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!
XLV. A SERVICE IN THE OLDEN TIME.
Nehemiah viii.
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.