes from ,god8 ,now like everything else which comes from ,god1 the snow is wonderful4 ,no philosopher has ever yet been able fully to explain how the snow is formed and to tell us all about it1 and ,i do not suppose that all the mysteries concerning it will ever be fully and perfectly solved4 ,it is wonderful1 however1 because it comes down so lightly and noiselessly4 ,it drops upon the earth almost like feathers1 covering the ground1 hanging upon the limbs of the trees and shaping them into things of strange beauty1 piling up on the post by the side of your gate1 until perhaps it looks more like the white man from the flour mill than like that to which people tie horses4 ,yet it comes down so noiselessly that we scarcely notice it4 ,when the snow falls upon the ground a foot deep it is said to be equal in weight to one inch of rain4 ,now one foot of snow1 on one square mile of street1 would weigh1 it is estimated1 about sixty-four thousand tons4 ,if this snow1 which covers only one square mile1 were placed in wagons loaded with one ton each1 and allowing sufficient space for these teams to move one behind another1 these wagons would make a string or procession reaching from ,philadelphia to ,new ,york1 and from ,new ,york up the ,hudson ,river almost to the city of ,albany4 ,i am sure you will be astonished at this1 but when you consider that some snowstorms cover thousands of square miles1 and are sometimes more than one foot deep1 you will see how increasingly wonderful it is that all this great weight falls so gently upon the earth as to produce no disturbance1 no shock1 and generally goes away as quietly and peaceably as it came4 ,like everything else that ,god has made1 the snow is very beautiful4 ,did you ever hear that poem which begins3 ,beautiful snow6 beautiful snow6 ,falling so lightly1 ,daily and nightly1 ,alike 'round the dwellings of the lofty and low2 ,horses are prancing1 ,cheerily dancing1 ,stirred with the spirit that comes from the snow4 ,we oftentimes think that ,god is seen in the fields and flowers in the spring and summer1 but ,he is also seen in the beautiful snow of winter4 ,if you will let some of the snow fall upon the sleeve of your coat and then examine it carefully1 you will be surprised at its beauty4 ,it is beautiful when examined without a microscope1 but much more beautiful and wonderful when examined with a microscope4 ,each flake is fashioned into stellar shape4 ,it is formed and fashioned by the same hand which made the stars of the heavens and gave them their sparkle and beauty4 ,each flake is a beautiful crystal4 ,each somewhat like the others1 and yet no two exactly alike4 ,there are hundreds of varieties1 each beautiful and all glorious4 ,these beautiful little snow stars are all formed with perfect geometrical accuracy4 ,some have three sides and angles1 some six1 others eight1 and some have more4 ,one resembles a sparkling cross1 while others seem almost like the leaves of an open flower4 ,some are like single stars1 others like double stars and clusters of stars2 and although the ground in winter is covered with myriads of them1 yet each one is formed with as much correctness and beauty as if ,god had made each one for special examination and as an exhibition of ,his infinite skill and divine perfection4 ,illustration3 ,snow-flakes ,magnified4 ,but like everything else that ,god has made1 the snow is also useful4 ,you may possibly have thought of it as affording excellent sport in sliding down hill1 enabling you to enjoy a sleigh ride behind horses with jingling bells1 affording opportunity for a snow-ball fight1 or as furnishing the material for making snow men or snow houses4 ,in all these ways the snow is a source of delight and pleasure to boys and girls1 but after all1 the snow has a special mission in the world during the severe cold of the winter4 ,illustration3 ,a ,winter ,sleigh ,ride4 ,the severity of the cold is often greatly modified by the presence of snow4 ,the snow forms a warm mantle to protect the grass and grain fields4 ,it wraps its soft warm covering around the plants1 and thus protects them from the frost4 ,many animals also take shelter in the banks of snow1 and are thus kept from being frozen to death4 ,the snow of winter is as important in securing our food and blessing as the rain of the summer4 ,as intense heat and the absence of rain produce the great deserts of the earth1 so intense cold and the absence of snow would produce barren tracts upon the earth4 ,now1 what are the lessons we may learn from what ,i have said8 ,i think the first lesson that we may learn is that ,god does everything perfectly4 ,god is not in a hurry1 as boys and girls often are when they do not take time to learn their lessons thoroughly or to do their work carefully4 ,perfection is one of ,god's attributes4 ,we are impatient and imperfect4 ,but ,god wants us to be perfect4 ,we should constantly strive after perfection4 ,we are to seek after perfection here upon earth1 and although we cannot hope to attain it fully in this world1 yet we shall attain unto it in the world of blessedness beyond4 ,remember that whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well4 ,i think the second lesson that we may learn from what ,i have said1 is that ,god does everything with some good purpose in view4 ,god not only has a purpose in all that ,he does1 but ,he has a purpose for good4 ,some boys and girls do things with a bad purpose4 ,now1 ,god does not do anything with a bad purpose1 and ,he would not have us do anything with a bad purpose4 ,he has given us life and being upon the earth in order that we may accomplish something grand and good4 ,what is the purpose of your life8 ,what have you resolved to make the object which you shall seek to attain in this life8 ,have some noble purpose1 some high aim in life4 ,whatever it shall be1 let it always have in view the blessing and good of others and the glory of ,god4 ,the last lesson from this study of the snow is that ,god has made it a symbol of purity4 ,god is pure1 and ,he wants us to be pure4 ,do you put tobacco in your mouth8 ,then your mouth is not pure4 ,do you use bad words8 ,if so1 your mouth is not pure4 ,do you use your eyes to read worthless story papers and books1 or to look at evil pictures8 ,then your eyes and thoughts are not pure4 ,do you permit your ears to listen to improper talk8 ,then your ears and mind are not pure4 ,do you harbor bad thoughts in your heart8 ,then your heart is not pure4 ,do you defile your body by improper eating and drinking8 ,if you do1 then your body is not pure4 ,if you and ,i desire to be pure1 we must go to ,god and earnestly ask ,him as ,david did when he cried unto ,god and said1 ,purge me with hyssop1 and ,i shall be clean3 wash me and ,i shall be whiter than snow4 ,now let us sing this beautiful hymn3 ,wash me and ,i shall be whiter than the snow4 ,,questions4--,about what did ,god ask ,job1 to set him thinking8 ,where does the snow come from8 ,does anyone know fully how the snow is formed8 ,is the snow as wonderful as it is beautiful8 ,what do the flakes look like8 ,are they all formed alike8 ,are any two exactly alike8 ,how is the snow useful in winter8 ,is snow as important in the winter as rain in the summer8 ,is ,god ever in a hurry8 ,are you always patient8 ,what is worth doing well8 ,does ,god always have a purpose in whatever ,he does8 ,does ,god expect us to have a noble purpose8 ,of what is snow the symbol8 ,does ,god expect us all to be pure8 ,,plastic ,,face4 ,,character ,,in ,,the ,,countenance4 ,,suggestion3--,the object used is a small plastic face such as are often sold in toy stores1 and even on the streets in large cities4 ,the head of a rubber doll would also answer the purpose4 ,a couple of pictures of faces placed in bottles would illustrate the fact that as the faces are seen through the bottles1 so our thoughts are not wholly hidden but shine through our faces4 ,,my ,,dear ,,boys ,,and ,,girls3 ,here is a soft plastic face2 by squeezing it on the side ,i can make the face very long1 and it looks very sober4 ,if ,i place the face between my thumb and fingers and press upon the chin and forehead it makes the face short1 and makes it have a very pleasant appearance4 ,i can make it look as though it were laughing1 or make it seem to be angry and cross4 ,just so is it with our faces4 ,when we feel pleasant our faces are short and drawn up2 when we feel sober1 or cross1 or angry1 they are lengthened and the character of the expression is entirely changed4 ,you would scarcely know the face were you to see it radiant with smiles and pleasantness1 and afterwards see the same face when the person is cross or angered4 ,when you look at a person you can tell whether they are in good humor1 or whether they are displeased or angry4 ,illustration3 ,frowns and ,smiles4 ,do you know1 boys and girls1 that our character and our disposition are seen in our faces8 ,it is impossible for us to conceal our real selves1 even though we might try4 ,i will tell you how it is4 ,if ,i were again and again to press this face only in this way1 so as to make it look very long1 after a time it would retain this expression4 ,if ,i were to press it in this other way1 so as to make it very short and give it a very pleasant expression1 and were to hold it in that position for a very long time1 it would assume that expression1 and retain it constantly4 ,it is just so with our faces4 ,when a boy is angered again and again the deep lines of his face become more and more permanent1 until after a time he comes to have a face which expresses anger4 ,if a boy is kind and good and generous1 these feelings express themselves in his face1 and if repeated over and over again1 day after day and year after year1 it becomes a permanent expression upon his face and the boy is known by all who meet him as a good-natured1 pleasant and agreeable boy4 ,i suppose that most all the boys and girls here can tell a minister when they meet him on the street4 ,and when you grow older ,i think you will not only be able to tell that it is a minister1 but you may be able to tell1 possibly to what denomination the man belongs--whether he is a ,methodist1 or a ,presbyterian1 or an ,episcopalian or a ,lutheran1 or to what denomination he belongs4 ,this cannot always be told1 but in many instances this can be judged quite accurately4 ,the study of the ,bible and the contemplation of holy and good things inscribe themselves indelibly upon the face of those who give them thought and attention4 ,beneath a good and generous face you will find a good and generous heart4 ,beneath a bad face you will find a bad heart4 ,if we are ,christians we shall become more and more like ,christ4 ,we shall grow up into ,his likeness1 and into ,his image1 and into ,his stature4 ,we are told that not only will we become more and more like ,him1 but that at last1 in the great ,resurrection1 we shall behold ,him as ,he is1 and we shall be like ,him4 ,if ,i were to take some pictures and place them in a bottle they would shine out through the glass1 and you could see them4 ,so with the thoughts that are in your heart2 they shine out through your face and give expressions to it4 ,even when the body is suffering pain the heart may be at rest4 ,david1 the ,psalmist1 said that ,god was the health of his countenance4 ,even though his body was suffering pain his face might be pleasant1 because ,god was with him1 making him happy in his heart4 ,there is an old adage that says1 handsome is1 that handsome does4 ,there are some young persons who may have a pretty face1 and yet who may not be righteous and holy in their hearts2 but as they grow older their character will shine out more and more1 until at last their face shall be entirely changed1 and all that is bad in their hearts will appear in their faces4 ,if you want a good face you must have a good heart4 ,take ,jesus into your heart1 follow ,his teachings and imitate ,his example1 and from year to year you will grow more and more like ,him4 ,here is a very appropriate and beautiful poem1 which was written by ,miss ,alice ,carey4 ,,take ,,care4 ,little children1 you must seek ,rather to be good than wise1 ,for the thoughts you do not speak ,shine out in your cheeks and eyes4 ,if you think that you can be ,cross or cruel1 and look fair1 ,let me tell you how to see ,you are quite mistaken there4 ,go and stand before the glass1 ,and some ugly thought contrive1 ,and my word will come to pass ,just as sure as you're alive6 ,what you have and what you lack1 ,all the same as what you wear1 ,you will see reflected back2 ,so1 my little folks1 take care6 ,and not only in the glass ,will your secrets come to view2 ,all beholders1 as they pass1 ,will perceive and know them1 too4 ,out of sight1 my boys and girls1 ,every root of beauty starts2 ,so think less about your curls1 ,more about your minds and hearts4 ,cherish what is good1 and drive ,evil thoughts and feelings far2 ,for1 as sure as you're alive1 ,you will show for what you are4 ,,questions4--,how will a plastic face look when you squeeze it on the head and on the chin8 ,when persons are serious or angry1 are their faces lengthened8 ,when people laugh what happens to their faces8 ,suppose one were to be cross and ugly constantly what would occur8 ,if a person were to laugh constantly1 what would be the effect upon their face8 ,can you tell a minister when you see him8 ,if you put pictures in a bottle do they shine through8 ,do thoughts in the heart shine through the face8 ,can you repeat that couplet which begins3 ,handsome is--8 ,if we think ,christ's thoughts constantly do we become more like ,christ8 ,if we think bad thoughts do we become unlike ,him8 ,what book is it which says3 ,as a man thinketh in his heart1 so is he8 ,illustration ,,seeds4 ,,thoughts1 ,,words1 ,,deeds--,,their ,,life ,,and ,,perpetuity4 ,,suggestion3--,seeds1 or grain and fruit of any kind can be used for illustration4 ,,my ,,young ,,friends3 ,i have here to-day quite a variety of seeds4 ,some of them are very small1 and some1 as you see1 are quite large4 ,the seeds of each class have in them a principle of life1 which makes them differ from sand1 or small stones of similar size1 because if ,i plant these seeds in the ground they will grow4 ,illustration3 ,different ,kinds of ,seeds4 ,when you take different kinds of seeds1 there is one thing that is very interesting about them4 ,it is the different kinds of coverings in which they grow4 ,for instance1 if you take a chestnut1 it grows in a burr with sharp thorny points2 others are folded as though rolled up very tightly in leaves1 as you will find in the hazel nut or filbert4 ,some seeds grow in rows1 like beans and peas in a pod4 ,some grow in a very soft bed1 like cotton seeds4 ,some grow imbedded in a downy substance which blows all around1 carrying the seed with it1 like the thistle1 and the light fuzz of the dandelion4 ,sometimes the seed is buried in the inside of fruit1 as in the case of apples1 pears1 peaches1 plums1 and various other kinds of fruit4 ,sometimes it is buried beneath the beautiful leaves of the flower4 ,so you see there is great variety4 ,now1 these seeds may represent words4 ,there are a great many varieties of words4 ,all words have the principle of life in them1 because they express thought2 and these thoughts when received into our minds develop into action4 ,therefore we say that words have a principle of life in them1 and it is important that we should be careful not to permit bad words to have a place in our minds4 ,very often you will see boys and girls reading worthless papers which they think will do them no injury4 ,but the fact is1 that these boys are influenced in all their living by that which they read in these papers4 ,it might be very light and trifling1 but it tends to corrupt the mind1 to give the boy false ideas of life1 and it gives him such opinions as are not real1 and therefore very injurious to any one4 ,it is much better that a boy's valuable time should be spent in reading good books and good papers1 and securing such information as will be of value and assistance to him all through life4 ,for the life of every boy and of every girl is a very great struggle1 and no boy or girl can afford to waste time in the beginning4 ,if they are ever to amount to anything in this world1 it is important that they should begin very early in life4 ,i want to call your attention to another characteristic of these seeds4 ,and that is when a single seed is planted1 it grows up and produces a very great number of other seeds4 ,if you plant a seed of wheat1 it will produce #cj1 #fj1 or sometimes #ajj other seeds4 ,if you plant one sunflower seed it might produce as many as #d1jjj seeds4 ,if you plant one single thistle seed1 it has been known to produce as high as #bd1jjj seeds in a single summer4 ,if you were to plant only one grain of corn and let it grow until it is ripe1 and then plant the seeds again which grew on these few ears of corn1 and thus continue to re-plant again and again1 we are told by those who have calculated it very carefully1 that in only five short years the amount of corn that could be grown as the result of the planting of the one single seed would be sufficient to plant a hill of corn1 with three grains in every square yard of all the dry land on all the earth4 ,in ten years the product would be sufficient to plant not only this entire world1 both land and sea1 but all the planets1 or worlds which circle around our sun1 and some of them are even a thousand times larger than our own globe4 ,so you see that there is wonderful multiplying power in the different kinds of grain which you plant4 ,so it is with the thoughts and the words which we have in our minds4 ,good thoughts enter into good acts1 and these acts influence others just as though the same thought was sown into their minds1 and then it springs up into their lives and influences them4 ,just so when we have read a book1 whether the book is good or bad1 its influence goes on reproducing itself1 over and over again in our lives1 every time in a multiplied form4 ,suppose with your money you send some ,bibles to the heathen1 and as a result a single person is converted4 ,immediately that person would influence other heathen people whom he would meet1 and so1 one after the other1 these heathen would be influenced as the result of what you have done4 ,this good influence would go on repeating itself over and over again1 as long as the world shall stand1 and only in eternity would the wonderful results of what you have done be fully known4 ,so it is with all that we say and all that we do2 it goes on repeating and multiplying itself over and over again4 ,illustration3 ,pyramids4 ,illustration3 ,egyptian ,mummies4 ,now1 there is another interesting feature of these seeds to which ,i want to call your attention4 ,and that is that the life in the seed may continue for a very long time1 even hundreds of years4 ,over in ,egypt1 centuries ago1 they built large pyramids1 and when a king died1 instead of burying his body in the ground1 they embalmed it with spices and dried it1 so that it would not decay4 ,then they wrapped it up in cloths1 and with these cloths and bandages they sometimes wrapped wheat or some other kind of grain4 ,some of these mummies1 for so they are called1 which have been buried possibly twenty-five hundred years1 have been found2 and when the wheat has been taken out of the hands of these mummies and planted in the ground1 under favorable conditions1 it has grown just the same as the wheat which was harvested from the fields only last summer4 ,the life which was in the seed had not been destroyed by the many hundreds of years which have passed since it was placed in the hand of the mummy4 ,some years ago there was a very interesting case of this kind in ,england4 ,at ,dorchester they were digging down some thirty feet below the surface1 and at that depth they came upon the remains of the body of a man1 with which there had been buried some coins4 ,by the date upon the coins1 they knew that this body had been buried at least seventeen hundred years4 ,in the stomach was found quite a large quantity of raspberry seeds4 ,the man had doubtless eaten a large number of raspberries1 and then might have been accidentally killed very soon afterward1 so that the seeds were not injured by the gastric juices of the stomach4 ,these seeds were taken to the ,horticultural ,garden1 and there they were planted4 ,what do you think6 ,after seventeen hundred years and more1 these seeds grew1 and in a short time there was an abundant fruitage of raspberries1 just the same as though the seeds had been gathered from raspberries which grew only the year before4 ,although hidden and seemingly dead1 yet these seeds retained their life for seventeen hundred years or more4 ,in this same way there is a deathless power in the words which we speak1 even though they are spoken hastily and without thought upon our part4 ,our words have in them the element of a life which is well-nigh endless4 ,you may yourself remember some unkind words which were spoken to you months and months ago4 ,the boy or girl who spoke them may have forgotten all about them1 but you still remember them1 and they cause you pain every time you think of them4 ,or it may be that some kind person has spoken tenderly and affectionately to you4 ,the person himself may have been so accustomed to speaking kindly that he forgot entirely what he had said1 but his kind words still live in your memory4 ,there is a beautiful hymn written some years ago1 which begins3 ,kind words can never die4 ,about fifty years ago there were some boys in a school yard playing marbles4 ,two other boys were playing tag4 ,one of the boys who were playing tag chanced to run across the ring in which the boys were playing marbles4 ,one of these boys was accustomed to speaking ugly words and doing very hasty and cruel things4 ,he sprang to his feet and kicked the boy who had run across the ring1 wounding him in the right knee4 ,the injury was of such a nature that the bones of that leg below the knee never grew any more1 and as a result1 for over forty years that boy has had to walk on crutches4 ,you see how permanent the result of this injury has been2 and the results of unkind words may be just as injurious and no less permanent than the unreasonable and wicked thing which this boy did in his anger4 ,you may sometimes be discouraged because the kind words which you speak and the kind deeds which you do seem to fail of a good result4 ,but you can be assured that even though you grow to old age and your body were to be laid away in the grave1 yet sometime1 in the lives of those who come after you1 the good you have done will surely bear its fruitage of blessing4 ,,questions4--,are there many different kinds of seeds8 ,do apple trees ever grow from peach seeds8 ,do good thoughts grow from bad words1 or bad thoughts from good words8 ,do seeds have a principle of life in them8 ,do words and thoughts have a principle of life8 ,how many centuries have seeds been known to retain their life8 ,have the teachings of the ,bible retained their life for many hundreds of years8 ,into what do good thoughts turn8 7,acts74 ,into what do good acts turn8 7,character74 ,can any boy or girl afford to use their time in reading worthless books or papers8 ,do words and deeds have the element of unending life in them8 ,is it a dangerous thing to get angry8 ,what did one of the boys who were playing marbles do to the boy who ran across the ring8 ,as the result1 how many years has the injured boy walked with crutches8 ,will the good that we do be as permanent as the evil that we might do8 ,,sowing4 ,,the ,,spring ,,time ,,of ,,life4 ,,suggestion3--,the object used is a bag or sack1 or a pillow slip would answer the same purpose1 hung about the neck as a farmer uses it when sowing seed4 ,while this is not essential1 it can be used if desired4 ,,my ,,dear ,,young ,,friends3 ,spring is the most pleasant season of the year2 the snow has melted1 the cold weather has passed away1 and now the warm1 pleasant days have come4 ,the trees are all in blossom1 the fields look beautiful1 and the air is full of sweetness4 ,if you go into the country at this season of the year you will find the farmers plowing their fields1 and some are sowing grain4 ,the spring wheat has already been sown1 the oat fields will soon begin to look green1 and in the course of a few weeks the farmers will be planting their corn4 ,it must have been at a corresponding period of the year in the ,east1 when ,jesus spoke those beautiful words which are found in the #acth chapter of ,st4 ,matthew1 contained in the parable of the sower who went out to sow4 ,a great multitude of people had gathered to hear the words which fell from the lips of ,jesus4 ,they could no longer gain admission into the house1 and so ,jesus went down by the sea1 or the large lake1 and getting into a boat he pushed out just a little way from the shore1 so all the people standing along the shore could see and hear ,him1 and then ,he began to preach to them4 ,just back of them on the plain was a farmer who was more intent upon sowing his field than upon listening to the words of the ,saviour4 ,as ,jesus saw him pacing to and fro across the field1 scattering the grain in the furrows1 ,jesus very likely pointed to the man1 calling the attention of the multitude to what he was doing1 and said to the people1 ,behold a sower went forth to sow1 and then called the attention of the people to the character of the soil in the different places where the seed fell4 ,in the country the farmers use a sack or bag4 ,after having tied the opposite ends together1 they hang this over their neck and shoulder1 and with the right hand left free1 they march up and down the field1 sowing the grain4 ,this sowing is not so common any more1 because farmers now often plant their grain fields with a machine called a drill4 ,with this sack suspended about the neck1 in this way1 the farmer reaches in and takes out a small handful of seed1 and then swinging his hand1 throws the seed over a considerable portion of the ground4 ,thus he walks from one end of the field to the other1 sowing the seed1 until he has the entire field sown and ready for the men who follow with the harrow to cover up the grain4 ,well1 boys and girls1 this is the spring-time of life with you4 ,these are the pleasant days and years of your life4 ,you have very little care4 ,yet it is1 nevertheless1 the spring-time4 ,you are now making preparations which will tell what is to be the harvest in the later years of your lives4 ,as the farmer goes out and plows the field1 so by discipline and by counsel1 and by instruction are your parents preparing your minds and hearts that in after years you may enjoy a harvest of great blessing4 ,illustration3 ,behold a ,sower went ,forth to ,sow ,in the spring-time of life1 when young persons are to do the sowing1 they need much careful counsel and instruction4 ,i suppose that there are many boys and girls who1 if they were to go into the country1 could not tell the difference between wheat and barley1 or oats and rye4 ,some might not even be able to distinguish between oats and buckwheat4 ,if the farmer were to send you out to sow1 you would1 most likely1 sow the wrong kind of grain4 ,in the same manner1 it is important that you should be directed by your parents1 because they can distinguish between right and wrong4 ,they know what you should do1 and what you should not do4 ,therefore it is important that they should direct you in the spring-time1 lest you should sow the wrong kind of grain4 ,and you know the ,bible says3 ,whatsoever a man soweth1 that shall he also reap4 ,illustration3 ,wheat and ,tares4 ,it is not only difficult for those who have never seen something of life in the country1 to distinguish between the different kinds of grain which the farmer sows1 but even after the grain begins to grow1 it is sometimes difficult1 even for those who are familiar with country life1 to distinguish between the true and the false4 ,in that same thirteenth chapter of the gospel by ,st4 ,matthew1 to which ,i referred in the beginning1 ,jesus tells of a farmer who sowed his field with wheat1 and while he slept an enemy came and sowed tares4 ,of course he could not discover this until the grain began to grow4 ,when it began to get ripe1 then for the first could he distinguish between the stalks of the wheat and the stalks of the tares4 ,by doing this wicked thing the enemy gave the farmer a great deal of trouble4 ,just so it is with you when you have tried to do right1 ,satan comes and puts evil thoughts and wicked purposes into your mind1 and then if you permit these to grow up1 you will find that they will give you a great deal of trouble4 ,it is important that only the good seed should be sown in the field of your heart1 and in the field of your mind1 so that you may have a fruitage that shall be wholly good4 ,sometimes you see boys and girls who are doing things which you would like to do1 but your mother and father tell you that you should not4 ,you may not be pleased because you are restrained from doing what you would like to do4 ,i well remember how my father1 when ,i was a boy1 oftentimes used to restrain me from doing what ,i saw other boys doing4 ,i used to think1 at that time1 that he was not considerate1 and possibly not kind to me4 ,but now that ,i have grown older1 and have seen the results which have come to those boys1 some of whom have gone astray1 and others who have turned out badly in life1 ,i see how wise my father was4 ,although ,i did not feel at the time that he was doing that which was for my good2 now ,i see it all very plainly4 ,in closing1 let me say to you1 do as ,isaiah suggested1 ,sow by the side of all waters4 ,that is1 be very diligent1 that day by day you may do some kind act1 which will hereafter spring up into a fruitage of very great good4 ,the ,bible enjoins upon both young and old to be very diligent in this work1 for it says1 ,in the morning sow thy seed1 and in the evening withhold not thine hand2 for thou knowest not whether shall prosper1 either this or that1 or whether they both shall