1883 



JUVENILE GLEANINGS. 



191 



I have talked to you about. Finally as I 

 pass him on the streets I notice something 

 very much like a cigar quickly slipped out 

 of sight as I approach. The next morning 

 I accost him, when I tind him away from the 

 rest. "John, are you using tobacco V " 

 '• No, sir, Mr. Root, I have not used a bit." 

 His words are positive and decided ; but 

 his manner is not quite what I like to see. 

 He does not look up frankly and pleasantly, 

 but has an evasive sort of look, and a sort of 

 look that seems to indicate that he is any 

 thing but happy, or the conversation any 

 thing but pleasant to him. 



" You give me your word, John, that you 

 have not used a bit of tobacco in any shape 

 since you gave me your promise?" 

 " No, Mr. Root, I have not used a bit." 

 Next day I am assured by the foreman of 

 his room that he has been using it right 

 along. What shall I doV It is not only a 

 report that I have from him. but it is his ac- 

 tions that have made me feel troubled about 

 him. But as I do not like to do any thing 

 hastily, I let the matter pass for a day or 

 two. Tretty soon 1 am informed he has been 

 cheating in his time — not only in minutes, 

 but in hours. What shall I do V This is a 

 question I have asked myself many times, 

 and my best wisdom seems to dictate that, so 

 long as he holds his present attitude there 

 is nothing to be done but to tell the time- 

 clerk, when Saturday night comes, to in- 

 form him he is not needed any longer. Some 

 may suggest talking with him further on the 

 subject ; but after many experiences in cases 

 like this, I have not been able to see any 

 good from further talk, or following up the 

 matter. So far as I am concerned, L am 

 helpless. If any reformation is to be made, 

 it must commence with himself. 



Now, friends, it has seemed to me that our 

 attitude toward God the Father is often- 

 times like this. God has done all he can un- 

 til we show some signs of penitence and ref- 

 ormation. He has gone after us, and has 

 plead with us to turn from our evil ways, un- 

 til it would be of no avail for him to do any 

 thing more while our hearts are hardened in 

 falsehood and sin ; while we resolutely re- 

 ject, scorn, and disdain his proffers of mercy. 

 The Holy Spirit has been grieved away. 

 The boy who has uttered a square and delib- 

 erate falsehood about the use of tobacco will 

 surely very soon after cheat in regard to his 

 time ; and, if not caught in the act, will 

 hasten on quickly to some greater sin. Let 

 us follow him a little further. When told 

 that he has lost his place, as a rule he will 

 readily guess why it was, and will not come 

 to me for any explanation. Suppose, how- 

 ever, that 1 have been hasty or misinformed. 

 In that case he will seek me at once and ask 

 me to know why he is not wanted any longer. 

 As this gives me an opportunity for having 

 a talk with him, and as the act also implies 

 that he wants to do right, I feel at once hope- 

 ful in regard to him ; for just as soon as he 

 comes to me inquiring what is amiss, then I 

 feel that I can, with some hope of success, 

 do him good. If he confesses his guilt, and 

 tells me a story of temptation and sin, and 

 begs of me to give him another chance, and 

 try again, I feel pretty sure he will come out 



all right. And here we have a lesson in re- 

 gard to importunity. There is seldom any 

 importunity where one has calmly and de- 

 liberately decided to do wrong ; in fact, im- 

 portunity is an Indication of penitence, and 

 a desire to do better, or to improve. In the 

 above illustration I have put myself in the 

 attitude of father, and the young man whom 

 I am trying to encourage in wisdom's ways, 

 in the attitude of son; for the relations be- 

 tween teacher and pupil, and between em- 

 ployer and employed, are like to that — father 

 and son. Those who want to lind fault with 

 my illustration may, I am well aware, bring 

 a grave charge against me here ; but those 

 who are seeking for the truth, as I am seek- 

 ing for the truth, will probaldy not notice 

 any thing amiss in my little story from real 

 life. 



Now, friends, when we study the attitude 

 of a disobedient earthly child, and deciile, 

 according to the test of our wisdom, what 

 course is best to pursue with him? Do we 

 not also ma]) out, or illustrate, what our at- 

 titude should be toward the great Creator 

 and Author of the universe^ Can we expect 

 God to listen to or answer our prayers while 

 our lives are lives of falsehood and contra- 

 diction? Or if we are persisting in that 

 couise which we know to be wrong and sin- 

 ful, how can we expect God to follow us 

 with the influences of his Holy Spirit, and 

 give us peace and joy and happiness? Still 

 further, if we realize that our lives have 

 been sinful and wrong, and realize that we 

 have been false and unfaithful, what shall 

 we do? Is it not plain and clear, that our 

 first duty is to come to him confessing our 

 fault, admitting ourselves to be grievous 

 sinners, without any merit whatever of our 

 own, whereby we can claim his love or fa- 

 vor? Another thing: Does God want us to 

 come to him after we have been wicked and 

 sinful, and false and untrue? To be sure, 

 he does, my friends; in f<ict, he always 

 wants us to come to him when in trouble. 

 He rejoices at the opportunity of being able 

 to talk with us ; or, if you choose, to be able 

 to commune with us by" his divine Spirit, and 

 to thus attract us and guide us in our w^ays. 

 Do you know what Jesus said? — " For there 

 is joy ill heaven over one siiuier that repent- 

 eth." We never need be afraid that God 

 will be displeased to see us coming again. 

 On the contrary, he has been looking, hop- 

 ing, watching, waiting; and the loving- 

 Savior is always ready and glad to put forth 

 his hands the minute any truly i)enitent 

 child starts to approach him. The thought 

 of this has been a comfort to me ; for I too, 

 dear friends, have sometimes asked myself 

 the question, '' W' ill ttod want to see me 

 now ? will my prayers be acceptable to him, 

 after what has just happened ? can he forget 

 it and overlook it so quickly ? " Yes, friends, 

 he can and does gladly, oh so gladly ! provid- 

 ing you are truly penitent and sorry for the 

 fault; providing you have "set your face 

 like a flint" against that act of wickedness, 

 and have left it off entirely, and for ever. 

 This thought gives me comfort— not only 

 because it is Bible doctrine, but because in 

 these few weeks I have proved it by putting 

 myself in the attitude of a parent toward a 



