Practical Thoughts. Christianity is aggressive. If Christ has saved us we should be anxious for the salvation of our neighbor. Let us go forth and preach Christ boldly. It is the duty of every Christian to do this by a consistent example. DIVINE PROTECTION. The Saviour had predicted (vs. 21; John xvi. 2.) that their enemies would put them to death. But they were not to fear them for this reason. They may destroy the body, but they can not kill the soul. And if they destroy your bodies I will save your souls. For whosoever shall save his life shall lose it; and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. But rather fear Him which is able, etc. Stier in his work on "The Words of the Lord Jesus" gives five reasons for referring Him to Satan. Lange in his "Life of Christ" agrees with the interpretation of Stier, but in his commentary on Matthew changes his mind and applies it to God. Nearly all of the commentators refer it to God. Stier renders it thus: "Trust only in Him (God) who can protect you, but fear him (Satan) who would destroy you, and both can and will unless you fear Him." These passages teach the doctrine of the immortality of the soul, and that there is a place of punishment for the body as well as for the soul. The disciples must not imagine that wicked men can put them to death at their pleasure. As their heavenly Father cares for the sparrows-the smallest of birds-so, too, does He care for His children, and watches over them. He takes cognizance of the most trifling details of our lives. If He numbers the hairs of our head will He not much more care for the head? It sometimes happens that sparrows fall to the ground, and God's servants are put to death, but it is not without His will and knowledge. This assurance is sufficient to inspire in them a sense of security. times,' freely, in our families, in our business, in the church, in company, with humility, firmness, courage, perseverance, despite all hindrances, from ourselves, from relatives, and so-called friends and the world. Peter and John confessed Christ before the Sanhedrim ; so did Stephen. Paul confessed_Him everywhere, even before Felix, Festus and Agrippa. How the martyrs and reformers confessed Christ in the midst of the most tormenting persecutors." So if we confess Christ He will confess us as His children before the Father. Many in the day of judgment will say, Lord, Lord open to us, but He will say, Depart from me, I never knew you. This will be said only to those who have denied Christ on earth. What an awful confusion will there be among those who have denied the Lord Jesus here. Practical Thoughts. Confession of Christ will be rewarded with everlasting happiness. Denial of Christ will be punished with everlasting torment. Are you confessing or denying the Saviour? Safety in Saving. A traveler was crossing a mountain height alone over almost untrodden snows. Warning had been given him that if slumber pressed down upon his weary eyes they would inevitably be sealed in death. For a time he went bravely along his path. But with the deepening shade and freezing blasts of night there fell a weight upon his brain and eyes which seemed irresistible. In vain he strained his utmost energies to shake off that fatal heaviness. At this crisis of his fate his foot struck against a heap that lay across his path stone was that, although no stone could be colder or more lifeless. He stooped to touch it, and found a human body half buried beneath a fresh drift of snow. The next moment the traveler had taken a brother in his arms, was chafing his hands, and chest, and "To con-brow; breathing upon the stiff, cold lips the warm breath of a living soul; pressing the silent heart to the beating pulses of his own generous bosom. Practical Thoughts. The Providence of God. CONFESSION AND DENIAL. fess Christ is to receive Him as our Master, own Him, stand by Him and His cause, and suffer for Him if needs be, when others are despising and rejecting Him. We should confess Him personally, believingly, fully at all No and The effort to save another had brought back to himself life, warmth, and energy. "He saved a brother, and was saved himself." THE GUARDIAN AND THE SCRIPTURE LESSONS. The "GUARDIAN" is a monthly, devoted to the highest interests of the young, at the most solemn and interesting period of their life. It offers its friendly counsels to them in an earnest, though free and cheerful way. At the same time, a portion of its pages are appropriated to the interests of Sunday-schools. Among other things, it furnishes LESSON PAPERS for Scholars, accompanied with terse and pithy comments upon the Lessons, for Teachers, all gotten up in the spirit of the Church Year. It is in all respects, a most valuable publication for the young, and Sunday