Broken Bread, from an Evangelist's Wallet

Mr. Justice Groves.—“Men go into the Public-house respectable, and come out felons.”

My text, as you see, my dear readers, is not taken from the Bible.  It does not, however, contradict the Scriptures, but is in harmony with some, such as “Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink.”  Habakkuk ii. 15; “Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink.”—Isaiah v. 11.  “Take heed to yourselves lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness.”—Luke xxi. 34.  “Be not among winebibbers.”—Proverbs xxiii. 20.

The statement of the text is likely to be true,

as it was spoken by an English Judge, and given as the result of long observation, and of hearing evidence given upon oath.  What is more likely to be true than a declaration from the Bench? and as such it deserves the attention of every one of us.  Let us then consider

(I.)—IF THIS STATEMENT BE TRUE, THE PUBLIC-HOUSE SHOULD BE AVOIDED.

Are you not running a fearful risk of becoming a criminal?  I know of a little beershop where murders have been hatched, and that in a quiet rural village!  Do not men go primed with drink to rob and slay?  Do not wife-beaters get their inspiration at the public-house?  Is not gambling fostered in the bar parlour?  Do you tell me that you are not likely to become a thief, or a murderer?  So others have said whom we have known, once as decent and quiet as you.  Besides, if you keep out of the hands of the police, you will have to take your trial some day for robbing God, and for soul murder!  In the public-house you learn to do all this.

(II.)—IF THIS STATEMENT BE TRUE, ALL PATRIOTS SHOULD OPPOSE THE PUBLIC-HOUSE.

(III.)—IF THIS STATEMENT BE TRUE, WE MUST CLOSE THE PUBLIC-HOUSES.

Can it be tolerated that such places should remain open?  Are felons to be manufactured, and men get rich by the process?  We must shut the places up, even though we ruin places like Burton-on-Trent, and compel rich brewers to sell their carriages.  Nothing is so likely to pay off the National Debt as to cause publicans and brewers to enlarge the list of bankrupts.  They cannot live but by the nation’s loss, and sorrow.  A brewer’s dray, as it leaves the yard, carries with it increase to the taxation, and hunger and nakedness for little children!

While we do not lose sight of the importance of legislation, and while we push the questions of Sunday Closing, Local Option, &c., to the utmost extent, it will pay us still better to close the public-house through making the frequenter of such places see the sin of it.  If there are no customers, there will be soon a closing of their doors.  We call upon all Grocers, Butchers, Tailors, Cabinet Makers, and all decent tradespeople, to see, that would they have a return of prosperity, they must have the stream of cash which goes into the publican’s till turned towards their doors.  Money spent in manufacturing felons would look well spent on Clothes, Provisions, and Furniture.  Besides churches and chapels would be crowded as the jails were emptied, and heaven would gain what hell would lose by the closing of Breweries, Distilleries, and Public-houses.

That is one of the messages brought to us by Christmas time, and this is linked to “glory to God.”  You cannot glorify God more than by publishing good-will to one another.  There is a special need for this just now.  Political feeling has risen so high that friends, and even families, have been estranged.  Let not another sun go down upon your wrath.  Now is the time to prove that you are a Christian, by giving Jesus the pleasure of knowing that His birthday was the burial day of strife.

Which side shall be the first to move?  Doubtless the noblest; the one who has most of God in him will hurry to say, “Come, now, let us reason together.”  We need not to say that common-place religion cannot afford to do this.  Those who live on old manna cannot rise to such dignity as to be the first to seek the friendship of those who think themselves aggrieved.  On the other hand, “He that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”  Heaven has always been the first to seek reconciliation, and those who are heavenly-minded shew it by making haste to be friendly.

If you have been the injured one, you have the best chance of succeeding in healing the wound.  It is God, sending a message of peace, that wins over His foes.

He does not wait for us to move first.

Whether we are Conservatives or Liberals, we are Englishmen, and cannot afford to be divided.  Whether we want the Church to be Disestablished or not, we are Christians.  Let us be friends once more, and try to think the best we can of each other.  Whether our side has won or not, we are certain that Right will prevail in the long run.  We can afford to wait, if we are on God’s side, for He wins by losing.

The loss of His Son was His greatest Gain.

If you can rise to this, how you will enjoy singing—

“Hark! the herald angels sing—
Glory to our new-born King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled.”

