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press itself. A true and genuine love for God
will never seek to evade or repeal any of His
laws. It is love's delight to obey. Indeed love
is always investigating to discover if there be
not some new thing it can do to please the beloved.
In 1 John 3:22, we read, '"And whatsoever
we ask, we receive of him, because we
keep his commandments, and do those things
that are pleasing in his sight." Here are two
reasons offered by the apostle to explain Ged's
uniform habit of granting his petitions. The
first is he keeps the commandments, and the
second is he is continually searching his own
mind and heart for some new and surprising
proof of his love to present to God. If we love
Ilim we will obey. If a child loves his father
he will obey, for an instantaneous and willing
obedience is the very best evidence of love. But
love will go farther than that. Love will add
to obedience those delightful inventions of its
own which carry great joy from heart to heart.
If your child instantly and willingly obeyed you
but did only what you commanded there would
be something lacking. On the other hand, if
he were to be presenting many times a day all
other evidences of his wish to please, except
obedience, you would be quick to say, "Son, all
these are of little .avail so long as you continue
in disobedience."
We are by nature selfish. We want all we
can get, and we want to keep all we have. Only
love can bring us to give joyfully to any other
that which our natures without love's promptings
would certainly hold fast. And when a man
offers to God with a joyful spirit one-tenth of
his income and freely acknowledges that that belongs
to God, love is surely at work. The love
of God is constraining him. Many who claim to
love God are unequal to the effort.
Dr. Miller points out that the purpose of
God in all ages has been to teach men to trust in
Hi in. And offers some illustrations from the
Bible. Abraham was called to go to a strange
land that he might learn to depend wholly upon
God. And so the patriarchs lived in the earth
as pilgrims and strangers. For forty years the
Israelites were fed in the wilderness with just
enough for a day at a time. If reasons of
frugality or other considerations led them to
gather more than they needed of the manna for
one day except upon the sixth day it bred worms
on/^ o+ftr*lr XV.^ ??* ? '
cuiu ciiiuiY. uui njg lurae xuny years me snoes
and clothing they carried out of Egypt never
grew old. Deut. 29:5. After settling in the
land, God commanded that three times in the
year at the great feasts all their males should
assemble at Jerusalem. Thus they left their
frontiers unguarded but God promised that so
long as they trusted and obeyed no man should
even desire their land at these times. Ex. 34:24,
and as a matter of fact, although surrounded by
foes their borders were never violated though
left unprotected at such times. Every seventh
year was to be a sabbatic year, they were neither
to plow nor sow nor reap that which grew of
itself, and then they asked, "What shall we eat
the seventh yeart", Lev. 25:20, God answered
that the sixth year should furnish enough for
three years, Lev. 25:21,22. If, however, they
disobeyed God threatened to drive them out until
the land should enjoy her sabbaths, Lev.
26:27-43. Now for 490 years they neglected to
do as God commanded, thus 70 sabbatical years
were passed over and for 70 years tbey were
kept in captivity in Babylon, "until the land
had enjoyed her sabbaths." 2 Chron. 26:21.
As an evidence of our willingness to trust
him for support He asks that we pay the Tithe.
'RESBYTEEIAN OF THS l(
EARLY TRAINING IN WORK.
The promptest efforts ought always to be
made in the training of new converts. Then
the inquiry would be so often made. What becomes
of them? They should be given something
to do at once. The responsibility for some
definite line of work or form of activity should
be thrown upon them. Many reasons may be
given for such a course. First of all, the Christian
life is a life. It manifests itself in some
form of activity. This neglected, it quickly becomes
atronhied nriintippri it rminlrlv /loirolrvrvo
1 7 I? uviv.WJAJ
increased power and multiplied facility and
felicity. Multitudes of people in the church
have only a name to live. They began right,
but nothing was given them to do, and their
names; become mere cumberers of the roll.
Again. Satan puts in his mightiest licks just
a? this juncture. By the injection of intellectual
and practical doubts and problems, by causing
questionings of themselves and of their own
status and honesty of position on the part of
the new converts, he seeks to divert them at once
from the way in which they have turned. No
time or space should be left for him to get in
this work. The young believer should be so
busy at something for Christ that there will be
no opening to get at him for anv other nuroose
or scheme. Religious idleness is as dangerous
as any other kind. It has opened the way to
many a sad case of defection in life and faith.
