Where Growth consists in action. there is no action, there is no growth. Action invigorates and warms up soul and body. It puts fire into the individual, that keeps the blood (which is the life) in circulation. GOD'S SCHOOL. RECITATION FOR ADVANCED SCHOLARS. ONE by one, as the days go by, On one of the Huguenot churches, Somehow or other it must be met. A Romish conception of the sacred heart, is a heart of flame. Why should not the new heart be the same? The work of God always was and always will be, forever onward and upward, from the earthly to the spiritual; from the terrestrial into the angelic. The Church of Christ should be the lamp, giving forth light to the nations around; a city on the hill, all aglow as it catches the first rays of the rising "Sun of Righteousness." Should not the church be also a living body, a center of attraction to draw souls into its embraces for life and salvation? Let its members be alive with the spirit of God, and let their singing ring out like peans of victory, and prayers throb with faith and desire, and testimonies come warm from experience; then will be the evidence of the presence of that life giving Spirit, and souls are born anew into the resurrection order. Harvard, Mass. THE proper way to check slander is to despise it; attempt to overtake and refute it and it will outrun you.-George Eliot. And the hours go by so slow-so slow! Often the little ones laugh in glee Only the scholars, weary and vexed— Suffer from errors all their own. The Spirit teaches the highest class; While Experience, Care and Pain And after this last, long term shall pass -New Eng. Journal of Education. "It is far more blessed to give than to receive." ASENATH C. STICKNEY. As I peruse the neatly printed pages of our .. Manifesto," and take special cognizance of the names of its liberal contributors, I am forcibly impressed that in this regard, as in alms-giving, "It is far more blessed to give than to receive." My thoughts linger more especially upon the names and characters of our honored veteran writers who in our view justly belong to the class of the "more blessed," in every sense of the expression. THOMAS. FLOYD C. FIELD. THOMAS was a faithful follower of Jesus, although by some he is called the doubting disciple, yet among all of the disciples of Jesus there was not one who obeyed his mandates more willingly than Thomas. Comparatively speaking we know but little of his life, but wherever he is spoken of we can not help but admire his spiritual heroism, His doubts were the results that would natTherefore, we the army of happy re-urally follow, a man of deep thought and cipients feeling ourselves under great careful investigation. obligations to you as public teachers ask you to accept this day a tribute of gratitude for your constancy in advocating the principles of a religious truth which has sanctified and blessed your individual efforts, for so many long years. "Venerable worthy friends! ye come down to us from a former generation, as it were," bringing your well-earned treasures, greeting us with your practical testimonies, and laying your precious pearls of thought, at the very feet of inexperience; thus guiding and blessing those who should be your successors in the life and ministry of a pure, an exalted christianity. Is it possible? we ask ourselves, for us to forget to love, appreciate and honor the names and characters of such representative writers. We trust not, and hereby we pledge ourselves anew to live by the precepts which you have so wisely given. For we are witnesses that a life-time of personal practical goodness enables you to present us a genuine religion a proof of self-denial. Yea, Self-denial the only key yet fashioned to unlock to souls the mystic realm of spiritual peace wherein you dwell. May God continue to bless you as "givers" in His cause is our prayer. Canterbury, N. H. Do to-day the nearest duty. and all Believers can undoubtedly see that his obedience to Jesus is worthy of emulation. The first notice we have of Thomas was the speech he made when Jesus had concluded to face the dangers which awaited him, in Judea, on his journey to Bethany. Previous to this the Jews in Judea were about to stone him but he escaped the danger by going beyond Jordan. While teaching in that region the sisters of Lazarus sent word to Jesus that their broth er was sick. After remaining two days he said to his disciples "Let us go into Judea again." But his disciples began to oppose him; they said "Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee and goest thou thither again?" Yea, here were chosen disciples of Jesus coming up in opposition against him seemingly forgetting that he was the lead that should be obeyed. Thomas joined them not in their opposition. He had too much faith in Jesus as his spiritual guide to oppose him in any particular. "Let us also go that we may die with him," were the heroic words expressed by Thomas. What faith he must have had in the Bridegroom of the regeneration, willing even to sacrifice his own life if by so doing he was acting in obedience to the wishes of his Master and leader. If all who dwell within Zion's walls were obedient to the will of God, and had faith in the Bridegroom and Bride as the foundation pillars on which rests the new heavens and the new earth, and possessed the courage and heroism of Thomas, Zion's walls would again shake with the power of God and we could himself. feel the presence