Is there not wondrous common sense, as well as beauty, in the saying of St. John—

“Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought
also to love one another.

One would have thought it would have been—we ought to love Him.  But then we remember further on, John says,

“He that loveth not his brother, whom he
hath seen, how can he love God whom
he hath not seen?”

Good-will to men!

“A FELLOW-FEELING MAKES US WONDROUS KIND.”
A word to the Aged who are able to help others.

This is quite true, and we wish there was more of this fellow-feeling.  It is likely this will be read by some aged man or woman who has many comforts, and is assisted to bear the infirmities peculiar to old age in a way poor men and women cannot enjoy.  If you are wealthy, or have enough for your wants, should you not have a fellow-feeling for those who are poor and need help?

Sometimes when visiting aged people, who were well off, a nice fire burning all the night through, and perhaps those about them who have not allowed them to be many hours without nourishment, I have said to such an one, “You have been kept alive by the fact that you can afford it.  If you had been a poor man, you would be dead now.”

Will you not then, if you have it in your power, give some other old man or woman, who is poor and unable to get the comforts you have in such plenty, some share of what you have; if you do not, how can you expect God to shew you mercy in that day?  It will be no use to tell Him that you loved Him; He does not believe in professions of affection for Him, which are not proved by love to our fellows.

We have heard a story told of a celebrated sculptor who had a statue in his studio of a beautiful veiled figure with winged feet; when asked what he called it, he said “Opportunity.”  “But why is it veiled?  And why has it wings on its feet?”  “Because,” said he, “it is not recognised, and never stays long.”

How true this is!  The New Year, which comes to-morrow, brings with it opportunities for becoming better, and being of greater use than we have ever been.  But, alas! how few of us will recognise the good chance till it has passed for ever.

Some of us have special opportunities for growing better with age.  We live with those who have always shewn us a good example, and have the privilege of listening every Sabbath Day to those who explain the Book of God, so as to feed our souls with bread Divine.  Those of us who are not so fortunate, who, it may be, have our lot cast among the ungodly; yet we, though at Patmos, may have revelations which some do not enjoy who have more help from friends and good influences.

* * * * *

But the past is past.  The future dawns, and in its kindling light let us re-consecrate ourselves to the work God has set us to do.  We shall have appointments to preach.  Shall we not look on each appointment, however distant the place, or small the congregation, as

a heaven-sent opportunity?

Let us make the most of it.  Shall not the new opening for usefulness find us prepared to enter in?  Must it ever be said again that the pulpit was open to us, but we were not ready to fill it as it ought to be filled?  Could an angel from heaven desire anything better than the opportunity which will come to so many, next Sunday, of preaching, or it may be, of teaching a class of young people out of the Word of God?

If we need a stimulus, let us ask ourselves the question,—How shall I feel, looking at my past chances of usefulness from the observatory of the sick room and dying bed?  Are we to fill our dying pillows with thorns, as we remember Sabbaths when we gave way to indolence and self-indulgence, instead of crowding them with well-aimed efforts after usefulness, and diligently employed occasions for study and teaching.

PRAYER A VITAL NEED.

A Poet has said, that Prayer is the Christian’s native air.  It seems as if some Christians who are doomed to die of soul decline, might live if they would go back to their native air.  Reader, do you need this prescription?

A great deal has been said in the newspapers lately on the subject of Faulty Bayonets.  It seems that from some cause or other these arms have been found out to be faulty and unworthy of trust.  Some of them are brittle, and break, others are soft, and bend, so there are a large number of those in use which will have to be discarded on account of unfitness.  Where the blame lies we don’t know, but doubtless some one has been unfaithful to their trust, or the thing could not have been done.

It set us a thinking the other day—Here is something that no one doubted, has proved unreliable; and the thought flashed across our mind: Is there not something like it in the Church of God to-day?

It is the weapon of the rank and file that is faulty!

It is not the General’s brain, or the Officer’s weapon that is unworthy, but the private’s!  Does this apply to us?  Is not prayer to the Church what the bayonet is to the soldier—that which the private member has to use?  Those who cannot preach or write books, or even teach in the Sunday School, can pray.  We ask the question—Are there as many praying-people in proportion to our numbers as there used to be?  What is the testimony to those who attend our prayer-meetings?  Is not this the weak place in our army to-day?