be alike good4 7,eccl4 xi3 #f47 ,when you go to school during the week1 and to ,sunday-school and church service on ,sunday1 and when being instructed and taught at home1 remember that all the instruction you are receiving is like the seed that falls upon the waiting soil in the early spring-time from the hand of an intelligent farmer4 ,in the parable which ,jesus spake1 ,he tells how that some of the seed fell by the wayside1 some among thorns and some upon stony ground1 while others fell upon good ground4 ,while the seed was the same kind in all instances1 it was only that which fell upon the good ground which brought forth a fruitage of thirty1 sixty and an hundred fold4 ,if the fruitage of your life in the harvest of the after-years is to be abundant in good and blessing1 it can only be because you receive the instruction of your parents1 your teachers and your pastor into a good and honest heart4 ,others may sow faithfully1 but after all the result must depend upon you4 ,,questions4--,which is the most pleasant season of the year8 ,why8 ,what is the farmer's special work in the spring-time8 ,why is the farmer careful to sow good grain8 ,what period of life is best represented by spring8 ,if the farmer failed to sow in the spring1 would he have a harvest in the autumn8 ,how does he know what kind of grain he will reap at harvest time8 ,does wheat ever produce oats8 ,or clover seed produce wheat8 ,what happened while the farmer slept8 ,who sowed the tares in his field8 ,who sows the tares in our minds8 ,what do we call these tares8 ,should they be removed or permitted to grow8 ,should we be thankful to our parents for preventing tares from being sown8 ,in what kind of soil did the grain grow to a fruitage of thirty1 sixty and an hundred fold8 ,illustration ,,reaping4 ,,the ,,harvest ,,time ,,of ,,life4 ,,suggestion3--,the object used is a small sheaf of grain4 ,for this might be substituted fruitage of any kind--apples1 peaches1 pears1 grapes1 etc41 and after reading the sermon1 the parent could apply in the manner suited to the objects used4 ,,my ,,dear ,,little ,,harvesters3 ,last ,sunday ,i talked to you of spring-time--the spring-time of the year1 and the spring-time of life4 ,to-day ,i have brought a small sheaf of grain to tell us of the harvest-time4 ,the spring-time is very pleasant1 the air is fragrant1 the birds are singing1 and all nature seems to be rejoicing in its freshness and beauty4 ,the world looks just as new and beautiful as it did thousands and thousands of years ago4 ,each spring it puts on youth anew4 ,illustration3 ,sheaf of ,grain4 ,but when the summer-time comes1 when it gets along to the harvest time1 along in ,july and ,august1 then the weather is very warm4 ,the color of the fields has then greatly changed1 the blossoms have disappeared from the trees1 and we find that everywhere the fruit is beginning to appear4 ,the harvest fields are ripe and are waiting for the husbandmen4 ,there is just about that same difference in life4 ,youth is the spring-time4 ,it is full of hope1 and full of bright prospects4 ,but1 as we grow older1 and the cares and responsibilities of life multiply1 then we begin to bear the toil and labor which comes with the later years4 ,then we are like the farmer who enters into the harvest field where hard work has to be done under a very hot and scorching sun4 ,a man1 called a naturalist1 who has devoted a large amount of time to the study of plants1 tells us that there are about one hundred thousand different kinds of plants4 ,each kind of plant bears its own seed1 and when that particular seed is sown1 it always bears its own kind of fruit4 ,wheat never yields barley1 nor do oats ever yield buckwheat4 ,when you plant potatoes1 you expect to gather potatoes and not turnips4 ,an apple tree has never grown from an acorn1 or a peach tree from a chestnut4 ,each seed1 always and everywhere1 bears its own kind4 ,it is on this account that the ,bible says1 ,be not deceived2 ,god is not mocked3 for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap4 7,gal4 vi3 #g47 ,there are some grown persons1 as well as children1 who think that they can do very wrong things while they are young1 and afterwards suffer no bad results4 ,people sometimes say1 ,oh1 well6 let us sow our wild oats while we are young4 ,now the ,bible tells us that if we sow wild oats1 we must reap wild oats4 ,four or five handfuls of wild oats will produce a whole bag full of wild oats when gathered in the harvest of after life4 ,be assured1 my dear friend1 that those who sow to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption1 and those who sow the wind shall reap the whirlwind4 ,sow an act1 and you reap a habit4 ,sow a habit1 and you reap a character4 ,sow a character1 and you reap a destiny4 ,illustration3 ,the ,harvest ,fields ,are ,ripe and ,are ,waiting for the ,husbandmen4 ,it may seem a long period between the spring and the harvest time of life2 but be assured1 my dear young friends1 that the early years will speedily pass4 ,before you are aware of it1 you will be men and women with all the responsibilities of life upon you1 and then you will be sure to reap the reward of what you do now while you are boys and girls4 ,lord ,bacon said that ,nature owes us many a debt until we are old1 but nature is always sure to pay its debts4 ,the ancients had an adage that said1 ,justice travels with a sore foot1 but it usually overtakes a man4 ,a few ,sundays ago ,i told you that as the result of planting a single grain of corn1 a fruitage sufficient to plant the entire earth might be secured in only five years4 ,it is told us by historians that1 in olden times1 the harvest in ,egypt and ,syria would return an hundred fold for one sowing1 and in ,babylonia oftentimes two hundred fold for one sowing4 ,now1 if a single grain of wheat were planted in soil as fertile as that of ,egypt1 at the end of eight years of sowing and reaping1 if we had a field large enough1 the product would be sufficient to feed all the families of the earth for more than a year and a half4 ,but if we were to undertake to plant one grain of wheat in this way1 after a few years we would fill all the fields which would be suited for a wheat harvest4 ,down near the equator it would be too hot for the wheat to grow successfully4 ,in the north it would be altogether too cold4 ,on the mountain side the soil is not fertile1 and oftentimes is very rocky4 ,for these1 and various other reasons1 it would be impossible to cover any large portion of the earth with wheat1 for not every portion would be suited to produce a harvest4 ,were it not for this fact1 in the course of seven or eight years1 the entire earth might be made to wave as one vast field of wheat4 ,but there is one truth which ,god has planted in this world4 ,that truth is ,god's love manifested in the gift of ,his ,son ,jesus ,christ for the salvation of all mankind4 ,this truth is suited to every age of the world1 to every nation of the earth1 to all classes and all conditions of people1 and to every human heart4 ,during the past centuries men have been planting and replanting this seed of divine truth1 sowing and resowing the earth with it1 gathering and reaping the harvest and sowing again4 ,and the days are coming when all the earth shall wave as one vast harvest field1 waiting for the reapers of ,god1 who shall gather this blessed fruitage into the garner of the skies4 ,it is your privilege and my privilege1 both one and all1 to have some part in this glorious work of sowing and resowing1 and the ,scriptures assure us that he that goeth forth and weepeth1 bearing precious seeds1 shall doubtless come again with rejoicing1 bringing his sheaves with him4 7,psalms cxxvi3 #f47 ,,afterward4 ,,anonymous4 ,now1 the sowing and the reaping1 ,working hard and waiting long2 ,afterward1 the golden reaping1 ,harvest home and grateful song4 ,now1 the pruning1 sharp1 unsparing1 ,scattered blossom1 bleeding shoot2 ,afterward1 the plenteous bearing ,of the ,master's pleasant fruit4 ,now1 the plunge1 the briny burden1 ,blind1 faint gropings in the sea2 ,afterward1 the pearly guerdon1 ,that shall make the diver free4 ,now1 the long and toilsome duty1 ,stone by stone to carve and bring2 ,afterward1 the perfect beauty ,of the palace of the king4 ,now1 the tuning and the tension1 ,wailing minors1 discord strong2 ,afterward1 the grand ascension ,of the ,alleluia song4 ,now1 the spirit conflict-riven1 ,wounded heart1 unequal strife2 ,afterward1 the triumph given ,and the victor's crown of life4 ,now1 the training strange and lowly1 ,unexplained and tedious now1 ,afterward1 the service holy1 ,and the ,master's ,enter thou6 ,,questions4--,last ,sunday our lesson was about the spring-time and sowing2 what has it been about to-day8 ,what are the only results which a farmer can reap at harvest8 ,if he sowed wheat1 what will he gather8 ,about how many different kinds of plants are there in the world8 ,do peach trees grow from chestnuts8 ,the ,bible says1 ,whatsoever a man soweth--can you repeat the rest of that passage8 ,can boys or young men1 girls or young women1 sow wild oats and reap blessing later on8 ,if we sow wild oats what must we reap8 ,if you sow an act1 what do you reap8 ,if you sow a habit1 what do you reap8 ,if you sow a character1 what do you reap8 ,how did the old adage say that justice travels8 ,could all portions of the globe be converted into a wheat field8 ,why not8 ,is the truth concerning ,god's love and salvation suited to all ages1 all nations1 and all people8 ,illustration ,,wheat ,,and ,,chaff4 ,,the ,,coming ,,separation4 ,,suggestion3--,if the children can secure a few handfuls of some kind of grain and chaff1 the idea of separation can be beautifully illustrated by pouring the grain and chaff from one hand to the other1 and at the same time gently blowing the chaff1 separating it from the grain4 ,by turning it in this manner once or twice and blowing gently1 the chaff may be entirely separated from the grain4 ,if a larger quantity were used1 it could be poured from one basket or pan to another while blowing the chaff from the grain with a palm leaf or some other fan4 ,this would illustrate how the grain and chaff were separated at that period of the world in which ,christ lived4 ,,my ,,dear ,,young ,,friends3 ,i want to read you a very beautiful little psalm1 or hymn1 or poem1 written by ,david4 ,it was originally written in metre or verse1 but poetry when translated becomes prose4 ,this first ,psalm of ,david reads as follows3-- ,blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly1 nor standeth in the way of sinners1 nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful2 but his delight is in the law of the ,lord2 and in ,his law doth he meditate day and night2 and he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water1 that bringeth forth his fruit in his season2 his leaf also shall not wither2 and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper4 ,the ungodly are not so2 but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away2 therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment1 nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous2 for the ,lord knoweth the way of the righteous2 but the way of the ungodly shall perish4 ,we find in this ,psalm how the righteous are set forth1 and how the ungodly are compared to chaff4 ,john the ,baptist said of ,jesus1 ,whose fan is in ,his hand1 and ,he will thoroughly purge ,his floor and gather ,his wheat into the garner2 but ,he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire4 ,illustration3 ,threshing ,grain with ,flails4 ,now1 when you have been in the country1 you have observed the wheat growing in the field4 ,if you had been careful to examine it1 you would have found that while the wheat is growing the grain is enclosed in a thin covering called chaff1 just the same as ,indian corn or sweet corn is enclosed by the husks which grow about it4 ,so it is with us2 while we are in this world1 there are many things which are essential to our growth and well-being4 ,they minister to our physical needs and supply our temporal wants4 ,although we cannot wholly dispense with these things while we are in this world1 yet they are not the sole objects of our living4 ,the wheat does not exist for the chaff1 or the husk in which it is enclosed1 but the husks or chaff exist for the wheat4 ,after a time1 when the harvest comes1 the farmer enters the field and cuts down the wheat1 and it is then taken to the barn or threshing floor4 ,years ago1 when ,i was a boy1 farmers used to spend a large portion of the winter in threshing grain4 ,they would spread it out upon the floor of the barn and beat it with a heavy stick1 which was tied so as to swing easily at the end of a long handle4 ,this was called a flail4 ,machines for threshing grain were not then common1 as they are to-day4 ,when the farmer threshes his grain1 he does not do it to destroy the wheat1 but simply to separate it from the chaff4 ,the ,bible tells us that we must enter into the kingdom of ,god through much tribulation4 ,and do you know that the word tribulation comes from a ,latin word1 tribulum1 which means a flail8 ,so the teaching of this passage of ,scripture is1 that ,god places you and me under the flail1 and smites again and again1 in order that the noblest1 best and most ,christ-like in us may be separated by trials and tribulations from that which is worthless2 and which needs to be cast off in order that just as the farmer gathers the wheat into his garner or granary here on earth1 so ,god may gather us eventually into ,his garner above4 ,boys and girls oftentimes have tribulations in this world1 just the same as older people do4 ,disappointments come to them1 and because of ambitions which are not lawful or right1 purposes which are not in harmony with ,god's word and with ,god's will2 because of needed discipline1 or for some good reason ,god is tribulating them by sorrows1 disappointments and trials1 and making them better by means of the experiences through which they are called upon to pass4 ,illustration3 ,winnowing or ,separating ,wheat and ,chaff4 ,if you have been with the farmer in his barn after he is through with the threshing1 you have seen him take the fanning-mill1 and perhaps you have turned the crank for him1 while he has slowly shoveled the grain into the mill and the chaff was being blown away by the wind set in motion by the revolution of the large fanning wheel4 ,in the olden times they did not have fanning-mills1 but when the farmer desired to separate the chaff from the wheat1 he did it with a fan4 ,he poured the grain from one basket or box1 or some other receptacle1 into another while the wind was blowing1 or else used a fan to create a draught of wind to blow the chaff1 and thus separate it from the wheat4 ,it is this ancient custom to which ,john the ,baptist refers4 ,he says1 concerning ,christ1 ,whose fan is in ,his hand1 and ,he will thoroughly purge ,his floor1 and gather ,his wheat into the garner2 but ,he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire4 7,matthew iii3 #ab47 ,so ,god designs to separate from your character1 and from mine1 that which is worldly and temporal1 and worthless so far as eternity is concerned4 ,take money as an illustration4 ,now money is essential1 and it is well that we should be willing to work hard for it1 and that we should be economical in its use1 and seek to save our money so that we may use it for good purposes1 and that it may be helpful to us in old age4 ,money serves a very excellent purpose while we are upon earth1 but ,god does not mean that we should make it the chief aim of our life4 ,therefore1 to divert our minds from money in one way or another1 financial reverses and failures sometimes come1 and thus ,god seeks to separate the man from the money4 ,we all came into this world empty-handed1 and we must go out of it empty-handed4 ,even though we were worth many millions of dollars we could take no money with us4 ,you might place it in the coffin and bury it with a dead body1 but it would not and could not go into eternity with the man's undying spirit4 ,now1 after the farmer has separated the chaff from the wheat1 he gathers the wheat into his garner1 or into his granary2 and so1 after ,god has separated from our nature and character all that is of no use1 which is simply earthy1 ,he will gather our souls into heaven1 ,his garner above4 ,while we live upon the earth we should use the things of this world but not abuse them2 remembering that finally we must go and leave everything behind us1 and that we can take nothing with us into eternity except the characters which we formed here4 ,wealth and reputation1 and all worldly things will have to be left behind us2 but character1 that which you and ,i really are1 shall never pass away1 but shall enter into an eternal state of being on high4 ,all these earthly things are the mere chaff1 while character is our real selves4 ,,questions4--,who wrote the book of the ,bible called the ,psalms8 ,can you tell what the first ,psalm is about8 ,what is the covering called which is about the grain while it is growing8 ,how are the chaff and grain separated from the straw or stalk8 ,after being threshed1 how is the chaff separated from the grain8 ,are there many necessary things in life which1 after all1 do not constitute our character8 ,what are tribulations like8 ,does ,god separate the essential from the non-essentials in our life8 ,is character injured or helped by tribulations8 ,where does the farmer put the grain after it has been separated from the chaff8 ,what is spoken of in the ,bible as ,god's garner8 ,illustration ,,the ,,heart4 ,,the ,,most ,,wonderful ,,pump ,,in ,,the ,,world4 ,,suggestion3--,the objects used are a tumbler of water colored red1 a small glass syringe such as can be purchased at any drug store for five or ten cents1 also a six-ounce bottle of water colored red4 ,this red coloring can be easily done with red ink4 ,if that is not available1 a drop or two of black ink will answer4 ,,my ,,dear ,,young ,,friends3 ,in the #acith ,psalm1 #adth verse1 ,david says1 ,i will praise thee1 for ,i am fearfully and wonderfully made4 ,now ,i want to talk to you to-day about our wonderful bodies1 in the creation of which ,god has so marvelously displayed ,his infinite wisdom4 ,i suppose you have been either near or inside a factory4 ,you have heard the noise of the shafts and the pulleys and machinery4 ,you have seen the carding machines1 and listened to the noise of the great spinning jacks which twisted the cotton and the wool into yarn or thread1 and heard the deafening sound of a great many looms as the shuttles flew backward and forward1 while the many threads were being woven into cloth4 ,a factory is quite wonderful1 but do you know that in your bodies are found the elements of almost all the kinds of machinery that are used in the world8 ,god has so created us that we do not hear the noise of the machinery of our bodies1 but if you will place your fingers gently in your ears you will hear a peculiar roaring sound4 ,that sound which you hear is the noise of the machinery of your body1 which is in constant motion4 ,now1 the heart1 which pumps the blood into all portions of the body1 makes the greater portion of this noise4 ,do you know where your heart is located8 ,i supposed that most of you would point to your left side1 because you have so frequently heard it spoken of as being located there4 ,you have seen public speakers and others1 when referring to their heart1 place their hands upon their left side4 ,but if you will bend your head forward so as to press your chin against your breast1 as far down as possible1 the heart will be under and a few inches below your chin4 ,it is in the center of the body1 and the lower portion of it comes near to the ribs on the left side1 and when it beats we can feel it throb by placing our hand upon our left side2 but the heart is more nearly in the center of the body1 and not wholly at the side4 ,if you were to close your hand as the boys do when they say they make a fist1 the size of your closed hand will be somewhat smaller than the heart4 ,illustration3 ,water and ,syringe4 ,in this tumbler ,i have some water which ,i have colored with red ink1 so as to represent blood4 ,here is a small glass syringe1 such as can be bought for a few cents in any drug store4 ,now1 when ,i draw this little handle up1 you will see how the syringe is filled with this red water1 and when ,i press it down how the water is forced out of the syringe back into the glass4 ,this very clearly illustrates the principle upon which all pumps and steam engines which pump water are made4 ,even the large fire engine1 which throws water such a great distance1 is made largely upon this principle4 ,you may possibly have been in the engine room1 where the huge pumps force the water into the reservoirs which supply the city with water for drinking and other purposes4 ,from the pumps and the reservoirs there are great pipes which lead the water under the streets to many thousands of houses which compose the city4 ,after the water has been used it is turned into the sewers1 runs down into the river and back to the sea1 where it is evaporated1 rises again in the clouds1 and by the wind is carried hundreds of miles over the country4 ,then it descends again in the form of snow and rain1 soaks down through the earth and finds its way again into the springs and great veins of water under the earth1 from which it is carried back once more to the city4 ,thus it is made pure again and again1 to be used over and over by the people whom ,god has created and whom ,he supplies with water in this way4 ,now1 in somewhat the same way1 the heart1 which is both an engine and a pump1 forces the blood out through the pipes or tubes of our bodies called the arteries1 distributing it to every portion of the body1 furnishing the materials for building and renewing the muscles and the bones and every portion of our system4 ,then gathering up that which is worn out and no longer of service1 the impure blood returns through the veins back to the right side of the heart1 where it is pumped into the lungs and purified by being brought into contact with the air we breathe4 ,the blood is then returned to the left side of the heart1 pumped again into the arteries and distributed through all parts of the body1 and so it goes on circulating4 ,thus the blood is pumped by the heart into the arteries and is distributed to all portions of the body1 and returned again to the heart1 from fourteen to twenty times each hour of our life4 ,in this bottle1 which holds six ounces1 ,i have placed some of this colored water1 which represents about the quantity which is pumped out of the heart of an adult each time the pulse beats4 ,as ,i have already intimated to you1 the heart is double1 and at each throb about one-half the quantity in this bottle is pumped out by the right side1 and the other half by the left side of the heart4 ,now1 if the heart were to pump different blood with each pulsation1 instead of pumping the same blood over and over again1 in twenty-four hours the heart of a man of ordinary size would pump #aej barrels of blood4 ,illustration3 ,a ,wagon ,load of ,barrels4 ,the ,bible says that the days of our years are three-score years and ten1 or1 in other words1 that the allotted period of an ordinary life is #gj years4 ,now1 in #gj years the heart would pump #afd1chi1ghf gallons2 or1 to give it to you in barrels1 it would make #d1eff1chb barrels4 ,if you were to place six barrels on a wagon1 and this would make a good load for two horses1 you would have #gfa1jfc loads of these barrels4 ,if you were to place these teams1 with the wagons containing six barrels apiece1 with #cf gallons each1 at a distance of #be feet apart1 it would make a string of teams stretching away #a1ggh miles1 or as far as from ,new ,york ,city to ,des ,moines1 in the state of ,iowa1 or from ,new ,york ,city down to the ,gulf of ,mexico4 ,i think you will now be able to understand what a wonderful little steam engine and pump each of us has within our own breast4 ,and it may surprise you when ,i tell you that ,dr4 ,buck says that the heart at each throb beats with a power equal to #ajj1jjj pounds4 ,an ordinary engine or pump would soon wear out1 but this little engine of the heart goes on beating day and night from the time we are born until we are #gj years of age1 if we live to be that old1 and even while we rest in sleep1 the heart never stops for a moment4 ,is it any wonder that ,david said that ,we are fearfully and wonderfully made8 ,i might tell you many other wonderful things about the heart1 but this will have to suffice4 ,if the natural heart in these bodies of ours is so wonderful1 how much more wonderful still is that heart which is the seat of the moral life and character8 ,as the natural heart is hidden away in these bodies of ours1 so the spirit or the soul is spoken of in the ,bible as the heart1 because it is hidden away in the life which we have in these bodies of ours2 and it is this moral character and spiritual life to which the ,bible refers when it says1 ,keep thine heart with all diligence1 for out of it are the issues of life4 ,,questions4--,how did ,david say we are made8 ,does the machinery in a great factory make much noise8 ,are our bodies like a factory in this respect8 ,how can we hear the noise inside of our body8 ,where is the heart located8 ,what does the heart do8 ,can you tell how water is supplied for a great city8 ,is the blood carried to all portions of our body in a similar way8 ,how much blood is pumped by the heart in twenty-four hours8 ,what does the ,bible say is the allotted years of a person's life8 ,how long a string of teams would it require to carry all the blood which the heart ordinarily pumps in seventy years8 ,does the heart keep on pumping while we sleep8 ,what is still more wonderful than the physical heart8 ,can we see either the physical heart or the spiritual heart8 ,does the fact that you cannot see them prove that you do not have them8 ,are both necessary to your complete being and existence8 ,illustration ,,the ,,eye4 ,,the ,,most ,,valuable ,,and ,,most ,,wonderful ,,telescope4 ,,suggestion3--,the objects used are a field-glass or opera-glass1 spy-glass and sun-glass4 ,,my ,,dear ,,little ,,millionaires3 ,you know that when people are very wealthy1 have hundreds of thousands of dollars1 they are spoken of as millionaires4 ,oftentimes these rich people do not have any more actual money than poorer people1 but they have property which is supposed to be worth a great deal of money4 ,now1 ,i want to show you to-day that each one of you possesses that which is worth millions of dollars4 ,illustration3 ,field-glass1 ,spy-glass and ,sun-glass4 ,i want to talk to you about your eyes1 and ,i hope that you will be able to understand that they are worth hundreds and thousands1 yes millions of dollars to each of you4 ,in order that ,i may better illustrate a few of the many wonderful things about the human eye1 ,i have brought this field-glass1 and here is a small spy-glass1 and also a magnifying lens1 or sun-glass1 as boys sometimes call them4 ,inside of this spy-glass and these field-glasses are lenses or magnifying glasses1 similar to this sun-glass4 ,they are1 however1 more perfect1 and are so adjusted or related to each other1 that when ,i place this smaller lens of the spy-glass to my eye ,i also look through the larger lens which is at the further end of the instrument4 ,when properly adjusted1 it enables me to see objects which are at a great distance1 and to so magnify them as to cause them to seem much nearer to me than they really are4 ,now1 if you take this spy-glass and look at the stars1 it will not make them appear any larger than they appear to the eye without the spy-glass4 ,it will assist the eye when ,i look at the moon or the planets1 but not at the stars which are so much further removed from the earth than the moon and the planets4 ,astronomers have desired something larger and more satisfactory1 and so have made the great telescopes1 which are simply large spy-glasses4 ,the telescope and the spy-glass1 and the field-glasses1 are all imitations of the human eye2 the same as many of our greatest inventions are only copies of that which ,god has already created1 and which we have but feebly imitated4 ,the eye is a more wonderful instrument than even the largest telescopes which have ever been made4 ,if you desired to look through a telescope at one of the stars or a planet1 or the moon1 you would have considerable difficulty in directing it so as to be able to see the desired object4 ,even with this small spy-glass it is very difficult so to direct it as to find a particular star in the heavens at night4 ,it is not easy1 even to find a distant object upon the earth4 ,but with these wonderful eyes1 with which ,god has endowed us1 you and ,i can look almost instantly from one star to any other star1 and find instantly upon the earth any object which is distinctly pointed out to us4 ,it takes a very experienced person successfully to operate a telescope1 but the smallest child can direct and control and use his own eyes successfully4 ,the large telescopes have to be turned and adjusted by machinery1 and when it is desired to direct them from one star to another star on the opposite side of the heavens1 they even have to turn around the entire roof or dome of the observatory4 ,but you and ,i do not need any ponderous machinery to adjust our eyes1 or to turn them about in order to look in a different direction4 ,we can easily turn our heads by bending our necks1 or1 if necessary1 we can turn our entire body around and look in an opposite direction4 ,in looking from one object to another1 our eyes change their direction so quickly that we are not conscious of any effort upon our own part4 ,illustration3 ,small ,telescope4 ,if you were to look through a large telescope1 or even one of these smaller spy-glasses1 you would immediately discover that when you desire to look at objects at different distances1 or in different degrees of light and shade1 you would have to constantly