Fwd: Gems From My Reading

Gems From My Reading Be of good cheer. But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.   Galatians 6:14 Beethoven was in the habit of playing his symphonies on an old harpsichord, as a test.  They would thus be made to stand out in their true character, with nothing to hide their faults, or exaggerate their beauties. Thus wisely may we test our character, endeavouring to ascertain how it manifests itself - not on great and rare occasions, or before the public eye, where there is a chance for display and applause - but in private, in the little, homely everyday duties, which attract no particular attention and reward us with no praise. If in the retired nook of your own breast, in the regulation of your thoughts and feelings; if in the bosom of your family, in the monotonous round of home life each day, you preserve a sweet serene temper, and go forward cheerfully, taking a real pleasure in duty as duty, and in all these little matters honestly strive to serve and please the heavenly Master; if, in a word, your piety sounds well on such an unpretending harp, it is good, genuine, tested; it will one day win acclamation from a vaster and nobler throng than ever was thrilled by the genius of Beethoven.  Selected Every character has an inward spring; let Christ be in it.  Every action has a keynote; let Christ set it!  Drummond N.J.Hiebert

Fwd: Gems From My Reading

Gems From My Reading Be of good cheer. . . . they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works.  (Titus 3:8) Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.  (1 Corinthians 4:2)  Men said the old smith was foolishly careful as he worked on the great chain he was making in his dingy shop in the heart of the great city.  But he heeded not their words and only worked with greater  painstaking.  Link after link he fashioned, and at last the chain was finished and carried away.  In time it lay coiled on the deck of a great ship which sped back and forth on the ocean.   There seemed no use for it, for the great anchor was never needed and the chain laid there coiled.  So years passed. But one night there was a terrible storm, and the ship was in sore peril of being hurled upon the rocks. Anchor after anchor was dropped, but none of them availed.  The chains were broken like threads.  At last the mighty sheet anchor was cast into the sea, and the old chain was quickly uncoiled and run out until it grew taut. All watched to see if it would bear the awful strain.  It sang in the wild storm as the vessel's weight surged upon it.  It was a moment of intense anxiety.  The ship, with its cargo of a thousand lives, depended upon this one chain.  What now if the old smith had worked carelessly even on one link of his chain!   But he had put honesty and truth and invincible strength into every part of it, and it stood the test, holding the ship in safety until the storm was over and the morning came.  J. R. Miller. Full many forms the "chain" may take: perchance 'tis some infirmity That doth for thee thy fetter make; or duty-call or poverty; If thou art His, -- then this thy rest, -- if in His will disposed to be, -- The "chain " may be a thing most blest, though, meantime, it so fetters thee. And at the End it may be seen, when things, now dark, are all made clear, The "chain" God's method kind hath been to hold us safe, -- to keep us near.  J. Danson Smith. N.J. Hiebert - 8263

Re: Gems From My Reading

Gems From My Reading Be of good cheer. FAITH AND PRAYER And Saul . . . as he journeyed . . . suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: and he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?  And he said, Who art Thou, Lord? . . . And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord . . . arise and go into the street and enquire in the house of Judas . . . for one called, Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold he prayeth.  Acts 9:1-11  True faith is prayerful; prayer is the child of faith. As the creature cannot pray without faith, so with faith he cannot but pray.  The new creature (like our infants in their natural birth) comes crying into the world: and therefore Christ tells it for great news of Ananias of Saul, a new-born believer, "Behold, he prayeth!" Faith enables the soul to persevere in prayer.  The sincere believer hath that in him which makes it impossible he should quite give over praying.  Prayer is the very breath of faith; stop a man's breath, and where is he then? Faith may live in a storm, but it will not suffer a storm to live in it.  As faith rises, so the blustering wind of the discontented troublesome thoughts go down.  Faith relieves the soul in prayer of that which oppresses it; whereas the unbelieving soul still carries about it the cause of its troubles, because it had not strength to cast forth its sorrows and roll its cares upon God.  William Gurnall - 1617 - 1679 I must tell Jesus all of my troubles, He is a kind and compassionate friend; If I but ask Him, He will deliver, Make of my troubles quickly an end. I must tell Jesus, Jesus can help me. Jesus alone.  Elisha Hoffman N.J. Hiebert