Won the Battle of the Lord upon our knees,

and if we are to be soft there, we may as well retire from the conflict at once.  Many a time, when holding Missions, we have felt that if we could but get the members of society to be often in secret but earnest prayer, we should carry the battle to the gate, and more than once we have felt the tide turn, as we have noticed the people get more and more in an agony of supplication.

Now that the authorities at the War Office have found out the failing, we shall soon have the faulty bayonets cast out and perfect ones provided.  We don’t want weak-kneed Christians cast out of the church, we want them improved.  And this may be done.  Let every one of our readers ask the question

Am I as strong in prayer as ever I was?

We shall be glad to know that what we have said leads to

An Inspection of Arms.

Let our Class-leaders ask the question of their members—Do you pray in secret?  Do you wrestle with God?  How long is it since you had a direct answer to prayer?  This is our weak place.  May we soon be strong where we are now weak, that the prophecy may be fulfilled, “He that is feeble among you at that day shall be as David, and the House of David shall be as God.”

A TEACHER OF SIN.

Few men have covered themselves with infamy as did Jeroboam, of whom it is said often he “made Israel to sin.”  And yet what a chance he had to have led the people, over whom God had made him king, in the path of righteousness?  Instead of teaching evil, he might have led his people into the ways of the Lord.  Influence is a talent which brings with it enormous responsibility.  Perhaps to none is this more applicable than to parents.  Let those of us to whom God has given children, use our influence to

teach them HOLINESS.

We teach them every day by example, if not by precept, and example is the teacher whose lessons are followed easiest.  What can be worse for a child than to have a parent who teaches his children to sin?  Perhaps at the Day of Judgment, the most terrible sights will be where children will reproach father or mother or both, for shewing them the way to the left hand of God!

I.—The Congregation.

All who could understand were present (verses 2-3).  None should absent themselves from public worship and the preaching of God’s word, except infants and idiots.

II.—The Behaviour of the Hearers.

We are told (verse 3) “All the people were attentive.”  There are some who go to God’s house, and make such poor use of their ears, that they will wish at the Judgment Day they had been born deaf.  We read also of the reverence of the people.  They “stood up” to listen, and joined in the prayer with a great “Amen!”  What a scene we have depicted in verses 5-6.

III.—The Preachers.

There was a pulpit, but not the tub-like thing that we see in some places—it held more than a dozen.  It would be high enough for all the people to hear and see.  But Ezra had more sense than to have it so high that he and his helpers were separated from their hearers.  Pulpits should help, not hinder the preacher.

The Preacher spoke plainly,

The Preachers made the people understand,
verse 8.

This is one of the duties of Preachers, to make their hearers understand the Bible, so that the man who does not teach as well as preach has not done all that he has been called to do.  That is the best kind of Preacher, who not only stirs up the people like a poker, but puts fuel on at the same time.

IV.—The Effects of the Service.

First, there was sorrow of heart.  No one can understand the Bible and not be moved.  The Levites, however, showed their people that God would like them to be happy.  Those who weep over the Bible may well be comforted.  Let those weep who have not listened to God’s word.

One blessed result of the sacred joy which followed the weeping, was the

help rendered to the poor,
“send portions.”

(verses 10-12).  It would be well if, after every good time we had at chapel, we made the poor to rejoice.  If God feeds you with the Bread of Life, send a loaf of bread or a bit of meat to some who are likely to go hungry!

Let the godly be glad.

Many railway travellers, besides ourselves, have been often much pleased with the provision made at the principal railway stations for supplying the engines with water.  Water is a necessity of motion to the locomotive, and there are watering stations all along the line.  Every driver knows where these water-tanks are, and he takes care to stop in time, to get his boiler filled.  If he did not look to this, he would find himself stopping between stations, and would have to submit to the indignity of being drawn by another engine!

If such a thing occurred, it would be a sort of picture of some Christian workers, men and women, who in days that are past, were remarkable for their zeal and push, but who, for want of grace, have had to cease to work, and are now content to be drawn along by other Christians.  We know Ministers, Local Preachers, and Class-Leaders, who in their day were notable soul winners, but alas, now, when there is a revival, they cannot take the lead, but they are helped along by others, perhaps of less power than they once possessed!  What a spectacle to men and angels!

