FATHER A

A venerable and lovely Christian, instructed in the way, but trembling and hesitating whether, after all, it would do for him to trust in Jesus alone, without some sign or seal of his acceptance, arose in a social meeting and touched every heart by the childlike simplicity, and lucid clearness in which he set forth the way, and the humility with which he confessed his own past mistakes. Then in conclusion he said

"But now as for me, I see that the only way is to trust in Jesus. Every other way has failed me. I have no hope in anything else. I see that it is His to save me from my sins, just the same as it is His to save me from hell. And I know He is able to save to the uttermost. But — but whether He will do it — for me,—I—I— dare not say.”

en

He resumed his seat, and for a moment breathless silence reigned. Then another arose and said, "Father A. reminds me of the counsellors of Washington at the Brandywine. The American army had crossed the bridge, and were going on to meet the enemy. Washington called a council. His officers assembled. He proposed the question, 'Shall we burn the bridge? They said, 'No—we may want it to retreat over.' Washington overruled them, saying, 'Burn the bridge! Then there will be no retreating! So the order was given, "Burn the bridge!' and the bridge was laid in ashes.'

"BURN THE BRIDGE!

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The brother was going on to apply this to Father A., but he sprang to his feet, exclaiming, "I'll burn the bridge!" And he did. From that hour he was a living witness, and a lovely one, too, that Jesus is the way. All sufficient without signs or anything else to Him who receives Him.

That's the way! Burn the bridge! Leave no retreat! Venture wholly.

This we have done if we have done it. Even so abide in Christ. Wholly in Him. Always in

Him.

Suppose comforts fail, light grows dim, clouds arise, the heart becomes laggard, courage sinks, joys fall into the sear and yellow leaf,- or begin to, what then?

Fly to means? No- fly to Christ. Christ is what we want. Christ is all we want. Having him we shall have light, comfort, courage, joy and everything, — without him we shall have nothing.

Suppose you were in a church or hall at nightThe lights were dim. Hardly light enough to make the darkness visible. And suppose you should see the sexton busy, working away at the burners, trying to enlarge their apertures of escape for the gas, to increase the light, and all the while you know that the gas is partially shut off, in the pipe connecting with the main, and that is the reason of its faintness in the jets.

You will go to him saying, Man! Man! let the jets alone! Go turn on the gas from the main! Then

let him do it, and instantly the room is full of light Every burner does its duty. Ten to one he will have to go round to each burner and reduce the light to keep it within bounds.

Even so every man who has full and abiding union with Jesus will do his duty. His light will shine, and he will rather need restraint than spurs and goads.

“I am the door,

said the Master, We all de

lieve that. There is no other.

But the same lips said these other words, "I am the way," and this is equally true. There is no other. Practically, many believe in Jesus as the door. By him they enter the gateway to glory, and then too, they expect to be met at the end of the way by angel messengers, and ushered into the presence of Jesus. But between whiles, they expect to journey in the straight and narrow way by virtue of their own resolutions and watchings, with such help from God and man as they can secure from time to time.

Lame faith! O what a wretched life of ups and downs they have of it, living in that way.

O that they only knew that Jesus is the way. He not only offers to be with them the pillar of cloud and of fire, the manna and the fountain, but he is The Way and there is no other. There is no real

progress heavenward but IN JESUS. Abiding in Him.

EVERY DAY FRESHNESS OF OBEDIENCE.

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One thing more vital to this abiding union with Jesus in its fulness: that is a constantly renewed consecration to do his will.

"If ye keep my commandments ye shall abide in my love even as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love."

It is an every day freshness of full purpose to do all the will of Jesus, that is here enjoined as the way to abide in his love.

Every day the panorama of life shifts its scenes, indeed kaleidoscope-like, our circumstances change to the turn of every moment, almost.

Some disciples think they must look over the ground of duty at the end of each year, and begin anew on New Year's day. Most of those who pretend to serve the Master feel it incumbent when setting out in the world for themselves, or when commencing married life, or when engaging in a new business, then to seek a new adjustment to their new circumstances. But this should be the daily, hourly, constant manner of the disciples of Christ. "I do always the will of my Father," said the blessed Saviour, “and if you will keep my commandments ye shall abide in my love, as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in His love."

Just here many and many a truly converted one has missed the way and slid into darkness.

There is no living in the light without living in obedience.

Remember!

Faith accepts the command and obeys, just as it also accepts the promise and rests upon it.

summer,

The branch abiding in the vine, adjusts itself to the times and seasons of the vine. It puts forth buds, blossoms and leaves in the spring, fruit in the and in the fall ripens its precious burden for the husbandman, then drops its leaves, and composes itself for the rest and strength-gathering time of the winter. Just so we need to adjust ourselves to the will of the Master daily and hourly.

So shall we abide in his love, and so shall his love also abide in us forever.

Before closing, there is one practical question - always important, doubly so now, concerning young converts: What shall we tell them?

Shall we tell them as alas, is too often done,Ah, you are joyous now, but your joys will soon fade?

No. That would be cruel, even if true; but it need not be true. Tell them rather,-Abide in Jesus, and your joys shall be full.

Tell them like Paul to press for the mark, and like President Edwards, to be more urgent in seeking the Lord than before conversion, and then with Paul you shall be filled with all the fulness of God, and with Edwards your joy in God shall be so great that when you walk in the fields everything shall be alive with God, and you shall not be able to speak