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“I Am The Way, The Truth, and The Life." Prejudging the Work of God. “Therefore, judge nothing- before the time.” I. Cor. 4: 5. The recent earthquake resulting in the destruc tion of San Francisco, Cal., has stirred the minds of many to deliverances as to the why of the oc currence. Men have rushed into print, spoken from the platform, by the wayside and in the social and home circles, giving very freely their judgment as to God’s agency and motive in allowing, or bringing about so great a calamity. Sitting in judgment on God and his doings, seems in the light of Scripture and of all history, to be a bit unwise and unprofitable. There wrs a man named Job, whose friends came to s n e him in his overwhelming afflictions. They sat down and said nothing for a long time—what a pity they did not continue saying “nothing.” But, no—they knew all about it. They were cock sure that they understood Job and God also. Job in their estimation, was a very, very wicked man, and God was punishing him for his sins. Job was greatly perplexed; did not understand the case, but argued for his integrity. Finally God himself came on the scene, asked some unanswerable ques tions, silenced all parties, but did not reveal the why of his conduct. It was not necessary. It is not necessary now that we should “know all about it,” much less is it necessary that we should pre judge the Lord and his works. “Judge nothing before the time.” It is ours to wait and hope and trust. It is preeminently wise to be still, and simply know that God is God. It is a great mistake to treat this world as if it were a finished product, its aims all fully developed, its resources all laid bare, its development only a circular progress, in which experience repeats it self and no more. Creation “in a growing crop, a web in a loom, a tale half told, a picture just sketched in; therefore, let rs suspend judgment and “wait,” “Judge nothing before the time.” “Wait. Do not judge the work until it is fin ished. Remember how much will develop as the toil goes on. Consider the things yet undone—how much their completion will change the aspects of the whole.” “Creation is not to be treated like a finished ca thedral. whose details are all done; much less like a crumbling ruin whose disintegration has just be gun. Let us clothe the purpose of God towards creation in the beams of hope. The outcome will satisfy all yearning hearts. rnc I piapiyl Stages in the progress made “.ojlfe more like a .The jj pi'ivatftoUpdfr) the cutting away of forests, the! dfegingf, of a ac VilM’ . rj jts old gno *i9zo ai m;!q gill .noiaainmioa m -nog VThdodeßt, ’itnoyniqcrwiTd wvi'Blfcoaiiobtnao'es’qfivPn Ibw tJminldwßdlm-adeiproperty j-'* vpiJß ita!ffiadf)iaißhr^esßrnisei bmihifvjllie'h'way didiaP'vqildjitnHss?'/IWbllvdlie 1 one an-ol Husfe’&bof isj'fi/lwaitl >ahd See.-Hig nod I o - '"fsiSj I mi si« fIHiM w The Golden Age for May 3, 1306. All this is anologous to the world in its moral relations. Then, too, in any fair construction these must be viewed according to their issue, and not ac cording to transitory aspects. We must wait “the time.” “Judge nothing before the time.” We make no dogmatic claim. We do not under take to explain that which cannot be explained. This cannot be done “until the Lord come.” We cannot make a demonstration of that which cannot be demonstrated. It is useless to set forth things about earthquakes which we cannot prove and which no one can deny. To do so is to waste writing material and time. What are we to do when the earthquake, floods, famines and scores of other ills come? Well, in the first place, we will remember, that from the first these have been coming along. Their coming is a part of God’s economy. An economy— notwithstanding all appearances and experiences to the contrary, is based on love—saturated with love, characterized by wisdom and backed by om nipotent power. In the next place, we will not question nor cavil, nor murmur. We will not judge. We will summon good thoughts of the Father. We will put our hand in his, and as he leads us through the floods, through the fires, and when he presses the bitterest of bitter cups to our lips, we will trust him for his love, remembering that there is nothing too hard for him and that deliverance will come. We are persuaded that some time, somewhere, he will speak peace, comfort, freedom from pain and core, and joy to our heart. He will bring us to know what deliverance is. The earth may quake. The mountains be re moved into the sea, but our Father will not fail us. He loves with a love that will not be quenched, will not weary under any conditions. If there are those who think that every time there is a calamity, as we see it, that God has come down among us armed with a sharp stick, and that he is after us, going to get us before we get around the corner unless we get around quick—we say if there are those who thus think, and who can get comfort and hope and good cheer out of the thought, they are welcome to it—to all of it. If our theology on this matter is erroneous, we would love to be set right. We may stumble and we may fall and go down in darkness, but if we do, we will hold to good thoughts of our Father—- our Father- whose unchangeable love for us we de cline to doubt—no matter in what hell we may wake up. Upon these views of God and calamities we pil low our unworthy heads and decline to be disturb ed, while we sleep and see visions of glory. —II. R. Bernard. <GIL Guard within yourself that treasure, kindness. ,!r ’?vn?>w flow' to give without hesitation, how to lose . , .Dumniiro I }, i > o r r.i- . ... . without .regret, how. to acquire without meanness. 7/jiuii atioricTf, iJ; Ti h. ic- r / , , , . Know how to replace in your, heart by the happi- ir. 1“ olqo-’.q Sj/hI I . -U ness that indy be wanting in yourself. a yonom gmvrg nr ovolrnul ; 3d ion ob I Ind Joboori il-mm oa ai k ’roofr ‘>im 0 -7/ .br.o’idn loqaog oils LneaW gmvig ni oyo-l wu 1 li-Patibn^e; 1 1 humility,'- fwgbtfulness ofU /rdelf aredtJiel'-toHienfbyial qualjti«p.AjThoma6> Ilpghes. Without Me Ye Can Do Nothing. Vain is the hope that stills the breast, When fiercely surge the storms of life In frightful convolutions wrest Mid darkening glee and awful strife; Unless ’tis stayed on Him divine, Who is Himself the Lord of storms. Vain is the faith that seeks to rise Above the groveling things of earth, And soar to realms beyond the skies, And know the things divine in worth; Unless it take firm hold on Him, The Author of the Christian’s faith. Vain is the life that seeks to live Untouched by evil all around, Where temptations seductive strive, And passions hot and vile abound; Unless ’tis lived in Him divine, Who is Himself the source of life. Vain is the effort to perform Heroic deeds with patience strong, That must be wrought to bring reform, And crown the right, dethrone the wrong; Unless assisted by the One, Who is Himself all perfect and good. Vain is the way we strive to make Ourselves through life’s dark wilderness, And find the path which we must take In quest of peace and happiness; Unless we follow Him who said: “I am the way, the truth, the life.” C. W. Durden. The “Glory” Song. Every one doubtless remembers the new series of Gospel songs which came into vogue after the Moody ami Sankey meetings. So -now the Torrey- Alexander meetings are bringing out some splendid new songs. Chief among them is the beautiful “Glory” Song, which has been translated into fif teen tongues, including the Chinese, and is said to have accomplished more good than even the re nowned “Tell Mother I’ll be There.” It has been printed 17,000,000 times within three years, and has been copyrighted. The publishers have now de clined to allow even Mr. Alexander, the composer of the song, to use it longer. Hence a substitute has been written under the direction of Mr. Alex ander, the first verse and chorus being the follow ing : “When time is ended and heaven begun, Earth’s trials over, its victories won; When I shall hear the dear Savior’s ‘Well done,’ That will be glory, glory for me. Chorus. “Oh, that will be glory for me, t Glory for me, glory for me, )H .Saved by his grace and beholding his face, ng laid Qhjt that will be glory for me.” —Exchange. “The Entrance of Thy Words Giveth Eight." 3