adjust the telescope or spy-glass to these different conditions4 ,if you would look at objects which are near1 and then turn the spy-glass to look at those which are distant1 you would not be able to see distinctly until you had adjusted the lenses to suit the distance4 ,with our eyes the same adjustment has to be made1 and yet it is done so quickly and without any conscious effort upon our part1 that it seems as if it were not done at all4 ,when we look at an object which is only a few inches from our face1 and then turn and look at a distant object1 instantly our eyes are adjusted to the difference of distance and varying degrees of light and shade4 ,but what makes this all still more wonderful is the fact that we have two telescopes1 two eyes instead of one4 ,both of these little eye-telescopes instantly adjust themselves1 and both adjust themselves to precisely the same necessity4 ,if they adjusted themselves differently we would see two objects instead of one2 the same as a drunken man who has lost the use of his muscles and faculties1 whose eyes do not work in harmony1 and therefore1 instead of seeing only one object1 he sees two objects and sees them in a confused way4 ,did you ever think how wonderful it is that when you close your right eye1 and look at something with your left eye1 that you can see the object distinctly8 ,now1 if you close the left eye1 and look at the object with the right eye1 you again see the same object distinctly4 ,when you open both eyes and look at the same object1 instead of seeing the object twice1 or seeing two objects1 you see only one object4 ,that is because the eyes work in such perfect harmony1 and that is what the ,scripture means when it says that you and ,i should see eye to eye in everything that is good4 ,now there is another thing to which ,i desire to call your attention1 and that is the size of the eye4 ,if you owned one of these very large telescopes which cost hundreds of thousands of dollars1 you would be regarded as a very wealthy person1 but you could not carry that telescope with you from one place to another4 ,it would be of no service to you in looking upon the beautiful scenes which surround you from day to day4 ,if you wanted to use the telescope you would have to stay where the telescope was1 instead of taking the telescope with you where you desired to go4 ,but ,god has made these little eye-telescopes so perfect1 and yet so compact and small1 that wherever we go1 on land or sea1 we can take them with us1 and they can be in constant use and give us the most perfect delight and satisfaction4 ,i am sure there is not a single boy or girl who would trade off one of these perfect little telescopes--yes1 ,i will call it a telescope and an observatory also--for ,god has beautifully encased our eyes1 and shielded and housed them more beautifully and satisfactorily than the most perfect observatory which was ever built for any man-made telescope4 ,we would not trade away one of our eyes for one of the finest telescopes in the world1 and we would not be willing to give both of our eyes for all the telescopes which have ever been made4 ,but one of these large telescopes and observatories would cost a great deal--even hundreds of thousands of dollars2 yet ,god has given you and me these telescopes1 our wonderful eyes4 ,but because ,god has given them to us they are none the less valuable on that account1 and ,i think therefore that ,i was correct when ,i addressed you to-day as little millionaires4 ,now1 ,god has given you1 not simply one eye1 but ,he has given you two eyes1 two wonderful telescopes and observatories4 ,he has given you two1 so that if by any accident one should be destroyed1 you would still have the other to depend upon4 ,god has given you two eyes1 and two hands1 and two feet2 but ,he has given you only one soul1 and if by sin you lose that one soul1 then you have lost everything1 for the ,scripture says1 ,what shall a man give in exchange for his soul8 ,in ,palestine1 the country in which ,jesus lived when ,he was upon the earth1 the sun shines with wonderful brightness and clearness2 the land also is very light in color1 and consequently the eyes are oppressed by the glare1 just the same as those of you who have ever been at the seashore have experienced the glare while walking along the beach2 or1 to some extent1 like the bright sunlight shining upon the snow in winter4 ,this light color of the soil and brightness of the sun in ,palestine are the cause of blindness to many of the inhabitants4 ,when ,jesus was upon the earth1 one of ,his greatest acts of mercy to suffering humanity was to open and heal the eyes of those who were either born blind1 or who had become blind afterward4 ,now1 in this country of ours1 and in all countries of the earth1 there are hundreds and thousands and millions of people who are spiritually blind4 ,jesus ,christ is to-day passing by1 just the same as when the blind man sat by the roadside near ,jericho1 when ,jesus was then passing by4 ,as that blind man called upon ,jesus and said1 ,thou ,son of ,david1 have mercy upon me1 so you and ,i should call upon ,god and upon ,his ,son1 ,jesus ,christ1 that ,he would have mercy upon us and open our spiritual eyes4 ,we should make the language of the ,scriptures the petition of our hearts1 ,open ,thou mine eyes1 that ,i may behold wondrous things out of ,thy law4 ,i pray that ,god may give each of you to see and to understand spiritual things4 ,,questions4--,instead of money1 in what does the wealth of millionaires often consist8 ,is the human eye worth more than money8 ,would you take a million of dollars for your two eyes8 ,are your eyes worth more than telescopes8 ,which is the more perfect1 a telescope or the human eye8 ,are telescopes adjusted like the eye8 ,which can be adjusted more quickly8 ,where are telescopes kept8 ,are your eyes kept in a little observatory8 ,why has ,god given us two eyes instead of one8 ,how many souls has ,he given us8 ,if the soul is lost1 what is the result8 ,what causes so much blindness in the country in which ,jesus lived8 ,did ,jesus open the eyes of the blind and restore the sight of people in ,palestine8 ,are many people spiritually blind8 ,does ,jesus wish to give them spiritual sight or vision8 ,illustration ,,the ,,eye ,,the ,,smallest ,,camera1 ,,the ,,most ,,valuable ,,pictures4 ,,suggestion3--,the object used is a small camera of any kind4 ,i ,,am going to address you again to-day as ,,little ,,millionaires4 ,last week ,i showed you how your eyes were more valuable than the most costly telescopes1 and to-day ,i want to show you how1 in another way1 you are little millionaires4 ,very wealthy people sometimes travel in different countries1 and gather very rare and beautiful paintings and pictures1 oftentimes paying a thousand dollars1 ten thousand dollars1 and sometimes very much more for a single painting4 ,then they bring these paintings all together in their own homes and hang them on the walls1 and as the result of the expenditure of many thousands1 and sometimes of hundreds of thousands of dollars1 they have a very beautiful and rare collection4 ,but ,god has made you and me the possessors of a vast number of pictures1 more beautiful1 of greater variety1 and infinitely more valuable1 than all the paintings that were ever hung upon the walls of any art gallery in the world4 ,illustration3 ,camera4 ,to illustrate my thought1 ,i have to-day brought a camera4 ,sometimes such a camera as this is called a ,kodak or ,snap-shot4 ,as the finest telescopes have been modeled after the human eye1 so the camera is only a very imperfect imitation of the human eye4 ,as the spy-glass and telescope have lenses1 so does this camera have a lens1 which you see here in the front4 ,just back of this lens is the dark chamber in the camera1 and back of it is a ground glass1 as you will see here4 ,now whatever is directly in front of the camera is shown on the ground glass1 as you will observe1 but in an inverted or up-side-down position4 ,so the eye has its various parts1 and as the rays of light pass through this lens and reflect the picture on this ground glass1 so rays of light coming from any object pass first through the small opening of the eye1 to the retina1 where the picture is inverted just the same as upon the ground glass4 ,when this picture is thrown upon the rear wall of the eye1 which is called the retina1 the seeing nerve1 which is called the optic nerve and is connected with the eye1 conveys the impression to the brain1 and the result is what we call seeing4 ,illustration3 ,the ,human ,eye4 ,what ,i have told you is correct1 and can easily be proven by a simple experiment with the eye of some animal4 ,if you take the eye of a dead rabbit1 and cleanse the back portion of it from the fat and muscles and then hold a candle in front of it1 you can see the image of the candle formed upon the retina4 ,if you take the eye of an ox and carefully pare off from the back portion1 so as to leave it very thin1 and place the eye in front of 7or against7 a small hole made in a box2 then cover your head to shut out the light you will see through the box the picture of any object which is directly in front of this eye of the ox4 ,in both instances they will be in the inverted form4 ,this experiment would fully demonstrate to you that the camera is only an imitation1 and a very poor one too1 of the human eye4 ,now when pictures are taken by means of the camera1 the negative can not be exposed to the light1 but must be taken into a dark room1 and be carefully developed by the use of necessary chemicals or liquids4 ,then specially prepared paper must be used for printing the photographs4 ,this paper must also be kept in the dark until it has been thoroughly washed and cleansed4 ,but1 with the pictures which are taken upon the retina of the eye1 no such delay and labor is necessary before you can look at them4 ,the moment the eye is turned in any direction1 instantly the picture is photographed upon the retina of the eye1 and then stamped indelibly upon the memory and becomes a part of ourselves4 ,there is no cost for chemicals1 no delay in adjusting the instrument with which the picture is taken1 no necessity for carrying around a large camera4 ,the camera has many disadvantages which are not found in the human eye4 ,the camera must be adjusted to objects near or far1 and different cameras have to be used for pictures of different sizes and for different classes of pictures4 ,these cameras are costly to purchase1 a great deal of time is consumed in securing a few pictures1 they are always attended with expense2 and when pictures are to be removed from one place to another1 the owner is subjected to much trouble and annoyance4 ,then1 the camera also does not give us the colors of the different objects which are before it4 ,that is the reason why1 in the beginning1 ,i spoke of these millionaires purchasing such costly paintings1 because in the paintings different colors are represented4 ,now1 in the hundreds of pictures which are constantly being taken by your eyes1 there are no delays1 no expenses1 no inconvenience when the pictures have once been taken4 ,different shades and colors are all clearly represented4 ,and even though you were to stand on a high mountain1 where you could look off over one or two hundred square miles of beautiful landscape1 all that beautiful scenery would be pictured on the retina of your eye2 and the picture1 complete and perfect1 would not be larger than one-half inch square4 ,what would real wealthy people be willing to give for a perfect picture only one-half inch square1 in which the artist had clearly defined every field and tree1 the rivers1 houses1 roads1 railways and all the beautiful landscape contained in a vast area of many square miles8 ,our eyes are wonderful cameras1 which ,god has given us so that we can be constantly taking these beautiful pictures as we pass through life1 and look at them not only for the instant1 but that we may treasure the pictures up in our memories and make them the rich treasures and joyous heritage of coming years4 ,the older we grow1 the more we appreciate these memory pictures of the past--memories of our childhood days1 beautiful landscapes1 foreign travel1 lovely sunsets1 the glorious sunrise1 green fields and orchards of golden fruit4 ,as you grow old1 ,i suppose the richest treasures in your picture gallery of the past will be the memories of your childhood home1 of mother and father1 brother and sister4 ,possibly when you have grown old1 you will remember how one day your heart was almost broken1 when for the first time you were leaving home2 how mother's eyes filled with tears when she kissed you good-bye1 and1 following you to the gate1 how she stood and waved her handkerchief1 while home faded from your view as you rounded the turn in the road and realized for the first time that you were launching out into real life for long years of struggle4 ,just as the hearts of the parents go out in great tenderness toward their son1 who is leaving the ,christian influences of his home to begin service in a distant city1 surrounded by evil influences1 and oftentimes by wicked people2 so the heart of our ,heavenly ,father goes out in great tenderness towards you and me1 while we are separated from the great eternal mansion of the skies4 ,god's heart yearns over us in great tenderness1 and while we live in the midst of the evil of this world we are constantly to remember that ,god has made us millionaires2 not only in the possession of the eyes1 and other faculties with which ,he has endowed us for use here upon the earth1 but we are to remember that we are children of the ,king of ,heaven1 and that we are heirs of everlasting life and of everlasting glory4 ,we are heirs of ,god and joint heirs with ,jesus ,christ1 to an inheritance which is incorruptible1 undefiled and that fadeth not away4 ,we are not simply millionaires1 but we are heirs of everlasting glory4 ,,questions4--,what instrument for taking pictures is like the human eye8 ,which can take pictures quicker1 the eye or the camera8 ,what is lacking in pictures taken by the camera8 ,do our eyes show the colors of the objects8 ,of what is the camera an imitation8 ,is it expensive to take many pictures with the camera8 ,why do people pay large sums for oil paintings8 ,was there ever a picture painted by an artist or photographed with a camera so beautiful as the small pictures taken by the eye8 ,for size1 color1 variety and convenience1 which are the finest pictures in the world8 ,which pictures are most treasured in old age8 ,,frogs4 ,,the ,,plagues ,,in ,,egypt4 ,,suggestion3--,objects3 ,some paper frogs1 which can be purchased at any ,japanese store for about five cents each4 ,they are often found also in toy stores4 ,,my ,,dear ,,young ,,friends3 ,i am sure you will all be able to tell me what this object is which ,i hold in my hand 7voices3 ,frogs1 bullfrogs74 ,well1 it looks exactly like a bullfrog1 and was made to imitate a bullfrog4 ,the bullfrogs ,i have here are made of paper1 and were made in ,japan4 ,i bought them that ,i might show them to you and preach you an object sermon on the subject of the ,ten ,plagues in ,egypt4 ,illustration ,you all remember how ,joseph was sold by his brethren into bondage in ,egypt1 how he was cast into prison and afterward taken out and made prime minister over all that land2 how during the seven years of plenty he laid up corn for the seven years of famine which followed1 and afterward his father and his brethren--in all the seventy persons who constituted ,jacob's family--came down into ,egypt to be fed4 ,after two hundred and fifty years this family had increased until it numbered nearly two millions of people4 ,pharaoh had made slaves of them1 and compelled them to work in the brickyards of ,egypt4 ,the task-masters were very cruel4 ,they beat them with whips1 and demanded excessive labor from them4 ,these people were the chosen people of ,god1 and their voice was lifted to ,god their ,father for deliverance from all the wrongs which they suffered4 ,god heard their prayer1 and raised up ,moses to deliver them out of ,egyptian bondage4 ,when ,moses and ,aaron went to ,pharaoh to request him to let the ,children of ,israel go from ,egypt to the land of ,canaan1 which ,god had promised to ,abraham and to his seed after him1 ,pharaoh would not consent to let them go4 ,he was a proud1 wicked king1 and ,god sent ten great plagues upon him and his country1 to humble him and cause him to do as ,god desired that he should do4 ,in the first plague the rivers were turned into blood4 ,this plague lasted seven days1 and at the end of that time ,moses stretched forth his rod1 and all the rivers and ponds and lakes of water brought forth great frogs throughout all the land4 ,they came1 not by hundreds1 but by thousands and millions1 until the frogs covered all that land4 ,they were in the houses of all the people4 ,the king's servants were busy sweeping and carrying them out of the palace1 and yet they stole into the rooms1 and at night when the king would go to lie down he would find these frogs in his bed-chamber and upon his bed4 ,when his bakers went to make bread for the king1 they would find them in the bread-troughs in which they kneaded or mixed the bread1 and in the ovens where they baked the bread4 ,the frogs were everywhere in the palace and in the huts of the common people2 upon the streets and in the roads2 wherever the people walked they stepped upon them1 and the king's carriage could not be driven through the streets without crushing thousands of them4 ,the plague was so great that ,pharaoh sent for ,moses and ,aaron1 and entreated them to call upon their ,god that ,he would remove the frogs2 and when ,god heard the prayer of ,moses and ,aaron ,he caused the frogs to die4 ,the people gathered them up in great heaps and these dead and putrefying frogs in the streets and the water of the river caused the air to be loaded with a great stench that filled the nostrils of all the people4 ,after this plague of frogs came the plague of lice1 when all the dust of the country was turned into lice1 and after that the plague of the flies2 and so on through to the last plague1 which was the slaying of the first-born1 of which ,i will tell you in another sermon4 ,i wish you would at your earliest opportunity turn to the second book in the ,old ,testament1 the ,book of ,exodus1 and in the early chapters read about these various plagues of ,egypt4 ,when you read the account of the various plagues1 you will see how after each affliction ,pharaoh's heart seemed to relent4 ,he would consent for a time that the ,children of ,israel might be liberated from their bondage1 and depart from ,egypt and start on their journey to the land of ,canaan4 ,when he was in affliction he would make good promises1 but as soon as ,god had removed the plague1 and the sorrow of his people seemed to be ended for a time he again hardened his heart against ,god1 and refused to do what he had promised4 ,again and again the king refused to do that which he had agreed1 and caused the unhappy ,children of ,israel to continue in their bondage4 ,we may think that we are not wicked like ,pharaoh was4 ,we may not be wicked in the same degree1 but we are wicked after the same nature and kind2 and so ,god brings upon us various providences1 some of which are not very pleasant4 ,god is seeking to educate us by the trials and sorrows and disappointments and afflictions which ,he permits to come upon us1 so that we will be more obedient1 and more faithful1 and more ,christlike4 ,but ,i suppose you have seen people who were just like ,pharaoh4 ,when they were sick they would promise to become ,christians1 and live good and right lives1 and join the ,church and be faithful followers of ,christ all the rest of their lives4 ,and yet when ,god would raise them up from their beds of sickness they would forget all their promises1 and generally1 as it always was in the case of ,pharaoh1 their hearts became harder and harder4 ,instead of being better after ,god had raised them up and made them strong and well1 or removed some trial or affliction1 they became worse than before4 ,have you not found something of this also in your own experience8 ,when you have desired something which you have asked your father or mother to secure for you1 you have promised that you would run all the errands they asked1 or that you would go to school and study your lessons very faithfully1 or that you would go to bed cheerfully at night without complaining1 or you have made your parents some other promises2 and yet1 after you have received the object you asked for1 you have failed to keep your promise4 ,illustration3 ,moses ,leading the ,children of ,israel ,through the ,red ,sea4 ,or1 to go a step further1 has it not been so with what you have promised ,god that you would do8 ,you may have entered into covenant with ,him1 made certain promises1 and then afterward forgot to fulfill those promises4 ,let us always remember when we make promises to ,god1 or to our parents1 that we are not to be like ,pharaoh4 ,after ,god has answered our prayers we should not forget to be obedient to ,him and to keep our promises4 ,pharaoh was a great covenant-breaker1 but when at last he gave the ,children of ,israel permission to leave ,egypt1 and then broke his promise and followed them with his army that he might destroy them1 ,god opened up the waters of the ,red ,sea and the ,children of ,israel fled from before ,pharaoh4 ,when this wicked king and covenant-breaker saw them1 he pursued after them with his horses1 his chariots and his army2 and when they were all in the midst of the sea1 ,god took away ,his restraining power from the water which stood piled up on both sides of the way along which the ,children of ,israel had marched safely1 and the water came down in great torrents and buried this wicked king and all his horses and his chariots and his men4 ,so ,god destroyed this great covenant-breaking king1 because after all of the judgments and wonderful miracles which ,he had wrought before ,pharaoh1 in order to teach him that ,jehovah was ,god1 ,pharaoh's repentances were all mere shams4 ,this was a great object sermon which ,god did before the eyes of all these thousands of the ,children of ,israel1 and it should teach you and me that we are to be honest in all our covenants with ,god1 and be obedient to the will of ,god in all that we do and say4 ,,questions4--,upon what king of ,egypt did ,god send the plague of frogs8 ,how many plagues were there8 ,what effect did each plague have upon ,pharaoh8 ,was he honest when he repented8 ,what did he do each time after the plague was removed8 ,what was the last plague8 ,after the death of the first-born1 did he allow the ,children of ,israel to go8 ,after they started1 what did he do8 ,how did ,god enable the ,children of ,israel to cross the ,red ,sea8 ,when ,pharaoh followed into the sea after them1 what occurred8 ,should we always keep our covenants1 both with ,god and men8 ,if we do not keep our covenants1 whom are we like8 ,will we also be punished8 ,,blood4 ,,the ,,feast ,,of ,,the ,,passover4 ,,suggestion3--,the object used is a bottle of red ink to represent blood4 ,,children ,,of ,,the ,,covenant-,,keeping ,,king3 ,last ,sunday ,i talked to you about ,pharaoh1 as the great covenant-breaking king4 ,i showed you some paper frogs1 and told you how after all of ,god's long-suffering with ,pharaoh1 ,he eventually destroyed him and his army in the midst of the ,red ,sea4 ,now1 to-day ,i have this bottle1 which has this deep red colored fluid in it4 ,this is red ink4 ,but ,i have brought it not to talk to you about ink1 but to talk about something else which is of the same color2 namely1 of blood4 ,illustration3 ,preparing for the ,passing ,over of the ,angel of ,death ,copyrighted ,sylvanus ,stall ,you remember that there were ten plagues in ,egypt2 the first was the turning of the rivers into blood1 then the bringing up of the frogs from all the rivers and lakes2 and then the turning of the dust into lice2 and then the plague of the flies2 and then of the murrain which destroyed the cattle2 and of the boils which came upon all the people2 and of the lightning1 and rain1 and hail which destroyed man and beast4 ,then the locusts came which ate up everything that remained2 afterward the three days of continuous darkness2 and after these nine plagues ,god had yet in store one great plague which ,he purposed to bring upon ,pharaoh and his people4 ,after each of these plagues which ,i have named1 ,pharaoh promised that he would let the ,children of ,israel go1 but instead he hardened his heart and refused to keep his promise4 ,at last ,god was going to bring upon him and his people the greatest plague of all4 7,ex4 xii3 #a-bh47 ,god told ,moses and ,aaron to command the ,children of ,israel that on the tenth day of the month1 each family should select either a lamb or a kid and shut it up until the fourteenth day1 and in the evening of that day they should kill it4 ,this was to be a male lamb1 one year old1 and without spot or blemish4 ,the blood1 as it flowed from the neck of the lamb1 was to be caught in a dish1 and with a bunch of hyssop the blood was to be sprinkled upon the door-posts or the door frame1 both above and around the door1 so that when the ,angel of ,death whom ,god purposed to send upon that eventful night1 when he should pass throughout all the land of ,egypt and see the blood upon the door posts and upon the lintel over the door he would pass by or pass-over these houses of the ,israelites and would not smite their first-born with death2 as would be the case in every other home of the ,egyptians throughout all the land4 ,after the ,children of ,israel had sprinkled the blood upon the door-posts1 they were to roast the entire lamb1 and they were to eat it with unleavened bread1 which was bread baked without yeast1 and eat it also with bitter herbs1 while at the same time their long1 loose garments were to be tucked up under their belts which went around their waists1 or as the people in those days would have said1 with their loins girded4 ,they were to have their shoes on their feet1 and a cane or staff in their hand1 so as to be all ready to start out upon their journey at any moment4 ,at midnight1 after these ,israelites had eaten this ,passover meal1 and had also destroyed1 by burning1 any portions of the lamb which might remain1 the ,angel of ,death passed through all the land of ,egypt and slew the first-born1 the oldest in every house1 where there was no blood sprinkled upon the door-posts4 ,as soon as the angel had passed by1 the people rushed out into the streets in terror and alarm1 for in every home there was one or two or more persons lying dead4 ,the ,egyptians brought out their jewels and gold and valuables1 and offered1 not only to let the ,israelites retain the jewels which they had already borrowed1 but to give them more if they would only depart immediately1 so that ,god should bring no further afflictions upon them4 ,pharaoh consented to their going1 and immediately the ,children of ,israel started on their long journey to the ,promised ,land4 ,this eventful night was called1 and is to this day called1 the night of the ,passover1 and to this day the ,jewish people still celebrate the ,feast of the ,passover4 ,it occurs in the spring of the year1 and corresponds very closely to our ,church festival day1 known as ,good ,friday1 at which time we commemorate the crucifixion and death of ,jesus ,christ upon ,calvary4 ,you will see from what ,i have said1 how the lamb which was chosen was a figure of ,jesus ,christ1 the ,lamb of ,god1 slain from the foundation of the world to take away your sins1 and my sins1 and the sins of all who would believe on ,him4 ,as this passover lamb was a year old1 without spot and without blemish1 so ,jesus ,christ was perfect1 without blemish1 ,he never committed a sin of any kind2 ,he was but thirty years old when ,he was crucified1 and consequently was young in years4 ,as the blood sprinkled upon the door-posts and the lintels of the doors was the sign by which the ,angel of the ,lord was to know the homes of the ,israelites1 and deliver their first-born from death1 so the blood of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ cleanses us from all sin and delivers us from eternal death4 ,you and ,i and all mankind must die1 but after this death of the body there comes either everlasting life or spiritual death4 ,now1 when the spirit leaves the body1 or is separated from these bodies1 we speak of the body as being dead4 ,the death of a person is just the same as when wheat is sown into the ground and is said to die2 the life that formerly was in the seed only springs up into the stalk and grows into a new life and into a multiplied fruitfulness4 ,the life of each grain of wheat does not cease to exist1 but is simply separated from the seed or grain which was sown in the ground1 and lives in the new plant and new grain which springs up4 ,so also when the life or the soul leaves the body1 the body is dead1 because it is separated from the soul4 ,in like manner also1 if the soul is separated from ,god1 the ,bible speaks of the individual as being spiritually dead1 even while yet living in this world4 ,now1 if because of sin any soul that is banished forever from ,god's presence1 and is eternally separated from ,god in the next world1 that eternal separation of the soul from ,god is spoken of in the ,bible as eternal death4 ,from this eternal death you and ,i can only be delivered by the blood of the ,son of ,god4 ,jesus ,christ is our ,passover ,lamb4 ,neither is ,he a dead1 but a living ,savior4 ,he ever lives above1 ,for me to intercede2 ,his all-redeeming love1 ,his precious blood to plead2 ,his blood atoned for all our race1 ,and sprinkles now the throne of grace4 ,,questions4--,what was the tenth plague8 ,how were the homes of the ,israelites to be marked1 so that the angel of death would pass over them8 ,how old was the lamb to be that was to be slain8 ,what was to be done with the body of the lamb8 ,when they ate it1 how were they to be clothed8 7,so as to