The largest Public Meeting
will be the Last, and
you will be there.

One of the Master’s most wonderful parables begins, “Behold, a sower went forth to sow.”  There are many lessons in that instructive analogy.

You cannot sow wheat on the parlour carpet.  You must go forth.  If the world could be converted by self-indulgent theorists, we should have had the Millenium here long ago.  It is impossible to read any Christian, newspaper without coming across some of these drawing-room farmers—men who can sit at their fireside, and show you how to do it!  Ask them where their barns are, and they will have excuses to make as to why their plans have not succeeded.  We have heard these gentlemen hold forth in a Quarterly Meeting, and have had hard work to keep our temper, and have not always been supposed to have succeeded.  We may, however, settle it that Mr. Plan-others-their-work could put all the harvest he ever had in his waistcoat pocket!

Would you need a waggon for your gains, you must leave ease and dignity behind, and trudge over the heavy furrows, seed basket in hand.

Secondly, as the preachers say,

Let the ploughshare of repentance make the land ready for the seed, and then there will be some hope of lasting success.  Some other time we may have something to say about the birds, which pick up the seed; but for the present let it suffice that we insist upon the ploughman doing his work before the sower comes to do his.  We have a notion that it would be well if the seed-basket were left at home for a while, and some one were to take hold of the plough.  Before to-day we have found, when we have gone to begin a Mission, that it was of little use to preach Christ as a Saviour.  Men and women who are not convinced of the sins of their life, need to be told of the punishment which awaits those who die with their sins unpardoned.  We have been too mealy-mouthed, and have feared to offend our hearers; and so the seed has fallen on hard ground, and the birds only have a successful Mission!

The Bible ought to be the
King of your Books.  If it
is not they are not worth
house room.

I.—When friends speak of good things, Jesus draws near.

“These things” which concern Jesus.  Even if men speak sorrowfully, if it is of Jesus they speak, He is nigh.  If He were the subject of conversation more, His friends would have more of His company.  If you are shy of Him, He will be shy of you.

II.—Unbelief manufactures sorrow for the godly.

Jesus said they looked “sad.”  It is a pity to employ unbelief; he does not know how to make a smile.  When he tries it is a misfit.  If the disciples had believed Jesus, they would have been dancing for joy, for they would have been round the tomb to see Him rise.  We have lost that picture, because no one believed the Lord enough to expect His words to be fulfilled.—Mark viii. 31.

III.—Never expect infidels to be converted while saints are sceptical.

Certain women had told them, but they were “slow of heart to believe.”  Is not this tardiness of faith the secret of popular infidelity?  If Christians shewed their faith by works, Bradlaugh, and such like, would have no audiences when they lectured!

“Ought not Christ to have suffered?”  Before He could have the wages, He must do the work.  Eternity alone gives space for the payment of what He earned in Gethsemane and on Calvary.

V.—The Old Testament was Jesus Christ’s Bible.

Has it the place it ought to have in our hearts?  These men had their hearts warmed while Christ expounded Psalms and Prophecies.  He will do the same to you, if you will ask Him.  It is a reflection upon the Holy Ghost to make use of so small a portion of the Bible as some do.

VI.—Hospitality is a remunerative virtue.

“I was a stranger, and ye took me in.”  Christ blesses the cupboard from which wayfarers are fed.  They fed Jesus, and He filled their hearts with deathless joy.

VII.—Apostates lose the best news.

Judas had gone out of hearing when the eleven had heard of a risen Christ.

VIII.—Testifying to grace received brings fresh supplies.

It was while telling what they had seen that they heard the voice of Jesus speak peace.

“The child Samuel ministered.”  When you sing with feeling you do God’s work.  When you see some one without a hymn-book and you take one to the stranger, you minister.  When you make room for a stranger to sit by you, then you do the work of the Lord.  When you pray for the preacher, then you are of use.

II.—Boys’ bedrooms are open to God.

It was while Samuel was asleep that God stood at his bedside; but He is there before we sleep.  He hears when wicked stories are told, and when bad deeds are planned in the dark.

III.—God does not wait for you to grow up before He calls.

Perhaps you have heard Him call and, like Samuel, did not know the voice.  When you felt that longing to be good, then He called.  When you were at the grave-side, and felt awed and silenced by the coffin, thinking that some day people would look down and read your name, He called.  When you were ill and felt unfit to die, He called.  In your class at Sunday school, and while hearing the gospel preached, you were called.

