[21] Youth Supplement, Good News, vol. 18, no. 12, December 1927, p. 1.

SUPPLEMENT to GOOD NEWS

FOR THE

YOUNG PEOPLE.

THE ANGELS' SONG OF PEACE.

'Twas wafted on the midnight air,
That glorious song of old,
As angels gazed from heavenly heights,
And tuned their harps of gold;
"Peace on earth, goodwill to men,
From heaven's all-gracious King."
The world in solemn stillness lay,
And heard the angels sing.

But, lo! the woes of sin and strife
These notes have silenced long;
Beneath the angel strain have rolled
Two thousand years of wrong;
But man at war with man hears not
The message that they bring,
Nor will the angry nations own
The claims of Christ as King.

But, lo! the days are hastening fast
By prophet bards foretold,
When with the ever-circling years
Shall come that age of gold;
When Peace shall over all the earth
Its heavenly splendors fling,
And the whole world give back the song
That heavenly angels sing.

The only way of life and joy
A weary heart can know,
Amid the ceaseless toil and strife
Of this world's want and woe:
Is found in Christ, whose precious blood
Gives freedom and release
From sin; and to the soul imparts
The blessedness of peace.

This is the message sweet and clear
The heavens do now proclaim—
Peace, through the precious blood of Christ,
And Pardon in His Name;
And all who welcome to their hearts
The tidings that we bring,
Are able now to join the song
That angel voices sing.

On fields of war, 'mid shot and shell,
Where death its shadow throws,
Believing hearts are kept in peace
Amid surrounding woes;
And in the confidence of faith,
Their song of praise they sing
To Him Whom now they know and trust,
And serve as Lord and King.
* * *

Let the merchant remove from his shelves those things that cannot be sold to the glory of God. So long as he sells his cigarettes, tobacco, rouge, face powders, etc., he can no more pray the Lord's prayer than can the users of these things.

* * *

"Count it all joy," ye troubled one,
The griefs of earth will soon be done,
The joys of heaven will surely pay,
For all the trials of the way.

* * *

A CHILD MARTYR.

When the revival of 1904 and 1905 swept over Wales, it gripped even the children, and made heroes of them. One evening, at the close of a prayer meeting in one of the large mining towns in South Wales, the minister asked if there were any in the audience who would like to pray for the salvation of their loved ones. A little boy, about ten years old, came forward, knelt at the front seat, and prayed: "O God, save my daddy and bring him to the meeting. He is now drinking at the corner saloon." When he got up, there was not a dry eye in the congregation.

The next morning one of the men in the mine said to the father of the child: "John, you should have been in the meeting last evening and heard your little boy praying for you."

That evening when the father went home he questioned his son about it, and warned him never to do it again, telling him that if he did he would whip him within an inch of his life. Then the father went out to spend the evening in the saloon.

The invitation for prayers was given in the service that evening. After thinking for a little while, the boy went forward again and offered the same prayer: "O God, save my daddy and bring him to the meetings. He is now drinking in the corner saloon."

The next morning several men went to the father and pressed him to attend the services, if only to answer the prayers of his own boy. But the father went home that evening angry, and, after supper he asked his son: "Did you pray for me again last night?"

"Yes, daddy," the boy replied. "I tried not to; but I just had to pray, because I love you so."

"All right," said the man, "you know what I said to you last evening. I gave you fair warning. Now go upstairs and undress."

The boy obeyed, while the father went out and cut a birch switch. Then, walking upstairs with a heart of stone, he whipped his own child unmercifully. The mother was frantic but helpless. After satisfying his wrath, the father went out to the corner saloon.

The mother heard a sweet voice upstairs calling for her. When she came to the foot of the stairs she saw a sight that would melt any heart. The child stood on the landing with the lamp in one hand and the corner of his night-gown in the other. He said: "Mamma, I have shed my first blood to-night for Jesus Christ."

Have you ever shed blood for Him?—Selected.

* * *

WHICH IS ME?

Within my heart's temple there's a crowd:

There's one of us that's humble, one that's proud;

There's one that's broken-hearted for his sins;

There's one that unrepentant sits and grins;

There's one that loves his neighbor as himself,

And one that cares for naught but fame and pelf.

From such corroding care I should be free,

If I could once determine which is me.

—THEODORE MARTIN.

* * *

This is a picture of an awakened heart, convicted of sin and groping for the light. When the Holy Spirit takes full possession, the better self has full control. Christ, dwelling within, is the secret of victory.

