, ,t JUN 2; GUIDE LONDON PU6UC Lll --^>>TO THE' ^^^5^G»as?'iaa» Mm^>^^ SOLDENCITY H^ s mm \^ BY R. GAMPBE^LL. Tie SW of thrCity w^^ -H(v. % AH it; streets a?e sMJ«ng goUi, AhA its glaljy is untoi^™ Ove|- there. 'iirorxnilo : IMKIB & vfiliAllAW, PlilNTEE^ AND PI BIASHERS 1893. ^1 /£ m "m . ) i A GUIDE -^VTO TH GOLDEN CITY BY R. OAMPBE>IyI/. "Hie Street of the City' v/as Pore Gold." All its streets are shining gold, Aiid its glory is untold — ^ Oves theie. Toronto: C3 INTRODUCTION. In this humble treatise I have included portions of little Bible Talks and Addresses which it has been my privile^ to give while on my travelai Hoping they may prove to my reader friends as CRUMBS FROM THE KINGS TABLE, I now send them forth in their present form. That the Holy Spirit may water the seed sown in weakness, is my sincere desire and prayer. Your humble servant, London, August, 1889. R. CAMPBELL. P S. — I have been connected with the Y .M. 0. A , ToroEto i A GUIDB \'V fO THB GOLDEN CITY. First Step. Deab Beader, — When Ood fonned man He created him in His own image, and ushered him into life's rosy morning, possessed with holiness, purity and beauty. He placed him in a lovely and fragrant garden, and gave him access and liberty to everything within its beautiful bowers, with the exception of a single tree. God, in love and wisdom, did not create man until He had first prepared an abode for him. God called into existence, before man, the earth, the sun and moon, the cattle, the fish, the fowl, etc., all these God formed and prepared for the use and comfort of the man whom He was about to creat€i So that when man was formed and first opened his eyes he found himself in ■ WORLD OF BEAUTY, filled and flooded with Ught 4 fri v?v's Jesus fkutt he \{f^d up. Taking for granted that you know this term, "lifted up/' has reference to His death, v^e may at once perceive the necessity of His death for us or in our be- half. Mankind, as a rebel race, were under sen- tence of death ; by sin man forfeited life, and in order to get back life and be re-instated in God's favor, an accepted substitute must die in the room and stead of the guilty. This substi- tute must himself be " holv, harmless, undefiled and separate from sinnerB, ' (t.e. having no part in their sin or rebellion), and must also possess merit sufficient to atone for the whole guilty race of man. God, in looking over and amongst the bright hosts of heaven, could not find such a person amongst the angels, cherubims or seraphims, no, not one of sufficient power and merit in all this glorious host to come to earth and redeem and save poor fallen man. At last the loving and searching eye of the great " Father of Mercies " centered upon Jesus, His only Son, And in the person of Jesus He saw sufficient merit to cancel a worUTs guUU Wondrous Lova God, rather than let poor lost man forevei perish, emptied heaven of the richest jewel He could find, and took from His throne and crown the most costly diadem in order to redeem him Mi TBS OOLDBII OITf • back to life and favor. ** Fct God so loved tho world that He gave Ws only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on Him should NOT perish but have everlasting life." Consequently, through the death (or blood) of Jesus, who was " lifted up "on the cross, ii/e — eternal life — flo'^j to every one who believes in His name and truIs my reader a poor drunkard ? If so, 1 have good news for you. Throw down your cups, for I rejoice to tell you that you may get back through Jesus all you lost by sin and folly. You may have squandered a once happy home, and driven a loving mother or beautiful wife and children from its threshold to roam, but yet Id THl OOLDBN OITT. I bless God for you there i$ redemption in Jesus, blood. And, poor drunkard, do you believe that Jesus has purchased for you a home in glory ? Leave your cups, then, and fly to His loving arms ere it be too hte. Or, my reader may be a broken-down merchant or once pros- perous business man ; but now the scene is changed, friends of other days pass coldly by, and darkness comes over you. If the foregoing is descriptive of your case, I beseech you be en- couraged and cast your eyes upward to that bright home of light and LOVB where Jesus has purcliased for you a possession. Or, my reader may be one who is languishing in pain, weak- ness or failing health, if so, I still say be com- forted, for if you are one of the Good Shep- herd's flock, you will soon be well and at home with the Lord. God's children will be beautiful one day, " for as we have borne the image of the earthly, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly." — Cor. Yes, Christ, our rich friend, has purchased for us a better inheritance than our father, Adam, lost, an inheritance which is " incorruptible, un- defiled and that fadeth not away" Then let us take courage, press onward and ever bless God for the victories of the second Adam. THS GK>LDBN OITT. IS Tracing the Scarlet Line. I have sometimes thought that man might never have found out how much God loved him had it not been for what happened in Eden's bowers. If man had never sinned and fell we might never know the height or depth of God's love. And, my reader, it you could get a ladder and climb right up to heaven and ask the shin- ■, ing host how much God loved poor lost men, their best answer and definition would be — "God SO LOVED the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." Now I am by the gracious aid of the Holy Spirit going to occupy a portion of my little book in tracing the scarlet line and in recom- mending the " precious blood of Christ " to poor sinners. God put the children of Israel behind the blood before He marched with them through the wilderness. And He told Moses and Aaron that that would be the " beginning of months " Ex. xii. 2. Yes, the month or night the Israel- ites sheltered behind the blood was one of the most wonderful events of their whole history, and was counted with them as the first month of the year. That awful night death passed by and life was their portion in every home where the blood was sprinkled. So also, my reader, the moment a poor trembling sinner flees to the blood of Jesus be or she begim to live,' 'My 16 TBB OOLDSII cm, friend, remember you have neither life nor sal- vation unless you have been sheltered by the blood. For Qod's word declares that " the blood is the life" and unless you have taken shelter and sought security (from coming wrath) through Jesus' blood, you are still exposed to death and you are " yet in your sins.** Did you ever notice that almdst everything dates from the bloodf i.e. about the time that Jesus died ? Even the infidel and Jew by the date they put on every letter are forced to acknowledge Christ " For to Him every knee shall bow and every tongue confess." So my friend (like the Israel- ites) in order that death may pass over us and life be our portion we most fly to the shelter of Jesus' blood. This to us will be the beginmng of months, for here we shall find life and at once begin to live. When Nicodemus came to Christ He began with him by telling hin^ he " must be bom again,** And Jesus began a.v the right place, for God's order is always — first life, then service. If you will get your Bible and turn to Ex. xxix. 20, you can see that Aaron and his sons {before their tabernacle service) had blood on their ears, hands, and feet So my friend we can neither hear or walk or work for God until first our persons have been accepted through Jesus' shed blood. We can render unto God no acceptable service until first the existing breach is healed and sin pul aw a:/ by the virtue of a Saviour's blood. When the des- fHB OOLDBM OlTf. 17 troying angel passed over the land of Eeypt the Israelite was not only iheltered bv the olood of the lamb ouUide, but he fed on the roast lamb imide. And Jesus says : ** My flesh is meat indeed and my blood is drink indeed." •mr V The Dying Naturalist. Dr. Driver, in a sermon delivered in Chicago recently, related an instance of a skeptic's con- version. He said : — "A naturalist and a man of culture, who was travelling on the Pacific coast, was taken sick in the city where I wag sta- tioned, and went to the hospital for treatment After some time it became evident that he must die. One evening after dark the physician in charge of the hospital came to my house and said *. " Mr. Driver, I want you to come and see that sick stranger; he's going to die. I am not a professor of religion, but it makes me feel badly to hear him talk — he does not believe in the Bible or in Christianity." I had heard of the man's ability and felt reluctant to go, but a sense of duty impelled me, so I went with the doctor. Seldom have I seen a finer-looking mai or felt a kii^der grasp than he ^ave me. Seating myself beside his bed, I said : " Sir, you seem quite ill" Without apparent hesitation or con- cern, he said: "Yes; I xm going to die.'^ I Bilked, '* have you the consolations of religion to 18 THB OOLDBN OIT^. comfort you ?" He replied, " I do not believe in the Bible, nor the religion it teaches. Nature is the altar at which I have worshipped; she has been my guide and teacher." " You speak of nature as a guide," I said. He replied, " Yes; she is infallible." Looking deep into his beauti- ful blue eyes, 1 said to him, " I, too, profess to have been educated in the same school ; is it not at range that receiving our instruction from the same teacher, we should arrive at opposite con- clusions ? Certainly one of us has misinterpreted or the teacher has deceived us." He said, *' it is not in the teacher." I replied, " The mistake then is in me or you. Now it is worth while to compare opinions i^ If I have misinterpreted I know I have done it honestly and desire to be corrected.** He said, *' That is right ; I feel so, too." He looked very earnestly at me, and I asked, "In all your researches have you ever found a creature whose nature was opposed to its appetite ? " After some hesitation he said : "No; such a creature cannot exist. With a carnivorous stomach and an herbivorous appe- tite, it could only live until it starved to death, and propagation would be impossible." "Are there any exceptions to this law ?" He said, " No ; none in the animal or vegetable world." I said, 'you think you are going to die?" " Yes." * And that death will terminate your existence?" "Yes." " Now, answer me — have you not an appetite fpr something you have not OOBDBlf OITT. IP got?" ** Yes; I want to liveL** "How long do you want to live ?" Looking confused, he said, "I can't tell you." I said, "you must look to the utmost limits of desire and tell me where it is." With animation he said, " I can'i" " May I assist you ?" "Yes." "Suppose you could now be asured that you shall live until an insect by carrying away a grain of sand every thou- sand years, should remove the earth, would you then be satisfied with life?" He said, "no." " Do you know anything that would meet the demands of your nature ?" In great bewilder- ment, he said, "no." "And yet you say that everything in nature teaches there must be. Now I am not going to say that my Bible is true or its religion true, but would this meet the demands of your appetite?" — and I quoted Christ's ^ords, John, 6, 51. " I am the living bread which came down from heaven ; if a man eat of this bread he shall live forever" — and his eyes flashed fire, and he said : "yes, it would — I have misinterpreted nature ;" and he asked me to read the Bible and pray with him. I stayed with him till late at night, and wonderful teas the change,^ I never saw him again aliya' so THB OOLDSM OITT. Words of Llfo. ' ^ Ym, dear reader, the dying stranf^r amongst strangers, and in a strange city, heard from Qod's Holy Book that Jesus was the " Bread of Life " of the which " if a man eat he shall live forever" Now my friend by feeding on this bread you lay live and never die, for Jesus is the bread that came down from Qod out of heaven to give life unto the world. In reading the book of Leviticus there is mention made of difierent offerinc^, as the sin offering, meat offering, peace offermg, drink offering, &c. Now I believe that all these onerings and types are just, as it were, so many glateee in which to trace and view our blessed Saviour. The Bible says that " Christ is all and in alL** And I find Uim in all these offering I see Him in the sin offering as " the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world." Bttt Qod's children need more than the sin burden removed, they also need food for their heaven- ward journey and this they find in Jesus the true meat offering, for he says that " His flesh is meat indeed " and calls Himself " the Bread of Life." [ also behold Jesus in the peace and drink offering for " He has made peace by the blood of His cross." Yes, peace for the ungodly, peace for the fallen, peace for the far-off, peace for the troubled and heavy laden for ^ *' He ii our peace" He may also be seen is the TBB help him at once out of his difficulty, and I hoped Qod blessed my few remarks to his soul I also explained how the Israelite got no benefit unless he put his hand upon the heiui of his offer- ing. Just so, my friend, Qod in lovd and pity van OOLOBN OITT. 25 ^M has Himself found the ransom and provided the offerins— for aUL But while He has done so none get the bensfit unless those who place the /uznd of faith upon fesus. Now, I hope by this illustration that you can see why it is that some perish and go down to hell, while others are blessed with li& and salvation and go up ta dwell with Qod. God, in the sacri^ce of Hia Son, has made provision sufficient for the salva tion of the whole world, but while He has done so, none reap the benefit but those who, by faith, embrace the Sacrifice, and lay hold of the hope set before them by a loving God. All who con- tinue to reject the remedy snail miserably perish. Reader, have you put the hand of faith upon : Jesus — upon His bleeding brow and owned Him as your Saviour and Lord ? If so, give praise unto ^od, but if you have yet refused and neglected so great salvation, 1 entreat you, at the awful peril of your soul, do so no longer, \^^\, ^GM. forever perisK Some talk in a careless manner about the doctrine of "election,'' &c«^., and say '' if I am to be saved I will be saved,- &C.; " but I wish to warn all such against triflr ing with the grace of God. I believe it is about the most terrible sin under heaven for a man or woman to trifle with the grace of God. My reader, remember, death entered every home in Egypt where the blood was not sprinkled ; and just so, death eternal will find you if you do not accept of Jesus and flee to Him for salvaUon. 