IV.—Boys should answer the first call.

V.—Boys may be taken into God’s confidence.

The Bible tells us, “The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him,” and a boy may fear God so as to know His secrets as Samuel did.  If you will listen, as this lad did, you shall hear God speak.

VI.—Boys who do God’s will shall have men do their’s.

See verse 20.  The whole nation came to hear the mind of God from the boy-prophet, for we read in the first verse of the next chapter that Samuel’s word came unto all Israel.

If death can injure you
you are not enjoying full
salvation.

The other day, when the Oxford and Cambridge men were contesting for the mastery, the Oxford boat was behind, but the crew were not willing to admit they were beaten, and were making great efforts to gain the day, when, all at once, the oar of the best man in the boat broke in two, consequently all hope of winning was gone.  All the rest of the way there were only seven oars, and the weight of the eighth man to carry as well.

In musing over this, it struck us that there were several lessons to be learned—lessons which the eye that used to scan the race-ground would have made use of, if he were writing an epistle in these days.

Is it not true that the dead weight in the boat hinders the progress of the Church of God?  Up and down the country we hear of those who hinder the work—members of society, and sometimes office-bearers, who if they were in heaven would help more, or, at least, hinder less than they do now.  If this book should fall into the hands of any of these men, we wish they would lay to heart the lesson, that if from any cause they are not working, we have their weight to carry in addition, and that we could get on better if they were not.  As we write we are thinking of one of these hinderers—smooth of tongue, and sanctimonious in phraseology, who is helping the enemy of God by hindering his servants.

Some of those who are with us, and yet not of us, are accumulating wealth.  We appeal to them to bear in mind that their money makes them greater difficulties than ever, and that the more their balance at the bankers’ grows the greater their dead weight in the boat.  If we could only get rid of these people, how lightly the boat would spring forward!  Sometimes we are ready to wish that these men could lose their money, they would then become manageable.

What is to be done?  We cannot but think of Circuit after Circuit where men of talent and influence are keeping the Church of God from coming to the front.  What a loss life is to them!  How much better if they had died in their useful days!  If they do not repent, what a hell awaits them!  How could such people enjoy heaven if they were sent there?  For them to behold the other part of the crew, who did their duty, crowned for their faithfulness, must, as a matter of course, make them reflect that their chances were the same, but that they ceased to toil, and hindered those who would have accomplished much for God but for their baneful presence.

There are other lessons we learned from this same boat-race, to which we will refer at some other time.  Suffice it that for the present we pray,

Lord, save us from Dead Weights!

And a very sensible question, too.  When men fail there is a reason for it; but we cannot always find out what the reason is.  But these followers of Jesus, who had not been able to cast out the deaf and dumb devil, asked their Master how it was.  He had given them to see that it was not impossible to cast out even that sort, but they could not.  And why not?  It is worth our while to know, for just now the Methodist people are not succeeding as they wish to succeed, and we are inclined to think, for the same reason that caused the disciples to fail.

Jesus said, “This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.”  What does this mean, if not that

men who love ease must expect the devils to laugh them to scorn?

If we are not prepared to fast, it does not matter how well we do other things—not only abstain from food, or drink, or tobacco, but from other things we like.  We know some men who would do well to fast from having their own way, and others who would serve God if they would take a back seat now and then, and let somebody else talk a bit.

The reverend gentleman we have named has some cousins, who are Local Preachers; and we should like to have a word with them also.  How about those village congregations that were disappointed of a preacher?  How about those stale and faded sermons?  We wish you would be persuaded to make a sermon on—“Shake thyself from the dust,” because there would be at least one penitent, even before the sermon was preached.

However, what perhaps is needed most of all is that the decrease in our numbers as Methodists should lead us to repent, and do our first works.  We should as a Church humble ourselves before God, and that without delay.  He waits to be gracious.  We must not lose heart.  Let the thousands of faithful workers among us remember that when the disciples were baffled, Jesus was in the company of Moses and Elijah; but He dismissed them that He might come to the help of His people.  Whatever he may be doing, we can catch His ear, and bring Him to the rescue.  He needs only that we should cry to Him for help.  We indulge the hope that when Methodism learns that, in spite of all the earnest work done, we have fewer people meeting in class than we had last year, there will be a bowing before the Lord.  Already we see signs of blessing.  There is a waking up to duty, and a longing for purity, that can have but one result.  The Master is coming, and shall soon say,

“Being him unto me.”

