Class jiSjf3_0 
 
 Book jT* -?--.— 
 Copyright If 
 
 COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT, 
 
Rubies and Diamonds 
 
 BY 
 
 W. GRANT FRITZ, 
 
 Missionary to Ecuador, S. A., and Philippine Islands. 
 
 V» 
 
 PUBLISHED BY W. GRANT FRITZ. 
 
 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 
 
 190S. 
 
LIBRARY of CONUKE33 
 I wo Copies rieceiva. 
 
 JUN 13 1908 
 
 f\04A (3 iqoS 
 QUStf/A AXo. Mu 
 
 I ^<&M 
 
 
 Copyright. 1908. 
 
 BY W. GRANT FRITZ, 
 
 Milwaukee, Wis. 
 
DEDIGATION. 
 
 The writer was a stranger in a western city, and was 
 over a thousand miles from home, and lying sick in a big hotel in 
 which many people were coming and going. One morning when 
 convalescent, a stranger, a traveler from the east, came into the 
 room. He was tall, wore long silvery hair, and a snow-white 
 beard. He grasped my hand very sympathetically and stroked my 
 brow as tenderly as a father might. After the usual salutation, 
 said, "My son, are you a Christian? Have you accepted Jesus for 
 your Savior, Friend and Lord?" 
 
 In fact I had been running from these two questions for a 
 whole year, believing that some" of my own plans would be spoiled, 
 not knowing that God's plans were better and surer. There was 
 no time for running away. He brought me face to face with Etern- 
 ity. He told me that I was robbing God (see Mai. 3:8) by with- 
 holding my love from him, my obedience to his laws, my gratitude, 
 my humble reliance, my time and service. And in robbing God I 
 was only robbing myself. 
 
 Minutes seemed like hours just then. Somehow I wished he 
 hadn't come in. The stranger knelt and prayed for the young man. 
 I had learned to say the "Our Father" like a machine, but now he 
 asked me to pray out of my heart. It was hard work, and seemed 
 like a very poor make-out indeed ; but it was the beginning of Etern- 
 ity with God, and a great day in my life. I have found out since 
 that it was a great day in heaven, too. Luke 15 \J. 
 
 He came and went ; his name is still unknown, and may be he 
 has forgotten it. Many years have now passed. If I could meet 
 him now to tell him of the struggles and victories all along the way, 
 and how much better God's ways are than my own. Some day I 
 shall. When I shall have placed my crowns and praises at Jesus' 
 feet and have found my father and mother, I shall set out to find this 
 dear man. Somehow I shall know him. Whatever good may have 
 been done of my 65,000 miles of travel around this earth in Gospel 
 work, under God, is due to him, for he brought me to a definite de- 
 cision for Christ. Therefore, this volume is dedicated to his memory. 
 
PREFAGE. 
 
 ~|N presenting this volume to the Public, the aim is to awaken 
 
 I a deeper heart- felt interest in the principal portions of God's 
 Word, setting forth his warnings, his love, and his prom- 
 
 I ises for the present as well as the future life. That the 
 
 unbeliever may be brought to Christ, and that the believer may be 
 encouraged, strengthened, and built up in the grace of the Lord 
 Jesus. The pictures used were taken while laboring in missionary 
 work in the Philippines, residing eight months in Japan, and from 
 different parts of our own country. If only some life may be guided 
 into Eternal Life by its use, its purpose shall have been accomplished. 
 Gods' Word standeth sure, and will not return unto Him void. Isa. 
 55:11. The incidents given are from the pens of Rev. C. H. 
 Spurgeon, D. D., Mr. D. L. Moody and other notable persons. 
 Also credit is due to the Home Herald and North Western Chris- 
 tian Advocate of Chicago. It has been the writer's purpose to be 
 brief, and must necessarily leave many splendid lessons and beauti- 
 ful thoughts remain buried in the verses of Scriptures given for the 
 reader to think out alone. Read one lesson in the morning and 
 then with your Bible read the lesson in the evening as indicated 
 below that lesson. 
 
Rubies and Diamonds. 
 
 FREE TO ALL, 
 
 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city 
 of God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the most high. Ps. 
 46 14. — Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and 
 he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; and without price. 
 Isa, 55:1. — But whosoever drinketh of the water that I (Jesus) 
 
 shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give 
 him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting- 
 life. The woman saith unto him (Jesus), Sir, give me this water, 
 that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw. Jno. 4:14, 15. — And 
 the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, 
 Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, 
 let him take the water of life freely. Rev. 22\\y. 
 
 Beautiful Urami Falls near Nik]<o, Japan. The water drops 
 about seventy-five feet. It is hidden away in the mountains, some 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 distance from the regular road, so that many of the travelers do 
 not see it, though by a sign-board it bids them to come. A pure 
 stream, flowing so freely, and offers itself to the thirsty. There 
 is another stream of which we read — an Eternal One. Have you 
 listened to the invitation to come and partake freely of it? Jesus 
 says, "Him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out." Jno. 
 6:37. Read James 2 — , special verse 19. 
 
 CHRIST'S LOVE. 
 