[22] Youth Supplement, Good News, vol. 18, no. 12, December 1927, p. 2.

THE SUPREME GOAL.

( continued.)

"But, as I was thinking this, there came a quiver of an eyelid. Later there was a twitching of the lips behind the beard. By and by the breast began to heave with a gentle breathing. He lived! He might once have been dead, but now He was alive again, even as I was myself! 'Master! Master!' I was crying in my heart, but no sound broke from me.

"Then the eyes opened. They opened like those of a new-born child. At first they seemed to see nothing, only to look. They looked ponderingly, wisely, as if judging of what they saw by other standards than ours. In color they were blue, but of that deep-sea blue, the blue of the richest sapphires, which is often black. For a time I feared that if they were turned on me He would no longer remember me. But when they were so turned, the action was again with a little child's lack of consciousness. At last there came a smile. It came slowly, but it came radiantly. Never, I think, could such a smile have been vouchsafed to any other creature in the world. 'Master! Master!' I cried, this time aloud. 'Dear little boy,' was the response. 'Sweet it is to me to have you here.'

"Beneath the coverings I could see the other hand seeking to free itself. 'Master,' I pleaded, 'may I not aid you?'

" 'No, dear child. This is work which I must do alone. In conquering death I may use no help but the Father's. If I did, a large part of its meaning would vanish from my task.'

" 'But what is its meaning, Lord?'

" 'The proving to my brethren that I have conquered death. They have seen Me on the Cross; they looked on while I died; they watched while loving hands buried Me. Nevertheless, some of them will not accept the fact that I have risen, even when they see Me and talk to Me as you are doing now.'

" 'Were this great triumph of man over death to be wrought for My sake alone it would not have been worth while. Merely to magnify Me would not be to help My brethren. The thing they must learn is that what I have done they, too, will do. They can, at the appointed time, migrate of their own free will, as the birds fly north and south. My task is to show them that it can be done, for the wind bloweth where it list-eth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh and whither it goeth; so is every one that is born of the Spirit.'

" 'But, Master,' I had the temerity to object, 'I see not how it can be done, even though I see You doing it.'

"His smile was one of piercing sweetness. 'Dear boy, he who follows Me will put off the life of time and put on that of the ages as a man casts aside an outworn cloak and robes himself in one more glorious. I am the Resurrection and the Life. He that believeth on Me, though he die, yet shall he live again, and he that liveth (till I come), and believeth, shall never die. Men, in growing numbers, will applaud the example I give them, but make no attempt to follow it. My way they will reject, because it it too difficult. Till all other ways have been tried in vain, it will remain too difficult for them; but, by that time, a new race of children of God will have been born. They shall return to what you, beloved lad, are witnessing this morning.'

"Even as He spoke I began to see a change in him. Hitherto He had been Jesus of Capernaum much as I had known Him. Now, all at once, He began to glow as if light was His raiment instead of such clothes as mortals wear or put on their dead. It was not fire or flame or anything that burned; rather it was a self-illumination.

"Nevertheless, He still continued to sit upright and to speak to me. 'Above all things take heed to this, dear lad. It is not knowing about the Father that will prove to be eternal life; it is knowing Him. Understanding and receiving Him you will have in your hands a portion of His power. You will be able to rule your life by His spirit rather than live by the rule of chance or circumstance. To Me, Who have carried out the Father's will, all power is given in heaven and in earth. To you it will be given in like manner, according to the measure of your obedience.'

"What happened next I saw not, even though I was looking on. It was action too quick and transcendent for my eyes to follow. He left the tomb. He was standing before me. Between the moment in which He sat addressing me and that in which He stood above me, my eyes on a level with His feet, there was not, as far as I could judge, the briefest interval of time. But there He was, moving as I had seen Him move, only on feet of light.

"In the tomb the graveclothes lay empty and discarded. The facecloth was wrapped and apart, even as He had placed it. Tall, erect, majestic, but loving and kind beyond all comprehension of thought, He stood before me in raiment like unto sunbeams.

" 'Beloved boy,' quoth He, softly and strongly, 'you have followed Me with very sweet affection. Now I shall do the same with you. You will not see Me, but I shall be there, helping you through a long, mortal life that will mingle both joy and care. Always remember that I shall never leave you nor forsake you.'

And then, as I knelt, my hands clasped, looking up at Him adoringly, my eyes were unable to keep the vision. It was not He who vanished; it was I who could no longer behold. The beauty was too great; the radiance too intense. He did not fade, nor leave me, nor disappear. The inability was on my side. He grew too glorious. That was all.