be ready to start immediately upon their journey47 ,what did the angel of death do where the door posts were sprinkled with the blood8 ,what was the event called8 7,the ,passover47 ,what people continue to celebrate the ,feast of the ,passover today8 ,of whom was the slain lamb the symbol8 ,what is ,christ frequently called8 ,from what does the blood of the ,lamb of ,god save us8 ,,pine ,,branch4 ,,the ,,feast ,,of ,,tabernacles4 ,,suggestion3--,the objects used are a green branch of a tree and a glass of clear water4 ,,dear ,,young ,,friends3 ,last ,sunday ,i told you about the ,feast of the ,passover1 how it came to be instituted1 and what it signified4 ,to-day ,i want to talk to you about the ,feast of ,tabernacles4 ,the ,feast of the ,passover occurred in the spring1 nearly corresponding to our ,easter2 and at such times when the ,israelites from every quarter of the land came up to ,jerusalem1 as was the custom at the three annual feasts1 some provision had to be made for their entertainment4 ,at the ,feast of the ,passover all the ,jews living in ,jerusalem had to throw open their homes1 and entertain under the cover of their own roofs1 all who came to them4 ,they could not decline to receive the thousands of worshipers who came up to the ,feast1 but were required to afford them a place of shelter in their homes4 ,therefore it was that before the ,feast of the ,passover ,jesus sent two of ,his disciples1 and told them to go into the city1 and they would find a man bearing a pitcher of water2 they should follow him and ask him to direct them to a room in his house1 where ,jesus might eat the ,passover with ,his disciples4 7,matt4 xxvi3 #ag2 ,mark xiv3 #ac47 ,illustration3 ,building ,booths at ,feast of ,tabernacles4 ,at the ,feast of ,tabernacles1 which occurred in the fall of the year1 after the harvest and the fruit of the vines and the trees had all been gathered in1 it was very different4 ,at this ,feast1 when the ,israelites came up to ,jerusalem1 not only those who came from a distance1 but even those who lived regularly in the city1 were required to tent or live in booths made by simply placing some poles in the ground1 with other poles reaching across the top1 so as to form a roof or covering4 ,this roof was not shingled1 but was formed by laying branches of trees upon the sticks which had been laid across from one pole to the other4 7,neh4 viii3 #ad1 #ae47 ,you now see why to-day ,i have chosen this branch of a tree to show you in connection with this sermon4 ,i have chosen this to impress upon your mind the character of the arbors used at the ,feast of ,tabernacles2 the tops or roofs of which were formed or made of olive1 and willow and pine1 myrtle and palm branches4 ,these booths or arbors were to remind the ,children of ,israel of the journey of their forefathers through the desert1 when for forty long years they did not live within the walls or under the roof of any house1 but dwelt only in booths4 ,i am sure that you and ,i would like to have looked in upon ,jerusalem at the time when one of these ,harvest ,home festivals was being celebrated4 ,we would like to have seen the booths on the tops of the houses and along the side of the hills1 outside of the walls of the city1 and sloping down through the valleys and crowding far out into the country upon the ,mount of ,olives and beyond4 ,we would like to have seen the bright faces of the happy throngs of people as they moved in procession through the streets1 waving their palm branches2 and to have listened to the music of the trumpeters of the ,temple1 as they sounded their trumpets twice every hour throughout the entire day4 ,i am sure we would have been delighted to look down upon the festive crowd at night1 when1 instead of waving palm branches as they did during the day1 they carried bright flaming torches1 amid the clashing of cymbals and the blast of trumpets4 ,illustration3 ,he ,bore it ,aloft as ,he ,ascended the ,stairs4 ,this ,feast lasted for eight days4 ,the first day and the last were especially sacred4 ,and now ,i want to call your attention to this second object which ,i have2 namely1 this water1 and ,i want to tell you how it was related to and used at this ,feast of ,tabernacles4 ,on the morning of each day1 while the smoke of the morning sacrifice was ascending in beautiful wreaths in the still air1 a priest bearing a large golden bowl1 and followed by a long procession of boys and girls waving palm branches1 descended the side of the hill to the pool of ,siloam1 which was in a quiet recess at the foot of ,mount ,moriah1 on the summit of which the ,temple was built4 ,when the priest had filled the golden bowl with water from this clear pool1 he held it above his head and bore it aloft as he ascended the stairs4 ,as the procession entered the ,court of the ,temple1 the trumpets sounded1 and all the throngs of people gathered within its walls took up the words of the prophet and sang1 ,with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation 7,isaiah xii3 #c71 and as the priest came to the base of the altar he poured the water from the golden bowl into a silver basin amid shouts and gladness4 ,upon the eighth day1 the last day1 that great day of the feast 7,john vii3 #cg71 the joy was greater than upon any of the other days4 ,the priests in glad procession moved around the altar seven times1 singing the ,psalms4 ,it was at the last ,feast of ,tabernacles which ,jesus attended1 that ,he stood in the midst of this glad assembly1 and beheld their joy as they remembered how ,god had supplied their fathers with water in the wilderness2 and how ,god had given them a land of streams1 and rivers1 and wells of water1 and it was then when ,jesus heard them crying ,hosanna1 blessed is ,he that cometh in the name of the ,lord1 that ,jesus stood up in the midst of the ,temple and of the people and said1 ,if any man thirst1 let him come unto me and drink4 7,john vii3 #cg47 ,to those of us who have always lived in the midst of a bountiful supply of fresh1 clear1 crystal water1 these words are not as impressive as they were to the people to whom they were then spoken4 ,for their land was surrounded by deserts1 and they lived in the midst of nations whose people often famished and died1 because there was not a sufficient supply of water to drink4 ,while we live in a country where there is always an abundant supply of water to satisfy the thirst of the body1 yet spiritually1 like these people at the ,feast of ,tabernacles we have the same spiritual needs that they had1 and if you and ,i thirst for the water of life1 if we desire everlasting salvation1 if we thirst for the knowledge of sacred things and desire to do that which is right1 ,jesus invites you and me to come to ,him1 and says to us3 ,ho1 every one that thirsteth1 come ye to the waters4 7,isa4 lv3 #a47 ,if any man thirst let him come unto me and drink1 7,john vii3 #cg47 ,whosoever drinketh of the water that ,i shall give him shall never thirst2 but the water that ,i shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life4 7,john iv3 #ad47 ,,questions4--,at what season of the year was the ,feast of ,tabernacles held8 ,how long did it last8 ,in what did the people live or dwell during the ,feast8 ,of what were the booths built8 ,why did they dwell in booths instead of in their houses at this time8 ,of what was all this to remind them8 ,which was the great day of the ,feast8 ,on this last day of the ,feast what did the high priest bring from the well8 ,by whom was the priest accompanied8 ,into what did he pour the water from the golden bowl8 ,of what was this water the symbol8 ,does every human being thirst for or desire righteousness8 ,did ,jesus invite such to come to ,him and drink8 ,should we always go to ,him to satisfy our spiritual hunger and thirst8 ,,leaves4 ,,the ,,lessons ,,which ,,they ,,teach4 ,,suggestion3--,objects3 ,some autumn leaves or green leaves of different varieties4 ,,my ,,dear ,,boys ,,and ,,girls3 ,to-day ,i picked up these few beautiful leaves1 which during the summer were lifted aloft on the trees and cast their grateful shadows upon the weary traveler as he journeyed under the scorching rays of the sun4 ,but with the coming of autumn these leaves have faded1 and the first frost of winter has tinged them with crimson and glory4 ,i am sure we cannot look upon them without thinking of the words of the ,prophet ,isaiah1 in the sixty-fourth chapter and sixth verse1 where he says3 ,we all do fade as a leaf4 ,illustration3 ,autumn ,leaves4 ,i desire1 however1 to use these leaves to teach you not only this lesson1 but also several others which they suggest4 ,if1 during the summer1 you go out into a forest and study the leaves1 one of the first things which you will notice will be that the leaves which grow upon one kind of trees differ from the leaves which grow upon every other kind of trees4 ,indeed1 if you pick up a leaf from the ground and examine it carefully you will find that the leaf is largely a picture of the tree upon which it grew4 ,the shape of the leaf will correspond very largely with the shape of the tree from which it has fallen4 ,if you study the leaf more carefully you will discover that the veins in the leaf will quite closely resemble the shape of the limbs of the tree4 ,you would not be able to study the different leaves which you pick up without being impressed with the resemblance in many instances between the leaf and the tree upon which it grew4 ,now1 ,i think that we may learn a very profitable lesson from the leaves in this respect4 ,i think that you will find1 when you are able to study with a little closeness of observation1 that the scholars of different ,sunday-schools are different from each other1 at least in some respects4 ,those who come from the school where good order is maintained1 where there are consecrated1 devoted teachers who give themselves carefully to the preparation of the lesson1 secure the attention of their scholars1 impress the truth deeply upon the minds1 and hearts and consciences--you will find that the scholars of this school become attentive and orderly1 and well behaved1 and all the scholars in the school partake of the influences which are exerted over them from ,sunday to ,sunday4 ,the scholars who attend a school where the superintendent does not keep good order1 where the teachers are irregular and disinterested1 and where everything is permitted to go along as by mere chance1 these scholars will partake of the influence of the school1 and will individually become like the school4 ,so you see how important it is that each and every scholar should be attentive and thoughtful1 and give the very largest amount of help possible to the superintendent and teachers to render the school orderly1 and to encourage the teachers who desire to devote themselves to the teaching of ,bible truth and the impressing of the spiritual lessons1 so that those who are under their influence may be brought to a saving acquaintance with ,christ4 ,what ,i have said with reference to the ,sunday-school is also true with reference to the ,church4 ,there is an old saying1 that like priest1 like people4 ,when a pastor continues for a long period of years in the same pulpit1 ministering to the same people1 if he has their sympathy1 co-operation and assistance the people will become very much like each other in their spiritual character1 and all will become more and more like the pastor and his teachings4 ,if he is godly1 and consecrated1 and upright1 his people will become increasingly so4 ,and you will find not only that each scholar becomes a miniature of the ,sunday-school which he attends1 but each ,christian becomes a miniature of the congregation of which he is a member4 ,but the leaves teach us another lesson4 ,the great trees which you see in the forest are the result of the united efforts and labors of the leaves4 ,each leaf is gifted with individual power1 and together they all drink in the influence of the sunlight and the showers1 and unitedly they build up the great oaks and elms and poplars1 and all the trees of the fields and forest4 ,the coal1 which is now dug from the mines1 was once a great tropical growth of forest trees which were afterwards buried by some great convulsion in nature1 and now when we dig up the coal and burn it in our stoves we are simply releasing the buried sunshine which was accumulated and stored up by the individual leaves of the great forests of centuries ago4 ,as we look upon the leaves of the trees ,i think we must be impressed with the fact1 that each one labors in his own appointed place4 ,there is no conflict1 there is no crowding of one1 thinking to exalt himself above the others4 ,there are no little parties of leaves joining together and trying to crowd themselves to the top of the tree1 but each and all work faithfully and zealously in the place which ,god has appointed them4 ,illustration3 ,the ,budding of the ,new ,leaf4 ,they are not only faithful workers1 but they are unselfish workers4 ,no leaf can have the joy which belongs to another1 or the glory of all the leaves4 ,each leaf has the reward of doing a little1 and when its work is done it must drop to the ground and perish in the dust4 ,the work which it has done and the tree which it has helped to build will be its monument and reward4 ,if each leaf gives its life faithfully for the building up of the tree1 no leaf can fall to the ground or be shaken from its place by the autumn wind and perish in despair4 ,if you will go into the forest at the autumn period of the year1 or go into the orchard and examine where the leaves are about to drop off1 you will find that at the base of the stem of each leaf1 already there appears the budding of the leaf which is to be unfolded next spring1 and even though the leaf withers and falls to the ground1 leaving the barren limb alone to battle with the winter storms1 yet there is the promise and the evidence that when the gentle breath of spring shall come and break open the icy sepulchres of the winter1 these little buds will feel the genial warmth and unfold their green beauty in a radiant springtime of beautiful foliage4 ,so one generation of men may die and pass away1 to have their work continued and completed by those who are to come after them4 ,but these leaves also teach us of our mortality4 ,for1 as ,isaiah says1 ,we all do fade as a leaf4 ,we are all very apt to forget that we must die4 ,and so each year1 when the summer is over and the fruit is gathered1 the leaves begin to wither1 and the early frost tinges the forests of the closing year1 like the sun oftentimes makes the clouds all crimson and glory at the close of the day4 ,these things should teach us that as advancing years come1 we also must fade and die4 ,god spreads out before us this great panorama along the valleys and on the hillsides each autumn to teach us that as the leaves perish1 so we must also fade and droop and die4 ,but there is one great encouragement1 and that is1 that although the leaves fall1 the tree stands4 ,the leaf perishes1 but the tree abides1 and year after year1 sometimes for centuries1 it goes on increasing in stature and in strength1 abiding as the giant of the forest4 ,so also1 when at last each of us must die1 that which we have built shall abide1 and what we have received from others and to which we have added our efforts and our labors1 others shall receive from us1 and they also shall carry on the work in which we have been engaged4 ,so each generation receives and carries on the work of those who have gone before4 ,as the poet has well said1 ,like leaves on trees1 the race of man is found1 ,now green in youth1 now withered on the ground2 ,another race the following age supplies2 ,they fall successive1 and successive rise2 ,so generations in their course decay ,so perish these when those have passed away4 ,the tree stands a monument of strength and beauty at the grave of all the dead leaves which lie buried at its feet4 ,so what each boy and girl1 each man and woman1 shall have accomplished of good or evil1 will remain after they have perished and passed away1 to tell of their lives1 and ,god will note the result4 ,he who says that not even a sparrow can fall to the ground without ,his notice1 and who tells us that the very hairs of our heads are all numbered1 ,he will note our deeds1 and ,he will be our reward4 ,if ,i were speaking now to older people ,i might call attention to the fact that the autumn leaves are more beautiful than the summer leaves4 ,and so boys and girls1 it seems to me1 and it has always thus seemed to me1 that there is something more beautiful in manhood and womanhood1 during the later years of life1 than during the earlier years4 ,always honor and respect the aged whose heads are gray1 whose features are venerable and whose characters are ,christ-like4 ,,questions4--,are the leaves alike on all trees8 ,in what ways are the leaves like the tree on which they grew8 ,are ,sunday-school scholars much like the school that they attend8 ,are grown people greatly influenced by the pastor who preaches to them1 and the people with whom they are associated8 ,of what are great trees the result8 ,how do leaves accomplish this8 ,when a leaf drops from the tree1 what has already started8 ,what do fading and dropping leaves represent8 ,does the tree abide when the leaves fall8 ,when we die do the great influences which we have helped forward remain to bless the world8 ,who still notes our deeds when we pass away8 ,which are more beautiful1 summer or autumn leaves8 ,what periods of life are they like8 ,,the ,,turtle4 ,,men ,,like ,,and ,,yet ,,unlike ,,the ,,animals4 ,,suggestion3--,while it is not at all necessary to present any special objects1 it will add to the interest if the parent has a turtle shell or even the shells of oysters1 clams or abalone1 which are somewhat the same in principle1 the outside cover of the animal constituting both its home and defence1 although differing from the turtle in other respects4 ,,my ,,dear ,,boys ,,and ,,girls3 ,i want to show you to-day how in some respect we are like the animals1 and how in other respects we are very unlike them4 ,to illustrate what ,i desire to say ,i have brought this small turtle shell4 ,from the way that some boys treat flies and bugs1 and birds1 cats and dogs and all kinds of animals you would suppose that many boys and some girls think that animals have no feeling4 ,boys who have never suffered any bodily pain themselves1 oftentimes act as though they thought that animals could not suffer pain1 but in this they are greatly mistaken4 ,animals can and do suffer pain1 the same as people suffer pain1 and in order to defend them against their enemies ,god has provided these creatures of ,his hand with some means of protecting themselves4 ,the birds can fly away4 ,some animals1 like foxes1 have holes in the ground where they can hide4 ,others1 like the squirrel1 hide in the hollow trees4 ,bees can sting4 ,some cattle have horns for defence1 and some others1 which are not as capable of defending themselves against the stronger animals1 ,god has marvellously provided with two stomachs4 ,the cow goes out in the field and crops off the grass rapidly and can then go to a place of shelter and lie down1 and there1 protected from the attack of wild beasts1 chew what she has gathered4 ,this is known in the country as chewing the cud4 ,the same is true with sheep2 they also bite off the grass and swallow it quickly4 ,it passes into a first stomach and then they can lie down in some quiet place and chew the cud2 or in other words chew that which they have hastily bitten off in the fields4 ,illustration3 ,the ,turtle4 ,now the turtle cannot escape from his enemies because he cannot run very rapidly1 and so ,god has covered him with a coat of mail and given him a helmet1 a hard1 bony covering for the head and this large bony covering for his body1 which we can very properly call his house4 ,when danger approaches1 the turtle quickly draws his head and his feet into this large shell1 and is quite safe from the attack of his enemies4 ,whatever animal might desire to eat the turtle is prevented on account of this hard outer shell4 ,on this lower part you will notice how the turtle can draw the front portion up more closely1 and thus the more securely shut himself within his house4 ,so you see how ,god has provided all the animals with a means of protection and defense1 first1 to protect their lives1 and secondly1 to save them from pain and suffering4 ,while ,god has thus successfully protected them against other animals1 they are not protected against the superior intelligence and ingenuity of man4 ,the birds can fly faster than the man can run1 but man can shoot the bird with an arrow or with a rifle4 ,so with all the other animals4 ,now ,god has made it right for us to kill animals for food1 but it is very wrong for us to destroy animals for the simple pleasure of taking life1 and it is also very wicked to inflict pain unnecessarily upon any of the animals4 ,i want to tell you about a boy who was once strolling through the fields with his sister4 ,they found a nest of rabbits4 ,the sister was charmed with the beautiful nest itself and with its living occupants1 but the boy teased them1 mimicking their squeaks and their struggles4 ,in vain his sister plead with him not to hurt these pretty little creatures1 but the wicked boy flung them up into the air one by one and shouted when each fell dead upon the stones4 ,ten years after the sister sat weeping again by that boy's side4 ,he was in chains1 sentenced to be hanged for shooting a farmer who was hunting in a neighbor's field4 ,they were waiting for the awful procession to knock at the cell door4 ,sister1 he said1 do you remember the nest of rabbits ten years ago2 how you begged and prayed1 and how ,i ridiculed8 ,i verily believe that from that day ,god forsook me1 and left me to follow my own inclinations4 ,if ,i had yielded to your tears then1 you and ,i would not be weeping these bitter tears now4 ,you see how it is that boys who have no regard for the suffering1 or the preservation of the life of animals are likely to inflict pain and even to take the lives of people4 ,but ,i want to call your attention to another respect in which we are like the animals1 or perhaps1 more correctly1 in which the animals are like us4 ,the forms of most all animals have some resemblance to each other1 and all are somewhat in form like man4 ,if you take the bird1 his wings correspond to our arms1 his legs and feet are somewhat like ours1 only his toes are longer1 and the nails are slightly different in form4 ,if you will take the horse you will see that his neck is longer than ours1 that his front legs correspond to our arms1 and if you take your fingers and press them together you will see how1 if you were to study the anatomy of the horse's foot carefully1 it resembles the bones in our hands1 and the bony foot of the horse corresponds to the nails on the ends of our fingers1 only that in the case of the horse the nails are all in one1 forming the hoof1 to which the blacksmith nails the shoe4 ,the horse's hoof1 however1 is not solid as you might think1 but only a shell1 the same as the nails on the ends of our fingers4 ,illustration3 ,birds4 ,now if you were to take the turtle that lives in this shell or house you would find that he also has four legs1 the front legs corresponding to our arms1 and his hind legs corresponding to our legs and feet4 ,on the end of each of his feet he has nails1 the same as you and ,i have at the extremities of our hands and feet4 ,but ,i am sure you would say that the turtle was very much unlike us1 in that he has such a hard shell of a house which he carries about with him4 ,but if you will feel of your hands you will discover that you have bones inside of your hands4 ,so you have bones in your arms and all through your body4 ,these bones of your body are covered with flesh1 so our bones are inside of us4 ,but with this turtle almost all of his bones are made into one bone1 and that is on the outside of his body4 ,our muscles1 with which we move our hands and feet and different portions of our body1 are attached to the bones which are inside of us4 ,his muscles are attached to the bone which is on the outside of him4 ,so you see that we are like him1 in that both of us have bones1 only his are on the outside while ours are on the inside4 ,his bone or shell is a covering and a defense4 ,our bones1 on the inside of us1 are so constructed as to enable us to defend ourselves also4 ,god has given the turtle a house1 but ,he has given us the knowledge and the skill1 so that we can construct our own house4 ,we are created with capacity to till the earth and to subdue the wild beasts of the forest1 and with our superior intelligence to be king over all the other creatures which ,god has created4 ,now1 there are several lessons which we may learn from what ,i have said4 ,god has protected all animals against their foes4 ,he has not fully protected the animals against us1 but ,he expects us to use our intelligence and our better nature1 to be thoughtful and careful not to inflict pain even upon the worm or insect which crawls upon the ground beneath our feet4 ,while our bodies are somewhat like the bodies of birds and beasts1 in our moral nature we are not like the animals1 but like ,god4 ,we were made in the moral likeness and image of ,god4 ,we have intelligence and ,god has made us to know right from wrong4 ,the animals have no conscience4 ,cattle do not recognize any wrong when they break out of their owner's pasture and break into a neighbor's cornfield4 ,we do not say that cattle have sinned1 because they know nothing of ownership4 ,they do not know what is right and what is wrong1 and1 therefore1 are not accountable beings4 ,in our intellectual1 moral and spiritual nature we are superior to everything else that ,god has created4 ,we have a moral nature4 ,we know what is right and what is wrong1 and1 therefore1 we are accountable beings4 ,god has made us free to follow our own purpose and1 therefore1 we are to be held accountable4 ,god has created us not for a few days of life upon the earth1 but ,he has made us immortal1 and if we have faith in the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and accept ,him as our ,saviour and love and serve ,him upon the earth1 our condition in the next world will be one of great blessing and happiness4 ,god has given the turtle a house4 ,he has given us intelligence and all the materials and left us to construct the house in which we are to live upon this earth4 ,but in heaven ,he has built our house for us4 ,jesus said3 ,in ,my ,father's house are many mansions4 ,the ,german translation has it1 ,in ,my ,father's house are many homes4 ,i go to prepare a place for you4 ,and if ,i go and prepare a place for you1 ,i will come again1 and receive you unto myself2 that where ,i am1 there ye may be also4 ,death may be a misfortune to a poor turtle1 but not to a ,christian man or woman1 or a ,christian boy or girl4 ,death is only the blessed ,saviour coming to take us unto ,himself4 ,,questions4--,do animals feel pain8 ,has ,god provided for their protection8 ,does the turtle have bones8 ,are your bones on the outside or the inside of your body8 ,where are the turtle's bones principally8 ,how does the turtle protect himself8 ,tell the story of the bad boy and the little rabbits4 ,are the forms of animals similar to the form of our bodies8 ,to what part of our body do the wings of the bird and the front legs of a horse or cow correspond8 ,do animals have a moral nature and a conscience8 ,are they accountable to ,god for their conduct8 ,are we8 ,,grasshopper ,,and ,,ant4 ,,negligence ,,and ,,industry4 ,illustration3 ,the ,royal ,exchange1 ,london4 ,,the largest city of the world is across the ocean1 in ,england4 ,in the busiest part of ,london is a very large building1 called the ,royal ,exchange4 ,on the top of the pinnacle1 or tower1 of this large stone building is a large grasshopper1 and the ,english people have this legend in reference to it3 ,it is related that some three hundred and seventy-five years ago1 a woman1 whose purposes we cannot know1 might have been seen hurrying along a country lane1 some distance outside of the city4 ,hastening along she came to a gate leading into a field1 and looking in every direction to be sure that no one was near1 she took off her shawl and wrapped it carefully around a little baby which she had concealed under her arm1 and laid it gently by the side of a hedge4 ,and then turning back to the lane1 she soon disappeared in the distance4 ,an hour or two later a little girl and a rollicking1 frolicking boy1 possibly returning from school1 were crossing the field4 ,it was in the later days of summer1 when butterflies and grasshoppers abounded4 ,as this light-hearted boy was whistling along his way1 a large grasshopper bounded across his path1 and1 true to the instincts of childhood1 the boy started in pursuit of the grasshopper4 ,the chase was only begun when the grasshopper crossed the fence and landed in a grain field1 which in ,england is called a corn field4 ,stooping to catch his prize1 the boy discovered near by what proved to be a bright little baby1 fast asleep in its mother's shawl4 ,joyful with the prize which they had found1 the boy took it up in his arms1 and hastened to his mother1 who1 although a farmer's wife1 with many cares and several children1 resolved to adopt the little stranger as her own4 ,illustration3 ,grasshopper4 ,years passed on1 and the infant boy grew to be a man of industry and economy1 and finally became one of the richest and most influential men in the city of ,london4 ,queen ,elizabeth1 who was then upon the throne1 often consulted him1 and in after years1 as an expression of gratitude to the great city in which he had accumulated his wealth1 and for the royal favor which had been shown him1 he built the ,bourse1 or what is called the ,royal ,exchange1 and in recognition of the kind ,providence which had used the grasshopper to lead the steps of the boy to where the baby was lying in the fields1 ,sir ,thomas ,gresham1 for that was his name1 placed this large