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12 THE PRESBYTERIA Prayer Meeting TOPIC?GOD S APPEAL TO THE YOUNG. Week Beginning September 19. Ecclesiastes 12:1. This is well called "God's appeal," though it is the appeal of the wisest of men, in the normal exercise of the wisdom that had been given him, wisdom which had been develoDed by means of the normal experiences of life. It was nevertheless wisdom which God had promised and which was truly his gift. Moreover, the teaching which is found in the book of Ecclesiastes, like the teaching of other books of the Bible, is not in words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth. This is God's truth and expression of his thought, while it is at the same time the expression of the thought of his enlightened and inspired servant. It is an appeal to the young to reverently regard and devoutly esteem him who is the giver of all good, in whom resides all authority and who is entitled to all service. Forgetfulness of God was one of the gross and fatal sins of his ancient people, as it is of the world and of too many of his professed servants to-day. The young, because of their buoyancy of spirits, the novelty and vanity of life around them, the inconsiderate and wayward example of their seniors and the pathetic fact of the infirmity of our poor human nature, which asserts itself in earliest childhood, are prone and tempted to forget God. The exhortation to "remember" warns againrt one of the most prevalent and fatal infirmities of the flesh. The very inexperience of youth is a special reason for this appeal. Youth knows not the dangers that await it, or the enemies that are lurking in concealment to enslave or destroy it. Youth has not learned from experience the tyranny of evil habits nor the grossness of a nature confirmed in its estrangement from God. Youth has not had extended observation of the strength and beauty of sanctified character nor contrasted the life of godliness with the worldly life. It needs to be impressed by precept and example with the beauty of holiness and the exceeding sinfulness of sin. Its native sensitiveness to impressions of evil and good is no safeguard unless some impressions preponderate and overcome the evil. Compassion for the dependent, to say nothing of love for the precious souls of youth, should prompt us to teach them the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom. Youth is the impressionable age. The mind is plastic. It has not yet assumed the rigid forms nor the confirmed characteristics of age. It is susceptible of being developed conformably to the highest ideals. It responds more promptly to reasonable appeals and yields more readily to ennobling agencies than does maturer character. By its very nature it is the period of life for instilling righteous principles, and infusing the elements of symmetry and strength. Youth should be impressed with the fact that it is in the formative stage, and should address itself seriously and cheerfully to the culture of those qualities which make men and women strong to endure and to achieve, and which make them lovable and happy. The life of loyalty to Christ is the basis of such qualities. There is a reason why the young especially should remember their Creator which can not appeal to the old. It is the fact that the youth has all of active and responsible life before it, while to the aged the most of life has been spent and the opportunities for determining the qualities of that life are past. Truly amendment and reform are available to the most misguided life, but the life itself can not be lived over. The young may direct the whole course of responsible conduct in wisdom's ways. How lovable the career of one who has kept all the commandments from his youth up and has done so because he remembered his Creator. To the aged penitent God's gift is eternal life, but to the youth godliness has promise of the entire life that now is and of that which is to come. A final reason for youthful godliness is found in the fact rf our Lord's attitude toward and interest in the young. He made the trust of little children the type of the believer's lN OF THE SOUTH. September 15, 1909. faith at every stage. He took children in his arms and blessed them.* In his tenderest discourses he spoke of his disciples as children. It was of the young ruler that it is said, "When he saw him He loved him." Is it not noteworthy that of three who are definitely described as having been raised from the dead by our Lord and restored to loved ones, two were young persons? Young People's Societies ~ EVANGELISTIC MISSIONS. Topic for Sunday, September 26.?How missionaries win souls for Christ. 1 Corinthians 9:19-23. Daily Readings. Monday: The Bible as a soul winner. Psalm 19:7-14. Tuesday: Preaching the Word. Romans 10:8-21. Wednesday: Purity wins souls. 1 Timothy 4:6-16. Thursday: Kindness wins souls. Romans 12:17-21. Friday: Going to the lost. Matthew 22:9; 28:18-20. Saturday: Pravinc for iho ioof VTml-' ' '* All who are Christ's are his not for redemption only but for service. It is a low view of religion which confines its results and duties to oneself. Christ came to minister, not to be ministered unto, and to offer his life a ransom for many. The fundamental principle of religion as a iife is Christlikeness now as well as hereafter, here as well as in the life to come. The missionary principle is inbedded in the relation to Christ. He went about doing good. His follower can do no less as long as he follows. If the efforts be for the glory of a church or the aggrandisement of a denomination or the glory of any man or set of men, it is not evangelical in any sense. If resort be had to means not sanctioned in his Word or methods which are not in harmony with its principles, the work is human, not divine, humanistic, not evangelistic. "The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communlcateth to us the benefits of redemption are, his ordinances, especially the words, sacrments, and prayer." The reply to the question, How missionaries win souls for Christ? is simply this: By the wise, constant, and faithful use of these appointed means, in reliance upon God's wisdom in appointing them and upon his power in making them effective. The reading, but especially the Dreachins nf _ . or v?w ?t w?u IO an effectual means of convincing and converting sinners, * that Is, of missionary sucess, through the Spirit of God who always accompanies the faithful use of the Word which he himself inspired. It is dishonor to the Spirit to think that after he himself hasgiven the Word and added to it through Christ the promise that he will accompany the use of that Word with his own power, he will not make the preaching of it an effectual means wherever and by whomsoever used. "The foolishness of preaching" has been both declared to be, and even found to be, both practical and effective. It was the means by which Paul and bis companions spread the faith and acquired adherents ih the early days of the rhiir/?h T* ?*- ??' *1? * - - ? - ~... m%. .tc,o as icTivai LuuL was me Dasis or the Keformation. Testifying to the truth, by word and by life, is the only way to get the truth before the minds of unbelievers. When the truth is shown them they must believe it or reject it. If they reject it, after it has been shown them, they know their guilt, and conscience, used by the Spirit of Qod, may lash them back till they yield to it. The use of outside means, as*attempts at bettering the dbcial, educational, hygienic, civic, or indnstrial condition of heathen people, has never, if put first, or before the gospel, Droved Dermanentlv effective no a -arav *v~ _ ? ?w ? " vvr IUUVUUVC LUC ftUB* pel. This has been practically shown in many instances. The gospel should ever be first Then It will bring with it the fulfillment of "promise of the life that now Is."