26 THE OOLDStN CITY. The sacrificial lamb was brought every morning and evening ; also, it was cut to pieces — opened UP. Now we may learn a beautiful lesson from these two facts. First, let us come before God ever}' morning and evening in prayer, having the Lamb of God with us, having His sacrifice in the arms of our faith, and while on our bended knees -before God in prayer, let us take to pieces "(i. e. open vp) the wonderful sacrifice; or, in other words, Lt us spread out the merits of Jesus, before God, for every part will stand inspection, and Lear the closest scrutiny. The liver, kidneys, &c., of the offering were laid bare before God, and all must be perfect. Oh, my friend, I am glad we can come before God with a perfect offering f even Jesus, "the Lamb of God." The Tabernacle. Leaving the offering on the burnt altar, next we come to the laver. The foot of the beautiful laver was made out of looking-glasses, so when the priests came to wash in the laver, they could also discover any uncleanness, and here they also washed. The laver to me is a beautiful type of God's word- — the Bible; for it not only tells us of the " fountain opened for sin," but also dis- covers to us our imperfections and failuret*. The law is.like so many glasses revealing our sin, and th© gospel like a beautiful fountain, to remove the stains. Like the priests, let us come daily to taS OOtDBK OtTT. 87 this divine laver, that we may discover our need, and also have it remedied at the fountain head. Next comes the Tabernacle. I am struck with the beauty and significance of all this divine plan and arrangement. 1st, the Altar (or Sacrifice), 2nd, the Laver, and 3rd, the Tabernacle. Now remember God's word says these were "figures of the true "—Heb. The altar with its sacrifice — type of the Cross, with the Crucified One. The Laver came next in order — type of God's clean- sing word ; then came the Tabernacle — type of Heaven And thuson ourheavenward journey, we first begin with the offering — Jesus on the cross ; next we meet with the laver — God's word, and here we find a chart with waymarks to guide us home. On going into the tabernacle, we observe a great curtain stretched across it, called the vail. This divided the tabernacle into two apart- ments, one of which was called " the holy place," and the other the "most holy." In the Most Holy or " Holiest " was found or placed bu"^ one piece of furniture, viz : — the Ark. The Ark held a pot of manna, Aaron's rod that budded and also kept the law. And upon the Ark was placed the mercy seat, t love to think that the mercy or gracious seat was above the law and covered it. Yes, Glory to our God, " grace reigns " and mercy rejoiceth against judgment." The Ark was a type of Jesus who entered ah d into *he holiest and "obtained redemptioi for us," also like the Ark, Jesus kept the law ; "He WB TBI ooLOiM em. magnified the law and made it honorable," and by thus keeping the law and enduring its penalty fie has become " the end of the law ^or righteous- ness to every one that believeth.*' — Rom. The Hi^h Priest went into the holiest once a year to mi&e atonement for sins, he entered that holy apartment — "not without blood" — Heb. And, my friend, we can ne^'er enter the courts of Qod's holiness unless by virtue of Jesus' blood. The vail which Mke a partition divided the large tent into two apartments seemed somewhat like a closed door. The vail was perpetuated in the temple and was there when our Saviour was crucified, but just as he expired the vail in the temple "was rent from the top to the bottom." It seemed as thoi^h the mighty conqueror thought the way was closed long enough and just in his death struggle tore the vail aside and set before poor sinners and captives AN OPEN DOOR by which they might enter into the liberty of the children of Qod. Tes, praise God, the prince of life and glory has defeated the prince of dark- ness and set before poor captives an open door and way of escape. We might also notice that there was scarlet in almost everything about the Tabernacle. Scarlet in the priest's robe, — scarlet in the curtains — scarlet in the vail. And let us learn from this the prominence we must ever give to Jesus* blood. Let us sign all our petitions with it, let us breathe it in our prayers, and mingle it in (mx hopes and weavi U in our songs. flSD moLsmn cm, 29 The American Bank Note. Iffy attention was drawn to the fact, some time a£o, that the American bank note had in it a icarlet thread, since that time I have seen it in some of the $5 notea This I was given to under- stand was one test of its genuinenesa Just so methinks, my reader and myself will soon have, to pass the tolemn test before the judgment seat of Christ and if then we are found without the scarlet lint of the gospel in the window of our heaits, we shall be cast aside as eounterfeiti or ** %v^eighed in the balances and found wanting" Yes, unless our sin-stained robes are washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb we shall never pass current when the Master " makes up His jewels." The ** precious blood of Christ " is not only the scarlet line of the gospel, but con- nected with its types is the life line of the whole Bible. It permeates the word of Qod to the very core and makes it a living word. Take the blood of type and antitype from t^e Bibl^ and my hope is gone. I%i8 crimson vein flows m. the prophecies, throbs in the epistles and pulsates from Genesis to Revelations, in Genesis we find man clothed with skins of beasts. He got his Eden coat through blood. Tes, the innocent victim bled ere for man a coat was found. In Exodus we find man sheltered in his home from death by blood. In Leviticus we find man en- joying the privilege of aUmsmwt through the 80 THS OOLDSN OITT. shedding of blood. And so the stream of crimson beauty flows onward until we reach the great antitype, and here we find a bleeding Saviour in the four opening gospel narratives. As we pro- ceed further the stream seems to get deeper and wider, for in Paul's epistle to the Romans we find provided for man a free justification; in Ephesians pardon ; in Colossians peace; in Peter redemption; in Hebrews santification, and in Revelations A song. Yes, my reader, in the last book of the Bible we find the redeemed in Heaven singing about the blood. And they sang a new song — " unto him who loved them ana washed them from their sins in his own blood.** "And they overcame — by the blood of the Lamb." — Rev. xii The Bed Light Signal Dear reader, I have been trying to tell you a little of God's love and gracious disposition to- wards his fallen creature, man I But I wish you also to know that God is just as well as gra- cious, and "will not be mocked." Remember the blood has two cries, and will call either for your salvation or condemnation. If you trust in it and plead it before God it will call for your deliverance, but if you reject it and thus " trample under foot the blood of the Son of God," rest assured it will cry out for your ever- lasting destructioQ. THB GULDEN OITT. 81 In crossing the railway track in London this evening, (Aug. 12, 1889,) I noticed the red light signal along the track. This was hung out to warn the public that there was danger on the track. Just so, my friend, if you are travelling on the road that leadeth to destruction, God has in love (not in anger) hung out the red light to warn you and if possible to save you from eter- nal death and ruin. He tells you in His word of the " fire that is not quenched " and of the " lake that bumeth with fire and brimstone," etc. This is the red light signal in God's word, and if you will not take warning you alone are to blame, God has cleared himself of your blood, for he not only warned you of your danger, but also provided a way of escape. Now, my friend, (if unsaved) I beseech you flee at once to the open arms of Jesus and find rest on his gentle breast. I believe it will be a fearful thing to go down to hell from a land of Bibles, Churches and Ministers. Yes, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah at the judgment day. If my reader is one who is trifling with the mercy of God in Christ, and thus " despising the riches of His grace," I warn you that unless you repent your portion shall be the " many stripes " and the * sorer punishment*' spoken of in God's word^ — I advise all my reader friends to aban- don at once fevery sinful practice, as drunken- ness, tobacco, swearing, gambling, seif-almse, 1^ TBI OOLDIK OITT. ■fiction, tight-lacing, dancing, etc, and seek and find in Jesus **re$t unto yowr $otU$,* •f Christ's Pasture-Field My reader, if you are one of the Qood Shep« 'herd's flock, your privilege now is food, servia and growth. The food, or rather the husks, which you once fed upon, when unsaved, will not satisfy you now. No, you want better food now, even " the sincere milk of the word, that iCe may grow thereby.** Thank Qod, the Good Shepherd has provided good food and green PASTURES where His sheep and lambs can find both reit and /oodL Christ calls His people His " eheep," but the unsaved are classed with the ** swine.** Now sheep and swine are two very different animals in their ways and tastes. The swind delights to be in the dirt and mire, but a sheep loves the clean and fresh pasture. So also, the unsaved find enjoyment in things which ar low and base, but all true children of God want better food. The Bible then is the Good Shepherd's pasture field for his flock. And here they "hear his voice and follow him," — ^here He goes before and gently leads by the still waters and green pastures. In this pasture are found variety to suit different tastes. If you are fond of Geology, go to Genesis. If ;you want History, go to Uie Kings or glean in TSS OOLDSN OITT. W the wonderful history of the Israelites. If you want Poetry, go to the Psalms or Solomon's Songs. If you like Biography, read the lives of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, but above all of Jesus, for it is the most wonderful biography ever written. If you love Botany, then go study the "Rose of Sharon and thcLily of the Valley." And if you must have some Astronomy, go and gaze until you fill your eye and soul w ith the " Bright and moiininq star." Yes, Iiere you find, as it were, a picturesque landscape where the scientist can explore, the poet sing and the weary rest. Here are found "wells of salva- tion," " meat for strong men," and also " milk for babes." Yes, glory be to God I even the babes are not forgotten, for the Good Shepherd "gathers the lambs with his arms and carries them in his bosom." — Isa. I believe a good plan is to read the Bible systematically. Suppose you read a chapter every evening in the Old Testament and also a chapter every morning in the New. And be sure you take it out of the face. I find this a good plan, it helps to create and also to keep up an interest in the Word. Child of God, do not neglect your Bible or your ck>set prayer, or you will very soon become lean in spirit, and 'the Good Shepherd will feel grieved to see one of his flock so lean and weah The Bible might also be compared ta a telescope, for through this divine telescope God's children catch visions of (.' ■ ' 1 ' I, 84 TBI OOLDBll OITf. their far-off home and sight frequently the FIELDS OF QLORY and streeti of gold. Yes, Qod's cliildren are far-aighted, they take a longer range than their more worldly neighbors. And the Bible is also and truly QoD's love letter to poor man ; to the careless and scoffers it is a sealed letter, for they see no beauty in the Saviour of whom it speaks that they should desire him. The unconverted love not this Wy book, but prefer instead the ;trashy novel w story. Man, by nature, is lost and in the dark, and Qod puts this lamp (the Bible) into his hands to light him to the skiea Reader, can vou say