And we meet with instances, continually, to show that God is still fulfilling his word in ways that are equally wonderful.
“Try It.” A Christian woman, rich in faith, but poor in this world’s goods, was greatly perplexed about the meaning of the words, “Give, and it shall be given unto you.” She said to herself: “the best way to find out the meaning of such a promise, is to try it. I’ll try it.”
It was Saturday night. After buying what her children would need for Sunday, she had just two dollars left. Putting this money in her pocket, she went out. She had not gone far when a friend met her, who was in great distress, and asked the loan of two dollars. She gave the money to her friend, and resolved she would wait and see how God would fulfill his word.
Monday morning came. She had nothing with which to buy food for her family. While wondering what she should do, there came a knock at the door. On opening it a lady came in with a bundle in her hand. “Can you do some work for me?” she asked. “Certainly.” “What will you charge?” The price was named. The lady put two dollars in her hand, saying, “This is more than you ask, but you may as well have it.”
The good woman shouted for joy. She had tried God’s promise, and had found out how wonderfully he fulfills his word.
“The Bullfinch.” Andrew Austin lived in Scotland. He was a tailor by trade, a good, honest, Christian man, but very poor. At the time to which this story refers, he was in great trouble. Sickness in his family had used up all his money. The rent of his cottage was due, and he had nothing to pay it with. “What shall I do?” he said to himself, in great distress. He took down his Bible, and opened it at the book of Psalms. His eye rested on the fourth verse of the seventy-second Psalm—“For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth.” He kneeled down and told God of his trouble, and asked him to fulfill that promise in his present distress. As he rose from his knees his heart was comforted, and he felt sure that God would fulfill his word and send, in some way, the help that was needed.
He resolved to go and see his landlord, and ask him to allow him a week’s time in which to pay the rent.
Just as he opened the door to go out, a little bird flew past him, perched upon the mantle-shelf, and hopped about, chirping merrily. Andrew closed the door, and watched the movements of the little fellow with great interest. He saw that it was a bullfinch, a piping bullfinch. This is a bird something like a sparrow, with a round head and short thick bill. Bullfinches are great singers. They can learn tunes, and carry them all through nicely. While Andrew was watching the bird, it hopped on to the Bible which he had just been reading, and lifting up its little head began to sing the tune of “Old Hundred.” Of course the bird only had the music without the words. But Andrew joined him, and put in the words:
“Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;