1887 



GLEANINGS IN liEK CULTURE. 



791 



dnn pejiE?. 



Let all the nations be gathered tofrether, and let 

 the people be assorabled. . Ye are my witness- 



es, saitn the Lord, and my servant whom I have 

 chosen.— ISA. 43: 9, 10. 



TT seems stiange to a beginner in tlie 

 M Christian life, that the Savior should 

 M need such poor C'liristians as we are to 

 ■*- testify for him ; and it often seems 

 stranger still for a young convert to 

 Hnd out that he. with his hesitating and 

 blundering speech, can say a word or two 

 that will strengthen and encourage and lift 

 up even old veterans in the cause of Christ. 

 But I believe every veteran in the service of 

 the Lord can testify that even the pastor of 

 the church himself has no power or elo- 

 quence to move hearts like the simple words 

 of a soul newly born into the kingdom of 

 Christ. The words at the head of our talk, 

 '' Ye are my witnesses,'" abundantly prove 

 themselves;" and it seems stranj^e, too, that 

 there is no progress in the Christian life un- 

 less each and every one takes up the cross 

 and testifies before his fellow-men. It may 

 be that there are, occasionally, individuals 

 who don't seem called upon to speak in 

 public ; at least, there are some who declare 

 they don't receive a blessing in taking part 

 in prayer-meetings and other religious exer- 

 cises ; but these are comparatively few. My 

 experience with new converts "has been, 

 that, almost without exception, they feel 

 strengthened and encoiu-aged and inspired 

 to push on and fight the good fight, by taking 

 part in the prayer-meetings or other assem- 

 blies of Christian worshipers. Over and 

 over again have I seen a dull meeting trans- 

 formed into one full of life and energy and 

 vigor by some simple testimony from one who 

 is just getting a glimpse, apparently, of the 

 beauties of a Christian life — some one who, 

 it was quite evident, was obliged to make a 

 great effort to indicate to the world that he 

 was desirous of being considered on the 

 Lord's side. It is a cross. I know, to rise 

 up before the world and declare for the first 

 time that you want to be counted among 

 Christ's followers ; and it is also quite a 

 cross for some who are well along in years, 

 and well along in Christ's service, to bear 

 testimony. Now, friends, you may think it 

 a little singular ; but although I take some 

 public part in Christian work every day of 

 my life, and almost invariably speak rnore 

 or less at our prayer -meetings twice a week, 

 yet for all this my heart often beats violent- 

 ly—sometimes so it makes it hard for me to 

 speak when I rise to plead the cause of the 

 Master. But I am glad to be able to say. tliat 

 when I sit down it is always with a feeling 

 of peace and faith and trust in my heart 

 that I didn't feel before rising. If my re- 

 marks have been made with a prayer that 

 they may reach some heart, there is a feel- 

 ing afterward something like " Well done, 

 good and faithful servant." If. however, I 

 yield to the feeling that I have talked 

 enough in former tinu'S. or don't need to say 

 rmv ^/«n(/ during that special meeting. I in- 

 variably go away witii less faith in Christ, 

 and along with it less faith in my fellow- 



men, and a cold dead sort of Christianity in 

 my heart. 



In response to my invitation in Our Neigh- 

 bors, in the last issue, quite a number have 

 sent ill testimony to the power of Christ to 

 bring peace into the hearts of men ; still, a 

 few have objected to having their letters 

 published. I think these few have made a 

 mistake, but of course I have no right to 

 publish them when desired not to do so. 

 One of the first and easiest things for a 

 young Christian to do is to rise up and state 

 his feelings and wishes, and ask the prayers 

 of the assembled brothers and sisters ; and 

 sometimes the simple words, " Pray for me," 

 and nothing else, bring peace and "hope and 

 joy to a hungering soul. It indicates, if 

 nothing more, that the speaker is hungering 

 and thirsting for righteousness; and any 

 expression to this effect seems to bring 

 peace and a fulfillment of the promise. 



Our first testimony comes from one in 

 middle age; and yet, we judge from the let- 

 ter, it is a testimony from liro whose faith 

 has been brightened and strengthened by 

 the testimonies already given in these pages. 



A HUSBAND AND WIFE WHO FEEL IT A PRIVILEGE 

 TO GIVE IN THEIR TESTIMONY. 



Friend Root :— I have long felt you were a friend 

 to me, just in the knowledge that you were a Chris- 

 tian, and more particularly in the help you have 

 atforded us in your Home talks. Indeed, my hus- 

 band seems to think your manner of treating every- 

 hodu as our neighbor was largely the cause of his 

 trying to seek the right way of living. We are now 

 in middle age, enjoying a Christian life, and trying 

 to live void of offense toward both God and man. 

 We have often met those same difficulties which we 

 are so plainly illustrated in your Home talks. Some- 

 times when the world seems harsh, and the people 

 still harsher, it is a great comfort to take the good 

 Book and turn to " Wo unto you when all men shall 

 speak well of you;" and, "Blessed are they that 

 are persecuted for righteousness' sake," and many 

 more such passages that cheer the heart. I started 

 out to tell you, that if it does you so much good to 

 think you had helped a boy to a higher life, you 

 surely will be encouraged to know you are helping 

 tivo in middle life who have been trying to serve 

 the Lord for fifteen years. As soon as Gleanings 

 is brought home, Mr. Ross will say, "Now, wife, 

 let's see what brother Root has to say to us in this 

 issue;" and we always find something helpful in 

 every number. 



I am afraid I shal 1 wi'ite too long a letter. I will 

 tell you all about our bees before long. I do not 

 ask you to print this. I shall be glad if j ou can 

 read it, and understand that you are helping us, 

 too. to lay up treasures in heaven. Much sickness 

 has greatly impaired my eyesight; but I thank God 

 I have a voice to praise my heavenly Father, and a 

 heart attimcd to his praises. Mtjs. E. L. Ross. 



Arlington, 111., Oct. 5, 1887. 



Dear sister, we are glad to receive your 

 testimony: and aUhougli yon liave not ask- 

 ed us to print it, we feel sure you are will- 

 ing, providing it will strengthen and en- 

 courage others, which we know it must do. 



The next is from one of our younger 

 friends. 



TESTI.MONY FKOM A «()V }8 VEAUS OF AGE. 



Mr. R<if)t:—You ask, " Is there another soul among 