in truth " Thy word i^ a light unto my feet and lamp unto my path f Holy Bible, book divine, Preoious treasare, thoa are mlBei Mine to ohide me wben I roam, Mine to guide to heaven my horns. HAny Lives Lost. I believe that thousands of young people, for want of timely caution and knowledge, under- mine their health and hasten themselves to untimely graves by an evil practice generally know as ** self-ahuse." Parents; pastors and seniors, from a false modesty, do not warn their loved ones of this evil, therefore it goes on, and consequently thousandi every year fill TH« OOLDVN OITT. 88 enrly and untimely graves, or els© drag out a few wretched years of existence. I have known several young persons whose health was under- mined, their strength sapped and their useful- ness greatly curtailed, all on account of early folly and indiscretion. Would to God that parents and teachers had more moral courage to warn their loved ones of this great evil. It is generally indulged in under the sable mantle of night when God's balmy sleep should seal the eyelids and restore the energies. If any of my dear young readers are guilty of this sin, I beseech you as a real friend to abandon it at once and forever, for if you do not, remember an early grave or else a few miserable years of infirmity and woe shall be your portion. Now, I hope that God will own and bless my advice to some. The Wedding Garment. In St. Matthew's Gospel we read of a king who made or prepared a marriage feast. He Jsent out servants to invite guests to his feast, but many made excuses, and others, we are told, made light of it, * And, my reader, that is just what the world is doing to-day %God, in love, has, at great sacrifice and expense, prepared a FEAST for a lot of poor beggars. He has taken the richest treasure and jewel from His store in 86 THE OOLDEN dTT. order to make the feast satisfying, full and free. And after all this lavish expense and sacrifice of love an ungrateful world turns its back upon God, and makes lipht of the invitation. Like the king in the parable, God has been at the whole expense himself, and man, the poor beg- gar, had neither share nor part in the outlay. God spread the great supp-ir or Gospel feast at his own expense and now proclaims, through His word and servants, " aU things are ready." Just here, my reader, I wish to remind you that it was customary among the Orientals of the east who had wealth, to provide, not only the feast, but also the garment or apparel which the guests should wear while present. And this is like God, who has provided both feast and robe. Now let us take a glance at the guest w^ho was at the feast l)ut had not on the wedding garment. This man seems to me to represent a host of professing Christians, for we find him amongst the other guests, and really at the table with the rest. And I believe this man repre- sents thousands of our church members to-day ; £or many identify themselves with the house and people of God who have never been born again, or led to a saving knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus. I fear many sit down at the Lord's table who have never really seen their nakedness, ajid so have been led to seek " white raiment" iii Christ Remember this man was tSB GOLDEN CITY. 87 at the feast Just so, my friend, you may Kave on a good moral cloak of profession, and pass for a Christian amongst the children of God, but unless you have Christ " formed in you the hope of glory," you are still in danger of hell, and, like the man in the parable, may soon be " bound hand and foot and cast into outer dark- ness." Now, observe, this man was not cast oi.t on the ground of character, for we learn by the parable that both bad and good were welcome. You may say, " If he was not rejected for bad character, why was he put out at all ?" Well, my friend, he was condemned simply because he had not on the wedding garment. The garment, as I said before, was furnished as well as the feast, and this is the reason that the man was speechless. He could not plead poverty, seeing that both feast and garment were free. All the guests had to do was to put on this outer gar- ment as they entered the hall or ante-room. This man neglected to do so, and we see the sad result. Perhaps he thought or reasoned with himself that his oivn clothes were good enough, or he may have said, " I am too ragged to put oh til is clean and beautiful robe," and so ventured in without it. This is like the sinner, he thinks he is either good enough without Christ, or else too bad to come to Chi'ist, and remains unsaved. 8S Vm OOLIMM Cffff. The American War. I read an incident in connection with the American war which serves my purpose here very nicely. "When enlistening for the army service, every man had to put on the regimental uniform. In some cases a poor hod-carrier would come along \ well, he would take off his old lime and mortar bespattered clothes and put on the army uni- form ; presently a well-dressed gentleman would also step up, having on, perhaps, silk hat, velvet suit ana kid gloves, but he had to strip as well as the poor hod-carrier, and put on the same army uniform. Both had to strip alike and put on the same regimental uniform. And in like manner we must all (moral and immoral) come to God as naked sinners, and be clothed with Christ, who is the true robe and uniform of heaven. Dear reader, I hope I have made it plain to you. Sin has covered us with shame, and all our own righteousness is " as filthy rags ;" therefore, we are by nature unclean and unfit for the presence of Qod. But Qod has in pity, and out of his kingly wealth, provided for us a robe, which is resplendent in beauty, and will stand the closest inspection ; and this robe is the righteousness of Christ, or Christ himself, ** the Lord our righteousness." — Jer. xxiii, 6. *" Now, friend, do not sit down in your own TBI ooLDiH cm, 09 r elothet, which are but a spider's web, but simply WRAP YOURSELF UP IN Jesus, for He is the true and real wedding garment, who alone can shield and cover you from divine judgment and wrath. Like Paul, be "found in Him," or like the Psalmist, David, who said, "Thou art my hiding place,** Jesas, Thy blood and ri^hteoaBnest Hj beaaty ara, my glonoas dress ; Midst flaming worlds, in these arrayedi With joy tbiOl I lilt up my head. A Fortune— Gold Founds Some years ago, when gold was discovered in California, men set out and travelled hundreds of miles, and endured severe hardships in order to share in the treasure. Not having the facility of railways, as at present, some took oxen and waggons and some provision, and in this way travelled for months, enduring privations, fore- going the comforts of home, bearing fatigue and often sickness, in order to reach the gold fields. Now, my reader, I wish for a moment to draw your attention to a ** more enduring " treasure. 1 suppose you remember me telling you before how our father, Adam, was once very rtcA, and possessed vast estate, in fact, almost untold wealth. But by his sin and folly he incurred a great debt, mortgaged the whole estate and left 40 THB GOLDEN OIR. US in poverty. The whole family becoming thus involved and bankrupt, were never able to redeem the lost inheritance. But a richfriendy knowing and hearing of the great catastrophe and family trouble, came from a far country ^ and determined to lift the mortgage, redeem the inheritance, and set the family up again. This rich friend spent a fortune, and endured a great deal of sorrow, privation and suffering, before he could redeem the lost estate. At length he accomplished it, and to secure it legally to the family, he made a will, sealed it and ratified it by his death ; and in the will he charged his executors to let all the heiiB and family know, wherever they might be, in order that they might come and receive their share ; and he had it so wisely arranged that no law process was needed to obtain it, but simply to prove their pedigree, put in their personal application, and thus have the legacy secured, get the first instal- ment, and by-and-by have the full possession. And, my friend, this is but a feeble illustration of what Jesus has done, who is Himself the RICH FRIEND who came from a far country " to restore that which he took not aioay." — Ps. And if you will turn to 1 Pet. i., 4, you will see that He has purchased for us a better inheritance than our father Adam, ever owned. And I thank God this blood- bought inheritance cannot be lost, for it is reserved in Heaven^ so that the devil can never set foot upon it He could get into the THE aOLDEM OITT. 41 fifarden of Eden and cause trouble but thank God, he cannot set his foot on our heavenly estate because it is reserved for us in heaven. Our earthly homes soon fade and begin to look old as the years roll by ; but Jesus has purchased for all who make Him their Saviour a home thai shall never fade. Let us just read the text : " An inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved Heaven for you." — 1 Pet. i.,4. Man, by nature, wants to have something which he can call his own; he wants inheritance. The little boy wants a calf or lamb or a colt, and the little girl wants a hen or a doll or something she can call her own. The young man toils for years, he hews down the forest, he crosses the seas, he works in the mine, and braves the heat of summer or the storms of winter, in order to get a home or a possession which he can call his own. Would to God that young men were half as anxious to secure the true riches I My reader, there are some beauti- ful features and attractions connected with the inheritance of my text. Its locality is good, being reserved in heaven^ here no malaria, no fever, no chill, no stormy blast or evil t'oe, can ever reach it. No, it is beyond and above the storm cloud and lashing tempest, and far re- moved from the turmoil and diseases of earth. Again, its climate is salubrious, invigorating, delicious ; no consumption or fever can hold out IS TBI OOLDIM 0IT7* against the health and purity of its lovely atmosphere. The air is so balmy that winter never comes^ and no frosts ever wither its un- fading FLOWERS. It is continual summer, and, consequently, the trees yield not only " twelve manner of fruits," but produce twelve fruitages in the year. Affain, its water is pure. In many towns of our land the water is impure, and sometimes genders disease by its use; but in and through this inheritance flows a " pure river of water of life" There is no disease engendered or death incurred by the use of this water, for it is water of life. Again, in this world we sometimes have bad neighbors and poor citizens, so that we would often like to be away from them ; but, bless God, in this reser- vation in glory the neighbors are good, in fcust, about half of them are angels^ and the other half just as good. And in conclusion, my reader, please notice this inheritance is reserved in heaven for the children of OocL Now, if you are a child ofOodf this beautiful inheritance, with, all its attrac- tions, is FOR YOU. But if you have not, and will not, come to Jesus for pardon and li'.e, then remember your portion will forever be ** the lake of fire " Which shall it be, my friend, heavcE or hell ? Which ? Oh, my friendly reader, in ending this chapter I ask you to come away to the Streets of GfoLD and find sweet, happy rest forever for your weary souL VHS OOLDSM cm* Beftutif al Zion, bailt ftboT«i Beaatifal city ttutt I love, Beantifal gates of pear];;^ white, Beaatiful temple — Qod its lighl ; He who was slain on Calvary, Opens those pearly gates to me. Oho. — We're marching to Zion, Beantifal) beautiful Zion ; Marching onward to Zion, The beautiful city of Qpd. Beautiful heaven wLere all is light, Beautiful angels clothed in white. Beautiful strains that never tire, Beaatiful harps through all the choir; There shall I join the chorus sweel, Worshipping at the SavA3nr's feci. The Books Opened In the book of Revelations is found an ac- count of the books being opened, and the dead being judged by the things written therein. One winter, some years ago, I spent a few months in a general store, and I frequently en- tered accounts in the merchant's account book. And many of the customers ran up a long account on the debtor side, but some of them (in the way of trade) had very little to show on the credit side of their account during the year. For*'>Bmember, every account must have a Dr. and Or. dde. And the merchant expects thes* l4 THE OOLDBN OITT. two sides to be balanced, or made equal, at least once a year. Some customers do not trouble much about the credit side of their account, if the merchant will only allow them to get plenty of tick on the debtor side. But pay day comes round at iast and finds many unprepared to nettle their account. Then trouble, and, perhaps, the sheriff or prison ^oes in pursuit of them, Methinks how thankful these persons would now be if some kind aftd rich friend would step in and settle or balance their account and let them go free. My friend, you and I have got deep into God's books, and our sins far e:^ceed and outweigh our righteousness, so that we have really become bankrupt, and cannot pay a single cent to the dollar. "Our iniquities have gone over our heads," so that we are unable to balance our account, or to meet the mighty clai ui. What is to be done ? The judgment day is fast ap- proaching, death is on our track, and the books will soon be opened, and our account with God investigated. What is to be done ? Yes, the great Judge of all the earth ^v^ill soon ascend the throne of judgment ; the earth and seas will flee away from His presence, and the nations will stand before His then awful majesty and power ; and then the books shall be opened and judgment begin. In these books, I expect, " every idle word,** every lie and oath, has been noted down, and THE aOLDFJ* CITT. 46 every secret sin and evil deed, even every un- holy lust, thought or desire. 