"In the garden it was dark, with the first hint of dawn in the darkness. There was now no light from the tomb, nor had I any companionship. Moreover, two Roman guards who seemed to have lain near by in a drunken sleep, awoke, and began to curse. Unseen by them I slipped away. Near the gate I passed three women who were entering. I heard one say to the others: 'The spices have we brought, the ointments and the linen; but who shall roll away for us the door of the sepulchre?' Hiding behind a sycamore I waited till they had gone by.

"But when I told my foster-father of how I spent the night, and of what I had seen in doing it, he bade me keep it secret. Already he had heard whispers in the court of Pilatus that some trouble was afoot. The report had gone round that the body had been stolen while the soldiers slept, and the Governor feared a scandal. So enjoining silence, and himself believing that Jesus of Capernaum was dead beyond resurrection, my foster-father gave the word that we should set out that self-same day for Tyre.

"Ere long we were transferred from Tyre to Rome, but, through every changing circumstance of life, I ever realised that He was beside me, sharing in my joys and alleviating my sorrows, causing me to ignore the petty trials of earth and look upward with a tranquil joy to the mansions above, in which He had promised to prepare a place for me.

"I heard no more of Jesus of Capernaum till the other day. Then, strange to relate, an old man, a wanderer, came to our town to deliver what he called an evangelium. His name they told me, was Joseph, of the town of Arimathea, in the Jews' country.

"All this way he had travelled, holding meetings in town after town, to deliver his message that a man had risen from the dead, and that all who would believe and follow Him might likewise conquer death. At once I sought him out. 'Can it be,' I asked, 'that the man of whom you would tell us is one Jesus of Capernaum?' "The same,'quoth he. 'Have you already heard of Him?' Not only have I heard of Him,' quoth I. 'but I have known Him. Not only have I known Him, but, in a garden in the Jews' city of Jerusalem, three days after His death, as the Jews reckon time, I saw Him as He......'"

And here the manuscript breaks off.—Adapted.

[23] Youth Supplement, Good News, vol. 18, no. 12, December 1927, p. 3.

"ONCE UPON A TIME."

My little child comes to my knees,
And, tugging, pleads that he may climb
Into my lap to hear me tell
The Christmas tales he loves so well—.
A tale my mother told to me,
Beginning "Once upon a time."

It is a tale of skys that rang
With angel rhapsodies sublime;
Of that great host, serene and white,
The shepherds saw one winter night—
And of the glorious stars that sang
An anthem "once upon a time."

This story of the hallowed years
Tells of the sacrifice sublime
Of One Who prayed alone and wept
While His wearied followers slept—
And how His blood and Mary's tears
Commingled, "once upon a time."

And now, my darling at my side,
And echoes of the distant chime,
Bring that sweet story back to me
Of Bethlehem and Calvary,
And of the gentle Christ that died
For sinners "once upon a time."

The mighty deeds that men have told
In ponderous tomes of fluent rhyme,
Like misty shadows fade away,
But the sweet story bides for aye,
And, like the stars that sang of old,
We sing of "once upon a time."
—EUGENE FIELD.

* * *

A SOLDIER OF JESUS CHRIST.

Soldiers whose names are held in honor—like Lord Kitchener, whose death has been widely mourned— began their course like others, and passed through the various stages of enlistment, training, warfare, and victory, ere they gained their laurels, and received the approval of their sovereign. So must it be with every "good soldier of Jesus Christ." These steps and stages well illustrate some great Bible truths, which all need to know.

A Recruit Enlisted (Matt. 16: 24).—As enlistment precedes outfit and drill, so salvation by grace, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Eph. 2: 8) comes before service. To come to Him (Matt. 11: 28) believing on Him (Acts 16: 31) makes one His disciple (Matt. 28: 19), thus confessing His Name and owning Him as Lord (Rom. 10: 9). Then begins the life of going after Him, hearing His voice (John 10: 27), and doing His will.

A Soldier in Training (2 Tim. 2: 8).—After salvation comes education and training. The grace that brings us salvation as sinners, trains us as followers, workers, and warriors. There is much to be laid aside (1 Pet. 2: 1); many things to be "put off" (Eph. 4: 22); the uniform of heaven to be "put on" (Col 3: 12); and the whole life regulated and formed by obedience to the Words of the Heavenly King (John 17: 8).