grasshopper in stone1 upon the topmost pinnacle of this ,royal ,exchange4 ,while ,i cannot vouch for the historical accuracy of this legend1 yet it beautifully illustrates the truth that ,god often uses an humble insect for the accomplishment of ,his great providences4 ,now1 ,i want to tell you something about the grasshopper1 and also about the ant4 ,the grasshopper is very much like that class of boys who want to have a good time1 play and frolic from day to day1 but never go to school or work1 but live for the play and pleasure to be enjoyed each day as it passes4 ,the grasshopper jumps from place to place across the field1 eating his food wherever he can find it1 and then spends his days and weeks in idleness4 ,he never stops to think that the summer will soon pass away1 the fields will then be barren1 the cold autumn will come1 when the fields will be left desolate and covered with snow4 ,so finally when the autumn comes1 he has no food laid up for the winter1 but dies of poverty and hunger4 ,this little poem which ,i read in the schoolbooks1 when ,i was a boy1 will tell the whole story3 ,,song ,,of ,,the ,,grasshopper4 ,i saw a brown old grasshopper1 ,and he sat upon a stone1 ,while ever and anon he chirped ,in a sad and mournful tone3 ,and many an anxious1 troubled look ,he cast around the naked plain2 ,where now was but a stubble field1 ,once waved the golden grain4 ,what ails thee1 old brown grasshopper8 ,his voice was low and faint1 ,as in the language of his race ,he made this dire complaint3 ,o6 in the long bright summer time ,i treasured up no store1 ,now the last full sheaf is garnered1 ,and the harvest days are o'er4 ,what didst thou1 brown old grasshopper1 ,when the summer days were long8 ,i danced on the fragrant clover tops1 ,with many a merry song2 ,o6 we were a blithesome company1 ,and a joyous life we led2 ,but with the flowers and summer hours1 ,my gay companions fled3 ,old age and poverty are come1 ,the autumn wind is chill1 ,it whistles through my tattered coat1 ,and my voice is cracked and shrill4 ,in a damp and gloomy cavern ,beneath this cold1 gray stone1 ,i must lay me down and perish-- ,i must perish all alone4 ,alas6 that in life's golden time ,i treasured up no store1 ,for now the sheaves are gathered in1 ,and the harvest days are o'er4 ,he ceased his melancholy wail1 ,and a tear was in his eye1 ,as he slowly slid from the cold gray stone1 ,and laid him down to die4 ,and then ,i thought1 t'were well if all ,in pleasure's idle throng1 ,had seen that old brown grasshopper ,and heard his dying song3 ,for life's bright1 glowing summer ,is hasting to its close1 ,and winter's night is coming-- ,the night of long repose4 ,o6 garner then in reaping time1 ,a rich1 unfailing store1 ,ere the summer hours are past and gone1 ,and the harvest days are o'er6 ,the little ant is not so foolish4 ,for thousands of years the ant has always been wise and industrious4 ,in the ,book of ,proverbs1 written over twenty-five hundred years ago1 ,solomon tells us in the thirtieth chapter and twenty-fifth verse3 ,the ants are a people not strong1 yet they prepare their meat in the summer4 ,and in the sixth chapter1 sixth1 seventh and eighth verses he says1 ,go to the ant1 thou sluggard2 consider her ways1 and be wise2 which having no guide1 overseer1 or ruler1 provideth her meat in the summer1 and gathereth her food in the harvest4 ,you have probably noticed the industry1 activity and perseverance of these little ants4 ,they attempt great things4 ,sometimes you will see one of these little insects carrying a burden which is several times larger than its own body4 ,if they come to a stone1 or a log1 or some obstacle1 over which they must carry their burden1 if they do not succeed the first time1 they will try again2 and even though they should fall1 or fail as much as a hundred times1 they will persevere until they have accomplished their undertaking4 ,if you watch them1 you will see how rapidly they move4 ,they are not lazy1 they do not loiter along the way1 but are always in a hurry4 ,they work with energy and gather food during the summer1 which they lay up for their supply during the winter4 ,whatever the little ant can gather1 it carries home and lays up in store1 not for itself alone1 but all work together1 each laboring for the good and well-being of all the others4 ,illustration3 ,ants4 ,this grasshopper very fittingly represents the feeling and thought which come into the mind of every boy when he is at first required to work1 to go to school and study1 when he is being taught to be industrious and useful4 ,when the days are pleasant1 boys do not like to go to school4 ,when a pleasant ,sunday morning comes in the springtime1 they often wish to stay at home1 to go out to the park1 or to roam about the fields1 and if most of the boys and girls had their own way about it1 in the beginning1 they would live pretty much like the grasshopper4 ,they would get what pleasure they could out of the days as they pass1 grow up in ignorance and idleness1 and in manhood and womanhood find themselves in poverty and want4 ,i think that pretty much all boys and girls are naturally lazy1 and that feeling can only be cured by being required to work1 being compelled to go to school and study1 and being kept persistently at it from week to week and year to year1 until at last they learn to love to work4 ,if the parents of the grasshopper had not themselves been lazy and grown up in idleness1 they would have taught the young grasshopper that in the spring and summer he was to look forward to the wants and needs of the winter4 ,the older ants always teach the young ants to work1 and in that they are very wise4 ,perhaps you have seen boys and girls who have learned to work1 who are always very active1 who seem always to be busy1 but after all accomplish nothing of any moment in life4 ,if we want to live to some purpose in this world1 we must remember that we should have a purpose worthy of ourselves1 and of the great ,father in ,heaven who has created us4 ,after a few months and years the grasshoppers and the ants and all the insects die1 but you and ,i shall live on forever and ever4 ,these bodies will be laid away in the grave1 but our immortal spirits shall still continue to live4 ,the stars in heaven which have been shining for thousands and thousands of years shall eventually grow pale4 ,the sun itself shall cease to shine1 and all the heavens and the universe about us shall be rolled together as a scroll4 ,but these immortal spirits of yours and mine shall live on with ,god throughout all eternity4 ,it is important1 therefore1 that our industry and our thought and our labor should not be for those things which perish with the using2 that we should not simply lay up treasures which we must after a time go away and leave behind us in this world1 but that we should lay up treasures in heaven1 where moth and rust do not corrupt1 and where thieves do not break through nor steal2 that where our treasure is1 there our hearts may be also2 and that we may possess and enjoy our treasure throughout all eternity4 ,i hope that every time you see a grasshopper or an ant1 you will remember the lesson which ,i have sought to teach you to-day4 ,,questions4--,what is on the top of the ,royal ,exchange in ,london8 ,who built the ,exchange8 ,why did he put the grasshopper there8 ,tell all you can about the little boy and girl going through the field4 ,what kind of boys and girls is like the grasshopper8 ,what does the grasshopper do in summer8 ,what happens to him when winter comes8 ,is the ant like the grasshopper1 or is he industrious8 ,what does the ,bible say about the ant8 ,how does he spend the summer8 ,does he have food for winter use8 ,does each ant work for itself alone8 ,who teach the young ants to work8 ,do boys and girls all have to be taught to work8 ,do all people who are busy accomplish something worthy of their effort8 ,what should we live for8 ,illustration ,,balances4 ,,how ,,god ,,weighs ,,people4 ,,suggestion3--,objects3 ,a pair of ordinary balances4 ,a very good pair for illustration can easily be made from a piece of wood1 a few strings and a couple of little paper boxes4 ,illustration3 ,balances4 ,,dear ,,boys ,,and ,,girls3 ,i suppose you have all stood on the scales and been weighed4 ,i have here a pair of balances4 ,this was doubtless one of the earliest kind of instruments with which people weighed different things1 and it is the kind of scales which are still used when the greatest accuracy is desired4 ,these are called a balance1 because when ,i hold them by this string you will see that this end of the arm and that end of the arm are equal in length and equal in weight and they exactly balance each other4 ,now when ,i place anything in the pan on this end of the arm1 and place a small weight in the pan on the opposite arm1 and then lift the balance up1 you will see how ,i can readily tell how much the piece of metal1 or piece of wood1 or whatever ,i have placed in the balances1 weighs4 ,in the drug stores they use this kind of scales to weigh medicines1 and they can tell accurately the weight of a very small quantity4 ,in the laboratory1 or the place where medicines are made1 they have this kind of scales that will weigh the smallest particle of dust2 even a small piece of a hair laid on the scales can be weighed accurately4 ,in the fifth chapter of the ,book of ,daniel we read about a king whose name was ,belshazzar1 who lived in the great city of ,babylon1 surrounded by a great wall three hundred feet high and eighty feet broad1 and with a hundred gates of brass1 twenty-five gates on each side of the city1 and a street running from each of the gates upon the one side1 straight across the city to each of the corresponding gates upon the opposite side1 a distance of some twelve or fifteen miles2 and then other streets crossing these first twenty-five streets1 running between the gates which were upon the other two sides of the city4 ,god had blessed this king of ,babylon and given him great wealth and great power2 but he became proud and defied ,god4 ,one night he made a great feast and invited a thousand of his lords and the generals of his army1 and sent for the golden vessels of the ,temple1 which ,nebuchadnezzar had brought down from ,jerusalem1 and ,belshazzar drank wine out of these sacred vessels of the ,temple4 ,and1 like men and women when they drink liquor1 they lost their reason1 and they praised the gods of gold1 and of silver1 and brass1 and iron1 and wood1 and of stone1 and thus dishonored ,god2 and there appeared in the banqueting hall the fingers of a man's hand and wrote on the wall so that all might see and read it1 and these were the words which were written before that wicked king3 ,thou art weighed in the balances1 and art found wanting4 7,daniel v3 #bg47 ,now you see that ,god weighs men and women1 not for the purpose of telling how many pounds their bodies weigh1 but ,he weighs their character1 ,he weighs their conduct1 ,he weighs their purposes1 and ,he weighs their principles1 and so ,he weighed ,belshazzar1 and ,he said of him and to him1 ,thou art weighed in the balances1 and art found wanting4 ,god weighed ,belshazzar as though he were placed in this side of the balance1 and on the other side of the balance were placed all his opportunities1 privileges and his blessings1 and all that ,god had done for him4 ,when ,god thus weighed him against all these things ,belshazzar was found so light that he did not weigh as much as the privileges and blessings which ,god had given him1 and therefore1 ,god said that he was weighed in the balances and was found wanting4 ,in just this same way ,god weighs you and me1 in order that we may see whether or not we weigh enough4 ,suppose we turn to the twentieth chapter of ,exodus and there find what ,god requires of us4 ,you will find that ,god says1 ,thou shalt have no other gods before me4 ,thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image1 or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above1 or that is in the earth beneath1 or that is in the water under the earth3 thou shalt not bow down thyself to them1 nor serve them3 for ,i the ,lord thy ,god am a jealous ,god1 visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me2 and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me1 and keep my commandments4 ,illustration3 ,thou ,art ,weighed in the ,balances1 and ,art ,found ,wanting4 ,now suppose ,i place this requirement in one side of the balance1 and then ask you to place your obedience to this requirement in the other side of the balance4 ,i am sure there are a great many grown men and women who could not be weighed against this requirement4 ,if a man loves money1 so that he sacrifices his obedience to ,god1 or sacrifices his character1 or gives too large an amount of time to money-making1 and money-getting2 if his love of money is very great1 you see how he makes money a sort of a god--that is1 that he exalts his love of money above his love of ,god4 ,in the same way a person can worship pleasure1 and ease1 and fame in such a way as to exalt these above ,god4 ,now any one who has done this1 cannot be weighed against this requirement of ,god's law without being found wanting4 ,if we take the next ,commandment1 it reads1 ,thou shall not take the name of the ,lord thy ,god in vain2 for the ,lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain4 ,now anybody who has ever sworn cannot be weighed against this ,commandment4 ,a man who curses and swears is a very wicked man4 ,i hope that none of you1 boys or girls1 will ever profane ,god's name and disgrace yourself by swearing4 ,i want to caution you1 also1 against the use of by-words4 ,sometimes boys swear without knowing it2 they say ,by ,jiminy4 ,now1 the word ,gemini means ,twins1 and refers to two heathen gods whose names were ,castor and ,pollux1 and when boys use the expression1 ,by ,jiminy1 they are swearing by those two heathen gods4 ,jesus said1 ,swear not at all4 7,matt4 v3 #cd47 ,then not only those who literally swear1 but all those who use ,god's name without reverence and who make light of sacred things break this ,commandment4 ,so you see that many are not able to be weighed against this ,commandment4 ,then take the next3 ,remember the ,sabbath ,day1 to keep it holy4 ,there are many people who remember the ,sabbath ,day simply to make it the occasion of visiting1 letter writing1 and to enjoy a trip into the country1 or in the park4 ,they remember the ,sabbath ,day1 but they do not remember it to keep it holy4 ,so you see that you would not be able to be weighed against that requirement4 ,now take the next3 ,honor thy father and thy mother3 that thy days may be long upon the land which the ,lord thy ,god giveth thee4 ,if ,god were to come into this community and weigh the boys and girls against this ,commandment1 how many do you think would be found to whom ,god would turn and say1 as ,he did to ,belshazzar3 ,thou art weighed and art found wanting8 ,any boy or girl who speaks of his father as ,the old man1 and of his mother as ,the old woman2 any boy or girl who is disobedient2 any girl who yesterday when mother asked her to dust the furniture1 or any boy who when mother asked him yesterday to run upon an errand1 grew petulant1 and scowled and scolded1 perhaps went out of the room and slammed the door behind them1 all such boys and girls would be found wanting4 ,you see how1 with one after another of these ,commandments1 if ,god were to weigh us we would be found wanting4 ,if we take the other ,commandments1 ,thou shall not kill1 anybody who has hated his brother in his heart2 ,thou shall not commit adultery1 any one who has harbored lust in his heart2 ,thou shall not steal2 ,thou shall not bear false witness2 ,thou shall not covet2 think of each of these and see how many times in your life you have broken them1 if not in letter1 yet in spirit4 ,now1 if you cannot be weighed against these different requirements and you have come short of them in the past1 how can you expect to stand in the great ,day of ,judgment1 when ,god shall take into account every idle word that we have ever uttered1 every wicked thought2 when we shall be weighed in the just balances of an infinite ,god8 ,when ,god shall place these requirements upon one side of the balance1 and you and ,i shall step in upon the other side of the balance1 there is only one possible way in which we could then be heavy enough1 and that is if we could have our ,elder ,brother1 ,jesus ,christ1 to step into the balance with us1 as ,he is willing to do1 and ,god should accept the obedience and holiness of ,his own ,beloved ,son1 ,jesus ,christ in our stead4 ,unless you and ,i have ,jesus ,christ with us when we step into that balance1 it will be said1 ,thou art found wanting4 ,have you accepted ,jesus ,christ as your friend1 and are you trying to serve ,him8 ,if you have not now made ,him your friend1 how can you hope to have ,his friendship then8 ,may ,god help you to have ,jesus as your friend in life1 as well as in death2 in this life as well as in the life to come1 now while being tempted and tried in this world1 as well as when being weighed in the next4 ,,questions4--,what was the handwriting on the wall at ,belshazzar's feast8 ,does ,god weigh our bodies8 ,what does ,he weigh8 ,against what was ,belshazzar weighed8 ,what are we weighed against8 ,are we weighed against each commandment separately8 ,can a person who has sworn be weighed against the third commandment8 ,is the use of by-words swearing8 ,are we honoring our parents by speaking disrespectfully of them8 ,can we break a commandment in thought as well as in deed8 ,tell how4 ,will all these requirements over-balance us8 ,what must we do to make a proper balance8 ,is ,christ willing to step into the scales with us8 ,illustration ,,white ,,and ,,charred ,,sticks4 ,,good ,,and ,,bad ,,company4 ,,suggestion3--,objects3 ,a few pine sticks1 some charred2 ink and water4 ,,all boys and girls like to have companions1 some one to play with1 and therefore it is very wise that ,i should talk to you to-day about good and bad company4 ,first of all let me read some passages from the ,bible4 ,blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly1 nor standeth in the way of sinners1 nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful4 7,psalms i3 #a47 ,forsake the foolish and live2 and go in the way of understanding4 7,proverbs ix3 #f47 ,but here is a passage of ,scripture which is exactly suited to my purpose to-day3 ,he that walketh with wise men shall be wise2 but a companion of fools shall be destroyed4 7,proverbs xiii3 #bj47 ,when you go into a large library to select books you will always find that they are classified4 ,some of the shelves have books of history1 others have books of poetry1 and so on throughout the entire library4 ,in this way ,god has classified different people in this text4 ,one class is called wise1 and the others are called foolish4 ,a companion of wise men shall be wise1 but a companion of fools shall be destroyed4 ,in the same way there are good boys and bad boys1 good girls and bad girls2 and when you choose your companions it is important that you should choose them among the good1 and not among the bad4 ,i think you will better understand the teaching of the text1 when ,i show you this one stick that has been burned black1 or charred1 as we say4 ,now here are several clean sticks which have not been burned1 which are white and not tarnished4 ,let this black stick represent the boys who smoke1 or chew1 or swear1 or lie1 or deceive their parents2 boys or girls who do not go to ,sunday-school1 who do not obey their parents1 and who do not love ,god4 ,these clean sticks will represent good boys and girls4 ,now suppose the good boys and girls choose the bad boys and girls as their companions and playmates2 what do you think would be the result8 ,i will mix these sticks together4 ,i am sure that nobody would expect that the white sticks would transfer their purity and cleanness to this black stick4 ,when ,i mix them1 or rub them together1 the black sticks get no whiter1 but all the white sticks get blacker4 ,illustration3 ,white and ,charred ,sticks4 ,that is the way it always is with the boys who keep bad company4 ,instead of exerting a good influence1 so as to reform and purify1 and make good boys of the bad boys1 the bad boys make bad boys of the good boys4 ,at first the good boys are horrified at what they hear and see the bad boys say and do4 ,after a while it ceases to be unpleasant to them4 ,a little later they may possibly laugh at the bad boys1 but after a while they will come to like the bad boys1 and finally they will do as the bad boys do and become like them in conduct and in character4 ,perhaps you have seen boys who like to take cork and burn it in the candle or fire1 and then blacken their faces with it1 so as to make them look like colored people4 ,now1 it is not the best thing for a white boy to try to look like a colored boy1 but if he does rub this black on his face1 he can wash it off with soap and water4 ,but when a good boy goes with bad boys and his character becomes tarnished and blackened1 he cannot cleanse and purify it so easily4 ,he not only gets a bad character but a bad reputation as well1 both of which are very difficult to cleanse or to get rid of4 ,illustration3 ,glass of ,water and ,bottle of ,ink4 ,now1 here ,i have a glass of water and a bottle of ink4 ,if ,i take and pour a half a teaspoonful of this water into the ink1 it makes no particular difference in its color4 ,but if ,i take only two or three drops of ink and mix them with the water1 it discolors the entire glass of water at once4 ,one or two good boys in the midst of many bad ones are likely to be influenced in a bad direction4 ,this is especially true if the good boys have sought the bad boys as companions4 ,even one or two bad boys1 placed in the midst of several good boys1 may exert a very bad influence over them4 ,i suppose you have all seen this illustrated in the school room4 ,you may have had a set of good boys1 or a set of good girls in your class1 but some day a bad boy came to the school1 or a bad girl joined the class and they were frivolous1 laughed and talked and were disorderly1 disobeyed the teacher1 played truant and did all kinds of naughtiness when in school1 and it had its bad effect upon the entire class1 and sometimes even upon the entire school4 ,the text teaches us that we should avoid such foolish boys and foolish girls2 boys and girls who do not obey ,god or revere the ,bible1 who do not listen to their consciences1 nor do that which is right4 ,such should be avoided at all times1 and in choosing our companions1 we should always prefer those who will have an influence for good upon us socially1 intellectually and morally4 ,the influence of bad companions will tend to destroy all our best interests physically1 by leading to every kind of vice and evil2 destroy us financially1 by causing us to be inattentive to our work1 causing us to prefer idleness and pleasure to labor and usefulness2 destroy us morally1 by making light of the teachings of the ,bible1 the importance of the ,sunday-school and of the ,church1 the authority of father and mother and the wisdom of what they teach and require of us4 ,but in addition to all this1 we should remember that those who are our companions upon earth1 will be our companions in the world to come4 ,if we go with the wicked and the profane here1 we shall dwell with them forever in the world to come4 ,if we desire to go to heaven and to be forever with those who are good and righteous1 pure and holy2 if we desire to be happy for ever and ever in the world to come1 we must choose as our companions here1 those who are living not for this present fleeting life1 but who are living for the glory of ,god and who are trusting sincerely in ,jesus ,christ for everlasting salvation4 ,may ,god help us all to be wise and to walk with the wise1 and not to be foolish and choose fools as our companions1 both for time and eternity4 ,,questions4--,into what two classes has ,god divided people8 ,what does the ,bible tell us will happen to a companion of fools8--of wise men8 ,whom do the charred sticks represent8 ,who are like the white sticks8 ,if the sticks are rubbed together1 what is the result8 ,what happens to good boys who keep bad company8 ,do the good boys become bad immediately8 ,what do bad companions do to one's character8 ,can a boy wash burnt cork from his face8 ,can he wash the stains from his character8 ,what else besides a bad character is given8 ,will a few drops of water change the color of a bottle of ink8 ,will a few drops of ink change the color of a glass of water8 ,who are like the ink-drops8 ,who are like the water-drops8 ,why8 ,whom shall we choose for companions8 ,who will be our companions in eternity8 ,illustration3 ,the ,camp of the ,israelites4 ,,dogs4 ,,the ,,dogs ,,of ,,st4 ,,bernard4 ,,suggestion3--,if a real live dog is too diverting1 an earthen or bisque dog1 or the accompanying picture of the dogs of ,st4 ,bernard1 may be sufficient4 ,,my ,,dear ,,boys ,,and ,,girls3 ,i want to talk to you to-day about dogs4 ,the dog is what is called a domestic animal1 and wherever you find civilized men and women1 you will find dogs of some kind4 ,dogs are not only loved because they are companionable1 but because they are also1 oftentimes1 very serviceable4 ,in ,switzerland there are some very high mountains1 and some years ago1 when there were no tunnels yet dug under the mountains1 as there are to-day1 travelers during the winter1 when going from ,germany to ,italy1 or returning from ,italy to ,germany1 had to cross over the tops of these mountains4 ,the snow was always deep and the journey was always dangerous1 particularly in the winter4 ,illustration3 ,the ,dogs of ,st4 ,bernard ,copyrighted #aiaa by ,sylvanus ,stall ,there are several places where the mountains can be crossed1 and these places are called passes1 such as the ,simplon1 ,st4 ,bernard and ,st4 ,gothard passes4 ,some years ago1 in company with a friend1 ,i crossed the ,st4 ,gothard pass on the #bjth of ,june4 ,that year the season was very late1 and after we got well up the mountain1 we found the snow from five to ten feet deep on the level1 and when we arrived on the top of the mountain1 the snow was even with the roof of a two-story building which stood there1 and the people living in it had tunneled under the snow1 around the outside of the building4 ,if this was the way it was on the #bjth of ,june1 you can easily imagine what an awfully cold and stormy place it must be to live during the entire winter4 ,it took our horses a long time to take us up the mountain1 but when we went down on the ,italian side they went quite rapidly1 and in one hour and forty minutes from the time we left the ,hotel de la ,prosa1 where the snow was so very deep1 we were down in the village of ,airolo1 where little girls were selling ripe cherries4 ,it seemed as though we had jumped right out of the heart of winter1 into the pleasant and fruitful days of summer4 ,on the top of each of these mountain passes1 there is built what is called a hospice1 which means hospitality1 the same word from which we get our word hospital4 ,these buildings are erected for the entertainment of poor travelers1 who are compelled to cross the mountains in the winter4 ,there are a number of monks1 who live in each of these places of entertainment4 ,on each of these mountain passes the monks have some large dogs1 which are known as the dogs of ,st4 ,bernard4 ,in the winter when it is snowing1 and travelers are likely to be exhausted by their efforts to ascend the mountain1 and are liable to be lost in the snow-storms which prevail almost every day1 these dogs are sent out by the monks with a supply of food and wine suspended from their necks1 and they go all over the mountain1 barking and making a great noise4 ,when they discover a poor traveler who is perishing in the snow1 they allow him to take the food and the wine in order that he may be stimulated and revived1 and then these faithful and intelligent dogs lead the way to the place of safety and security4 ,oftentimes they find men who have become nearly frozen1 who have fallen down in the snow in an unconscious state and are ready to die4 ,if left for a time these men would soon freeze to death beneath the snow that falls very rapidly upon them4 ,these dogs are very intelligent1 and immediately they will begin to scrape the snow off the traveler1 lick his hands1 and if he does not give any indications of life they will then lie down upon his body1 that the warmth from their own body may quicken him again into consciousness1 that he may drink the wine and eat the food and be stimulated enough to do something toward getting himself on to the place of safety4 ,if the man is not too heavy1 the dog might even be able to carry him4 ,illustration3 ,dogs ,rescuing ,traveler4 ,at the hospice on the ,st4 ,bernard pass they once had a faithful dog which had been successful in thus rescuing sixty-eight persons from freezing to death upon the mountains4 ,the dog was very sagacious1 and seemed to know exactly what to do when he found a poor traveler dying in the snow4 ,one day he found a man who had evidently been lying for some time in the snow1 which had already quite buried him4 ,the man was entirely unconscious1 and when the dog found him he began immediately to scrape away the snow and then lay down upon this dying man1 that the warmth of his own body might quicken him again into consciousness4 ,when the man began to revive1 and discovered that there was something warm lying upon him1 he thought it was a wolf or some wild animal which possibly designed to take his life4 ,he reached into his belt and drew a dagger1 which he thrust into the body of the faithful dog that had come to rescue him from freezing to death4 ,the poor dog was fatally wounded4 ,he started back home1 but in a short time after reaching it bled to death4 ,the monks had this dog's skin stuffed and placed in the hospice1 and now he seems constantly to teach an object lesson to all travelers who cross the ,alps and stop at the