'My friend, how is your account with God? Are you able to meet God's claim upon you ? Can you balance your account ? If not, I ask the question once mol-e : What is to be done ? Many treat God as if He were such a one as themselves. They think that by a little penance .or amendment they can get' square with God. They suppose they can cancel the past by the amendment of the future, and thus balance their account. But to such I would say: "Pay- ing future accounts contracted with yoiir mer- chant would never liquidate past iudebtedhess, or meet past claims. Paying future responsibi- lities will never undo past failures ; therefore, you can never get square with your Maker in : this way. Now, I" will tell you my plan. I found out a : few things. First, I found I had got very deep into God s book ; second, I discovered that I was bankrupt, and therefore could never balance my account ; and lastly (glory be to God !) I learnt that Jesus had been to the office and SETfLED for m& So my account stands at- follows: 46 TBI OOLDIM CITT. DR. SIDR I CRSIDR Oh, my sins I I The blood of Jesus My sins ! I cleanseth from My sins I I all sin. "Who shall deliver I "Jesus Christ the me ? " I Lord." I should have filled the Cr. side with my own coin, but, being bankrupt, God filled it Himself with heavens gold, and so balanced my account. Qlory be to His holy name. A Ladder up to Heaven. I know not how many steps were in the ladder that Jacob saw ; but I think it was a lovely dream for the weary traveller as he lay on his pillow of stone, to see a beautiful ladder reaching from earth to heaven and shining angels upon it. Jesus said (see John), " Hereafter ye shall see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man. Consequently, Jesus is himself the medium of access to the Father, or in other words, the divine ^ ladder which spans the heavens and reaches all the way up to Ood. Man all down through the ages has been trying to find a way or ladder to mount to heaven and soar bIoH THB 00Jfl>B1l OITT. 47 beyond the sorrows of earth. And we find poor lost man still busy making ladders and con- triving ways to get at last to heaven. Some try one^Ian and some take another, until every one seems to have discovered a way of hia own to reach the celestial city. But, alas ! man with all his efforts can never bridge the awful gulf that sin has made between a holy God and rebel man, hia fallen creature. Man's rebellion and sin so effectually closed the way that all the angels in heaven with their united powers could never open it And if "ten thousand times ten thousand " angels cannot open the way to heaven it is useless and impossible for weak man, with an arm of flesh to attempt the hopeless task. Some try to reach heaven and gain God's favor by morality and conformity to the law. But, my friend, the only chance of getting to heaven by the law is to keep it per* fectly all — yes, every moment of your lifetime upon earth, for if you offend in " one pointy you are guilty of all "—-(James). God's law is "holy, just and good," methinks it is a perfect key which will fit any of the gates of pearl, but, my ^friend, remember you have broken the key ; now, I with this broken key to which you are clinging -you can never gain an entrance through the gates of pearl The holy law of God has be- come in your hand as I said before, a broken key, and instead of letting you into heaven and recommending you to God's favor, it has just 48 THB aOLDBN OITT. the opposite tendency and commission for it har8 i;ou out as a transgressor and shuts the lovely ffates against you as a rebel forever. No angel liand has ])ower sufiicient to open heaven for you. No, my friend, only one hand can let you in, and that is the jncrced hand of Him " who openeth and no man shutteth, and shutteth and no man openeth." — Rev. God's divine law demands that you " love God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind, and that you love your neighbor as yourself," or as much as you love yourself. Have vou done so ? Have you all your life thus lovea God and loved your neighbor ? If not, my reader, thou " art weighed in the balances of the sanctuary and art found wanting" — (Dan.) But I do bless God, that he himself has devised a plan and brought about a " new and LIVING WAY " — (Heb.) — whereby the gulf, which stood between God and man has been bridged, and the breach of the law healed so that now poor lost man can return and find a way back to God. — And that way is Jesus, for He sa3*.s, " I AM THE WAY." — (St. John). Yes, Jesus is the only way to God and glory for he has de- clared that " no man comcth to tlie Father but by me" and moreover He says in the book- of Revelations (1-18). "I am He that liveth and was dead ; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Ameu, and have (he leys of hell and death." Therefore, seeiiig that Jesus is not only tlie way, YBM QOXiDBll OITT. * . ,. 49 but also hat the keys, it is vain for any sinner to try to get into heaven unless by Him. In another place He says, "I am the Door, if any man enter in by Me he shall be taved." And in conclusion, my reader, remember he or she that seeketh to " climb up some other way is a thief and a robber." For if it was possible you should get into heaven some other way, you would be robbing Ood of the glory of your salvation and this He can never permit ** Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest, by the blood of Jeiut — by a new and living way"^ HeU The New House. By reading IL Cor. v. 1, we may see that our bodies are called an ** earthly house,'* and, my friend, you know a clay house is liable to fall or crumble in a few days ; when you feel weakness or sickness or infirmity, remember these are signs that the clay house in which you live is beginning to totter and may very soon come down. Are you getting ready, then, to move INTO THE NEW HOUSE? If not, I beseech you make all possible haste to do so, for God and judgment are at hand and " as the tree falleth 80 shall it lie." Then my reader : I » jgr^m «. pert gfcn ^>r' I 50 V VBX OOLBSW OlTf. • ' Stars fop Tour Opowil'^ "■ In the book of Daniel we read, " They that turn many to righteousness shall shine as the stars forever." My reader, everybody wants to sAine. Whe- ther in law, medicine, science or divinity, we find that man aspires for fame, and desires to ^in honor and the esteem of his fellowttien. The student pores over his weary tasks late into the night, and often overtasks both brain and nerve in order that he may one day rise to a position of honor and shine in society. Alas, my friend, these honors often perish in a da) and are soon forgotten hy the world. But, thank Qod, by doing good and turning many to righteousness we may gain eternal reward and shine as the stars forever. All Qod's children should be " careful to main- tain good works, for " your labor is not in vain in the Lord." Even a cup of cold water given for Jesus' sake has promise of reward ; ^ere- fore, I wish and counsel my reader friends to ever abound and be fruitful m good works and holy deeda By laboring for the Master we can ** lay up treasure in heaven," we can increase our reward and deck oub obown. Yes, child of God, rest assured that " your labor is not in vain in the Lord." Be on the look out for opportunities to win •ottlsi to warn sinners and to preach Christ noB aoLDSN ont, 01 . . .L. ' i . ■ ■ Scatter Oospel tracts visits r6ad, and pray With the sick, and work till Jesus comes. I read a beautiful incident of a dear little girl who won A STAR for her crown. A young lady was preparing for the dance hall, and, standing before a large mirror, placed a light crown orna- mented with silver stars upon her head. While thus standing a Httle fair-haired sister climbed into a chair and put iip her tiny fingers to ex- amine this beautiful head-dress, and wasaccosted thus: "Sister, what are you doing? You should not touch that crown ! " Said the little one: "I was looking at that and thinking oa something eli^" ** Pray tell me what you are thinking about." " I was remembering what my Sabbath School teacher said, that if we saved sinners by our influence, we shall win stars to our crown in heaven ; and when I saw those stars in your crown I wished I could save somesouL" The elder sister went to the dance, but in solemn meditation; the words of the innocent child found a lodgment in her heart, and she could hot enjoy the dance. She left the hall at a seasonable hour and returned home, and going j to her chamber where her little sister was sleep- j ing, imprinted a kiss upon her soft cheek, and said: " Precious siateryyou ihall have a star for your crown" and, kneeling at the ^bedside, offered a fervent prayer to God for mercy Thus, "i^littl«>diildshaiJ lead i^em." i HI fn •ounni om. Tes, my reader friends, now is our seed Hme^ and eternity will be the long reaping time. And the scripture saith, ** He that soweth bountifully shall also reap bountifully, but he that soweth sparingly shall also reap sparingly." >^ I sometimes think that heaven is like a bank, and I believe some have more treasure laid up in this bank than others, and consequently shall have more reward on the day ox reckoning. For, while salvation vi FREE, yet Qod "shsJl reward every man according to his works** And ''as one star differeth from another star in glory, so shall bo the resurrection of the dead." — Cor. Let us who are the children of Qod be sober, watchful and prayerful, lest the Master come and find us unready. Make up old quarrels, pay old debts and seek to be always ready, tor the Master may come at an hour when we least expect Him. My reader, if yon are a Christian, don't be content to go to heaven alone ; oh, no, doH*t go home alone^ when there are so many whom you might invite to go with you. If you have any brothers or sisters or schoolmates, just ask them lovingly and kindly to **cimie to the struts of gold* And if you have none of these dear ones whom you can invite, then just ask any friend or stranger to come along to the golden city. If you lead one soul to Christ, t'lat one may lead others, and thay in turn SBigr lead othan^ 90unni CRT* M and thus, by Qod's help, ^•ti may set a li^e stream in motion that will Jtow on when you are gone, and so even when dead, "jfour works mayfoUow you* My Own Rzperienoa My reader, I shall not attempt anything like a history of my life, but will merely touch a few points and then pass on to the inner life. My childhood days were spent in Wellington County, Ontario. Here I first saw the light of day, and entered upon a pilgrimage which has np to the present been one greatly chequered with sorrow and joy. Sometimes my pathway has been surrounded by bright flowers of hope and success, and again it has been shrouded m darkness where tnc shadows have lain in dose and almost unbroken lines, and '* deep waters " abounded on every side. Most of ray years have been spent amidst rural and rustic scenery, and thus I have had frequent opportunities of catching the melody of the bird from the forest and field, and admiring the beauty of U^ rose and flower in {ihe garaec and by the waytiide ; and also of drinking the plaintive music of the winter^s blast and the attractive beauty of the summer landscapa Amidst' thefee early scenes of chequered beautgr n^ me^ fss^^pissl^ v>ok flight from ^ ' fOM QQLDmn ami. <« D&tttfO'Up to nature's Qod, and thoughts' of a better land, and visions of and longings for a betjtec couutry, l>etime8 f ound a lodgment within my breast. ^^ Childhood and schooldays having passed, I once more took up my books, and started out to try and paddle my own Cianoe. I spent about a couple of years tealbhing scho6l, also a few months in a general store, but owing to poor health was compelled .t9 abandon both. The past few years have been spent pretty much in travelling, and selling books. . God has helped me to get. out several small books previous to this one, several thousand of which have found their way into different hands and homes, and that the blessing of the Holy Spirit may attend the perusal of their humble pages is my sincere desire and prayer. .