PREFACE.

THE intention has been to make the matter of the following pages illustrate the title of the volume. To what extent I have succeeded, I must leave my readers to determine. One thing is clear,—it is easier to write than to hit the mark at which the author aims. Perchance the contents may be embedded nearer the centre than I suppose. This is an open question, one which time, circulation, and the judgment of my readers alone can determine. Designed to reach and interest many minds, I have endeavoured to produce in TERSE TALK a cheerful, chatty, popular, and companionable book. Various topics have been dwelt upon which I venture to think are interesting, timely, and important. Many of the subjects touched upon represent snatches of time obtained whilst travelling, preaching, and lecturing. Some of these have appeared in the columns of the Christian Commonwealth. They were written when I was one of the Editors of that journal. They have been, however, in almost every case re-written, and amplified. I venture to hope that my first attempt at publishing a volume will be found acceptable. My desire has been to stimulate thought, provoke enquiry, and yield interest, enjoyment, and

blessing to all. Believing that our Lord Jesus Christ is "the Light of the world" as well as the "Eternal Life of men," I have endeavoured in TERSE TALK to show something of the excellency of His character, the glory of His work, and the sanctified common sense which pervades the teachings of His everlasting Word.

HENRY VARLEY.

NOTTING HILL,

LONDON, W., April 1884.

TERSE TALK.

Dead, but still Standing.-Whilst visiting the beautiful island of Tasmania my attention was often called, nay, arrested, to huge trees which appear as "bleached ghosts of the forest." They stand out in the brilliant moonlight with a weirdness alike surprising and magnificent. The reason for their condition is as follows: On account of their great size and the heavy cost of what is called "grubbing up," the settler leaves them in the ground, and proceeds to hew round the trunk at a height of about four feet from the ground. The axe cuts through the bark, and about an inch into the tree. The effect is that when the next spring comes the sap from the "gashed wounds" exudes, and the giant of the forest dies. The branches wither, the leaves fall off, the bark strips, and a single year suffices for these trees to join the army of the upright dead. The farmer can now plough the ground between, sow his corn, and reap the harvest in the huge mausoleum of the forest. No sheltering foliage hinders the sun's rays, and the wheat plant thrives and ripens amidst hundreds of towering trees whose only voice is of the silence of the dead. As I looked upon these dead trees I was reminded of an experience which comes to many men who are dead also even while they too, in posture at least, are upright. Hewed round in the trunk of their young and robust life, the axe of "the adversary" has cut until the rising, spreading, and expanding sap of life has been drained. The spring time of these trees of promise in humanity's forest

is also followed by the bleach and ghastly death which comes of the exuding of conscience, honour, strength, and life. Alas, alas! this vast human mausoleum knows no wheat growth or harvest at its base. The malaria of death, the spreading corruption infects other trees also, and the forest of the "living dead" extends. Well does the Apostle say of those who serve their lusts and sins, They wax wanton and are dead while they live."

66

Isolated Actions do not determine Character.—In forming a correct estimate of the character of a man we need to be careful of the evidence which we receive. Some of the most eminent characters whose history is given in God's Word fell into grievous and shameful sin. What, then, were they necessarily bad or wicked men? By no means. We have seen, at certain seasons, rivers whose current was unmistakably westward, apparently flowing in a contrary direction. The cause may be thus stated. The full stream had overflowed its banks, and the abnormal backwater, finding its own channel for the time being, ran hither and thither, unbounded, lawless, and mischievous. The usual course of the river was forsaken and denied. What, then, was the river's current changed? Surely not. Even thus, through want of fidelity, watchfulness, and restraint, the enemies of the Christian-sin, Satan, temptation, passion-come in like a flood, and, as in the case of David and Peter, overflowed the banks of the current of the man's real character, and swept him for the time into the backwater of sorrow, shame, and contradiction of sin. What,

Is the man's sin his character? Most certainly not. Ask the current of his life. Ask the hot tears of his repentThese true witnesses, like the roll of the stream, sum up the argument, and declare the man not proven guilty so far as his character is concerned.

ance.

Remember thine Ignorance.-Knowledge may be likened to a huge sphere broken in pieces-a map in parts