hospice4 ,the story of this faithful dog and his sad death reminds us of that loving ,saviour1 who came from heaven to this world1 to seek and to save those who were lost4 ,and although ,he came to redeem and rescue us from death1 yet wicked men in this world crucified ,him by nailing ,him to a cross upon ,calvary1 and this is what every person is doing to-day who rejects the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,he comes to you and to me1 desiring to save us from our sins and from everlasting death2 to save not only our bodies1 but our souls for all eternity4 ,if we reject ,him we are told in the ,bible that we crucify ,him afresh1 and put ,him to an open shame4 ,i am sure no thoughtful boy or girl would be guilty of wilfully stabbing any kind dog that would come to their rescue if they were perishing in the snow1 and ,i trust that none of you will ever reject ,jesus and thrust ,him away from you1 and thus crucify ,him for yourself and put ,him to an open shame before the world4 ,this faithful dog should also teach you and me another lesson4 ,if a dog can make himself so useful as to save the lives of sixty-eight people1 you and ,i should ask ourselves the question whether we are doing as much for the blessing and the salvation of men as this faithful dog did on the mountains of ,switzerland8 ,but you can do a great deal more than this dog4 ,he could only save the lives of people1 but ,god can use you to save their souls as well1 by the influence of a noble ,christian life1 by what you say and do1 by your contributions to missions1 and in various other ways you may help to save the souls of many who must otherwise perish4 ,but this faithful dog teaches us a lesson of constant1 daily duty4 ,it was no easy thing for this dog to go out in the fierce cold through the deep snow and run about all day to hunt for lost travelers1 but it was by keeping constantly at it and working faithfully day after day that he accomplished this grand result4 ,he did not save sixty-eight people all at one time1 but saved one at a time1 and sometimes worked for days and weeks without finding a single traveler whom he could help4 ,in the same way1 if you desire to be useful in this world1 you must use every little opportunity which comes to you daily4 ,you must be willing to work hard and keep at it1 and even though you cannot succeed in doing any great thing at any one time1 remember that you must keep doing little things all the while4 ,i trust that ,god may inspire each of you to desire to accomplish grand results in your lives by the constant doing of both little and great things for ,god and man4 ,,questions4--,are dogs serviceable8 ,what kinds are the most useful8 ,where do they live8 ,for what and by whom are they used8 ,what do the dogs do to revive a traveler8 ,tell the story of the dog of the ,st4 ,bernard ,pass4 ,of what does this story remind us8 ,does ,christ try to rescue us8 ,what are we doing when we reject ,him8 ,what lesson does this dog teach us8 ,can we do as much as this dog did8 ,why8 ,what can we do which the dog could not do8 ,what other lesson does this dog teach us8 ,did the dog save all the sixty-eight people at one time8 ,are we able to accomplish ,god's work all at one time8 ,how must we do it8 ,,the ,,camera4 ,,god',s ,,picture ,,book4 ,,suggestion3--,objects3 ,a small camera and a small looking glass4 ,illustration3 ,a ,camera4 ,,while talking to you to-day about pictures1 it will not seem strange that ,i should have a camera as the object with which to illustrate the sermon4 ,but my purpose may not be so plain to you when you hear my text1 which is taken from the book of ,revelation1 twentieth chapter1 twelfth verse3 ,and ,i saw the dead1 small and great1 stand before ,god2 and the books were opened3 and another book was opened1 which is the book of life3 and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books1 according to their works4 ,illustration3 ,throwing a ,black ,cloth ,over ,his ,head ,he ,moved ,about the ,camera4 ,these words refer to the great ,judgment ,day4 ,i suppose that you know that we must all die1 but possibly you did not know1 or have forgotten1 that after a time ,god will raise up all the dead and will separate the good people from the bad people1 the righteous from the wicked4 ,the time when ,god will do this is called the great ,judgment ,day4 ,it is then that the words which ,i have read as my text tell us that the books shall be opened1 and then all that we have ever done or said in this life shall be found written in these books4 ,now1 if ,god is keeping a record of all our deeds and words1 and even our inmost thoughts1 which ,he also knows2 and not only keeping a record of your words and thoughts and mine1 but also of those of every man1 woman and child--a record of all the fourteen hundred millions now living upon our earth--you might think that millions of angels would be kept very busy writing all these things down in these books4 ,i do not know just how ,god is doing this1 but ,i do know two ways in which ,he could easily accomplish what to us may seem a difficult or impossible task4 ,i will now try to show you how ,god might keep the record of everything we do2 and next ,sunday ,i will try to tell you how1 with equal ease1 ,god might secure and keep the record of all we say1 of each and every word we speak4 ,i suppose you have all gone to a photograph gallery and had your pictures taken4 ,when you stood before an instrument1 something like this1 only perhaps much larger1 the artist went behind the big instrument1 which was pointed right toward you1 and throwing a black cloth over his head1 he moved about the camera1 told you just how to hold your head1 and finally when everything was arranged and he was ready1 he pressed a small rubber ball which opened the little slide1 just as you would open your eye to look at any object1 and in an instant your picture was taken4 ,that large camera1 with which the artist took your picture1 was in principle just like the smaller and more simple one which ,i have shown you1 and both are made to imitate1 or in a rude way to be like the human eye4 ,now1 if ,i point this camera toward you1 make it dark back of the camera1 either by placing a black cloth over my head or in any other way1 your picture will at once appear upon this glass which is at the back of the camera4 ,now the reason why ,i can see your photograph on this ground glass is because the rays of light which are reflected or come from your face1 into this opening in the camera1 have your likeness upon them1 and when the light falls against this glass ,i can see your picture which is photographed upon the rays of light1 just the same as your picture is photographed on paper4 ,so every object about us is photographed on the rays of light and the picture becomes visible when we turn our eye1 which is a small but perfect camera1 so that the rays of light can go straight into our eye and the picture fall upon the back of the eye1 which is called the retina1 and with which this glass in the camera corresponds4 ,an ordinary looking-glass will demonstrate or show the same thing4 ,this covering on the back of the glass corresponds to the black cloth with which the photographer shuts out the rays of light which come from the back of the camera4 ,in the same way the ground at the bottom of the pond cuts off the rays from beneath1 and on this account you can see the hills1 or stars1 or clouds reflected in the water2 so also in the looking-glass1 as you turn it in different directions you can see the photographs of persons or objects which are pictured upon the rays of light4 ,you may have thought that you saw the person or objects themselves1 but this is not the case4 ,with your eyes you can see nothing in the dark2 even the cat and the owl must have some light1 although they do not need as much as we1 before they can see4 ,the rays of light carry the pictures of the objects1 and where there are no rays of light we can see nothing4 ,now1 while your photograph is being taken from the few rays of light which pass into a camera1 you see that we might place hundreds of cameras one above another1 and if they were all pointed at you they might each take a photograph of you at the same instant--the same as one thousand different persons in an audience with their two thousand eyes all look toward the speaker and see him at one and the same instant4 ,now1 if ,i have succeeded in making my thought plain1 you will readily understand that as we have great books with pictures upon every page1 so ,god might use these rays of light as the pages of the great book upon which each act of our life instantly records itself1 it matters not how rapidly it is done or how many persons and objects there may be in motion or action at the same instant4 ,the fact that the different rays of light carry the pictures of the objects from which they are reflected1 is illustrated in the wonderful cameras with which moving pictures are taken4 ,to older persons ,i might add that if you recall the scientific fact that these rays of light1 bearing the images or photographs of persons and objects from which they are reflected1 dash out into space at the rate of #aib1jjj miles in one second1 and that they continue to move on indefinitely1 you see how the rays of light which were reflected and are now carrying the image of ,adam and ,eve in the garden of ,eden1 of ,noah coming out of the ark1 of the battle of ,bunker ,hill1 and those carrying the pictures of all other objects and actions since the ,creation until now1 are still sweeping on through space1 and if you and ,i could be present where these rays of light are now sweeping onward1 we could see these things as actually and really as if they were even now taking place in our presence upon the earth4 ,and you will also understand how1 as ,god is everywhere present1 ,he is also present in space where these rays of light are at this moment1 and so every scene in the entire history of the world is perpetually visible to ,him4 ,and so1 even with our feeble understanding1 you see how the past may always be present to the ,infinite and everywhere-present ,god4 ,now1 my dear young friends1 remember as we see the acts of each other1 so ,god sees all that we do1 even when no one else is present to see us4 ,do not think that ,god sees and then forgets4 ,all we do is being constantly photographed1 not in a camera like this1 but upon the rays of light as upon the pages of a great book1 and in the great ,judgment ,day1 ,god will judge us out of the things recorded against us in these books4 ,our acts record themselves1 and in that great day we shall no more be able to deny the correctness of the record than we would be able to deny the personality or identity of our own photograph4 ,,questions4--,what is meant by the great ,judgment ,day8 ,what will ,god do on that day8 ,of what does ,god keep a record8 ,do we know exactly how ,he does it8 ,what two ways are there in which ,he might do it8 ,what brings the person's image upon the ground glass of the camera8 ,what have we that is like the camera8 ,which part of the eye is like the ground glass of the camera8 ,why can we not see in the dark8 ,could ,god use the rays of light instead of the pages of a book8 ,is the image of ,adam and ,eve in the ,garden of ,eden still existing8 ,where8 ,are the images of all other events also passing through space8 ,can ,god see them all at once8 ,does ,god see all of our acts8 ,illustration ,illustration ,,the ,,phonograph4 ,,books ,,that ,,talk4 ,,suggestion3--,object3 ,a small tin box1 with a cover and bottom removed4 ,over one end draw and tie a piece of parchment1 or even of strong manilla paper1 in the center of the miniature drum-head thus formed fasten a thin string1 and you will then have a rude but real telephone and a good representation also of the phonograph4 ,,last ,sunday ,i talked to you about the great ,judgment ,day and tried to illustrate to your minds what is said in ,revelation1 twentieth chapter1 twelfth verse1 where it says1 ,the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books1 according to their works4 ,i tried then to make plain how ,god pictures or photographs all our acts upon the rays of light1 and how we see the objects about us when the rays of light fall upon the retina of the eye4 ,i tried to show you how every ray of light carries a photograph or picture1 and that these rays of light are sweeping out into space at the rate of #aib1jjj miles per second1 and that if you and ,i could be present where these rays1 carrying the picture of the battle of ,bunker ,hill are now hurrying through space1 you could see the battle1 as if it were taking place at present4 ,if you had a camera with you1 you could actually take a photograph of it1 the same as you could have done had you been on the hills outside of ,boston on the day when this great battle was being fought4 ,but that is only one book2 ,god has other books also4 ,but you know you can not photograph what a person says4 ,so ,i want to try and show you how our words and all we say also go into a great book and write themselves down1 so as to become permanent for all time4 ,now1 ,i have here a baking-powder box1 from which ,i have removed the ends1 and in place of the tin have covered it with a stout piece of paper which ,i have tried to draw very smoothly4 ,with two such boxes1 connected by a string1 we could make a telephone so that we could talk together a short distance4 ,or with only one box we could construct a very rude but yet very suggestive phonograph4 ,let me tell you how it is that you can hear over the telephone1 whether made of a simple box and string like this1 or with a wire and electric battery1 for in one respect they are both alike4 ,if you will place your finger gently on your throat1 against what is sometimes called ,adam's ,apple1 but what is really the delicate little instrument with which we speak1 and then utter some words in a strong1 clear voice1 you will doubtless feel a vibration or trembling in your throat1 just the same as ,i now feel in my throat while ,i am talking4 ,my effort to speak causes these little chords in my throat to vibrate1 just the same as when you pass your fingers over the chords of a harp or violin1 or when you strike the keys of a piano you make the wires tremble and thus produce sound1 so these chords in my throat tremble and cause the air to tremble1 producing what we call sound-waves4 ,just the same as when you take a stone and drop it into the lake1 you see the little waves or ripples1 as we call them1 go out in small circles1 wider and wider1 further and further1 until they strike the distant shore4 ,so the air is made to vibrate by my effort to speak1 and these little sound-waves in the air strike against the drum of your ear1 back of which there are nerves1 ever ready to convey to the brain the sensation which we call sound1 ,illustration3 ,the ,little ,waves or ,ripples4 ,like clear circles widening round ,upon a clear blue river1 ,orb after orb1 the wondrous sound ,is echoed on forever4 ,now1 this small baking-powder box represents the ear1 and the paper at this end represents the drum of the ear1 and this string represents the nerves4 ,this string may be prolonged for a considerable distance1 and if you were to connect the end of the string with another box of the same sort you would then have a telephone with which you would be able to hear quite plainly the words which are spoken by some other person at the opposite end of the string4 ,when ,i speak into this box it makes the paper tremble1 and that makes the string tremble1 and if there were another box at the far end of the line it would cause the paper on the end of that box to tremble just the same1 and that would cause the air to tremble where that box is1 and if you were to hold your ear to that box you would be able to hear the words4 ,if ,i take this box1 and instead of a string ,i should place the point of a needle back of it1 and a cylinder to revolve1 so that the needle would scratch the vibrations upon the cylinder1 ,i would then have a phonograph4 ,i would then be able to record the words1 and with another smooth needle to go into the scratches which had been made by the sharp needle1 ,i would be able to reproduce the sound2 or1 in other words1 to make the cylinder talk back again to me the words which ,i had spoken into the tin box and recorded upon the cylinder4 ,illustration3 ,phonograph ,cylinder4 ,just as light carries the photograph or picture1 so the air carries the sound of our words and other vibrations of the atmosphere which we call sound4 ,thus you see the light is one book and the air is another1 and ,god doubtless has many other forms of making and keeping the record of our actions and words--yes1 even of our thoughts1 and in the great ,judgment ,day these words which we utter will say themselves over again in our ears4 ,if you uttered any bad or wicked words yesterday or to-day1 or shall do so tomorrow1 remember you will have to give an account of them in the great ,day of ,judgment4 ,but there is another thing connected with our uttering of bad words1 as well as the fact that we must give an account of them4 ,bad words are connected with bad thoughts1 and so every bad word which we utter indicates the character of our thoughts and has a bad influence upon our minds and hearts4 ,not only do these words record themselves upon the atmosphere1 but they also record themselves in a lasting--yes1 in an eternal influence upon the hearts and the minds and the lives of those who hear them4 ,just the same as the words which are spoken into a phonograph are recorded and can be repeated over and over many times1 so the bad words and the wicked thoughts which are expressed into the ears of others make an indelible record upon their thoughts and hearts1 and are oftentimes repeated to others1 thus multiplying the record1 and at last all these records will appear against us in the great ,day of ,judgment4 ,how careful you and ,i should be to speak only good words and to think only good thoughts4 ,,questions4--,has ,god other record books beside the one of deeds8 ,what does one of the other books record8 ,what is a telephone8 ,what is a phonograph8 ,what happens to the air when our words strike it8 ,what are these air-vibrations called8 ,what does the air do with sound8 ,what two things may be used as ,god's recording books8 ,must all bad words be accounted for8 ,what do bad words indicate8 ,upon what instrument can words also be recorded8 ,are all words like those which are recorded by a phonograph8 ,why8 7,permanent74 ,will ,god hold these records against us on the ,judgment ,day8 ,,magnet ,,and ,,needle4 ,,god',s ,,guiding ,,hand4 ,,suggestion3--,objects used3 ,a magnet1 a piece of paper and an ordinary sewing needle4 ,in the illustration lay the needle flat against the paper directly under the magnet4 ,the ordinary magnet1 purchased for a few cents in a toy store1 will answer the purpose4 ,,my ,,dear ,,little ,,men ,,and ,,women3 ,the ,bible everywhere teaches us that ,god is the ,supreme ,ruler of the universe4 ,not only has ,he created the vast system of worlds about us1 but ,he directs each in its orbit4 ,he rules over the destinies of nations1 and although wicked men plot and plan1 yet over and above them all ,god is ruling1 and ,he makes even the wrath of men to praise ,him4 ,when you are older and can make a careful study of the ,book of ,daniel1 which is in the ,old ,testament1 and then read the history of the world in the light of the teachings of that ,book1 you will see how ,god used the five great empires of the earth to prepare the world for the coming of the ,messiah1 and how since the time of ,christ ,he has used the other nations to prepare the world for the full acceptance of the truth and the final triumph of righteousness4 ,but ,god not only governs in the affairs of nations1 ,he also governs and directs in the life of each individual4 ,he not only gives us being and preserves our lives and health1 but ,he has redeemed us from sin and death by the gift of ,his ,son1 ,jesus ,christ2 and if we are willing1 ,he will guide us in all the affairs of life4 ,nothing is too minute nor too insignificant to receive ,his thought and attention1 and not even the sorrow of a child over a broken toy escapes ,his notice or fails to touch ,his loving heart4 ,but many people are not able to understand1 and seem also unwilling to accept anything that they cannot see1 or comprehend with one of their five senses4 ,i have therefore brought this magnet1 this piece of paper1 and this needle1 such as women use when they sew1 in order to show you how ,god can guide us by ,his unseen hand4 ,illustration3 ,magnet and ,needle4 ,when ,i lift this needle with my fingers and then let go of it you will notice how it drops immediately to the floor4 ,now1 when ,i lift this magnet in the same way1 and then let go of it1 it will also drop in the same manner4 ,but now ,i am going to hold this magnet up1 and bring the needle close to the magnet4 ,now when ,i let loose of the needle with my fingers you see how it is held by the magnet4 ,the gravity1 or1 as we would say1 the weight of the needle1 which would cause it to fall to the floor1 is overcome by some greater or stronger power which is in the magnet4 ,now1 you cannot perceive that power with any of your senses2 you can neither hear it1 smell it1 taste it nor feel it4 ,you can see the effect of that power1 but the power itself you cannot see4 ,in like manner1 also1 there are powers and influences all about us which we cannot perceive with any of our senses1 but which are constantly exercising their influence upon us and upon things about us4 ,but now1 by the use of this paper1 ,i desire to show you something additional4 ,i am going to place the magnet above the paper1 and the needle below the paper1 and show you that even through the paper this influence or power which holds the needle exerts itself4 ,you will see now that when ,i lay the needle lengthwise against the paper1 with the magnet upon the opposite side1 that the needle is held up against this paper and does not fall1 as it would if the magnet were removed4 ,you will notice also that1 as ,i move this magnet from place to place1 the needle on the lower side of the paper follows the magnet4 ,in this simple little experiment you are able to see the magnet1 but suppose for a moment that this paper were increased in size until it was as large as the ceiling of this entire room4 ,you will understand that then the magnet and any person moving the magnet might be entirely out of sight1 and as the magnet would be moved from place to place on the upper side of the paper1 entirely out of view1 the needle on the lower side1 which could be easily seen1 would move from place to place1 following the magnet4 ,illustration3 ,paper no ,hindrance4 ,this little experiment illustrates to us not how ,god guides us1 but it will show us that there are powers unknown and unseen by us which can hold and guide even insensible metal4 ,how much more easily1 then1 can ,god sustain and guide our thoughts1 our purposes1 our steps and our lives4 ,we are free moral agents4 ,god has left us free to resist ,his power and ,his grace1 and to live in defiance of all that ,he has commanded us1 and of all that ,he desires us to do4 ,but if we are willing to be led by ,his ,spirit1 and to walk in ,his way1 ,god is willing to guide us1 if we will come to ,him and ask ,him for the ,holy ,spirit to lead us in the way in which ,he would have us to walk4 ,there are many who do resist ,god's will and purpose1 and live in open defiance of all ,his teachings1 and of all that ,god would have them to do4 ,i take it for granted1 however1 that there are no such people here1 but that you all desire to live in such a way as to secure your greatest happiness and your greatest good upon this earth1 and your eternal happiness and blessedness in the world to come4 ,in closing this little sermon1 ,i therefore desire to impress upon your minds the fact that you and ,i are without experience in many of the most trying and most important events which come to us in life4 ,we are constantly liable to be mistaken4 ,we cannot see ahead of us1 and do not always know what is for our own good4 ,god knows all things1 the future as well as the past4 ,he cannot be mistaken and must therefore know beyond the possibility of error what will be for our good4 ,god not only knows what will be for our good but ,he desires our good1 therefore we should let ,him guide us4 ,now1 the question might arise in your minds1 how does ,god guide us8 ,he guides us by the teachings of ,his ,word4 ,he has told us in the ,bible how we ought to live1 what is for our present and eternal good4 ,if we desire financial prosperity1 or physical blessings1 or mental quickness1 or spiritual peace1 we will find in the teachings of ,god's ,word how to obtain them4 ,god also guides us by the exercise of our consciences1 and therefore it is always important that you and ,i should do what conscience tells us to be right4 ,first of all we should study ,god's ,word1 in order that we may have an enlightened conscience1 and then we should always follow conscience4 ,god also guides us by the ,holy ,spirit1 and it is our duty to come to ,him daily and ask ,him for the presence and power of the ,holy ,ghost to guide us through each day1 and to bring us at last to ,heaven above4 ,now1 ,i trust you will all be able to enter heartily into the prayer which we are going to sing1 for when we sing thoughtfully we will find that many hymns contain petitions as well as praise1 and this is one of the kind which partakes largely of the nature of petition4 ,let us all sing the hymn1 ,guide me1 ,o1 ,thou great ,jehovah4 ,,questions4--,who is the ,supreme ,ruler of the ,universe8 ,who governs the life of every person8 ,does any little thing escape ,his notice8 ,are some people unwilling to believe what they cannot see8 ,can we see1 hear1 smell1 or feel the power in the magnet8 ,why do we believe it is there8 ,are there influences around us like the power in the magnet8 ,can they all be seen8 ,will the paper between the magnet and the needle destroy the attracting power of the magnet8 ,who are like the needle8 ,like whom is the magnet8 ,does ,he guide us8 ,can we see ,him8 ,are we free to do as we choose8 ,when will ,god lead us8 ,do some people defy ,god8 ,do we always know what is best for us1 or what to do when in trouble8 ,who does know8 ,by what three means does ,god guide us8 ,illustration ,,fish ,,in ,,aquarium4 ,,the ,,all-,,seeing ,,eye ,,of ,,god4 ,,suggestion3--,object3 ,a small aquarium with a few small fishes4 ,,my ,,dear ,,young ,,friends3 ,i have here an aquarium with a few very pretty goldfishes in it4 ,as they swim from side to side they look very beautiful4 ,when they see me coming nearer to the aquarium1 or moving my hand upon this side or the other1 they dart very quickly to the opposite side of the aquarium4 ,they try to get out of sight1 but it makes no difference whether they are upon this side or upon the other side of the aquarium1 ,i can see them just as well4 ,i can look right through the aquarium2 ,i can see through the glass1 and ,i can see through the water4 ,and wherever the fishes are in this aquarium1 ,i can see them4 ,it is impossible for them to hide away1 or to get out of my sight4 ,illustration3 ,fishes in ,aquarium4 ,now1 the ,bible tells us that the eyes of the ,lord are in every place1 beholding the evil and the good4 7,prov4 xv3 #c47 ,we are very clearly taught in the ,bible1 that it makes no difference where we are1 ,god can see us just as well in one place as in another4 ,he can see us in the night just as well as in the daytime1 for the darkness and the light are alike unto ,him4 ,david said1 ,he that keepeth ,israel shall neither slumber nor sleep4 7,psalm cxxi3 #d47 ,so it makes no difference whether you are in the house or out of doors1 whether it is day or whether it is night1 ,god can see right through the house1 just as you and ,i can look through this aquarium and through the water1 so ,god can see right through the thick walls of a house1 or even through a great mountain4 ,if you were in the valley beyond the mountain1 ,god could see right through the mountain2 that would make no difference4 ,he can even see way through the earth1 from this side through to ,china4 ,it makes no difference to ,god1 for ,he can see just as well through material substances1 through which you and ,i cannot look1 as we can see through the air2 indeed much better1 for distance limits the possibility of our seeing distinctly and clearly1 while ,god's power to see is not limited or circumscribed4 ,illustration3 ,there is ,one ,direction ,that ,you ,have not ,looked4 ,once there was a very excellent1 good woman1 who had a very nice and conscientious little boy1 but the mother was poor and had to go out from day to day to earn her living4 ,each night when she returned home the little boy was very lonely1 and would watch very patiently for his mother1 and when he saw her coming1 he would always run to the door to meet her1 and throw his arms about her neck4 ,but one evening when she returned1 she noticed that little ,willie was not at the door to meet her4 ,she could not understand why1 when she came into the house he seemed to be afraid of her4 ,he tried to avoid her4 ,after a time the mother called ,willie to her and threw her arms around his neck and kissed him very tenderly4 ,this was too much for the little boy's heart4 ,he looked up into his mother's face1 and said1 ,mamma1 can ,god see through a crack in the door8 ,his mother said1 ,yes1 ,god can see everywhere4 ,he said1 ,mamma1 can ,god see in the cupboard if it is dark in the cupboard8 ,yes1 ,willie1 ,god can see in the dark as well as in the light4 ,willie looked up into his mother's face and said1 ,then ,i might as well tell you4 ,to-day ,i was very hungry1 and although you told me that ,i should not take the cake which you had put in the closet1 yet ,i went to the closet1 and when ,i had closed the door1 and it was all dark1 ,i felt around till ,i got a piece of the cake1 and ,i ate it4 ,i did not know that ,god could see in