^ Now, my reader, although I have been a slow^ scholar, yet I have learnt a few things by the way.. One of the first lessons which I learnt, with sorrow,. was, that I was a condemned and miserable sinner. . ^in often seemed to permeate iny whole being and this inherent evil and "root of bitterness" greatly fouled aftd ruffled life's current for me. Yes, I early found my name written in the Bible and that has been my name ever since — sinner. But blessed be the God of all grace, I trust that I am now a saved sinner, ^ I remember one morning travelling not far from the oity of Gaelph, (June 20th, 1882), *^d this morning I was in trouble and perplexity about my souFs salvation and my many sins. It was early in the morning and while walking along the road and feeling sad as I proceeded I noticed a little grove of trees a short distance ahead of me, so I resolved within myself that when I reached the grovel would tell all my heart to Qod in prayer. But, bless His name, , before I got to the grove a " still small voice " seemed to whisper on the morning air, — "/esui has done itaU^ He has settled with Sod about your sins," Joy and comfort at once sprang up within my breast and when I reached the grove I sought its peaceful shade and upon my knees I thanked God for salvation through Jesus, Yes, my friend, "Jesus did it all." None but He can save, and no arm but His can bring sal- vation. For the benefit of my readers, I wish to mention a few things, by way of Christian experience. I have found out that in order to enjoy ekCsXm. and happy Christian walk, we must live near to Qod, and " lay aside every weight, and the sin which does so easily beset us." Many who bear the name of Christ are like the disciple of old — ^they follow " afar off I* and con- sequently are weak and lean in spirit and fre- quently lose sight of the Master iJtogether. I know this is the case by my own past experi- ence. ^ Therefore, having had to bitterly regret mv own and frequent failings, I wish to admomJa THB ooLDWi omr. ' others, and to ur^e upon all the necessity of a close walk with God. Remember there are " WEIGHTS to be laid aside " in order to success- ful running or happy inward experience. Let us not forget that the ^^ little foxes spoil the vines** and dead flies steal the savor from the ointment I remember on my travels, some years ago, staying over night in an humble cottage ; bed- time having come, I was sent to sleep with the son. He was a young man, apparently about seventeen years of age, and seemed to have deep religious impressions. He made a remark during the night which I have never forgotten. He said " that ^e never liked to do anything on which he could not ask God's blessing." He was only a poor boy working (I think) in a saw mill at the time. During the early part of the night I asked him what business he would like to follow. He said that he would like to preach the gospel if it was God's will. A few years after, I happened to be travelling in the same neighborhood and this young man was then teaching school, and shortly aiter, when he had earned a little money to help him, he went into • the ministry. So, my reader friends, I advise you all to adopt this young man's rule — "Never do any- thing on which you cannot ask GocTs blessir^g." It would be a good thing if all Christians would aabpt this rule and let it run through their lives and all their actions. I hope many of my TBI OOLDBM COTT. m readers will test their actions by this wholesome rule — if you cannot asjj: God to bless your to- baccOy then I believe it would be better and safer to give it up. If you cannot get down on your knees and invoke the blessing of Heaven either upon your pipe, cigars, cards, novels or liquor, then I advise you most positively to give them up. I will here relate an incident which occurred in my own experience. I am very fond of FLOWERS, and one eveni^ % while going along the street of the city I noticed in a shop window some very pretty artificial rosea 1 stepped into the shop and looked at them and thought the imitation remarkably good. I thought one or two of these roses would look smart on my coat, (you may laueh if you like) so I made a purchase, and shortly after found myself in my room, and preparing for bed Before retiring to my bed I knelt in prayer, but alas! me, a coldness and emptiness of heart came over me so that I could not pray. Then the artificial roses rose up to chide me iot pride and vanity. I arose from my knees, seized one and burnt it on the flame of the lamp, so I knelt again, but prayer i/^eis still a failure. I could not find liberty as at other times, so I arose from my knees again, got the rest of the sham roses and burnt them right smart. I hope some of the young ladies will profit by this ex- perience. If you are alive to God, the wings of t&ith and love will serve your highest interests «OLi»a am, ^ muoh better than artificial flowers or dead, bird^ wings and feathers. If you can enjoy all the vanity and fashion of the worldling, I fear you are still " dead in trespasses and sins/' for remember " A dead fish always floats along with the current" My reader, are you dead or alive ? — Which ? If we are " alive unto God " let us seek to nourish that life which the Holv Spirit has implanted, by prayer, reading God s word, etc I find a very good plan is to read the Bible systematically — say you read a chap- ter every evening in the Ola, and a chapter every morning in the New Testament. And be sure and take it out of the face or in rotation. Then you will become more interested and, if I mistake not, you will find the Bible to you as a new book. And as you read let your desire ever be " I would see Jesus," for remember, he lives and breathes in the prophecies, presides in the chronicles and histories, walks in the gospels and epistles, and is himself the hero of the story. In PrlsoxL Sometime after the morning of joy and blessing, when Jesus met me near Guelph city, I got thrown into doubting castle^ where I was made a prisoner for a few days. Now, I want to tell you how I got there, and also how I go4 out again. onr. HP- One Lord's Day a preacher of the Gospel in his sermon told his exper#aice and conversion. He related what a terrible time of darkness and awful convictions he passed through before he got saved. Then I understood him to say to the audience " that if we had not a similar ex- perience we had never been saved." I left the hall reflecting, and somewhat uneasy in mind. I began comparing piy convictions ^Wiiox^ con- version, with the preacher's, and seeing that they were not so alarming or terrible, I began to fear that I had not passed through conviction enough for sin, and perhaps was still unsaved. These considerations threw me into a state of fear and dpubt, and for some time I was muck cast down in spirit, lest, after all I might yet be unconvertied, I took my burden to the Lord in prayer and s^ead out my case before Him, pouring into His ear all my doubts and fears, and earnestly entreated that He would, in some way, guide me in this matter and send relief. And surely .He h^ard my prayer, for, shortly after, while sittioff by the wayside, still in doubt- and fear, I took from my satchel or pocket a little religious paper, and in it I read a narrative which was blessed of God then and there to my soul, and was used by the Holy Spirit to turn my captivity into joy. Hoping that the repeti- tion of the narrative may do someone else good, I will here relate it: nn OOLDMI OITT. The Wo]^derflil Pajsa "One cold, wintry nis^ht a poor Irish boy stood in the street of Dublin — a little city arab, homeless, houseless, friendless. He had taken to bad courses, and had become an associate of thieves, who were leading him on the broad road to destruction. That very nisht they had plan- ned to commit a burglary, ana appointed him to meet them in a certain street at a certain hour. As he stood there, waiting, shivering, and cold a hand was suddenly laid on his shoulder. It was very dark. He cold only see a tall form stand- ing by him, and he trembled with fear ; but a kindly voice said, ' Boy, what are you doing here at this time of night? Such as you have no business in the streets at so late an hour ; go home ; go to bed.' ' I have no home, and no bed to go ta' 'That's very sad, poor fellow I Would you go to a home and to a bed if I pro- vided one ? ' ' That would I, sharp I ' replied the boy. ' Well in such a street and at such a num- ber (indicating the place), you will find a bed.' Before he could add more the lad started oft 'Stop!' said the voice, 'How are you going to get m ? you need a pass ; no one can go in there without a pasa Can you read ?" 'No, sir.' ' Well, remembei' that the pass is John iil 16 ; don't forget or they won't let you in, John UL 16. There, that's something that will do you good.' Joyfully the lad rush^ of^ repeating !■■ OOLDBN 01*1. m his lesson, and soon foiind himself in the street and at the number indicated, before a pair of large iron ^tes. Then his heart failed him, they looked so grand. How could he get in there ? Timidly he rang the belL The night porter opened, and in agrufif voice asked, 'Who's there V 'Me, sir. Please, sir, I am John Three Sixteen,* in yery trembling tones. * All right, in with you ; that's the pass,' and in the boy went. He was soon in a nice warm bed, and between sheets such as he had never seen before. As h« curled himself up to go to sleep he thought, 'This is a lucky name ; I'll stick to it!' The next morning he was given a bowl of hot bread and milk oefore being sent out into the street (for this home was only for a night). He wandered on and on, fearful of meeting his old companions, thinking over his new name, when heedlessly, crossing a crowded thoroughfare, he was run over. A crowd collected ; the uncon- scious form was placed «n a shutter and carried to the nearest hospital. He revived as they entered. It is usuid in Dublin hospitals to put down the religion as well as the name and address of those admitted. They asked him whether he was a Catholic or Prot sstani ' Sure he didn't quite know. Yesterday he was a Catholic, but now he was John Three Sixteen.' This reply excited a laugh. After his injuries had been attended to he was carried into th»; accident ward. In a short time his sufferings 6t brought oil fever and delirium. Then was heard in ringing tones, and of trepeated, 'John IIL 16 1 // wc^ to do me good^ and so it has I* ''These persistent cries aroused the other patients. Testaments were pulled out to see to what he pointed. What could he mean? and here one and. there another read the precious words, *For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him sliall not perish^ but have everlasting life* ('It was to do me good, and so it has/ the sufferer cried.) When those poor sick folk read the tender words, and heard the unconscious comment, '// was to do me good; and so it has ! * the spirit stirred within them, and the Holy Qhost used that text then and there to the con- version of^soula There was *joy in the pre- sence of the angels of Qod' Over sinners that repented. The sovereign power of God, the Holy Ghost, used this one text from the lips of a poor ignorant boy, in that hospital ward, and souls were saved. >? " Consciousness returned, and the poor little fellow gazed around him ! how vast it lool:ed 1 and how quiet it was ! Where was he ? Pre- sently a voice from the next bed said, ' John Three Sixteen, and how are you to-day ? * * Why, how do you know my new name ? ' Know it, you have never ceased with your John Three Sixteen, and I for one say, Bussed John Thru Sixteen!* This sounded strange to the little lad's ears. To be called 'blessed/ he for whom no one cared. >'And don't you know where it comes from? It is from the Bible.' 'The Bible, what's that ?' The poor little waif had never heard of the BibH that blessed book, God's word to man. 'Read it to me,' he said, and as the words fell on his ear he muttered, 'That's beautiful! It's all about love, and not a home for a night, but a home fol always.' He soon learnt the text, saying, 'I've not only got a new name, but something to it ! ' " Days passed on, and there were changes in the ward, but our little friend never felt lonely; he fed on his text and its precious word& " Another soul in that ward was to be won to Christ by his means, and now in simple con- scious faith he was to be the agent of blessing. On a cot near him lay an old man who was very ill. Early one morning a nun came to his bed- side, ajnd said. ' Patrick, how is it with you to- day?* 'Badly, badly I' groaned the old man. ' Has the priest been to see you ? ' asked the nun. ' Oh yes, but that makes it worse, for he has anointed me with holy oil, and I am marked for death. I'm not fit to die — oh, what shall I do ? ' * Patrick, it's very sad to see you 80,' she gently answered. * Look; ! here are these beads ; they have been blessed by His Holiness, the Pope, and they will help you to die happy'. She placed them around the man's neck, and then, wishing him good-bye, went oai But 64 TEE aOLDm OITf . how could a string of beads ease a dying man facing eternity with his sins unfor^ven ? Poor Patrick ^oaned aloud. * God ha mercy,* he cried; 'Im such a sinner; I'm not fit to die. What shall I do ? oh, what will become of me ? * **Our little fellow heard his miserable words. * Poor old man,' thinks he, * he wants a pass.' ' Patrick,' he called, ' I know something that will do you good — quite sure — it has done ma' 'Tell me, tell me quickly,' cried Patrick. 'If only I could find something to do me good.' 