A Warrior in Armor (Eph. 6: 13).—To meet the hosts of opposing foes the soldier requires to be armed. So does the Christian warrior. A complete armor, covering all except his back—which he is not supposed to ever turn toward the enemy—consisting of girdle, shoes, breastplate, helmet, shield, and sword, is to be "taken," worn, and always used.

A Victor in Battle (2 Tim. 4: 10).—When the war is over, the victors and faithful defenders are rewarded with the crown "laid up" to await the crowning day, which is yet to come. This the Lord gives to all who serve Him faithfully.

A SPARROW IN TROUBLE.

"Have you seen a sparrow?"

"Of course," you say, "I have seen thousands." Well, I will tell you a story about one that I saw some years ago. Returning from a walk one afternoon, I was rather startled, as I walked along the gravel path leading to my friend's house, by a strange noise coming from the conservatory. On getting close, the sound increased. I could see no one inside, so I hurried in, and found, to my surprise, that the cause of all this ado, was a poor little sparrow. It had flown in at an open door of the glass house, and seemed very much ruffled and perplexed to find that it could not fly out through the glass windows at the other end. As soon as I entered, its fright increased tenfold. It flew wildly from side to side and from pane to pane, dashing itself against the panes with terrible force. Whenever I tried to catch it, the poor little creature would dart away from me, just as though it were mad, and give itself such frightful knocks that it was evident that it would soon be killed.

So I called a servant and we both tried hard to get hold of the little thing. But it was no use. It seemed determined to kill itself. We were, however, determined to save it if possible. It made our hearts ache to see how fearfully the sparrow was hurting itself.

At last our foolish little bird gave its head a crack against the glass and fell right down on to the mould in a flower pot, quite exhausted, lying there trembling and panting. We took it up very gently, and put the little, weary thing into some cold water for a moment, just to refresh it. We then carried it out into the garden and laid it on one of the shrubs, fearing that it was too far gone to recover, but what was our joy, after a little while, to see it move, then shake itself about, and soon afterwards fly right away into a tall tree.

Now, dear children, having read my story, do not skip over the rest. Having read the text, mind you pay attention to the sermon. The sparrow got itself into danger and trouble. Yes, it was its own fault. No doubt the pretty flowers in the conservatory looked very tempting; but it had no business to go in at all. And is not this just like a sinner?

GOD IS FAITHFUL.

A beggar boy was told that a very good, kind, gentle, loving king, who lived in a certain palace, was so kind to poor children that he gave them food and clothes, and to friendless orphans he gave a home.

He said: "If this is true I will go and see if I can be helped;" so he went, but found a good many hindrances in the way. There was a grand "Buttons" on the door who said: "Go away, dirty child, this is the king's house." Then another servant came out and said: "Your clothes are too dirty for my master's presence."

The servants would fain keep this child away from their master lest the king should give him some of the things they had their eyes on. But the child was not to be put off so easily, and, as they talked, the king came out of the palace and saw the little fellow who had tramped so long a way to see the king whom he believed to be so good; and to tell him all the troubles of his poor innocent little mind.

"Your servants, Sir, are so grand that when I come to see my good gentleman I dare not go near them in my dirty clothes. The king said: "What did you want of me? Tell me, and do not be afraid; I won't hurt you."

Then the poor child said: "I thought you would give me a change of raiment, put shoes on my feet and food in my body."

And the king said: "As you have had faith in me I would be sorry to disappoint you; these people are only hirelings; come with ME; all your needs I will supply according to my reputation, for I am rich."

—E. C.

[24] Youth Supplement, Good News, vol. 18, no. 12, December 1927, p. 4.

THE HAPPY MAN.

Was born in the city of Regeneration, in the parish of Repentance unto life. He was educated in the school of Obedience. He now lives in the plains of Perseverance, and works at his trade of Diligence; notwithstanding, he has a large estate in the county of Christian Contentment. He many times does jobs of self-denial.

At work he wears a plain garment of humility, but has a better suit to put on, called the robe of Christ's righteousness.

He often walks in the valley of Self-abasement, and sometimes climbs the hill of Spiritual mindedness.

He breakfasts every morning on prayer, and sups every evening on the same. He has meat to eat, that the world knows not of, and his drink is the sincere milk of the Word.

Thus, happy he lives and happy he dies. Happy is he who has Gospel submission in his will, due order in his affections, sound peace in his conscience, sanctifying grace in his heart, a Redeemer's yoke on his neck, a crown of glory on his head, and a vain world under his feet. Happy is the life, and glorious is the death of such a man. And the way to obtain such happiness is to pray fervently, believe firmly, wait patiently, live holy, die daily, love Christ, and long for glory.