the dark4 ,i am very sorry that ,i have been so wicked and so naughty4 ,and so little ,willie threw his arms around his mamma's neck and laid his head upon her shoulder and wept very bitterly4 ,illustration3 ,eye in the ,pulpit4 ,once a man went to steal corn out of his neighbor's field4 ,he took his little boy with him to hold the bag open1 while he should pull the corn and put it in the bag4 ,after they had reached the cornfield the father looked this way and that way1 and looked about him in every direction1 and when he had given the little boy the bag to hold open1 the little boy looked at his father and said1 ,father1 there is one direction that you have not looked yet4 ,the father was quite frightened and supposed that his son had seen some one coming in some direction4 ,but the son said1 ,you have not looked up4 ,there is some one in that direction ,i am sure who sees us4 ,the father was so much impressed that he turned away from his sinful purpose1 and returned home1 never again to steal from anyone4 ,many years ago1 among some of the denominations when they built a church1 they used to build the pulpit very high4 ,it was built almost as high as the gallery4 ,and when the people sat in the pews and desired to see the minister1 they had to bend their heads back1 and look up very high toward the pulpit4 ,at ,reading1 ,pennsylvania1 there is still one of these old pulpits which was formerly in use4 ,on the under side of the shelf upon which the ,bible rested in that pulpit1 there was painted a large eye4 ,and when the people would look up from the pews to see the minister1 or towards the ,bible1 underneath this lid upon which the ,bible rested they would always see this large eye4 ,this eye would seem to look right down upon each one individually1 and thus they would constantly be reminded of the text1 ,thou ,god seest me1 and the text which ,i repeated at the opening of this sermon1 ,the eyes of the ,lord are in every place1 beholding the evil and the good4 ,and so ,sunday after ,sunday1 and year after year1 from childhood to manhood1 this object sermon was constantly being preached to them4 ,whenever ,satan tempts you to do wrong1 remember that you cannot escape from the eyes of ,one who sees you constantly1 and although no human being might know of your wickedness1 yet ,god sees you1 and ,god knows it all1 for ,his eyes behold1 ,his eyelids try the children of men4 7,psalm xi3 #d47 ,,questions4--,can the fish in the aquarium hide from our sight8 ,how are we like the fish in the aquarium8 ,what does the ,bible say about the eyes of the ,lord8 ,can darkness hide us from ,god's sight8 ,can ,he see through the earth8 ,tell about the little boy who ate the cake in the dark4 ,tell about the little boy whose father wanted to steal corn4 ,why was a large eye painted on the pulpit in the church8 ,when we are tempted by ,satan1 what should we remember8 ,,the ,,clock4 ,,measuring ,,time4 ,,suggestion3--,object3 ,an ordinary clock or watch4 ,i ,,have here a clock1 with which ,i desire to illustrate and emphasize the truth taught us in the twelfth verse of the ninetieth ,psalm1 where it says1 ,so teach us to number our days1 that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom4 ,whatever is valuable we measure4 ,some things are measured by the yard1 some things by the quart or gallon1 other things by the pound or by the ton4 ,land is measured by the acre4 ,one of the most valuable things that ,god gives to us is time4 ,queen ,elizabeth1 when she was dying1 was willing to give her entire kingdom if she could only have one hour more in which to prepare for death4 ,as time is very valuable we measure it in seconds1 minutes1 hours1 days1 weeks1 months1 years1 centuries4 ,in the earliest time men had no means of measuring time1 except as they saw it measured with the great clock which ,god has set in the heavens2 for ,he tells us in the first chapter of ,genesis that ,he made the sun to rule the day1 and the moon to rule the night4 ,the most accurate clocks in the world are those which most nearly keep time with the sun4 ,all the effort to regulate clocks and watches is simply to adjust their movements so as to have them keep time with the movement of the sun4 ,god has given us a conscience which is designed to regulate our lives until they shall be in harmony with the life of ,christ1 who is the ,sun of ,righteousness4 ,hundreds of years before ,christ came1 people may have had some very rude way of dividing the time during the day and night1 but their principal division of time was simply day and night1 summer and winter4 ,these changes of day and night1 summer and winter1 helped to mark the progress of time1 and they still do4 ,if it were all daytime1 or all night1 and we had no clocks1 we would have no means of measuring time4 ,when ,baron de ,trench was liberated from his dungeon in ,magdeburg1 where the ,king of ,prussia had confined him in darkness for a period of ten years1 where he had no means of measuring how the time passed and had even very few thoughts--when he was liberated1 and was told that he had been in prison for ten years1 his astonishment was almost beyond expression1 for it had not seemed to him to be so long4 ,it had passed away like a painful dream4 ,in the early period of the world's history1 human life was much longer than at present4 ,men lived to be several hundred years old4 ,i suppose you can all tell how old ,methuselah was4 ,he was the oldest man who ever lived4 ,when human life became shorter1 time consequently became more valuable and men were more anxious to measure it4 ,i want to show you how to measure time1 and what makes it valuable2 for ,david asked to be taught properly to number his days2 and the purpose was so that he might apply his heart unto wisdom4 ,now1 this watch and this clock are instruments with which we measure time4 ,once there was a king who desired not to forget that1 like other men1 he must die1 and he had a man whose duty it was to come before him each hour and repeat the words3 ,remember thou art mortal6 ,that is1 every hour he had this man remind him that sometime he would have to die4 ,each time the man came in before the king1 he was reminded that he had one hour less to live2 so1 each and every time that you hear the clock strike1 you should be reminded of the fact that another hour has passed1 and that you have one less to live4 ,in this sense every clock has a tongue1 and when it strikes it tells us that we will now have one hour less to live upon the earth4 ,illustration3 ,hour-glass4 ,the earliest device for measuring time was doubtless the sun-dial4 ,perhaps you have never seen one4 ,it is simply a round plate or disc of metal1 with a small piece of metal standing upright in such a position that when the sun shines1 the shadow will be thrown upon the round cylinder or disc1 around which are figures like those on the face of a watch or clock4 ,such methods of measuring time we know were used at least seven hundred and thirteen years before ,christ1 for in the book of ,isaiah1 thirty-eighth chapter and eighth verse1 we find a very direct allusion to it4 ,king ,alfred of ,england used to use candles that were of uniform length2 each candle would burn three hours1 and by burning four candles1 one after another1 he could measure the hours of the day4 ,in order to prevent the air from blowing against the candle and thus making it burn more rapidly or interfering with its accuracy in measuring time1 he placed a horn or shield around it1 and in the old cathedrals this was the way they measured time4 ,later on they had hour glasses1 such as you sometimes see placed on the piano when girls are practicing their music lesson4 ,sometimes you see small ones in the kitchen1 which are used for timing the eggs while they are boiling1 and it is to these forms of glasses that various poetical allusions are made when death is spoken of as the sands of life running out4 ,illustration3 ,what ,use ,do ,you ,make of ,your ,time8 ,later came the clocks4 ,they were first made about #b1jjj years ago1 but were very rude and awkward4 ,the first watches were made about #dge years ago1 but they were very large1 and you would almost need to have a man to carry your watch for you1 it was so heavy4 ,smaller watches were first made about #bjj years ago1 and now they have some that are so very small that you could carry six or seven of them in your vest pocket without inconvenience4 ,how else could we tell about the time of the departure of trains and steamboats1 the hours to go to work in the factory or to go to school1 when to go to church8 ,and the enjoyment of many other things depends upon knowing accurately what moment we should be on hand4 ,you should learn never to be late1 but always to be prompt4 ,suppose that1 with an audience of six hundred people1 the preacher should be five minutes late4 ,each person would then have lost five minutes4 ,this1 for the entire six hundred present1 would have been equal to more than forty-eight hours for a single person--more than two days and two nights4 ,but now what is it that makes time valuable8 ,it is the use that we can make of it4 ,david wanted to know about it1 so that he could apply his heart unto wisdom4 ,the man who does nothing with his time1 in the eyes of others1 is worth nothing2 but the busy man always finds that his time is very valuable4 ,it is strange1 also1 that when you go to idle people and ask them to do anything they always say they haven't time1 so that the expression has come to be used that if you want anything done go to a busy man4 ,the more busy the man is the more likely he is to find time1 in some way1 to undertake any new form of useful endeavor and work4 ,now1 ,i want to ask you1 ,what use do you make of your time8 ,are you faithful in the use of every moment at home1 diligent in doing the work assigned you1 looking about you1 and doing your own thinking1 finding1 for yourself1 what is to be done1 instead of standing around and waiting to be told8 ,are you diligent in school1 always studying your lessons1 learning all that you possibly can1 remembering that everything that you can learn will at some time be of service to you8 ,if you are employed in a store1 or engaged in any other kind of business1 are you faithful1 using each moment and each hour1 remembering that you are not to be faithful simply when your employer is looking at you1 but you are to be faithful at all times8 ,as the ,bible says1 ,not with eye service1 as men pleasers 7,colos4 iii3 #bb71 but doing everything as unto the ,lord4 ,are you faithful in the matter of attending church1 and then when you are in the church1 giving your mind to the consideration of the truth which is being presented1 rather than allowing your mind to be engaged with the amusements and plays of last week1 or the plans and purposes of next week8 ,are you faithful in the ,sunday-school8 ,do you listen attentively to the lessons which are taught by your ,sunday-school teacher8 ,each minute of the thirty devoted to the study of the lesson is very important1 and all of the other moments in the ,sunday-school are very important4 ,i was wondering the other day why the clock should have the long hand point to the minutes1 and the short hand to the hours2 but after all1 it seems very wise that the greater emphasis1 and greater importance should be attached to the longer hand4 ,it points to the minutes1 as though it were constantly saying to you and to me1 look out for these minutes1 look out for these small parts of the hour1 and the whole hour will take care of itself4 ,the big hand points to the minutes because1 after all1 they are the important things4 ,it is like the old saying1 if we take care of the pennies1 the dollars will take care of themselves4 ,if we will take care of the minutes1 the hours will take care of themselves4 ,if you have never thought on these things1 and have been an idler1 ,i want to ask you to ,redeem the time4 7,eph4 v3 #af47 ,that is1 do not let your time go to waste4 ,if you are not a ,christian1 even though you are very busy and very industrious concerning temporal things1 you are really wasting your time4 ,we are placed here upon the earth in order that we may love and serve ,god4 ,that is our main business here4 ,if we are going to serve ,christ1 we should study to know ,his life and ,his teachings1 and yet some people know very little about the ,bible4 ,did you ever stop to think that a man who is thirty-five years old has had five solid years of ,sundays8 ,and the man who is seventy years old1 has had ten solid years of ,sundays8 ,with ten years given to worship and the study of ,god's ,word1 a man at seventy ought to know a great deal concerning the teachings of the ,bible4 ,may ,god teach us so to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom4 ,,questions4--,how do we measure cloth8 ,are sugar and coal measured by the yard8 ,how do we measure land8 ,how do we measure time8 ,how many divisions of time can you name besides seconds8 ,what was the first instrument with which time was measured8 ,with what did ,king ,alfred measure the hours8 ,what was later used for measuring time1 after the sun-dial8 ,about how long ago were clocks first invented8 ,about how long ago were watches first made8 ,why did ,david want to be taught to number his days8 ,can the idle man or the busy man more easily find time for necessary duties8 ,will you always make diligent use of your time8 ,why does the larger hand of the clock point to the minutes8 ,if we take care of the minutes1 what will the hours do8 ,,plans4 ,,living ,,with ,a ,,purpose4 ,,suggestion3--,object3 ,architect's drawings for the building of a house4 ,illustration3 ,plans for ,building a ,house4 ,,my ,,dear ,,little ,,men ,,and ,,women3 ,i have here what the architect calls plans1 or drawings for a house4 ,unless the carpenter and builder had a copy of the plans he is to follow he would not be able to build successfully4 ,he would not know what kind of material he would need4 ,he would not know where to place the doors1 or how large to make the windows1 and whether to put the dining room on this side of the house or on the other side of the house2 whether the parlor was to be on the first floor or on the second floor4 ,so when a man is going to build1 the first thing to be done is to decide what kind of a house he wants1 and then to get an architect who is able to draw the plans perfectly1 so as to show the size of every door and window and room1 and the exact position and place of everything that is to enter into the building of the house4 ,these plans cost a great deal of thought and oftentimes much delay in beginning1 but in the end they save both time and expense1 and secure the most desirable results4 ,every boy and girl should have a plan1 for we are all builders4 ,we build day after day and week after week1 and year after year4 ,first of all1 you should have some great purpose in life1 and then all your other plans and purposes should be made to further and help the great main object which you have in life4 ,once there were two boys who were very intimate when they were young4 ,they played together1 and came to love each other very much4 ,one was a boy who always had a plan4 ,he had a plan for studying his lessons2 he had a plan which showed what time he had resolved to get up in the morning2 how many hours he would devote to study2 what portions of the day he would give to play1 and how much to work4 ,so each and every day he had his plans4 ,at the beginning of the year he had his plans for each month of the year4 ,the other boy never had any plans4 ,everything went along just as it happened4 ,the boy who always had the plans had no money2 his father was poor4 ,but the boy who had no plans had plenty of money1 for his father was rich4 ,these two boys both became merchants1 had stores in the same square in a large city4 ,the one who had the plans always knew what he purposed to do1 before the season began4 ,he knew just when to purchase his goods for the spring trade2 he knew when to sell them2 everything was done methodically and with a plan4 ,as the result of his thoughtful plans he soon began to accumulate wealth1 obtained a place of confidence in the minds of business men1 and eventually became one of the most honored and influential men in the city4 ,with the other boy it was not so4 ,he bought his goods whenever he chanced to see something that he fancied2 often bought too much of one thing2 had no method in business1 and consequently in the course of a few years lost what money he had and died a poor man4 ,let me hope that you will always have a plan for everything you do4 ,god is the ,god of order1 and we should also be orderly in all that we do4 ,illustration3 ,plans for ,building a ,life4 ,these plans of the architect1 when followed by the builders1 will tell the stonemason1 the bricklayer1 the millman and the carpenter1 the plasterer and the painter1 just what each is to do1 and all will be able to work in harmony1 so as to secure a nice1 comfortable and desirable home when the work is completed4 ,now1 we are all laying foundations in this world1 and the perfect character cannot be obtained until in eternity4 ,so when you come to plan for life1 do not think that your stay in this world is to be all there is of your life4 ,let your plans take in eternity4 ,if they leave out eternity they leave out the greatest portion of your existence4 ,if you leave out the idea of eternity you will be like the man who simply lays the foundation and then never builds a house on it1 and there1 year after year1 the foundation stands as the monument of his folly4 ,but you may desire to know where you can get the plans for a good and noble life--a plan that will include eternity4 ,i will tell you3 in the ,bible4 ,this is the best book in which to find the plans for a perfect and complete life4 ,just the same as the man who is going to build a house desires to go and examine other houses1 so if you desire to be great and good1 you should desire to read the biographies1 the story of the lives of great men4 ,i do not mean the fancied stories of lives which were never lived1 which are so often told in some kinds of books1 but ,i mean the lives of real men4 ,when you see the difficulties which have been overcome by others2 when you see how great and good other people have been1 it will help you to be great and good4 ,but after you have studied the lives of all the greatest and best men who have ever lived1 and then compare them with the life of ,jesus ,christ1 you will eventually come to see very clearly and distinctly1 that after all there has never been but one perfect life lived on this earth1 and that was the life of ,jesus ,christ4 ,so you will readily see that if you desire to use a model which is perfect1 you will have to take the life of ,christ4 ,you will find it fully portrayed in the ,bible1 especially in the first four books of the ,new ,testament--,matthew1 ,mark1 ,luke and ,john4 ,this will give you the model of a perfect life and enable you to live so as to make your life glorious while upon the earth1 and prepare you for an eternity of happiness and joy beyond this world4 ,have a plan and live to it1 and let your plan include eternity4 ,and may ,god give you grace to live up to a high ideal1 to be noble ,christian men and noble ,christian women4 ,,questions4--,what are needed before a house is built8 ,are all boys and girls builders8 ,builders of what8 ,do they need plans8 ,should we all have a main object in life8 ,what must we use all other plans and purposes for8 ,which boy in the story turned out the better8 ,what does the story illustrate8 ,should we have a plan for each thing we do8 ,does ,god love order8 ,what foundation are we laying in this life8 ,should our plans concern only this life8 ,what kind of a builder are we like1 if we make no plans for the life to come8 ,where can we get our plans8 ,what perfect model can we follow8 ,,the ,,christmas ,,tree4 ,,the ,,lessons ,,which ,,it ,,teaches4 ,,boys and girls often think that big people have set apart ,christmas as a day for gathering around the ,christmas tree1 as a time for ,santa ,claus1 for the giving of presents and for having a good time generally4 ,this is not the case4 ,i will tell you why we celebrate ,christmas1 and particularly the significance and meaning of the ,christmas tree4 ,christmas commemorates the birth of ,jesus ,christ1 the ,son of ,god1 who came into this world to redeem us from sin and everlasting death2 and the ,christmas tree1 laden with its many gifts and suggestive of so much joy and blessing1 is a symbol of the ,saviour4 ,in order that you may best understand the full meaning of the ,christmas tree1 ,i must call your attention to the season of the year when ,christmas came4 ,you will remember that last summer1 when the sun rose at half-past four in the morning and did not set until half-past seven in the evening1 the days were very long1 and you could see to go about in the evening until about eight o'clock and after4 ,at ,christmas time the sun goes down at half-past four in the afternoon1 and does not rise until half-past seven in the morning4 ,so you see that the days are about six hours shorter in ,december than they are in the latter part of the month of ,june4 ,christmas occurs at that season when the days are shorter and the nights are longer than at any other period of the year4 ,in the ,bible darkness represents sin and unbelief and wickedness2 and the daytime or light represents truth and righteousness and godly living4 ,so you will see that the long nights at the ,christmas period of the year1 and the short days1 fitly represent the condition of the world at the time when ,jesus1 the ,son of ,god1 was born in ,bethlehem4 ,at no other time in the world's history was there so much of moral darkness and sin and wickedness and corruption in the world4 ,cruelty and crime and wickedness abounded everywhere4 ,if ,i were to stop and tell you of the condition of society1 of the wrong and the iniquity1 which abounded everywhere1 you would be greatly horrified4 ,it was at such a time as this in the world's history1 when ,jesus ,christ1 the ,son of ,god1 came to this world1 that sin might be banished and righteousness might abound4 ,so you see that ,christmas occurs at that period of the year when the night and the darkness are the longest of any of the entire year1 and it very fittingly represents the condition which existed in the world when ,jesus was born in ,bethlehem1 as the ,saviour of the world4 ,he came to banish the moral darkness which covered the whole earth4 ,not only the time of the year1 but also the character of the ,christmas tree suggests something4 ,with the long nights comes also the cold winter4 ,the earth is wrapped in snow4 ,the trees1 which a few months ago were green and beautiful and in the fall all laden with fruit1 are now all naked and bare1 and if you were to go out into the orchard or forest you could not tell the difference between a dead tree1 and all the others which seem to be dead4 ,among all the trees you would only find such as the pine1 the hemlock1 the fir and other varieties1 such as are known as evergreen trees1 that would be green and give evidence of life4 ,so you will see again how the ,christmas tree fittingly represents ,christ1 because these evergreens1 in the field and in the forest1 seem to be the only things that have greenness and life1 while all else around them seems to be dead and laid in a shroud of white snow4 ,illustration3 ,the ,christmas ,tree ,copyrighted #aiaa by ,sylvanus ,stall ,the custom of setting up a tree at ,christmas time and loading it with fruit and gifts seems to have originated in ,germany1 and the thought of these people in introducing this custom centuries ago1 was that they might teach their children this very lesson to which ,i have referred4 ,now1 ,i desire to call your attention also to the fruit which is so often hung on the ,christmas tree4 ,the ,bible tells us that a tree is known by its fruit4 ,if you go into the orchard you could tell the apple tree from the pear tree1 and you could tell the plum tree from the peach tree4 ,if you did not know them by their leaves1 you would at least know them by their fruit4 ,but when you come to look at this tree you find oranges upon it4 ,now1 this is not an orange tree4 ,you find dolls upon it1 but it is not a doll tree4 ,here are a pair of skates1 but it is not a skate tree4 ,here are some candies1 but it is not a candy tree4 ,neither can it be known by the name of any one of these various things which hang upon the tree4 ,but it is a ,christmas tree4 ,and all these various kinds of things are properly hung upon the ,christmas tree to represent the fulfillment of that promise that1 with ,his ,son ,jesus ,christ1 ,god would also give us all things richly to enjoy4 ,the gifts hung on ,christmas trees are usually presents from one person to another--often not only from parents to children1 but from teachers to scholars1 and from friend to friend4 ,now1 until ,christ was born1 there were no ,christmas presents4 ,there was no ,christmas day celebrated4 ,but the reason we give presents on ,christmas day is to remind each other of ,god's ,great ,gift to man1 the gift of ,his ,son1 ,jesus ,christ1 to be our ,redeemer and ,saviour4 ,with ,jesus ,christ1 ,god also gave us grace and truth1 reconciliation1 and pardon and peace and salvation4 ,man had sinned against ,god2 was living in open rebellion against ,god4 ,whatever was good1 man hated4 ,he loved to do wickedly4 ,he preferred to serve ,satan1 rather than to serve ,god4 ,and ,jesus came in order to reconcile men to ,god--to get them to turn away from sin1 wickedness and ,satan1 and to accept of ,god's love and pardon and everlasting salvation1 and to do that which was right and good and holy4 ,if you could travel through the countries where they do not know of ,christ and do not worship ,him1 and then travel through ,christian countries1 where ,jesus is loved and honored1 you would soon see what a great difference there is between the two4 ,we have railroads1 steamboats1 and telegraphs1 and telephones1 and phonographs1 and every kind of cloth1 and silk1 and furs with which to clothe ourselves for greatest comfort1 and when we sit down at our tables there is no good thing that is produced in any nation under the sun1 that is not available even to those of limited means4 ,in the heathen countries it is not so4 ,they are still riding in carts drawn by oxen4 ,without clothing and without comforts1 the people in ,africa are still groping through the bushes and jungles4 ,and if you go to ,india and ,china and ,japan you will find that only in so far as they have been brought under the influence of the religion of ,jesus ,christ1 do they have even now the material blessings which come with the ,gospel4 ,but there are other blessings which come to us with the preaching of the ,gospel4 ,in heathen countries they have no asylums to care for the orphans1 no hospitals for the sick and the distressed and the dying2 no institutions of charity and of mercy2 but few schools1 and these only for the rich and the upper classes4 ,so you see that these things are among the gifts which ,god has given us with ,his ,son ,jesus ,christ1 whose birth we celebrate on ,christmas day4 ,then there are also the spiritual blessings and gifts4 ,god's grace1 communion with ,god1 and the joy and satisfaction we have in our hearts in knowing that we are the children of ,god2 that ,jesus ,christ has redeemed us from sin and death2 that we are the heirs of everlasting life1 and of everlasting glory4 ,and the ,bible promises us that in the world to come we shall enjoy everlasting blessedness1 and happiness and joy--that we shall dwell forever with ,jesus ,christ2 that we shall be made kings and queens unto our ,god4 ,the ,bible tells us1 that it has not entered into the heart of man to think or to conceive of the things which ,god has in store for those who love ,him4 ,if we were to laden this tree with all the richest treasures of the world they could not adequately suggest the great blessings which ,god has in store for you and for me4 ,how fitting1 then1 that we should be glad and joyous on ,christmas day6--that you and ,i should receive not simply these material gifts1 but that we should also accept of ,jesus ,christ in our hearts and receive ,his spiritual blessings2 and so be adopted into the family of ,god1 and be permitted to dwell for ever in ,his presence on high4 ,may ,god always bless you in your ,christmas joy1 and may you be glad not only because you receive the gifts of your parents and friends1 but also because ,god gives to us all1 ,his ,only ,begotten and ,well ,beloved ,son1 ,jesus ,christ1 to be our ,redeemer and ,friend4 ,,questions4--,what event does ,christmas ,day commemorate8 ,about what time of the year are the days shortest and the nights longest8 ,what does the darkness of the long nights represent8 ,was the world in moral darkness when ,christ came8 ,is ,he the world's ,redeemer8 ,what trees are green in the winter8 ,whom does the evergreen tree represent8 ,why8 ,where did the custom of having ,christmas trees probably originate8 ,what do the things on the ,christmas tree represent8 ,did people give ,christmas presents before ,christ came8 ,what do our gifts to one another represent8 ,with ,his ,son1 has ,god given us other things which we are to enjoy8 ,where do people enjoy the greatest material comforts and blessings1 in ,christian or heathen lands8 ,in what lands are the largest spiritual blessings enjoyed8 ,,easter ,,sunday4 ,,the ,,resurrection ,,of ,,the ,,body4 ,,suggestion3--,objects3 ,an egg and a little chick in a cage1 or a toy chick1 such as are often available at ,easter time may be used4 ,,my ,,little ,,friends3 ,can you tell me what we commemorate on ,easter ,sunday8 ,yes1 we commemorate the resurrection of ,christ from the dead4 ,you remember how some weeks ago ,i showed you a watch-case4,a ,you thought it was a watch1 but when ,i opened it it had no works in it1 consequently it was only a watch-case4 ,when ,i placed the works in the case1 then it made a complete watch4 ,so you have also seen the body of a dead