'Here it is I Now listen, John iil 16. Are you listening V * Yes, yes ; go on.' * John iil 16. For God so loved the worlds that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish^ but have everlasting life* Through these words Patrick found peace in his dying hour, and entered into everlasting life — another soul brought to Christ in that hospital ward by means of a single text blessed by the Holy '^'^irit. Our little friend recovered. For long John Three Sixteen was his only text. Qod blessed his simple faith; friends placed him at school, and now he is^an honest, hearty worker for the Master." How Relief Came. While reading the foregoing beautiful narra- tive, my attention was specially called to the lovely verse indicated by the little boy's pass^ tBB flOLDSR otn, 66 John ilL 16. I read the precious words over and over again, and while so doin^ my doubts and fears gave place to gladness and joy, for not a word did I see in the verse about /o?t^ or deep convictions — and yet the " Gospel 6f the grace of God" was there. I thank God for this lovefy verse (J >hn iii 16), for I believe it has been used by the Holy Spirit to emancipate and comfort thousands of burdened spirits. My reader, if you are cmxious to be saved, I beseech you, do not wait for either long or deep convictions, but hasten and comQ just as you are, for fear you might not live to see to-morrow. Besides, you have no promise that you will ever be saved af t§r to-day, for God says, " Now is the accepted time and now is the day of salvation." Sin Compared to a Storm. Sometimes a great storm sweeps over the land, leaving sorrow and devastation in its track. Telegraph poles down, houses unroofed, ships wrecked, trains delayed, traffic impeded, and communication interrupted. And, my friends, methinks this is a faint illustration of the effects of sin in the world. Like a deadly blast it first withered Eden's fair bowers,and from thence swept onward until it had reached and blighted every land and shore. liany storms are iocal. affecting only certa^r M THB OOLDIN OITT. districts or towns, so that whilst one town or district is being lashed by the fury of the storm other towns are bathed in the beautiful sun- light and enjoying peaceful calm and quietude. Not so with sin's foul blast, every shore and city is subjected to its withering breath; no village or ^^en rural hamlet is exempt from its touch as it sweeps onward, scattering sorrow and leaving death and ruin in its tra<^. This tempest of sin has interrupted communication between God and man, it has broken up once happy homes and separated man and «v^ife, parents And children, and it has made ship- wreck of many valuable lives. But, dear friends, thank God — Jesus has come upon the SCENE, and above the tempest's awful roar His voice is heard commanding the storm and say- ing to the waves, "peace be still" With the arm of a mighty conqueror He rolls back the clouds, and the Sun of Righteousness breaks forth and scatters light upon the scene of woe. Yes, thank God, Jesus, from his glorious habita- tion, beheld a world in tears ; He, by the loving ^and gracious consent of His Father, set out from His fair home to rescue the perishing. He braved the awful tempest, He pulled aside the dark curtains of night and came across the troubled waters to save the dying ones of earth. He healed the breach of the law (which man had made.) He bridged the gulf, restored com- muuicatioQ and became Himself "a hiding fBB OOLDBN CITT. place from the wind and a covert from the tem- pest." — Isa. Then, sinner friend, you who are lashed and buffeted by the storm of sin and temptation, I beseech you flee to Christ, for remember. He is the ONLY refuge from the blasi Many get into false refuges, or, as the Scriptures put it, ** refuges of lies" — (Isa.) But, my friends, there is no safety out of Christ. In the days of Noah, when the flood came, I ex- pect many fled to the mountains and caves, bul the water kept rising until every cave and mountain was covered, and all perished who were outside of the ark. :.-^\ , !v" Jesus The Ajk. And, my friends, Jesus is the Ark of Safety now, and He is the only safe retreat for a sinner in earth or Heaven. As I said before, some get into false refuges ^ some think because they are in the church (church members) they are safe. Others sup- pose because they are honest and moral that they are safe, &c., but, dear people, unless you are in Christ (hid and sheltered in Him) you are still exposed to death and everlasting woe. In conclusion, my reader, I beg jfcw jAj// b$ like a watered garden,** — (Isa.) My friends, sprin|^ is coming and people will soon be working in their gardens. Some of you may say, "I have no garden to plant or work," but, my friend, remember the heart is like a garden and requires your daily attention. Very many neglect the ^rden of the soul until it is all grown over with evil weeds ; such as self-will, impatience, disobedience, profanity, &c. The natural heart is "deceitful above all things and desperately wicked." It is like a "cage of unclean birds," but God promises to give a "new heart and a new spirit," — (Eze.) And in this new heart God wants you to grow and cultivate fruit and flowers for Him, for yourself and for your neighbor. Sin withered and blighted the once lovely Garden of Eden, and caused thorns and thisUes to ^)ring up instead of fruit and flowem And tEM ooLDix am. 69 Bin seeks an entrance into onr hearts and like a witlipiring frost or chilling blast seeks to destroy every holy desire that the Divine Spirit implants within the soul Now you know in order to successful garden- ing there must be sunshine, rain or dew, and the weeds must be kept out or they will choke (drive out the flowers.) And as in the natural woffld even so in the spiritual world. In order to bring any fruit to perfection in the garden of the soul we must live where the "Sun of Righteousness ** can shine upon us from day to day, and where the heavenly breezes can ever fan and refresh us. Little Foxes Must Be Kept Out. King Solomon said, " Take us the foxes^ the little foxes that spoil the vines, &c" Now, my friends, we often let little foxes creep into our hearts and spoil the vines and " tender grapes" — (Song 2-16.) Yes, the precious fruit of a new bom soul is tender and easily damaged, there- fore, it becomes us to be on our guard against the " little foxes." Now, I wish to name only a few of them, so that you may watch and keep them out of your garden. One " little fox " is neglect of prayer, another is neglect of Bible study, another is neglect of work, &c. I might mention othen^ 70 tm QOuaM oft. but these three will suffice as samples of the rest. By neglecting prayer and the Bible the child of God very soon becomes lean and cold in spirit, and the garden of the soul suffers in con- wequence. The fruits of the Spirit and flowers of the renewed heart are " peace, joy, love, meek- ness, temperance, goodness, faith," &c., and these thrive best when watered every morning and evening with prayer and Bible dew. In God's Holy Book it is written, " Thy word shall distil as the dew." Now, dear friends, be sure and give your garden plenty of "Bible dew "and closet prayer. Then you must also work in the gardenr^ keep out the weeds, cultivate the soil, and strengthen the feeble plants. Be careful to cul- tivate as much hve^ patience^ meekness^ &rc.^ as possible, as these are very rare plants and hard to grow. If you succeed with these you will find them very nice for yourself and also for your neighbors. The Master says, " / am come into my garden^ — (Song 5-1.) And, my dear friend, the Saviour may come one of these days. Have we cultivated any rare flowers for Him ? If not, let us get to work at once, for surely the dear Master should have at least a few favorite roses from our garden. I know He is fond of Zov«, meekness, patience, dtc. Let us grow them for Him, and while so doing we sjiall ourselves /eel their fragrance and our n^ ueighbors shall catch theperfoma tOI aOLDBM OITT* 71 He also calls the church His fn^rden and some- times He comes to "gather lilies," (Song 6-2), and takes a dear child or sweet babe home to blossom on high, where He surrounds it by better soil and sunnier clime than earth could give. Yes, He says, " / am come into my gar- den," — (Song.) /^ f v^ ; ■ , ^ Man's Ruin and God's Remedy. My friends, if you will turn to Gal. 3-10, you will find the following words : — " Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.'* And I want you by these words to test your- selves, and to examine your chances of getting a place in Heaven ; especially those of you who are moralists and building your hopes of Heaven upon your observance of the law. To all such I would say, leave no stone unturned, but pry deeply and examine well what chance you have by the law. And say you begin with the "Moral law" which is "holy, just and good"ior a Holy God could not give otherwise than a holy law^ Now please test your past life by the "ten commandments," which were given on Mount Sinai, and see if you have " continued in ALL THINGS " written in this law. And, my friend, if you have not, your chances of Heaven on this line are cut off at once, for instead of 72 TBB GOLDKM OUT. •frrr^^' ^-. -,-w^» ■ being (as you thought) a blessed person heaven- ward bound, you are cursed and on the way that leadeth down to death, and your "steps may soon take hold on hell." If you examine yourself closely in the search- ing light of this holy law, you can scarcely fail to see that you are like a speckled bird, and as " an unclean thing " in the sight of Heaven and a Holy God. You may say, " I have led a good moral life, I have paid a hundred cents to the dollar, I have never cheated, killed or robbed anybody/' &c. But, my dear friend, you may do all this and yet come far short of the spirit of the law of God. The spirit of the law requires you to "love God with all your heart, soul and mind, and your neighbor as yourself." Now have you done this every moment of your past life ? If not, you are again proven guilty, fbr it is written " He that offendgth in one point is guilty of all." (Jas.) Therefore, if you have not continued in all things, or if you have offended in "one point '' you are " under the curse " and wrath of a Holy God. You are "weighed in the balances and found wanting" (Dan.) You (in God's sight) are a transgressor of His law and have sinned against your Maker; and remember it is written, "The soul that sinneth it shall die,** — (Ezek.) Yes, my friends, the penalty of the law is death (the death of the soul), for the " wages of %a aoLDiM am, IB Bin is death." (Bom.) And thon who " restest in the law " art at this moment under sentence of death, and the curse in all its bitterness may soon burst upoj? thy soul forever. A violated law can never justify or save you ; it can only condemn and curse you for " sm (and you have sinned) is the strength of the law," i,e., it gives it power to imprison and condemn. Now I hope I have torn away your unsafe standing that you may be led to Christ. ^, The Remedy. ;'5';^)f\; ::■ '-f Now, if you will turn again to QaL 8-13, you will see God's remedy for man's ruin. Here we find these words : " Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us." Yes, praise and thanks be unto Qod, the blessing or remedy lies near the scene of ruin and need, and this reminds me of the 8rd chap, of St. John, which states, "Except a man he born again he cannot see the Kingdom of Ood." In this wonderful chapter (John 8), we are taught that man (Saving forfeited life by sin), must get a new life from God in order to see or dwell with Him. But as in the 3rd of Galatians, thank God, we find the remedy close at hand, viz. — In Christ lifted up on the cross. Yes, blessed be God I Jesus went up and hung upon the cro68 until He had "poured out His soul 74 tam doLDsN oity. unto death," and shed his precious blood in order that law and justice might be satisfied righteousness brought in and sin forgiven. And now since the law has been magnified and atonement made for sin Qod can be "just and the jtLstifier of kim who helieveth in Jesus." — (Rom.) Sinner friend, you can get a new life from Qod, and a new standing beiore Qod by trusting in the blood and merits of the Lord Jesus. By nature, you are bankrupt, you are insolvent and vour credit in the heavenly market is gone ; henceforth you must come in the name and trade in the wealth of another (Qod's Holy One), Jesus. If you neglect so to do and set aside Ood*8 gracious remedy for your ruin, remember your ** part will be the lake of fire,** (flee to Christ). — ATnQ T\, A Substitute For Thee. Or tin, wrath and the sword on Jeausfor thee, — (Proofs Isa. 63-6, Ps. 88-7, Zech. 18-7.) O, wondroas love I O, mighty plan I God's Son Himself became a Man ; He took Man's curse and load of Sin, That all the world might enter in. fst doLi>«!* cnrt. 71 On Him Ood made my tini lo meet— The nails did pierce His bands and feel; ■*■ On Hitn therefore the wrath did falli And He atonement made for all. , , ■ ' '9 '■■ »r He made — He called my sina His own; Therefore, for them He did atone, The wine press all alone He trod, .