of the beloved Father and truth demonstrated, He wanted to know for Mother of the new dispensation in our midst, Hence, he said, "except I shall and realize the shower of divine love which see in his hands the print of the nails and would be wafted to us from the throne of the put my finger into the print of the nails Infinite. Yea, Thomas' own brethren op- and thrust my hand into his side, I will not posed him but he could say as did Paul, believe." "None of these things move me neither God will manifest his power to any people count I my life dear unto myself, so that I who will show by their life that they have might finish my course with joy and the min-faith and implicit confidence in his promises. "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my istry which I have received of the Lord Jesus to testify the gospel of the grace of words shall not pass away." "I will come God." The next notice we have of Thomas to you." These words Jesus spoke and was during the last supper, Thomas realized that they were spoken to deavoring to comfort his disciples for he knew him, therefore, he relied upon them and exthat he would soon be crucified. Therefore pected their fulfillment. he said to his disciples, "Whither I go ye know and the way ye know." Thomas immediately spoke and said, "Lord we know not whither thou goest and how can we know the way?" Jesus was en Look at the cautiousness of this disciple. He was afraid that he might make a misstep or go contrary to the will of God, therefore, he wanted Jesus to make known to him what he should do and how he should walk. What wisdom and childlike simplicity is here shown in Thomas. He knew who to ask for light. If he had doubts he made them known at the proper place. He did not open his mind to his brethren in the gospel and ask them what he should do or burden them with his troubles, but they were all carried to the first anointed in God's order. God wants all of his people to realize for themselves the truth of the gospel. The testimony of others will not suffice but he wants us to feel the presence of his Holy spirit within our own heart. That only will bring comfert and consolation to a true child of the kingdom. The next time the disciples assembled Thomas was with them. After the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said, "Peace be unto you." Then saith he to Thomas reach hither thy finger and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand and thrust it into my side and be not faithless but believing." "And Thomas answered and said, My Lord and my God." Jesus saith to him, "because thou hast seen thou hast believed, blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed. The last, important notice we have of Thomas transpired a few days after the cru- What satisfaction Thomas must have decifixion of Jesus. His ten brethren were try-rived from this demonstration, so ardently ing to convince him that they had seen their longed for. Yea, this disciple was not easiMaster and conversed with him since his ex-ly deluded. If he saw Jesus he wanted to ecution. Thomas was astounded, he doubt- recognize him. He knew he was going to ed, he thought they might be mistaken; he preach to a world of unbelievers; those who thought strange that this occurrence should would assert that he was laboring under a dehappen while he was absent from them. He lusion, therefore he wanted positive evidence no doubt listened to them attentively, but it concerning the presence of Jesus, then he gave him no comfort. He remembered the would be better prepared to battle the world language of Jesus, viz. "I will not leave and meet the arguments which would emayou comfortless I will come to you." Thom-nate from Satan and his emissaries. as realized that he had been a faithful disciple, therefore, he was entitled to the same privilege that the other disciples had enjoyed. Jesus had promised to comfort him as well as his brother disciples. Therefore he would not be satisfied until he could see the same isfied. The print of the nails, the pierced side he clearly recognized, not in the midnight darkness but on a bright spring morning. This was a spiritual demonstration under test conditions therefore Thomas was thoroughly sat God is willing to satisfy the longings of all honest seekers after truth. Wherever there is a fundamental want inherent in man there must be a corresponding provision. "My Lord and my God." How much is there involved in these words. It clearly demonstrates that Thomas was a "Believer" for he recognizes God through him who began the blessed work of "regeneration" which finally culminated in the second appearing of Christ being manifested through the female by which a spiritual relation was formed between the two Anointed Ones. Thereby they have become the foundation pillars on which rests the new heavens and the new earth. Thomas saw and believed but "blessed are lieved." UNION. FLORA WILLIAMS. "So we being many are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Rom. xii., 5. All mankind are bound together by a certain bond of fellowship. The re moteness of the situation in which we are placed does not affect this connection, but rather tends to strengthen it, as we see in the commerce of different nations and in mutual exchange of commodities. The inhabitants of one country culti they that have not seen and yet have be- vate fruits for the consumption of those of another; and the inhabitants of other