THE LONGEST CANDLE.

An Evangelist was talking at a meeting for children. He brought out a row of candles on a board; a very long candle was at one end, and a very short one at the other. Between the long one and the short one were candles of various heights. He said, that, by these candles he wanted to represent the grandfather, father and mother, boys and girls, and the baby of the family who never • heard of Christ until a missionary came, (whom he represented by a lighted candle) and then they all gave their hearts to Jesus, and, from that day, loved and served Him. He then asked which candle represented the grandfather, the mother, and so on. They all thought that the tallest candle would be the grandfather; but he told them: "No, that stands for the baby, the youngest member in the family." Presently one little boy said: "I know why; he had the chance to shine longest for Jesus."

Yes, children, give your hearts to Jesus now, while you are young, and then you can shine for Him as long as you live, and also have the joys of His religion as long as you live. Pray: "Oh satisfy us early with Thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days."— "Apples of Gold."

* * *

"I CAN'T STOP PRAYING."

A little boy once attended a prayer meeting, where he was greatly troubled on account of his sins.

He went home and began to pray aloud in his room. His father was not a good man, and he told his little boy he must stop praying, or leave home.

The little boy thought it over. He loved his father dearly, but he loved Jesus far better.

He wrapped a few things in his handkerchief and went to say goodbye.

His mother, surprised, asked where he was going. He said: "I don't know. Father says I can't stay here if I pray; and I can't stop praying."

His father's heart was touched. He told his little boy that if this was the kind of religion he had, he wanted it too. The little boy then prayed with his parents, and both became Christians, and soon all three were serving the Lord together.

How sweet it is, and how Jesus is pleased, when His little ones are true to Him!—Sel.

* * *

A young man was graduated with the highest possible honors. Soon after graduation a minister, who had known him from boyhood, met him and said: "I understand that you are celebrated for your mathematical skill. I have a problem I wish you to solve." "Tell me what it is," said the young man, "and I will try." "What is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" The young man walked away, saying to himself: "It is a great problem." The question rang in his ears by day and night. "What if I gain the world and lose my soul?" Finally he said, "I will solve the problem." He weighed the matter carefully. He looked at it in a business-like way, and said to himself: "There is no profit if I gain all the pleasures, and all the wealth, and all the honors of the world, and lose my soul." He at once surrendered himself to God, accepted Christ, and afterwards became an imminent minister of the Gospel.—Sel.

Mr. Robert Owen once visited a gentleman who was a believer. In walking out they came to the gentleman's family grave. Owen, addressing him, said: "There is one advantage I have over Christians; I am not afraid to die. Most Christians are afraid to die; but if some of my business was settled I should be perfectly willing to die at any moment." "Well," said his companion, "you say you have no fear of death—have you any hope in death?" After a solemn pause he replied, "No!" "Then," replied the gentleman, pointing to an ox standing near, "you are on a level with the brute; he has fed till he is satisfied, and stands in the shade, whisking off the flies, and has neither hope nor fear."—"Sword and Trowel."

* * *

In July a dear boy came along to Good News Hall and gave his heart to the Lord, and was baptised into the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

He had broken his arm, and when told that the Lord could heal it he laughed at the very idea; but he was prayed for, and the Lord did heal it. Immediately after prayer, he was able to grasp the iron rail of his bed and lift the bed up, and could use one arm as well as the other.

The other day his mother overheard him saying to another youth: "How many times do you read the Bible in a day?" "Oh! who reads the Bible nowadays?" "I do! what do you eat for?" "To keep my body alive." "Well, how are you going to keep your soul alive if you don't feed it on the words in the Bible and prayer? It will all shrivel up and you won't know you've got one." So the lad promised to start reading the New Testament.

Have you any friends who don’t read the Bible? What about encouraging them to make a start?

* * *

THREE GATES.

"If you are tempted to reveal A tale someone to you has told About another, make it pass, Before you speak, three gates of gold.

"These narrow gates: First, 'Is it true?' Then, 'Is it needful?' In your mind Give truthful answer. And the next Is last and narrowest, 'Is it kind?'

"And if to reach your lips at last It passes through these gateways three Then you may tell the tale, nor fear What the result of speech may be."

"My ground is the Bible. Yea, I am a Bible bigot. I follow it in all things, both great and small."

* * *

The pitcher that brings water oftenest from the well gets broken at last.

* * *

Published by the Victory Press, 106 Queensberry Street, North Melbourne, Austral!*,

© Southern Cross College, 2005