I.—Manna like salvation, because undeserved.

The people murmured at the very first difficulty.  If they had been grateful they would have said, “The God who brought us out of Egypt, and through the Red Sea, will not allow us to die of hunger.”  But instead of this they accused Moses of being a murderer.  And in answer to this God said, “I will rain bread from heaven.”  What an illustration of Romans v. 8.

II.—Manna like salvation, because it saved the people from perishing.

Nothing else would have done in its place.  The people had jewels, but they could not eat them!  They had instruments of music, but they could not live on sound!  Nothing else but Jesus can save the soul from famine.  Sinner, ask thyself the question of Isaiah li. 2.

III.—Manna like salvation, because it was plenteous.

There was enough, and more than enough, for some melted ungathered every day.

Some Christians dishonour God by their leanness.  “If any man eat of this bread he shall live for ever.”  John vi. 51.

It did not come into their tents.  You might starve within only a few feet of plenty.  Some people are too lazy to be saved.  Whoever got it had to stoop.  It did not grow on trees, but on the ground.  Some are too proud to be saved!

V.—Manna like salvation, because fresh every day.

It was, “Give us this day our daily bread.”  There are some who try to live on past religion, and it is like the manna of verse 20.  Is your religion fresh?

VI.—Manna like salvation, best gathered early.

It was in the morning plentiful, but when the sun rose it melted; there would be a little here and there in shady places.  If you would have plenteous grace, young reader, seek it now!

The only sort of Religion
worth having is infectious,
you have not got it if you
do not give it to some one
else!

We read that when Peter was in the prison the angel smote him on the side, and raised him up.  But He smote Herod, and he was

eaten of worms,

and gave up the ghost.

Mark the difference between the blows the Lord strikes His own people and His foes.  He smites us, and then lifts us up; He smites his enemies, and then casts them down for ever.

Which are you?

Herod was one of those who gave not God the glory: he was for having the glory himself.  Those of us who preach had better be aware that when the people praise us we may fall into Herod’s sin, and take God’s glory to ourselves.  This is a dangerous game to play, and many a man has been eaten by the worm of envy and shame because he allowed the people to make an idol of him, until they saw another bigger idol than himself.  Nor was this all.  Some preachers have gone where the worm dieth not, because they gave not God the glory.

Better far be in jail for Jesus than sitting on a throne, if we are not on the right side.  If you are one of God’s friends, fear nothing; but if you are one of His foes, you do well to fear everything, for you might, like Herod, have to sink from magnificence to loathsomeness, and know death before you die.

Do you think John the Baptist knew anything about it?  Do you think he was capable of understanding and appreciating Jesus Christ?  Because if so, Jesus Christ has two sides.  There is the barn for the wheat, and there is a fire for the chaff.  And Jesus Christ is the great Destroyer as well as the great Saviour.  The same voice that says, “Come to Me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest,” shall say some day, “Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire.”

Yes, Jesus Christ is the great Destroyer.  Now this is the age of the fan.  In all times of history there has never been a time like this, when God puts things to the test, and proves them; and everything in this world to-day is on its trial, and if it is not sixteen ounces to the pound it will go.  I do not care whether it is a king’s crown, a bishop’s mitre, or a parson’s white tie, it will have to go if it is not right.  “Whose fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor.”

The whole Christian Church to-day has got to come under the fan; and there will be some wonderful changes before all your heads are grey.  The grandest thing is that Jesus Christ holds the fan.

The class-meeting is on its trial.

The chaff is no good.  You may plant chaff in the best land that ever was, and you will not get anything.  That which is of no use must go into the fire.

The Sunday-school is on its trial.  Yes! even in Lancashire.  The biggest Sunday-school system is here in this county.  What is the result?  What has it to show, compared with the amount of patient, faithful work that has been done?  Do you not think that in some places the result is all chaff?  The Sunday-school is fast becoming the grandest entertainment agency in existence, and places that were built for the teaching of God’s Word are now places for entertainment, better than any theatre, because they cost nothing.  I saw in Leeds, the other Sunday, that in a certain Sunday-school “there will be a sacred drama rendered.”  It was not a Methodist School.  But I know schools where they have “niggers,” with blackened faces and banjos.  The “nigger troupe of such-and-such a school!”  What do you think John Wesley would say if he came to life again?  He would drive them out, as Christ drove out those men from the Temple, “with a whip of”—well!  I do not think they would be such “small cords” either.