„ , And felt the flaming Sword of God. B.O. "ti"/-' Sin Hated, the Sinner Loved. " W^t is man that thou art mindful of htm ?" — Ps.8-4 Tes, ten thousand things all about us, from the shining sun in the zenith of the heavens to the remotest treasure buried in the bowels of the earth, go to prove that God is mindful of His creature man. In my short address I wish to bring two facts prominently before you, viz : — That God hates sin but also loves the sinner. You may think this a little strange, but I hope to prov€ it to your satisfaction. First, then, I will take you to the Cross and ask you to stand and gaze upon the " Man of Sorrows" (the Holy One of God) as He languishes in pain and cries, "My God! My God! why hast thou for- saken me V Dear friends, remember God's Son — His Holy One — had taken upon Himself man's sin — man's uncleanness and iniquity — that "abominable thing which God hateth." So that the holiness of Divine Majesty turned away IP nn ooLDiM onr. from the sight, while the sword of {ttsiice fell upon the bleeding victim. Oh! what an awful thing sin must be in the estimate of a Holy Qod seeing that He had to hide His face from His own beloved Son while He bore it. Then, my friends, while we look upon the suffering Redeemer, let us get into Qod's mind about sin, and henceforth let us fear nothing but sin. Many make light of sin in thepe davs of pride and worldliness , they have swift feet for the dance or theatre, but no feet or hands for the noble service of the Prince of Qlory. To all such I would say — If you continue this, Qod cannot have you in Heaven as fit company for Jesus and angels, and must therefore put both you and your darling — sin — into the "burning lake." But, praise Qod, the Gross has another voice, and above the tempest is heard to proclaim — God loves tJu sinner ! For while the Cross con- demns and atones for his sin, it also becomes the ladder by which the sinner may climb to glory and to God. For here (at the Cross) we see strangely blended — mercy and judgment for here " mercy and truth are met together, right' eousness and peace have kissed each other" Ps. 86- 10. My friends, nothing proves the evil nature of sin like the Cross, and nothing in earth or Heaven proves the love of Qod the Father like the Cross. Now let us look or search for a few more «n •OLDBM om* 77 evidences to prove that God lovis and "is mindful ol man." Well, methinks the glorious sun travelling across the heavens and spanning the sky in order to light our pathway from day to day is an evidence that Qod careth for u& And as soon as this lovely orb of light sinks be- low the western horizon, then the moon and stars shine forth and cast a silvery radiance about our pathway. Then when we feel tired, after a day of toil, our Father in Heaven draws around us the curtain of night and hushes us calmly to sleep, that our minds and bodies may be restored thereby and invigorated for the returning duties of a new-bom day. Also the cattle coming down from ** ten thousand hills " to serve us — the sheep with its warm fleece stands eady to wrap us therein, and the noble and stately horso is waiting to bear us (if need be) on the wings of speed — the fish from many waters come iforth upon ten thousand tables and at ten thousand calls to subserve to our hunger and appetites. Fruits, varied, and in profusion, come from many climes to renew our energies and refresh our palates. The birds sing for us, the flowers bloom for us, the rivers flow for ud, the ocean bears us on its bosom, and the plaintive music of the wind sings us to sleep in our quiet homes as we sit surrounded by friends and mantled by night f9 THB OOLDBM OITT. The Earth a Packed Trunk. . Also the earth with its many treasures re- minds me of a son who is about to leave home, His mother, in love and careful anxiety, begiuF to pack his trunk. She puts socks in one place shirts in another, handkerchiefs in another, etc., and last of all, methinks, she has a nice Bible with her name written thereon, and this she also puts carefully, with a word of prayer, intc his trunk, hoping it may be " A lamp unto hie feet and a li^ht to his path " while ne is gone And this is like Qod. He has placed in the earth (for as) some of His treasures — salt, one place, coal another, oil in another place. Qold silver, copper, iron, lead, tin, etc., in other places ready for our service. If God had placed these things on the surface of the earth thev would be in our way, also they would lose their valuable properties through atmospherical exposure, etc., herefore He has put them, as it were, in a ** packed trunk" so that we may open the lid and have them fresh just when we need them. Yes, some of His treasures (for us) are in the earth, some in the sea, some in the air and some in heaven. I feel like exclaiming — 1 what treasures and servants we have ! Even the holy a^igels to attend us — 0, how He loves t If I could borrow Jacob's ladder and climb up io heaven and ask Gabriel how much God loved man methinks ho would say — " Gad so loved TBI OOLDBN Olff. 70 the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, ^ but have everlasting life." — John 3-16. ^ -■'' 'fj'v'v ''■•t^ix^ 'W-J\>' i-^ #•-.>.;'. '*\ ' ("■v''i,-' How to Get Strong, eta " They that wait upon the Lord shall renew ' their strength,*' — IsA, v ^ ^ ^" > My friends I wish to speak to-day on — ^" How to get strong and hpw to keep strong." Firstly, I wish you to remember that we must have life before there can be either stren^h or growth. A child must first be bom before it can walk or do anything for its mother. So also, man must be " bom again " and get life through Christ before he can render acceptable service to God. Firstly, then, let us see how life is obtained. Springtime is at hand and soon the farmer will be in the field scattering the seed upon the earth. Now, you know if the farmer let his seed remain in the granary and did not scatter it upon the earth there would be no crop or harvest In order to have new grain and growth, the seed must como into contact with the earth. So also man (who )»y nature is " dead in trespasses and sins") in order to get life, a new life, must come into contact with Christ the living Head ; for man apart from Christ, is dead in Qod's sight, for " He that hath not the Son of Ood hath not life"-^ (Jaa) The gardener goes int^ his gardoa in 80 nn aOLOsM oitt. springtime and he holds in his hand a small tender bud which he is about to engraft into a strong trea The feeble bud if kept apart from the tree must perish, but if united to the tree, will soon begin to drink life and strength there- from and in course of time bring forth fruit. And in like manner, my friends, we must be Rafted into Christ the *' Good olive tree" before we can have life, growth or fruit. When the farmer sows his seed in the field it soon takes hold of the earth, and then begins gradually to die away after having given birth to the new shoot or plant. And this, to my mind, is a beautiful tvpe of how spiritual life is obtain- ed. Jesus saia : '* Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die it abides alono^ but if it die it brings forth much fruit." It seems quite evident here that the blessed Lord had reference to His own death which was to be the source of life to many. Yes, my friends, through the death of Jesus thousands have been mGule alive, for in this case " life out of death is bom" When the learned and religious Jew came to Jesus hy night, I fancy he was ^ur]:)rised to loam from Jesus that ho needf* i to be *' bom ap^ain '' before he could see tiu- Kingdom of God ;^ hence we hear the enquiry from the anxious seeker, " How cati these things de" P I am thankful to God that* the Saviour did not leave him in the dark on this all important sub- ject, but proceeded to explain how he could get THX QOLDMK GITT* 81 this new lifl. The Saviour brought up an illustration from the wilderness to teach the enauiring Jew how a man could be ' bom again and get a new life from Qod. He told iNico- demus — " As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, tliat whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." The brazen serpent lifted up in the wilder- ness was a grand type of Jesus being lifted up on the cross that the perishing might have life tl^rough His death. The bitten Israelite turned hfs languid eves toward the serpent on the pole, and "when he beheld the serpent of brass he lived" and this is a lovely type of how perish- ing and dying sinners are saved — viz., by look- ing to Jesus, %e Crucified One, as he hangs upon the Cross and bears man's curse and load of sin. Now, my friends, we see that life can only be got by contact with the living one, i'#., by faith in Jesus. Then, having obtained life through Christ, we must have the proper requisites to nourish and to strengthen this life. We must have FOOD and WOBK. Peter in his epistle says : " As new bom babes desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow tJureby.** As the word and the Holy Spirit are the two great agencies in the conversion of sinners to Christ, so also the two principal elements of strength and growth (both in the natural and spixituAl world) are proper food and exercise. 8S THl flKKLUM CRT* Now I wish to say ripfht here that many Chris- tians are both weak B>nA sickly by neglecting to take sufficient food and exercise spiritually, and by indulging some open or secret sin in their lives. ..-^.^■"•■. "^ My friends, this ought not to be the case, see- ing that our gracious Father has made ample provision to supply all our need. He has thrown open the treasures of His truth and grace, and invites us to partake abundantly that our ** joy may be full" Many who profess to be Christians spend fai more time reading light literature and news- papers than thw devote to the Bible. I advise every child of God to read a portion of God's , word at least twice daily, say morning and even- ing, and be sure you read it out of the face. Begin at Genesis and read through to Revela- tions. When you fi^Qi a letter you commence at the beginning and read to the end of it ; also, if you become interested in a story you do the same — why not treat the Bible (God's letter) in like manner ? Read it, my friends — read it until you see ' ^w it comes out. Read it until yoM find Htm ot whom Moses and the prophets did write. Read it over and over, until you see Jesus in eveiy chapter, and trace in every book as the hero of the story. Now I will tell you mt plan. Some time ago I resolved (as a general rule) to read each day a chapter in the Old Testament in the ovenmg THB OOLDBN OITT. 88 and a chapter in the New Testament in the morning, and take them out of the face. And I %m much pleased with this method, for I find this keeps up a beautiful connection of thought; also by following this rule a person will read through the New Testament about three or four times as often as the Old Testament. And I like this plan, as in this way we will get, say, one look at Moses, and three or four at Christ ; one look at the prophets and three at the apostles ; one look at the law, and three at the Gospel ; one look at Mount Sinai, and three at Mount Cal- vary. Now j ust try this plan and I hope you will take a fresh love for your blessed Bible and find it as a new book to you. Be sure you take a drink daily of the "sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby." Milk is good for infants, also for those in the prime of life, and also for the aged and feeble. So likewise the "Bible milk," is good from the cradle to the grave. Feed on it, dear people, often, that ye may grow and become strong in the Christian life. Prayer. Prayer is another very fruitful source of strength. This element of spiritual food (like the Bible) is very much neglected. Thousands lie down at night without thanking God for the Qiercies of the da^, and arise a^ain in the mon)- ing withont seeking His blessing and protection to follow them through the hours of the new- bom day. My friends, this should not be the case. Let us take more food, especially "the sincere milk of the word/ and prayer that we may renew our strength and mount up. Bzercise. We must also have some exercise as Christians or we will soon become spiritual dyspeptics. If a man eats heartily at tne table three times a day, but fails to take exercise he will soon be- come dyspeptic and diseased. So also in the Christian lite, we may take plenty of food, but unless we practice (or work up) the wisdom gained we may expect to become /ean rather than fat, spiritually. Let every Christian have some field of labor (a garden to work). If you cannot preach from Uie pulpit, you can hand a tract to a friend or stranfiper. If you cannot visit and pray with the si<3c, you may perhaps send them a flower or a Bible text to feed on — vea, we Koay all do something. Thousands have been converted to Qod by the inspired Epistles Hatters) written by Si Paul And we all have friends. Let vis not forget to write them a letter occasionally, and let us be sure and send the name of Jksttb in every letter and pray that like Foul's Ittlers they may lead soiUi to Christ. Tet, Tn tfOLOm CRT* vv thank God» we may write, speak, sing, work and shine for Jesus in the worlo. Let us remember the " day is far spent and the night is at hand when no man can work." * , ' ' ' ' Work for the night is ooming, Work throngh the moroing honrs ; Work labile the dew is sparkling, Work mid springing flowers ; Work when the day grows brif^ter, Work in the glowing snn ; Work, for the night is coming When man's work is done. The Bibla—A Wonderful Book— J And How to Read it. ' Dear Reader, — After reading my Bible from Genesis to Revelations, I can truly say that it is the most wonderful book I have ever read or studied. Now I will tell you why I call the Bible " A wondtrful bovkr Well I may sum it up in a few words — ^It is wonderful because it reveals mysteries, and brings to us intelli^nce which neither art, nature or science could ever reveal or unfold. It is wonderful because it reveals to us a wonderful Qod, a wonderful Saviour, a wonderful Heaven, wonderful angels, wonderful love and a wonderful salvation. The Bible seems like a picturesque and lovely land- Msape spread out before me, with its stores of 86 THS OOLDBN GITT* Wisdom, tields of exploration, wayside flowers, living springs and mounts of glory. And from these mountain tops I have frequently looked up from the mines of wealth which lay at my feet to the Bible sky which overarched my mental vision, and have beheld it radiant with stars of hope and promise. And, my friend, Jesus himself is the groat centre sun in the theological heavens that scatters light over and gives beauty and design to the whole scene. To be sure there are a few clouds in the Bible sky, and these are intended to warn impenitent sinners of a coming storm which will (like the flood) swallow up every Christ rejecter and impenitent one. Yes, my friend, if unsaved the Bible wftrns you of a coming tempest which will devour the adversaries of the Lord. It declares — " Upon thfe wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone and an horrible tempest, this shall be the portion of their cup," Ps. 11.