A boy six years old was offered an orange, if he would tell where God was. “Tell me,” said the boy, “where he is not, and I will give you two.”
A Bad Bargain.
A Sabbath School teacher was talking to his class about that passage in Proverbs, which says, “Buy the truth and sell it not.” “He who buys the truth,” said he, “makes a good bargain. Can any of you recollect any instance of a bad bargain, mentioned in Scripture?” “I do,” replied one of his scholars:—“Esau made a bad bargain, when he sold his birth-right for a mess of pottage.” Another said, “Judas made a bad bargain, when he sold his Lord for thirty pieces of silver.” A third observed, “Our Lord tells us that he makes a bad bargain, who, to gain the whole world, loses his own soul.” Alas! how many such bad bargains are made every day!
Simple Faith.
A missionary in Africa asked a little boy if he was a sinner. The boy replied by asking if he knew any one who was not. The missionary then asked him who could save him from his sins. He replied, “Christ.” “What has Christ done to save sinners?” “He has died on the cross.” “Do you believe Jesus Christ will save you?” “Yes.” “Why do you believe it?” “I feel it; and not only so, but I consider that, since he has died, and sent his servants the missionaries from such a far country to publish salvation, it would be very strange if, after all, he should reject a sinner.” It would be so indeed, with respect to all that come to Him; for he has said, “Him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out.”
Proof that there is a God.
A converted Greenlander, conversing with a missionary concerning his former state, said that, before he had ever heard about God or Jesus Christ, he used to have such reflections as these: A boat does not grow into existence of itself, but must be made by the labor and ingenuity of man. But the meanest bird has far more skill displayed in its structure than the best boat, and no man can make a bird. But there is far more art shown in the formation of man than in any other creature. Who was it that made him? I thought perhaps he proceeded from his parents, and they from their parents; but some must have been the first parents—whence did they come? Common report informs me that they grew out of the earth; but if so, why do not men now grow out of the earth? And from whence did this same earth, the sea, the sun, the moon, and the stars, arise into existence? Certainly, there must be some Being, who made all these things—a Being that always was, and can never cease to be. He must be inexpressibly more mighty, knowing, and wise, than the wisest man. He must be very good too; for every thing that is made is good, useful, and necessary for us. Ah! did I but know him, how would I love him and honor him! But who has seen him? Who has conversed with him?
This poor heathen, groping in the dark, was led to the same train of reasoning to prove the existence of God that is used by the learned Christian philosopher; thus proving the truth of that passage in Rom. i. 20:—“The invisible things of God, from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead.”
How to prove the Bible true.
At one of the South Sea Islands, which had been converted from heathenism by the labors of the English Missionaries, they were holding the annual meeting of their Missionary Society. A British vessel arrived, and the officers and crew attended the meeting. A native took the chair, and native speakers addressed the meeting, with great effect. Every thing was done in good order; and the speeches were interpreted by the missionaries to the Englishmen present from the ship. But some of them said the natives were mere parrots, and only repeated what the missionaries had taught them. Others said that was impossible. After a warm dispute, they agreed to submit it to Mr. Williams, the missionary; who declined deciding the question, but told them if they would visit him in the afternoon, he would collect ten or twelve natives, whom they might ask any questions they pleased. They came, and about fifteen natives were present, but without knowing the object of the meeting.