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GLEAJSIJSGS iN BEE CUETUKE. 



Nov 



difference ; but her early training and teach- 

 ing had been so much to the contrary that 

 slie felt greatly troubled and worried about 

 calling herself a Christian before she had 

 had any evidence that she was called to be 

 one of Christ's chosen ones, or one of his 

 ''anointed," as it is sometimes termed. I 

 suggested to her that she would receive 

 " the blessing,'' as we often call it, by going 

 forward and taking^ up Christian duties. 

 Finally, in response to my urging and that 

 of our "pastor, as well as that of the pastors 

 of the four otlier churches (for we had a 

 union revival that winter), she united with 

 the church. You may ask, did this happy 

 experience— this great change that is often 

 termed the "new birth "—ever come to her 

 at all ? I am obliged to say, perhaps with 

 some qualification, it has not come to this 

 day ; it never came at all ; she never felt 

 any sort of change ; and at times for a good 

 many years she was worried and troubled 

 for fear she had done a wrong thing in unit- 

 ing with the church as she had. In fact, I 

 was for a time afraid that she would never 

 feel satisfied with her religious experience ; 

 but 1 am glad to say now that her faith in 

 God and his promises is i)erhaps even more 

 firmly rooted and grounded than is my own. 

 Dear friends, many of you may think there 

 is no sort of danger "that / should ever 

 change in my love toward Christ ; but could 

 you know my wife as I know her, I think 

 you would say that her Christian character 

 is more firmly builded on the rock of Christ 

 Jesus than is my own. The rains may de- 

 scend and the floods come, and the winds 

 may blow, and in a way to intimidate and 

 demoralize even the veterans in Christ's 

 service ; but Mrs. Hoot's faith will never 

 waver. Very likely I may, when great 

 trial comes, be demoralized and frightened, 

 and perhaps, for the time being, inclined to 

 doubt. My experience may be like Chris- 

 tian's, in "the Pilgrim's Progress; but my 

 wife's experience will be more like that of 

 his companion Hopeful. Do you ask where 

 or how she got this firm faith? It has been 

 by doing duty in all these long years, and 

 paying no attention to feeling. Two of our 

 children are married, and have homes of 

 their own ; three others are growing up, and 

 their minds are being molded and formed 

 by a mother's love. Our children have been 

 wayward and contrary — sometimes stubborn 

 — yes, fearfully stubborn, as their father 

 was; but my wife has gained faith in God 

 by praying and working with these children. 

 Iter reward has never come by jumps and 

 starts. It has come in the even tenor of 

 her life. She has tested the promises so 

 many times during these years that are 

 I)ast, that they have got to be a part of her 

 very nature ; and instead of the bright ex- 

 perience that I and some others have en- 

 joyed at times, hers has been a calm and 

 peaceful rest and trust in the Father's love. 

 No doubt there is wisdom in these different 

 experiences. My enthusiasm has been the 

 means, perhaps, of turning a good many to- 

 ward Christ and his kingdom. Very likely 

 my wife's clear even way has done fully as 

 much among her circle of friends and ac- 

 quaintances. 



I am glad to know, dear friend S., that you 

 are stirred, and that your faith was bright- 

 ened l)y those letters from our brothers in 

 the penitentiary ; and I M'ould suggest that 

 you will probably enjoy doing mission work 

 of this kind. Go with your father or mother 

 or brother, or with some Christian brother 

 or sister, to your nearest jail, and interest 

 yourself in the inmates there. Tell them of 

 Christ, and of his love for sinners. Never 

 mind yourself; accept with thankfulness 

 what God has given you in the way of reli- 

 gious experience, and don't trouble yourself 

 or worry about the other part. In that 

 beautiful little book called " The Christian's 

 Secret of a Happy Life." the author says, 

 " In becoming a happy Christian there is a 

 work for you to do, and a work for God to 

 do." Then she says, '• Now, you must take 

 it for granted that God will always do his 

 part ; hence all that remains for you to do 

 is to trusthim and be ready to do your part." 

 You are not mistaken, my little friend, if 

 you really want to be a Christian. When 

 you feel disappointed and discouraged in 

 the matter, ask yourself, " Am I really hun- 

 gering and thirsting after righteousness ?" 

 If so, then you are all right, and all you 

 have to do is to wait for the promises. God 

 will send them in his own good time. 



Now, in closing, little unknown friend, I 

 want to take up another side of the question. 

 May be the reason why you have not a more 

 vivid consciousness of being one of God's 

 children is because you are not living up to 

 his commands. I suppose you are, of 

 course, reading your Bible ; I presume you 

 attend Sundify-school regularly ; very likely 

 you are a member of this new society that is 

 doing so much good, called the " Society of 

 Christian Endeavor." If so. then you cer- 

 tainly have plenty to do in Christ's service. 

 I should think, from your childlike letter, 

 that you are honest and sincere, and that 

 your daily life is in accordance with this 

 letter. If you want to be one of God's chos- 

 en ones, you must be sure you cherish no 

 unkindness toward any one. "I suppose, dear 

 little friend, you are ready to shake hands 

 pleasantly and good-naturedly with every 

 man, woman, or child on the face of the 

 earth ; and if you have any enemies, I pre- 

 sume you are ready to shake hands and 

 make up— always ready. No doubt there 

 are brothers and sisters, and may be other 

 people, who delight in teasing and bothering 

 you. I suppose you are doing good to each 

 one of them ; that, in fact, you are trying to 

 love your enemies. I suppose, too, you are 

 helpiiig your mother, studying her wants 

 and wishes. I presume you take pains to 

 enter into the interests and feelings of the 

 younger ones of your family. I presume 

 you are always pleasant and good-natured ; 

 that you are patient under suffering; that 

 you are not always trying to please yourself. 

 'You remember the dear Savior pleased not 

 himself; and I hope, dear little friend, you 

 are always pure in heart. I can remember 

 well, that, when quite a child, impure 

 thoughts were sometimes put into my little 

 head by getting among bad companions. If 

 you want to be God's child, remember what 

 he savs : " Blessed are the pure in heart, for 