That poor man was chaff.  And you, wherever you are, you may be just about to be carried away.  Cry to God!  This is my last word—Poor chaff, cry to God!  And He will make thee wheat that shall command a rare price.

We can work only while it
is day, and none know who has
the Shortest Day!

And no wonder, for David could appreciate a real man when he saw him, and so does David’s Lord.

I.—Loyalty is precious to the King of Kings.

In the days when the son of Jesse had but few friends, it was a precious thing to be treated in the style Barzillai and his neighbours entertained him (see 2 Sam. xvii. 27-29).  They were rich farmers, and had land which brought forth with abundance, so were able to act with princely hospitality to the fugitive monarch.  But plenty may live with avarice, and when that is the case it is not to be expected that men who are fleeing for their lives will be received with kind generosity.  In this case, however, the sight of the needy soldiers made the hearts of those kingly farmers beat with sympathy, and so the provisions were put there for the men to help themselves.  “Hungry, weary, and thirsty” were they, but their hospitable entertainers made them welcome.  Never would those dust-covered soldiers forget the halt they made in those green fields.

None felt, though, as David did.  He had seen one trusted friend after another fall away, and the thought that the chief among the rebels was his own beloved son pierced him to the heart.  It was then he composed the fourth Psalm.  And just then to have this welcome feast must have cheered his soul even more than his body.

II.—We see a beautiful illustration of contentment.—They had come down together after the great battle, and David said, “Come thou over with me, and I will feed thee with me at Jerusalem.”  It was worthy of them both, and we cannot but feel touched at David’s gratitude; he would fain have the patriarch spend his last days with him.  “With me,” said he, “I will see thou hast everything thou canst want.”  “Nay,” said the old man, “I will see thee safely over the river, and then I will return to the green fields I love, and when the time comes for me to die I will be laid by the side of my father and my mother.”

III.—We have in Barzillai’s words an old man’s view of earthly enjoyment.  As though he had said, “I have lost hearing, sight, and taste; what are all these things to me?  I am soon to be in my grave, what do I want away from home?”  It would be well for most of us to weigh these words, “How long have I to live?”  To judge from the way we see men toil to get houses and land, you would think they were going to live for ever.  Watch them how they are scraping the money they have; they have none to spare to feed the hungry and clothe the naked; they have poor relatives, but they cannot help them.  Are they not going to be rich, live in a splendid house, be grand folks some day?  Aye, but death cannot be bribed.  I was passing through a splendid estate the other day, and was told of the gentleman that owns it; he is an old man, but he will not own to it, and he is quite a fraud, with his dyed hair and wrinkled face; he looks quite ghastly, in spite of all that art can do to pad him and make him up.  I wish some of those who are denying themselves the luxury of giving, because they have determined to have a splendid estate for their children, would think “How will my mansion look with the blinds down, and a hearse at the door with a coffin in it, with my name on a silver plate?”  We cannot refuse to help the poor, and hear Jesus say, “Well done.”  We cannot save money for selfish purposes and go to heaven.  Besides, to leave riches for those who come after us is the way to have dry eyes at our funeral!

When David gave his dying charge to Solomon, he said, “Show kindness to the sons of Barzillai” (1 Kings ii., 7).  Tears had passed since he saw the provision made for him and his men, but he could never forget it.  On his deathbed he could see the bed that was placed by the road side, and upon which he had rested his weary limbs when a fugutive, and so he would repay his debt to the children of the aged farmer.  How true it is that we can make futurity our servant and the servant of our children by at the present time caring for our King.  Does God see that we stand by His cause when it is weak?  Do we find food and comfort for His fainting soldiers?  Then he shows His appreciation by inviting us to Jerusalem the golden.  We shall not wish to excuse ourselves from going to that blessed spot.  Be we young or be we old, we shall not wish to return, but shall go on to find that the singing men and singing women wish us to join their number and to help them in praising the King, immortal, invisible, to whom be glory and honour for ever.