-6. Just as in the days of Noah the flood swallowed up all who were out of the ark, even so shall it be in the great and terrible day of the Lord when the " heavens are on fire and the elements melt with heat." Then all who are out of Christ shall perish forever. ^j^t vi But, tlmnk God for the bright stars which shine out u on the Bible sky, directing poor sinners (like the star of Bethlehem) to God's Holy One — Jesus, who is the " hope and only refuge set before us in the Gospel" ' i'or a man TBS ooLiyKf onr. 87 shall be as an hiding-place from the wind and a covert from the tempest" — Isa. How I Bead the Bible. I generally read a chapter in the Old Testa- ment in the evening and a chapter in the New Testament in the morning ; and since I adopted this plan I feel like recommending it to others. I find by pursuing this course of reading the Bible that a person will journey about three or four times through the New Testament while going once through the Old Testament. And I love this plan because (as a poor sinner), I like and also need to take three or four looks at Jesus for one look at Sifofles, three looks at Cal- vary for one look at Sinai, three at the Gospel for one at the law, three at the Antitype for one at the typa Also I wish to read my Bible so that I can trace and see Jesus in all its books and types — Jesus in the altar, Jesus in the offering, Jesus in the laver, Jesus in the ark, Jesus in the person of the High Priest, Jesus in the " serpent lifted up " to heal the dying Israelites, and Jesus the hir9 of the whole Bible Uory, During tht v>8t l«a jtars I have travelled con- siderable in ^^'^Ai^^ And the United States, and consequently \avft mmm itt contact with a great 88 TBI OOLDBM OITT. many individuals, and can assure my reader that I discovered that those who prized their Bible most were the happiest persons to meet, and had bright and c;lorious 'hopes in the future world through Chnst their Saviour. On one occasion, I visited the Soldier's Home in Ohio, where they seemed to have everything in the way of flowers, shade trees, leisure, books, etc., to make them happy, but on speaking U> some of them I found tney were unnappy and discontented, notwithstanding their beautiful surroundings, and the secret was they /tad not Christ and were not guided by the Holy Book of God. The Bible has stood the test of centuries and outlived every foul blast of persecution and infidelity, and it still marches onward, like the very breath of the Almighty, conquering and to conquer. The Bible has enemies who try to upset it, but it is like upsetting a solid cube of granite. It is just as big one way as the other ; and when you have upset it, it is f i^ht side up, and when you overturn it again it is riffht side up still. Every little while somebody blows up the Bible ; but when it comes down it always lights on its feet, and runs faster than ever through the world. The infidel, Voltaire, said ^ that in less than a hundred years Christianity would be swept out of existence. A century has passed away — Voltaire has also passed away, and it is stated that his old printing press has TBI MOLDBN OITT. 89 been used io print the Word of Qod ; and the very house where he lived is packed with BibiAs, a depot for the Geneva Bible Society. In 1880, the statistics of 80 different Bible Societies reported more than 165,000,000 Bibles. Testaments, and portions of scripture, with 206 new translations distributed by Bible Societies alone since 1804 ; to say nothing of the millions of Bibles and Testaments which have been issued by private publishers. Surely such a wonderful lx)ok is indeed the " Word of God which liveth and abideth forever** The Bible in Heaven. And, de(Ar friend, I believe the Bible is kept on file, as it were, in heaven, for see Ps. 118-89. "For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in Heaven** And I believe this will be one of the books that will be opened at the judgment, and I expect memory will be the other. Qod will see that the promises of His Word are all ful- filled, and its threatenings executed upon all who reject His Bon. I oelieve it will be a terrible thin^ to go down to hell from a land of Bibles* ministers and churchea. Yes, dear friend, who may chance to see these lines, I warn you to tfcapo ■ueh a bittar doom. Tou shall wo TEE 90LDBN 001, ' tAke your ptemory into eternity, and, if unsaved, it shall prey upon your soul like a never-dying worm, reminding you of a noglected Bible, a neglected Saviour, a neglected eternity, a neglected soul, and a neglected God. Dear friend, I counsel you to be wise in time and " consider your latter end; " if not, remember yours shall be the " sorer punishment " and " many stripes!* ■ -t Thou Thinkest, Lord, of Me. Amid the trialg which I meet, Amid the thorns that pierce my feeti ' ^ One thought remains anpremely sweet— Thoa thinkest, Lord, of me. The cares of life come thronging fast, Upon my soul their shadows cast ; Their gloom reminds my heart at last — Thoa thinkest. Lord, of me. Let shadows come, let shadows go, Let life be bright or dark with woe ; \ t am content for this I know — I Thoa thinkest, Lord, of me. Ohorus. — Thoo thinkest, Lord, of me. Then thinke(> Lord, of me. What need T fear since Thoa art neftfi And thinkest. Lord, of me. ■ V '.. THE GOLDEN CITY.* J , Ql A Home- Over There. They have reached the sunny shore, And will never hunger more ; All their grief and pains are o'er, Over there. . j(v - ' And they need no lamp by night, For their day is always bright, And the Saviour is their light, Over therot Now they feel no chilling blasti For their winter time is past, ; : And their summers always last, ^^' Over there. They can never know a fear, For the Saviour's always near, And with them is endless cheer. Over there. All their streets are shining gold. And their glory is untold, 'Tis the Saviour'.} blissful fold. Over there. !/■' The Golden Time. When is the golden time ? you ask,— The golden time of love, The time when earth is green beneath, And skies are bide above ; The time for sturdy health and strength, M im ttOLDlH ORt* The time for happ7 pl*7* . " When is the golden hour 7 yon Mk ; I answer yoa, " To-cUy." To day, that from the Maker's hand Slips on the great world^sea, As staunch as ever ship that launched, To sail eternally. To-day, that wafts to yon and me A breath of Eden's prime, That greets ns, glad aad large and free^ It is our golden time. For yesterday hath veHed her faoe. And gone as far away As sands that swept the pyramids ( - . In Egypt's ancient day. No man shall look on Testerdayi Or tryst with her again ; Foreyer gone her toils, her prayers, Her conflicts and her pain. To-morrow is not onrs to hold. May never come to bless Or blight our lives with weal or ill, Vfitii gladness or distress. No man wall clasp To-morrow's hand, Nor catch her on the way ; For, when we reach To-morrow's land, , She'll be, by then, To-day. Ton ask me for the golden time. I bid yon *' seise we hoar," And fill it full of earnest work, While yet yon have the power, To^ay, the golden time for joy, Bnim m houehold Mvet t ooLinN cm, M ; ,. .. '' ".'if-!': ■ ■-■■. '^•'^VW' To-day, ilia royal time for work, For " bringiDg in the sheaves.' t* To^y, the golden time for peMi^ For righting olden fends ; For sending forth from every heart Whatever nbi intrudes. To-day, the time to oonseorate Yonr life to Ood above ; To-day, the time to banish hate, , The golden time for love. ~^Margarst JS, SangtUr^ in Th* Ooldm BmU, The Down Line. There is a railroad downward laid, Which God the Father never made. Bat it was made when Adam fell ; What numbers it conveys to heU I Six thonsand years are nearly gone, Since first this railroad was begun : The road is wide, and smooth, and gay, And there are stations on the way. Apoilyon is the en^neer. His coat of arms his servants wear, His breath, the steam which drives the train. The fiery sin which feeds the flune. There is first, second and third tiifas Are fall of passengew within ; 94 THB OOLDBN OIIT. TbB steam is up, the flag nnfarled, Uow quick they move to yonder ^7orId f There pleasure smiles, and fortune gay, At every station on the way ; The dress and fashion you may find Of every thing and every kind. The cheerful glass is drank with glee. And castles and music you will see, Both old and young, both rich and poor, All standing at the station door. ApoUyon now begins to boast Of numbers great, a mighty host, Who are inclined their place to take, And travel downward to the lake. Oh, think on this while yet you may, And stop your speed without delay ; Oh, leave the train that leads to hell, If you with Christ would ever dwell. Lines composed on the Leicester and Birmingham line, England, in 1828. -V, The Up Line. The line to heaven by Christ was made. With luiATenly truth the rails were laid, From «acth to heaven the line extendsi Aiid life eternal where it ends. THB OOLDBN OITT. Repentance is the station then Where passengers are taken in ; No fee for them is there to pay, For ^esus is Himself the way. God's word is the engineer, It points the way to heaven so clear. Throagh tunnels dark and dreary here It does the way to glory steer. God's love the fire, His breath the steam, Which drives the engine and the train ; All yon that woald to glory ride, Most come to Christ— in Him abide. There's first, second and third class, Repentance, faith and holiness, Yon must the way to glory gain, Or you with Ohrist can nerer reign. Come, then, poor sinner, now is the time } At any station on the line. If you repent and turn from sin. The train will stop and take ycu in. Now, if all these trains shonid by yon pass, And yon are found in neither class, When neither truth, nor fire, nor steam, Can make you willing to get in. Now, sinner, yon will weep at last, When heaven is lost and time is pasi The heavenly trains are all gone by, ▲nd Uie sinner must forever die. 96 m ooxiDxii oiTT. When all these trains at heayen anrit«i And all who died in Ohrist abide, How sweet their Toioes — how they sing^ And praise their Great Eternal King. The King eternal on His throne Announces that the trains are come ; With robes already to pnt on. And Jmqs said the words ** well done.* INDEX First Step The Two Musts Second Must Wondrous Love The Two Adams Life Regained Tracing the Scarlet Line The Dying Naturalist ... Words of Life The Offering Perfect The Hand of Faith ... The Tabernacle The American Bank Note The Red Light Signal ... Christ's Pasture-Field ... Many Lives Lost The Wedding Garment The American War A Fortune — Gold Found The Books Opened The Ladder up to Heaven The New House Stars for Your Crown \ •ft* ••• ••• ••• ••• ••« * • • * • < • • • • a I I • • • • • My Own Experience In Prison The Wonderful Pass How Relief Oarae Sin Compare(^ to u Stonn Jesus the Ark The Heart Compared to a Garden Little Foxes Must be Kept Out Man's Ruin and God's Remedy... The Remedy A Substitute for Thee Sin Hated, the Sinner Loved 'J'he Earth a Packed Trunk How to Get Strong, etc. L ray er «.. ... •>. •.. >•• Exercise The Bible -— A Wondei-f ul ^ook — And How How I Read the Bible ... Ihe Bible in Heaven ... Thou Thinkest, Lord, of Me... A Home — Over There The Golden Time ... The Down Line ..." .. The Up Line .^. ... q^ f ••• «•• «•• • • # • • • ) • • • • • >•• ••• ••« 63 58 60 64 C5 67 68 69 71 . 73 74 75. 78 • 79 83 84 85 87 89 90 91 91 93 94 Entered, ctceer&ing to Act of Parliament nf Canada, in the Year 1890, : _:„L£L &y J. 4. CAMPBELL. Toronto, Ont. 465220