Again, the young convert craves something to
do. He needs it as an expression of what is in
his heart. He needs it as an opportunity for
the new desires and faculties. He needs it as
the medium of the new force that has come to
him. If he has to stand still and hold out
empty hands, those hands will soon become heavy
>as lead and will fall listless at his side. There
will he a distinct sense of disappointment somewhere,
he will not he able to tell where, and in
default of finding it elsewhere he will conclude
either that it is in himself and will become distrustful
of his own faith, or that it is in the
word of God and will have questionings of its
integrity and truth, or that it is in the claims
and offers of religion and will begin to repudiate
or depreciate them, or that it is in the church
and will begin to disparage and discredit it.
The young convert who is allowed to go a few
weeks without something to do for Christ is
lost, in many cases utterly lost, as an efficient
worker. The one who is given something to
do is developed, in almost every instance, into
an active, reliable, faithful worker for all the
years to come. The real problem is, What shall
be given him at that early stage f Careful attention
to this will solve the problem. Of course
diligent attendance upon the ordinances of the
church, faithfulness in Bible reading, and regularity
in prayer will be his unquestioned duty,
but these must be supplemented by something
else. Let him engage to bring certain ones to
church or Sunday school. Let him undertake
to gather the boys or girls for a class, even if
some other one is to teach it. Let him consecrate
his music, if he can play on any instrument,
to the church or Sunday school. Let him
be put in charge of some needy family, to have
an eye on its needs and to see that they are
supplied. Let him go and read the Bible or
some short, Christian story, to a "shut-in" or
in rne prison. L?et him be an usher in the
house of God, or a kind of official distributor
of hymn-books or church leaflets or circulars
from the church's departments of activity, or the
reporter to the pastor of new people in a certain
block of the church. Let him be able to
regard himself as definitely intrusted with a
\ I
IUTB [August 16, 1911
specific duty, as the agent for the proper doing
of some one thing, as having that in his distinct
charge and responsibility. Then watch him
grow!
AT MONTREAT.
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
This property, held by trustees for the benefit
of Presbyterians and the rest of mankihd, consists
of four thousand acres and numerous im
provements. Considering the vastness of the
Montreat tract and the difficulties of getting
city conveniences amidst mountain fastnesses,
the progress made toward taming the wildness
land adorning rugged, beautiful nature with
appropriate and useful touches of man's device,
is quite remarkable.
Stretching along these mountain slopes ate
miles and miles of avenues and terraces. Driveways
?nd foot-paths penetrate the onetime
wilderness, while here and there cottages, and
occasional villas, with buildings and grounds
nicely kept, come sudd3nly in view. Great
forest trees, bold springs, clear, rapidly flowing
streams, immense boulders and crags garnished
with modest wild flowers of purest hue, may
be seen whatever path one pursues.
Already the community is supplied with a
guuu water system, electric lights, sewerage and
drainage, bridges and board walks, an auditorium
seating 1,500 people, two hotels accommodating
250 guests, a large church and
school building, tents enough to supply a whole
camp meeting, a lake for boating and bathing,
and numerous accessories.
The accommodations are as good as any honest,
industrious person could require. They would
not satisfy the Newport set, not at all, and for
that reason they are all the better. The young
people as well as older ones have a good time.
There are no card tables, no ball rooms, no theatricals,
no athletic conflicts, no gorgeous display
of brilliants and other vanities, yet everybody
is happy: i l( ?<
The social features of this resort ?*_
ceptional. Here are gathered Presbyterians
from all the Southern States. Their refinement
of manner, cordiality, intelligence, cheer and
buoyancy are most pleasing, and tempt the pride
of those who believe that the social status of
the South has never yet found a rival. More^
over if any part of the world thinks it has ft
monopoly of brains it may become disillusioned
by sending a delegrtion to mingle with the
ministers, speakers, matrons and maids, business
and professional men assembled under the blue
Hnnner at this mountain retreat.
Furthermore orthodoxy and Presbyterian
loyalty are not confined to the valley of Virginia
or the Piedmont sections of the Carolinas.
It is spread over the plains of Texas and expands
across the blue grass regions of Kentucky
and Tennessee. It has a firm grip on the Cotton
Belt and the smelting furnace and coke oven
territories of Alabama and the Alleghany ranges
Presbyterianism of the original apostolio type is
At. - ? -
in me ooutn to stay, by tho grace 0f Qnd.
The greater number of people here are living
in cottages, owned as a rule by their occupants,
others are rented. This is tho ideal way for
families to get the most out of tho conference
season. Family life can be enjoyed comfortably
and simply. Exacting hours for meals, retiring
and rising are not enforced, and it is most
economical and comfortable. Prominent lnvmo~
? ?MUU
from distant points as well as near are spending
the season with their families in their own
Montreat homes.
This region will soon become the Mecca of
church people from all the Southern States. A
few miles to the east of Montreat i& the Southern