countries in return produce articles of manufacture for their use, thus one gives that which the other needs, and both are provided. God saw that Thomas required a powerful demonstration to prepare him for the work which was set before him. God deals with men according to their needs but the same manifestations have never been repeated in the world's history, therefore all cannot be eye-witnesses to the demonstrations of God. It was so in the days of the disciples, and it is none the less now. Many believed the gospel that were not present at the Pentecostal Baptism. Many to-day believe in the Second Appearing of Christ who beheld not the glory of his coming; many are to-day believers in the Christ life that never were eye-witnesses to powerful manifestations of God. "Blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed." foundation of truth which will stand forever. South Union, Ky. or There are various distinctions grades in life; the lowest are useful as well as the highest; the rich benefit the poor, and the poor labor for the rich. Governors protect their subjects and every loyal subject contributes to the support of its Governor; in this way the interests of leaders and people become one. There is no such thing as independence, and were it not for ignorance and pride, we should never think of it. May we all have faith in the Gospel of Christ and stand firm on the principles which were manifested in the days of Mother Ann The laboring class are the basis of soand we will be endowed with heavenly wis-ciety, and why not? The foundation of dom which will free us from all the errors of the wall sustains the superstructure. the world and place our feet upon the solid A larger building requires more support than a smaller. The higher we rise, the more we possess, the less claim we have to independence; now if this be true in the natural order of things, it is pre-eminently so in the christian life. And it is in this light that Paul so frequently speaks of it. "I say through the grace given unto me to every man Do not be troubled because you have no great virtues. God made a million spires of grass, where he made one tree. The earth is fringed and carpeted, not with forests, but grass. Only have enough of little virtues and common fidelities, and you need not mourn because you are neither a saint nor a hero. that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God has dealt to every man a measure of faith." THE REWARD. NANCY G. DANFORTH. WHEN Jesus was asked by the rich man what he must do to inherit eternal encum To show how important it is to mani-life, his reply was, The first thing to fest a mutual dependence he remarks, be done, is to sell and to give to the "The eye cannot say unto the hand, I needy, all your selfish, private property. have no need of thee; nor again the You cannot receive the blessing you head to the feet, I have no need of thee. seek, or live the life of self-denial Nay much more those members of the which I live, while you are body which seem to be more feeble, are bered with earthly cares and anxieties. necessary. They all have their respective places and uses. Each is necessary; essential to the beauty, strength, happiness, and the perfection of the whole. Why then should we set at naught a brother? The Christian church would' never When you have parted with every thing, that claims your attention alone and beyond the work which I am called to perform, then follow me, live as I live, daily denying yourself for the good of others, being willing to lay down your natural life, if need be, rather than have been reduced to its present disjoint-deny the anointing power, which rests ed state if the members had not been be guiled from the simplicity found in the religion of the meek and lowly Savior; and instead of the peace and harmony that should pervade the Christian world we have strife and discord. Indeed how can we call ourselves the disciples of the Prince of Peace if we do not abide by the principles so clearly wrought in the life of our pattern? He said, "Then are ye my disciples if ye love one another. upon me for the salvation of humanity. It is by following this advice that eternal life is obtained. What is eternal life? Does it consist in standing around a great white throne bowing and singing psalms through all eternity? Is there nothing more? The throne of God in every man is his conscience, and when strictly obedient to its dictates according to light and truth, he is worshiping at the throne of God, no matter what honest labor employs his According to this we must not live for hands. Peter speaks of having left all ourselves. Each is to live for the good to follow Christ, then asks what shall be of each and for all. "With brotherly the reward? Jesus says: To these who love; in honor preferring one another. "have followed me in the regeneration Even an indulgence harmless in itself, (not generation) shall be granted to sit is to be avoided if the peace of a weak on thrones judging others and again, conscience will thereby be destroyed. Such was the example of Jesus Christ and such is the duty of those professing to be his followers. Canterbury, N. H. IDLENESS is inconsistent with a christian life.-F. they are to be kings and priests," still farther in the parable, to those who had wisely improved the Teacher's gift, after being commended, were given more duties, as the care of five or ten cities. These things are very signifi |