?i2 



(JLEANINGS 1^ BEE CULTDUE. 



SBPt. 



just a little one, that 1 might test my skill 

 and test the extinguishers. 1 want to try 

 oiii weapons. Now, mind you, I doiTt want 

 anybody's liouse to get atire ; but if it does 

 get aflre, 1 am going to try liard to be on 

 liand promptly witli our new weapons. In 

 the same way I was glad to be on hand 

 when my young friend had liecome really 

 entangled in a live neighborhood quarrel. 

 With a little encouragement he would talk 

 by the hour about the evil disposition of tiis 

 opponent. He said nobody could get along 

 with him — not even the person's own rela- 

 tions; and altiiougii he is natnrally remark- 

 ably cool and level-headed, I could not but 

 smile to see liim get really excited about a 

 matter that was trilling and unimportant. 

 By a little questioning, I perceived (at least 

 I thought 1 did) that his state of mind was 

 the result of having dwelt on the subject a 

 good deal. Judging from my own experi- 

 ence, I should say he had wasted enough 

 valuable mental strength and time on this 

 foolish matter to liave written a tolerably 

 good-sized book. In fact, had the whole 

 subject been arranged and classilied, he 

 might have dictated to a shorthand writer a 

 volume: and his wliole heart and soul were 

 so taken np with it, I think he would have 

 done it eloquently. And this reminds me 

 that 1 once heard a great city editor, who 

 iiad got into a similar quarrel with his own 

 brother, speak about publisliing a book to 

 show to tlie world his own brother's sins 

 and weaknesses. I do not know but that 

 he calls tliem crimes. Now. just think a 

 moment of a man sitting down to M'rite a 

 book to tell the world how bad his own llesh- 

 and-blood brother is I Does not tliis single 

 point illustrate to what lengths Satan may 

 carry a person, if lie does not watch and 

 pray against itV Well, after I had talked 

 with my young friend, and drawn him out 

 quite a little in regard to the matter, I sug- 

 gested to him that he try Christianity. lie 

 replied at once tlnit it was of no use, and to 

 the effect that it would be like casting 

 "pearls before swine." IIoav exceedingly 

 natural it is to take this ground ! Did you 

 ever stand there, my friend V I cautioned 

 him, and replied that it was certainly his 

 duty to test Christ's teachings, and then I 

 commenced repeating some of these wonder- 

 ful texts that strike right squarely and di- 

 rectly on such troubles. Perhaps "my texts 

 were not the best ones I could have chosen, 

 if I had had a little more time, or with the 

 Testament right before me. But I was as- 

 tonished and surprised to see with what 

 wonderful force they struck. When the 

 contents of the fire-extinguisher were tiu'n- 

 ed on to the bonfire, exclamations of sur- 

 prise came from the crowd, to see that great 

 roaring, scorching tire subside and vanish 

 in an instant. Christ's words seemed to 

 have nuich the same effect on this young 

 friend's state of mind. I was pleased, and 

 said inwardly. "• Thank God to see him stand 

 the fire of these texts so Avell.'' Even 

 though Satan had, for the time being, led 

 him a little out of the straight and narrow 

 path, the true metal was there still ; and in- 

 stead of evading or avoiding the issue, he 

 bowed at once before the sublime words, 



even as did poor Thomas, when his doubts 

 were removed — '■ My Lord and my God." 

 I think the first text I quoted was : 



"■ But I say unto you, love your enemies." 



He looked at me in silence, but I could 

 see that he felt the application. Then I 

 lepeated : 



•' Do good to them that hate you." 



This time he took a little courage, and 

 made something of a defense. 



*' Why. I have tried, over and over, to do 

 him kindnesses;" and then he went on re- 

 lating the different times in which he had 

 done more than his part, and had been more 

 than generous. Satan was getting a little 

 hold on him again; and, my friend, when- 

 ever he gets us to recounting a list of our 

 good deeds and generosities, it is Satan, you 

 may be sure. But when I added, " Pray for 

 thein which despitefully use you,'" he" had 

 nothing to say. Quietly I asked : 



" Have you really been praying for this 

 individital V" With downcast eyes and 

 humble voice he replied : 



"To tell the truth, I have not." 



Perhaps you may think, dear reader, that 

 this was bearing on rather hard, especially 

 with a young Christian. But this young 

 friend knows me so well that I am sure he 

 didn't think I meant to set myself up as 

 one free from like sins. In fact, I think he 

 knows full well that my life has been a con- 

 stant succession of such conflicts. If you 

 think, dear friends, that it is easy and nat- 

 ural for me to pray for one who has wronged 

 me, you are greatly mistaken. We admire 

 this '44th verse of the fifth chapter of Mat- 

 thew, when applied in a general way. or 

 when held off at arm's length ; bitt if you 

 have not tried it, my friend, just wait until 

 you get greatly stirred up because somebody 

 has deliberately and purposely abused and 

 wronged \ou ; and then while you are stir- 

 red up, go off and try to pray for them. I 

 have tried it, and I know what it is to have 

 Satan say to me. " Why, you silly fool, you 

 can not pray for that man, if you try. It is 

 not prayer at all — it is only a sort of des- 

 picable hypocrisy. Far better stand up like 

 a man, and assert your rights." 



Did Satan ever address you thus, my 

 friend V If so. don't let him swerve you 

 from the path of duty a particle. Just say. 

 '• Get thee behind me. Satan." and then put 

 your whole trust in the Lord, and be not 

 afraid. 



Some one may ask, " Is there not such a 

 thing as carryiiig this too far, and letting 

 people run over you T' To which I reply, I 

 am sure there is hot, if you use good ordinary 

 common sense. Bear in mind, we are consid- 

 ering difficulties with our neighbors — with 

 such people as are to be found by the score 

 in your neighborhood and in my neighbor- 

 hood ; or, if you choose, with just such 

 people as you and I are. Some of our great- 

 est and best minds have been so divei'ted by 

 trifling personal quarrels as to spend time 

 enough upon them to have given us books 

 that would have been a blessing to humanity 

 and the w^orld ; and 1 have sometimes w^on- 

 dered if there was ever a great man or great 

 woman who lived so close to the Savior day 

 by day and hour by hour as never to have 