person and you have possibly thought that that was the individual1 the person whom you had known2 but that which you saw was only the body4 ,the soul1 the immortal part1 had taken its departure and gone back to ,god who first placed it in the body4 ,now1 just the same as the works of a watch can keep good time without being in the case1 so the soul can exist apart from the body4 ,if you were to take the watch-case and bury it in the ground1 that fact would not affect either the existence or the accuracy of the works of the watch in measuring time4 ,so when ,god takes the soul out of the body we say that it is a dead body1 and it becomes necessary for us to bury it out of our sight4 ,illustration3 ,the ,women at the ,sepulchre4 ,on ,good ,friday we commemorate the death of ,christ upon the cross on ,calvary4 ,you remember how1 after the crucifixion1 ,joseph of ,arimathea and ,nicodemus came and took the body of ,christ down from the cross and laid it in a new tomb which ,joseph had hewn out of rock in his garden4 ,when this had been done1 ,pilate remembered how ,jesus had said that if ,he were put to death1 after three days ,he would rise again4 ,now1 ,pilate did not believe that ,jesus would rise again1 but was afraid that ,his disciples or some friends might come by night and steal away ,his body and circulate the report that ,jesus had risen from the dead2 so he placed ,roman soldiers around the sepulchre to prevent ,his disciples from coming near the tomb1 or sepulchre where ,joseph had laid away the body of ,christ4 ,pilate purposed to prevent the possibility of ,christ's resurrection1 but in the fact that he placed the soldiers there he secured for all after ages the most positive proof that ,jesus did actually rise from the dead4 ,these soldiers were ,roman soldiers1 and if they had slept while they were upon guard duty1 the penalty would have been death4 ,but when the angel came down from heaven and rolled away the stone1 then we are told that these ,roman soldiers became as dead men4 ,it is on ,easter ,sunday that we commemorate this rising of ,christ from the grave or sepulchre4 ,now1 can you tell me why it is that on ,easter we have these ,easter eggs1 such as ,i hold in my hand8 ,i will tell you why it is4 ,it is because while the outside of this egg is like the outside of a vault or grave1 yet inside there is a germ of life4 ,if you take a dozen perfect eggs and place them under a mother hen1 and have her set on them for three weeks1 at the end of that time out of these eggs which seem to have nothing of life in them1 there will come forth little chickens1 just such as ,i hold in my hand1 only this one is not alive4 ,but it is a very accurate representation of a little chicken a day or two old4 ,now1 just in this same way if you were to drive through a cemetery and look at a vault1 which is the nearest that we have in this country in likeness to the sepulchre in which the body of ,christ was laid1 you would not suppose for a moment that there would be living people in that vault4 ,while the bodies that are in the vault are dead bodies1 yet they have the promise of life1 ,god will some day raise them up1 unite again the soul and the body and give them that everlasting life and resurrection glory which ,jesus has promised4 ,and as ,jesus rose from the dead on ,easter ,sunday morning1 so we have the promise that in the final resurrection the bodies of all who have ever lived upon the earth shall hear the voice of the ,son of ,god and shall come forth2 those who have lived ,christian lives to the resurrection of life1 and those who have done evil to the resurrection of death and eternal punishment4 ,illustration3 ,little ,chickens ,just ,out of the ,shells4 ,the egg then is the symbol of life1 for out of this seemingly lifeless object there comes forth the living chick2 so out of the graves and sepulchres there will eventually come forth the bodies of all who have ever died1 and these bodies shall become resurrection bodies4 ,these mortals shall put on immortality1 and these corruptible bodies shall put on incorruption2 and then the souls and the bodies of all shall be reunited1 never again to be separated throughout all eternity4 ,perhaps during the past few months or years you may have laid away in the grave the body of some dear little brother or sister1 or perhaps of a kind father or mother1 or some other friend2 if so1 the spring season of the year will suggest to you the resurrection4 ,the grass and the flowers which appeared to be dead last fall1 and which during the winter have been wrapped in a white shroud of snow1 now feel the warm breath of spring1 and life and beauty are coming forth out of the sepulchre of the winter4 ,soon all the trees will put forth their leaves and then beauteous blossoms and sweet fragrance will tell of the spring time as the resurrection period of the year4 ,so at ,easter time we properly turn to the cemeteries where rest the bodies of our loved ones and know that the long winter of death and decay shall eventually give place to the promised resurrection of life and beauty4 ,on that ,easter morn the bodies of our loved ones shall be raised up1 the soul and the body shall be reunited1 and we shall see them and know them as they are4 ,now1 just how ,god shall gather again all the scattered parts of these bodies that were buried in the sea1 or have decayed back to earth in the ground1 we do not know4 ,but our ignorance does not change the fact4 ,i do not understand how at first ,god created man out of dust of the earth1 nor do ,i know how the bread and meat and food which ,i eat each day nourish my life and become part of my own body4 ,i do not know how1 out of the same handful of earth1 either an apple or a flower might grow4 ,i know that it is so1 but the how ,i do not know2 nor does my ignorance prevent or hinder ,god from accomplishing it4 ,if each day ,i eat food which by some strange power which ,god has placed within me is changed into bones in my body1 to hair on my head1 to nails on the ends of my fingers1 to teeth1 and eyes and ears and thus becomes a part of myself1 why should ,i question1 or desire to know how ,god is able to quicken in the grave the power to make the body to live again4 ,if in the beginning ,god only spoke and worlds came into being1 ,i know that when ,he shall command these bodies to rise from death and the grave they also will hear ,his voice and obey4 ,i am sure that no boy nor girl here would want that1 on the morning of the resurrection his or her body should refuse to obey ,god's voice when ,he shall command the dead to come forth from their graves in life and beauty4 ,you will want to obey ,him then1 but should you not also desire to obey ,him now8 ,when ,god tells you in the ,bible what ,he wants you to do1 are you obedient8 ,do you do as ,he commands8 ,if you are disobedient now1 then in the morning of the resurrection you might even desire1 rather to remain in your grave1 so that you should not have to look into the face of ,him whom you have disobeyed and offended4 ,if you want to awake on that final ,easter morning in the likeness of ,jesus and be forever with ,him in glory1 remember that you must obey ,god now as ,jesus did when ,he was upon the earth4 ,if we would be like ,jesus in glory1 we must strive to be like ,him in all that we do1 and ,i trust that you may think of this daily4 ,at all times when you are uncertain what it is your duty to do1 ask yourself this question3 ,if ,he were in my place1 what would ,jesus do8 ,and then act and do as nearly as possible as you think ,jesus would do under the same circumstances4 ,,questions4--,what does ,easter commemorate8 ,is a dead body actually the person you knew8 ,what has become of the soul8 ,what do we commemorate on ,good ,friday8 ,of what are ,easter eggs the symbol8 ,what does the shell represent8 ,what does the inside represent8 ,will the bodies of all who have died be raised some day8 ,who tells us this8 ,what will ,god do with the risen bodies8 ,what will become of the good8 ,what of the wicked8 ,do we know how ,god will gather the scattered parts of the body8 ,does it make any difference whether we know how or not8 ,is anyone likely to refuse ,god's summons on the ,judgment ,day8 ,do we always obey ,him now8 ,when in doubt what question should we ask ourselves8 ,illustration ,,footnote3 ,a ,,note--,sermon on ,watch and ,case1 see page #abe4 ,,crowns4 ,,the ,,children ,,of ,,the ,,king4 ,,suggestion3--,objects3 ,a crown of leaves or paper1 or of both4 ,,boys ,,and ,,girls3 ,i have to-day two or three crowns1 and ,i want to talk to you about those who are children of the ,king4 ,illustration3 ,a ,crown of ,leaves4 ,illustration3 ,a ,jewelled ,crown4 ,first of all1 ,i have here a crown which is made of leaves4 ,this was the first kind of crown ever used4 ,three thousand years ago or more1 those who excelled in strength1 or running1 or wrestling1 or in any of the games which were common then1 received a crown like this1 which was placed upon their heads4 ,this was regarded as a very great honor4 ,afterward1 the kings of the earth began to use crowns4 ,their crowns were made of gold and set with costly jewels4 ,these they wore on state occasions to indicate their high rank and position4 ,here is a crown made of gilt paper and set with a few silver-paper stars1 meant to represent the crowns which kings and queens wear4 ,while this crown is only made of paper1 the crowns of kings and queens are made of gold1 set with many costly stones4 ,besides the larger jewels in the crown of ,king ,george ,v4 of ,england1 there are also sixteen sapphires1 eleven emeralds1 nearly three hundred pearls1 and some twenty-eight hundred very costly diamonds1 and it is estimated to be worth many millions of dollars4 ,illustration3 ,the ,crowns on a ,table4 ,now suppose that we had gathered into this room the children1 the boys and girls1 of all the kings and queens of earth4 ,suppose also that they could all understand ,english1 and that none of them knew that they were the sons and daughters of kings and queens1 and that it was my delightful privilege to tell them how great and rich and powerful their parents are2 and then ,i were also permitted to tell them1 for the first time1 what beautiful crowns their parents own4 ,suppose also that after exciting their curiosity about these things1 ,i should have the crowns of all the kings of earth placed on a long table at my side1 covered with a beautiful cloth1 and after telling them about the crowns1 ,i should uncover this table with all these crowns of gold1 studded with jewels4 ,don't you suppose that the eyes of all those boys and girls would sparkle with curiosity and delight8 ,but now1 suppose that it were my privilege to do more than to show them the crowns4 ,suppose that ,i were permitted also to tell them that they were heirs to these crowns1 and that after their fathers and mothers1 the present kings and queens1 had died1 they were to become kings and queens1 and were to receive these crowns as their own4 ,suppose that1 more than this1 it were my privilege to pick up the crown of ,denmark1 and then calling some little boy to me ,i were to hand it to him1 and tell him that he was to keep it1 and that some day it would be placed upon his head1 and he would be ,king of ,denmark4 ,and then ,i should take the crown of ,sweden1 and calling another girl1 ,i should give her that crown1 and tell her that she should keep it1 until some day it would be placed upon her head1 and she should be ,queen of ,sweden4 ,suppose that in the same way ,i should take the crowns of ,germany and ,russia1 and ,austria1 and ,italy1 and ,spain1 and the great crown of ,england1 and all the crowns of all the nations of the earth2 and calling the boys and girls by name1 should have them come forward and receive these crowns1 to be kept until they should be placed upon their heads1 when they should be ,kings and ,queens1 ruling in great pomp1 and splendor1 and honor1 and power4 ,do you not think that it would be a very happy hour to these boys and girls1 when all these great thoughts should be disclosed to them for the first time1 and they should look upon such costly crowns1 and receive them into their own hands1 as their very own8 ,now1 boys and girls1 while you have been listening to me1 you have possibly not thought that what ,i have told you is really being fulfilled in your own hearing to-day1 for the ,bible tells us1 ,i will be a ,father unto you1 and ye shall be my sons and daughters1 saith the ,lord ,almighty4 7#b ,cor4 vi3 #ah47 ,then1 in another place1 it also says1 ,beloved1 now are we the sons of ,god1 and it doth not yet appear what we shall be4 7#a ,john iii3 #b47 ,so you see that it is my privilege to-day to talk1 not to the children of earthly kings1 whose glory is only temporal and whose honor is always uncertain1 but ,i am permitted to talk to the children of the ,king of kings4 7#a ,tim4 vi3 #ae2 ,rev4 xix3 #af47 ,the ,scriptures not only tell us that ,god is the only ,potentate 7the only powerful one71 the ,king of kings1 but it also tells us that ,he hath made us unto our ,god kings and priests4 7,rev4 v3 #aj47 ,the same great book also tells us1 not only1 that we shall be kings and priests unto our ,god1 but that we shall reign forever and ever4 7,rev4 xxii3 #e47 ,when a king dies he ceases to be king upon earth1 but when ,god shall make us kings and queens and crown us in ,heaven1 we shall never die again1 or cease to be kings and queens4 ,the ,bible tells us very clearly that our ,father in ,heaven is ,king over all earthly kings2 greater than any of them2 greater than all the kings of earth put together2 a million times greater2 yes1 millions and millions of times greater2 so much greater that the two do not compare in reality1 but earthly kings simply suggest to our minds something of our great ,heavenly ,king4 ,god1 this great ,king1 created us and we were ,his children4 ,but our first parents sinned and rebelled against ,him1 and refused to recognize ,him as ,father and to obey what ,he wanted them to do4 ,but ,god loved them and us as a tender ,father1 and sent ,his only-begotten and well-beloved ,son1 ,jesus ,christ1 to reconcile us2 to tell us that ,god the ,father loved us2 that ,he was willing to forgive us1 and that ,he would still accept us and make us kings and priests unto ,himself1 would crown us with glory1 would give us dominion and make us kings and priests forever in ,heaven4 ,so you see that there can be no mistake about our being sons and daughters of the ,lord ,almighty4 ,we are not only ,his children1 but ,he has promised us crowns of glory and thrones of dominion and power4 ,if you and ,i were in ,england to-day and could walk into the ,tower of ,london1 where they keep the crown and the jewels of the royal family1 and we could learn the value of these costly jewels1 and crowns and scepters1 it matters not how rich we might be1 ,i am sure we would have to despair of ever being able to purchase these costly crown jewels4 ,they are estimated at many millions of dollars4 ,now1 if an earthly crown1 which can only be retained for a few years1 is so valuable1 how much more valuable are the everlasting crowns1 such as ,god gives1 and which are to be ours for all eternity8 ,and if we are not able to buy such an earthly crown1 how much less are we able to purchase or buy a heavenly crown8 ,the heavenly crowns are so valuable that we could never hope to buy them1 therefore ,god gives them to us because ,he loves us4 ,more than two hundred years ago a man by the name of ,colonel ,blood attempted to steal the crowns and the crown jewels of ,england4 ,he was not altogether successful1 but was arrested before he escaped with them4 ,but do you know that there are many who would steal your crown1 and my crown of everlasting glory1 if they possibly could8 ,therefore1 ,god tells us in the ,bible1 ,hold that fast which thou hast1 that no man take thy crown4 7,rev4 iii3 #aa47 ,so you see it is very important that we should be constantly on our guard4 ,the ,king of ,england has soldiers to watch day and night1 lest any one should steal his crown4 ,and so also you and ,i need to be constantly on our guard1 lest wicked people and sinful influences should rob us of our heavenly crown4 ,not only are crowns sometimes stolen1 but sometimes they are also lost4 ,about fifty years ago some people were digging in ,france1 and they found eight costly crowns1 all lying close together1 having been lost or hidden away in the earth4 ,four of them were very costly and very beautiful1 while the others were smaller crowns4 ,the first four were for the king and the queen1 and the prince1 and one other of the older children1 and the other four crowns were for the younger children of the king's household4 ,yet you see that the father and mother and all the children lost their crowns4 ,i trust that no parents here1 or children either1 would prize their heavenly crowns so lightly as ever to lose them4 ,there are thousands of people who would be willing to put forth any effort1 or to pay any costs1 if they could only obtain an earthly crown1 and yet the ,bible tells us that these people do it to obtain a corruptible crown2 but we1 an incorruptible4 7#a ,cor4 ix3 #be47 ,now1 by a corruptible crown is meant one that1 like this crown made of leaves1 will fade and fall to pieces1 and decay1 and thus pass entirely away4 ,even a crown of gold1 studded with costly jewels1 would thus also eventually perish4 ,the crown which ,god gives to us is an imperishable crown1 which never fades1 and never passes away4 ,and therefore the ,scriptures say1 ,and when the ,chief ,shepherd shall appear1 ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away4 7#a ,peter v3 #d47 ,since the ,bible teaches us these truths so plainly1 ,what manner of persons ought we to be1 in all holy conversation and godliness8 7#b ,peter iii3 #aa47 ,what more appropriate words could ,i say to you in closing1 than that which ,god says to us in the blessed ,book in which ,he has revealed all these things1 ,wherefore1 beloved1 seeing that ye look for such things1 be diligent1 that ye may be found of him in peace without spot1 and blameless4 7#b ,peter iii3 #ad47 ,,questions4--,what kind of crown was first worn8 ,because crowns of leaves were so perishable1 of what were crowns later made8 ,what can you tell about the crown of the king of ,england8 ,if the crowns of all the kings of earth could be brought together1 would people desire to see them8 ,if the children of earthly kings were present and we told them for the first time that they were the children of kings and gave them the crowns which they were eventually to own1 would they be likely to be pleased8 ,are you the child of a ,king who is the ,king above all kings8 ,has ,he promised you a crown8 ,will your crown be perishable8 ,how long will it last8 ,can you quote any of the passages of ,scripture which tell of our being the children of the ,king of kings8 ,could the crown of an earthly king be bought8 ,is there money enough in the world to buy a crown of everlasting life8 ,how then is this crown to be obtained8 ,who once stole a crown and the crown jewels of ,england8 ,was he successful in getting away with them8 ,who tries to steal our crown of everlasting glory8 ,is he ever successful8 ,can you tell about the eight crowns which were found hidden away in the earth in ,france8 ,in what book are we told that our crown is to be imperishable and unfading1 and to be ours forever8 ,what exhortation is contained in the last sentence of the last sermon in this book8 ,,the ,,end4 ,a ,,word ,,to ,,parents ,illustration ,,the imploring letters which come to me constantly from all parts of the globe1 written by young men and women who are almost hopelessly struggling to be freed from evils into which they have fallen through ignorance1 prompt me to urge upon parents the great importance of safe-guarding their children from evils unspeakable by information which should always reach the child through the parent4 ,many parents appreciate their duty to their children in this matter2 the only thing that restrains them is that they do not know what to say and how to say it4 ,they are in just the situation that ,i found myself with my own boy and girl before ,i had made a special study of this subject4 ,it was to assist parents in this trying situation that ,i wrote ,what a ,young ,boy ,ought to ,know1 and that ,dr4 ,mary ,wood-,allen wrote ,what a ,young ,girl ,ought to ,know4 ,these two books1 together with ,what a ,young ,man ,ought to ,know and ,what a ,young ,woman ,ought to ,know1 have proven a benediction to thousands of parents1 and have saved multitudes of boys and girls2 of young men and young women from evils that come from blind blundering among dangers that are attended with consequences that often project themselves throughout the entire life1 and frequently involve even future generations4 ,these books were written to make men and women--not money4 ,the ,united ,states ,government has had the books to men placed in the libraries of all the battleships1 and those addressed to boys and girls and young men and young women placed in all the schools maintained by the ,government for the education of the ,north ,american ,indians4 ,requests have been made for permission to translate these books into some forty different languages1 and most of these requests have come from ,christian missionaries and church missionary societies1 who have desired the teachings which these books contain for use by their missionaries4 ,these books1 in ,english1 sell at ,one ,dollar per copy1 and a simple post card request addressed to the writer of the little book you now hold in your hands1 will bring you descriptive printed matter by early post4 ,,sylvanus ,,stall1 #bjf ,north ,fifteenth ,street1 ,philadelphia1 ,pa41 ,u4 ,s4 ,a4 ,,with ,,the ,,children ,,on ,,sundays 99 99 99 99 99 ,through ,eye-,gate and ,ear-,gate ,into the ,city of ,child ,soul 99 99 99 99 99 ,by ,,sylvanus ,,stall1 ,d4 ,d4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,enthusiastically ,,commended ,,by ,,the ,,press 99 99 99 99 99 ,,for ,,the ,,family ,,circle ,,and ,,teachers4 ,delightful and instructive reading for the family circle on ,sunday afternoons4--,the ,ram's ,horn4 ,the language and style are simple and effective4 ,in approaching the mind and heart through the eye1 as well as the ear1 ,dr4 ,stall uses the method which the best instructor should use to convey knowledge to the mind of the child4 ,the book is suggestive of effective work1 and is worthy of the careful attention of all who talk to children in the ,sunday ,school1 ,church and home4--,augsburg ,teacher4 ,these sermons cannot help being suggestive to every one who would interest children4 ,the sermons are fascinating1 and their publication marks an era in the instruction and edification of children4 ,they will serve a noble purpose in calling back to the simplicity of preaching so wonderfully illustrated in the words of ,christ4--,wesleyan ,methodist4 ,,specially ,,adapted ,,to ,,children4 ,dr4 ,stall has undoubtedly the happy faculty of presenting to children sober truths in a manner to them most interesting4--,times1 ,boston1 ,mass4 ,in this little volume there are good examples of excellent preaching to the young1 and the book merits a wide circulation4--,central ,presbyterian4 ,these little delightful sermons are models of point and brevity1 and reach the little hearts through the eye and the ear4--,christian ,observer4 ,a more practical series of discourses for children we never before have seen4 ,the illustrations are simple and forceful1 and the lessons worthy of consideration4--,central ,methodist4 ,it is an excellent work1 and the plan is admirably suited to reach and impress youthful minds with correct principles4 ,the language is plain and easily understood and yet the central thought is well defined and easily grasped4--,the ,christian ,instructor4 ,the topics are timely and fresh1 the objects simple and telling1 and the sermons themselves just what sermons to children ought to be1 brief and well illustrated1 fascinating and practical4 ,boys and girls will devour every one of them with relish1 whilst we children of a larger growth will be children again4--,lutheran ,observer4 ,the chapters contained in the volume are such as are sure to win the attention and interest of the children4 ,we are confident that ,dr4 ,stall has found the right key to the situation1 and we commend his work most heartily4--,messiah's ,herald4 ,the gift of talking sense to children in a way interesting to them is a rare one4 ,these fifty-two short sermons show that ,dr4 ,stall has this rare gift in an eminent degree4 ,this is shown1 not only in his way of putting things1 but also in his subjects and illustrative objects4--,lutheran ,quarterly4 ,in this volume the author seeks to attract the young through the presentation of the old truths of the ,gospel in the form which arrest the eye1 secures the attention1 impresses the mind1 and wins the heart for ,christ and the right4 ,the entrance into the city of ,child-soul is sought by assaulting both the ,eye-gate and ,ear-gate4 ,at the same time the illustrations used are impressive1 the truths taught are simple1 and the impressions made are likely to be lasting4--,jersey ,city ,times4 ,it is not every one who is able to present to children sober truths in a manner interesting to them1 for it requires a special talent to either speak to or write for children1 but ,dr4 ,stall has undoubtedly the happy faculty of doing this4 ,the author's object is to implant in the child's mind seeds of truth and love1 nobleness and justice1 and all the virtues that go to make a manly boy and womanly girl1 as well as a ,god-loving child4--,boston ,times4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,from ,,the ,,children ,,of ,,new ,,england4 ,,sylvanus ,,stall1 ,d4 ,d41 ,philadelphia1 ,pa4 ,,reverend ,,sir3 ,i wish to thank you in behalf of my school children for having your short sermons to children published4 ,i read them to my school children as part of our devotional exercises1 and ,i often hear remarks like this3 ,i wish the author would come to ,moose ,meadow4 ,i wish ,i could hear him4 ,i wish ,i could see him and thank him for writing those sermons4 ,can't we write to him and thank him8 etc41 and so ,i have been led to write you1 thanking you in their behalf4 ,moose ,meadow is a small country place in ,eastern ,connecticut1 and ,i wish you to know that the country children enjoy your sermons equally as well as city children1 and ,i am very glad that a copy of your book was put into my hands4 ,i feel very grateful to ,god for putting it into the heart of some one to write such interesting sermons and beautiful object lessons4 ,respectfully1 ,,mrs4 ,a4 ,b4 ,,dawe4 ,moose ,meadow1 ,town of ,willington1 ,connecticut4 ,a ,,suggestive ,,book ,,for ,,preachers4 ,pastors in search of something suggestive for talking in a helpful manner to children will find this book both helpful and suggestive4--,reformed ,church ,messenger4 ,a careful reading of this book will enable any minister of anything like ordinary brightness to adapt much of his preaching to the comprehension of the young4--,gospel ,messenger4 ,we do not know that we can give a stronger commendation of this little volume than to say that on a brief examination of it we got the suggestion for a series of half a dozen evening sermons to young people4 ,the book is most suggestive1 and spiritually as well as mentally refreshing4--,christian ,statesman4 ,an examination of the little sermons in this book shows the reader that ,dr4 ,stall skillfully manages each topic1 and leaves helpful lessons of moral and religious truths4 ,the book will suggest to pastors methods of work that will bring the children into a closer relation to the services of the ,sabbath4--,christian ,secretary4 ,excellent1 admirable1 irresistible approaches through the ,eye-gate and ,ear-gate in the ,city of ,child-soul4 ,the author is a genius4 ,there is not a dull line between the covers of this book4--,christian ,endeavor ,world4 ,,other ,,enthusiastic ,,words4 ,these sermons are delightful and helpful in their explanation4 ,we have seen nothing that compares with it4--,herald of ,gospel ,liberty4 ,these sermons are animated in style1 bright1 interesting and practical4--,the ,advance4 ,dr4 ,stall's sermons are excellent examples of abstract lessons from the common objects of everyday life1 practical and effective4--,books and ,authors4 ,dr4 ,stall is an expert in this line of work attempted1 and we may add achieved in this little book4 ,he addresses little object sermons as bright1 pithy and taking as they can be with a good point to them always4--,new ,york ,independent4 ,these short sermons will be found wonderfully suggestive4 ,the author goes back to ,bible methods1 and selects common things with which all are familiar from which to draw his lessons4--,inter ,ocean1 ,chicago4 ,the old truths of the ,gospel in this new form arrest the eye1 secure the attention1 impress the mind1 and win the heart for ,christ4--,herald and ,presbytery4 ,the illustrations used are impressive1 and truths taught are important1 and the impressions made are likely to be lasting4--,new ,york ,observer4 ,the author1 after the manner of the parables told by our ,lord1 presents important truths of the ,gospel to the easy comprehension of both old and young4--,christian ,work4 ,these little sermons are free from sensational1 mawkish1 maudlin stories4 ,at the same time1 they are interesting for old and young1 and the short talks to children are admirable4--,western ,recorder4 ,with the objects of every day life presented to the eye1 the author1 after the manner of the parables1 presents important truths of the ,gospel to the easy comprehension of both the old and young4--,methodist ,recorder4 99 99 99 99 99 ,transcriber's note3 ,obvious punctuation errors were corrected4 ,inconsistent hyphenation was retained4 ,page #aah1 experence changed to experience 7and patience experience7 ,page #bfj1 repeated word the removed from text 7he spend the summer7 ,page #cja1 ,persia changed to ,prussia 7the ,king of ,prussia had7