school Teachers. Each number contains thirty-two closely printed double column pages, and it is published at the following rates: When the names are to be written on each copy, the rates will be the same as if charged for a single copy. For any The LESSON PAPERS are furnished separately, each containing the Lessons for one month, at 75 cents for 100 copies per month, or $9.00 per year. les number, at the rate of one cent per copy for each month. The above rates are CASH IN ADVANCE. Address, Reformed Church Publication Board, 907 ARCH STREET, PHILADELPHIA. THE GUARDIAN: A MONTHLY MAGAZINE Devoted to the Social, Literary and Religious Interests of Young Men and Ladies, and to the Sunday-School Cause. Rev. B. BAUSMAN, D. D., Editor. THE GUARDIAN enters upon its XXVIIIth volume, on the first of January 1877. It has a sufficient history to establish its character, and to show its fruits. In its principles, purposes, and general spirit, no changes are proposed. The True, the Beautiful, and the Good are unchangeable-error and sin are always the same. Its editorial management is committed, as heretofore, to the Rev. B. BAUSMAN, D. D., whose name, of itself, the publishers regard as the most satisfactory guarantee of the high tone and general interest which should characterize the family magazine. THE GUARDIAN continues to be published by the REFORMED CHURCH PUBLICATION BOARD. It compares favorably with other publications of the kind, and has earned for itself a reputation which may well be coveted. The publishers will continue to use a superior quality of paper; and do all in their power, in co-operating with the Editor, to render THE GUARDIAN acceptable to its subscribers. This Magazine will be mainly devoted, as heretofore, to the highest interests of the young, at the most solemn and interesting period of their life. It will offer its friendly counsels to them in an earnest, though free and cheerful way. It will solemnly seek to warn them against the wrong, and affectionately lure them to the right. The Editor will endeavor to make its contents true, pure, fresh, and healthy as the morning of life. It will particularly urge self-culture and early piety as of the highest importance, and cultivate the home feeling as a sacred element in social purity and peace. It will seek to move in the element of its motto:"Life-Light-Love." In addition to its usual variety of reading matter, THE GUARDIAN Will hereafter appropriate at least ten pages of each number to the interests of the SundaySchool cause. It will aim to serve as an efficient helper of Sunday-School Teachers, and thus meet a want which has long been felt in the Reformed Church. THE GUARDIAN contains thirty-two pages monthly, making a handsome Volume of three hundred and eighty-four pages at the end of the year. Pastors who receive this Prospectus are requested to hand it to some active member of the Church or of the Sunday-School, who will procure subscribers for THE GUARDIAN. We respectfully ask all Young Men and Ladies to aid us in increasing our circulation. It will be an easy thing for them to raise a club among their companions. Specimen numbers sent when requested. TERMS-ONLY $1.50 A YEAR-IN ADVANCE. The Club-rates for Sunday School Teachers, and the terms for the Lesson Leaves, are as follows: For 5 copies to one address, for one year. $7 00 ** 10 ** 20 "30 The Lesson Papers will be sold separately, at 75 cents for 100 copies of a single issue. For any less number, one cent will be charged for each copy. In each case, the money must accompany the orders. Discontinuances.-To insure a discontinuance, written notice must be sent direct to the publishers before the close of the year, and all arrearages paid. If the notice be received after one or more numbers of a new year have been sent, the subscriber will be charged for the full year thus commenced. ADDRESS REFORMED CHURCH PUBLICATION BOARD, Publishers, No. 907 Arch Street, Philadelphia. SUNDAY SCHOOL CAUSE AND THE SOCIAL, LITERARY, OF YOUNG MEN AND LADIES. Rev. B. Bausman, D. D., ,"Editor. PHILADELPHIA: REFORMED CHURCH PUBLICATION BOARD, ک کر E. Cerrim, J. Corbett, B. A. Fahnestock, Rev. W. Goodrich, Rev. C. S. Gerhard, M. G. Haderman, Eliza Keller, Rev. J. M. Souder, M. C. Young, L. E. Kuntz, S. Keiser, H. Schreiver, S. M. Levan, W. J. Balliet. TO OUR PATRONS The "Guardian" will hereafter be mailed to subscribers by means of Dick's patent Mailer. Hence the date to which they have paid will invariably accompany the name. Accordingly, the acknowledgment of monies received will hereafter be discontinued. Each subscriber can know exactly how his account stands. Those who are in arrears will please forward the amount due without delay. Address REFORMED CHURCH PUBLICATION BOARD, 907 Arch Street, Philadelphia. |