 I am the good shepherd : the good shepherd giveth his life 
 for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep., 
 and am known of mine. I law clown my life for the sheep. 
 Jno. 10: 11, 14, 15. — Greater love hath no man than this, that 
 a man lay down his life for his friends. • Jno. 15:13. — Himself 
 took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses. Matt. 8: 17. — 
 Jesus — having loved his own which were in the world — loved 
 them to the end. Jno. 13: 1.: — As the Father hath loved me, so 
 have I loved you: continue in my love. Jno. 15: 9. — Who shall 
 separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, 
 or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay, 
 in all these things we are more than conquerors • through Him 
 that loved us. Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor princi- 
 palities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor 
 height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate 
 us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus. Rom. 8: ik-iq 
 
 A good man (a minister) was once lying dangerously ill, 
 and prayers were being offered up at his bedside by members of 
 his congregation that he would be spared to them. In doing so 
 they made mention, among other things, of his tender watch- 
 fulness in feeding the lambs of the flock, and used the expres- 
 sion, "Lord, thou knowest how he loves Thee." The sick man 
 heard them, and said, "Ah, children, do not pray thus ! When 
 Mary and Martha went to Jesus, their message was not, "Lord, 
 he who loveth Thee is sick,' but, 'he whom Thou lovest.' It is 
 not my imperfect love to Him that gives me comfort, but His 
 perfect love for me." There is no fear in love : but perfect love 
 casteth out fear. 1 Jno. 4: 18. 
 
 • Poor Thomas Carlyle, dyspeptic and disgruntled, once looked 
 up at the stars and said, with a growl, "It is a sad sight!" But a 
 little girl looked up at the same sight and said, "Mamma, if the 
 wrong side of heaven is so fine, how very beautiful the right side 
 must be !" 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 THE SCRIPTURES. 
 
 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable 
 for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in right- 
 eousness : that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished 
 unto all good works. 2 Tim. 3 :i6, 17. — But these are written, that 
 ye might "believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God : and that 
 believing ye might have life through his name. Jno. 20:31. — 
 Search the scriptures ; for in them ye think ye have eternal life : and 
 they are they which testify of me. Jno. 5 139. — Jesus answered and 
 said unto them, ye do err not knowing the scriptures, nor the power 
 of God. Matt. 22 129. — When therefore he was risen from the 
 dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; 
 and they believed the scriptures, and the word which Jesus had said. 
 Jno. 2 :22. — And they said to one another, Did not our heart burn 
 
 within us, while he (Jesus) talked with us by the way, and while 
 he opened to us the scriptures. Luke 24:32. — Being born again,, 
 not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, 
 which liveth and abideth forever. 1 Pet. 1 :23. — These were more 
 noble than those of Thessalonica, in that they received the word 
 with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, wheth- 
 er those things were so. Acts 17:11. 
 
 The view is in one of the iron ore mines at Eveleth, Minn. 
 
 You see the large columns of hard rock ; but back and between 
 these columns of rock is rich ore. Portions of the earth are blasted 
 out, and tunnels are made to bring the rich deposits out of their 
 dark depths. In the Scriptures there are so many rich treasures 
 hidden away in its depths for us. Do we fail to find them ? Let 
 us dig better and deeper to^make the discoveries. If you are an 
 
io RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 avowed skeptic, or an honest doubter of the Divine Truth, just try 
 it. Let the hard rocks — deep sayings and misunderstood portions 
 — of the Scriptures alone, until you have used the many good things 
 that are offered there to you for your own profit. The rocks are 
 there for a purpose. It would do no special good to try to remove 
 them. In other words you will have no appetite to nibble at the 
 hard bones, though they are good for something, after you have 
 used the splendid meat. The Psalmist says, O, how I love thy law ! 
 it is my meditation all the day. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, 
 and a light unto my path. Great peace have they which love thy 
 law: and nothing shall offend them. Psalm 119:97, 105, 165. 
 — Read Isa. 1 :i — 20, special verse 18. 
 
 CHRIST IS THE CLUE. 
 
 Dr. W. G. Moorehead, of Xenia Theological Seminary, was 
 once returning home from one of his journeys, and wanted to 
 take with him a present for his children. He selected a dissected 
 map. When he gave it to his two girls he said : 
 
 "Now if you can put this together, you will know more of 
 geography than if you studied a book." 
 
 They worked patiently, but at last one of them arose, saying : 
 
 "I cannot put it together." 
 
 It was an awful jumble. They had part of North America 
 in South America, and other mistakes quite as glaring. 
 
 Suddenly the older girl discovered that on the other side 
 of one piece of the map was a man's hand. Curiosity prompted 
 her to turn over another piece, and there was part of his face. 
 Then her fingers working rapidly, she turned over every piece 
 of the map, and called to her sister, saying: 
 
 "Come back! There's a man on the other side! Let's put 
 the man together first." 
 
 Soon the figure of the man was completed, and when the 
 pieces were turned over, every river and lake, every mountain 
 and plain, was in its proper place in the map. 
 
 This is the true secret of Bible study. Find the Man! 
 Recognize his portrait! Study with Jesus as the clue, and 
 everything will fall into its proper place ! 
 
 WON'T STAY 
 
 A child once asked a minister : "Do you think my father will 
 go to heaven?" "O yes," was the reply. "Well," returned the 
 child, "if he don't have his own way there he won't stay long." 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 ii 
 
 A SURE FOUNDATION. 
 
 Nevertheless the foundation of. God standeth sure, having this 
 seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one 
 that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 2 Tim. 2 119. 
 ■ — For. other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is 
 Jesus Christ. 1 Cor. 3 :n. — If the foundations be destroyed, what 
 can the righteous do? Ps. 11:2. — Therefore whosoever heareth 
 these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise 
 man, which built his house upon a rock : and the rain descended, 
 and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house ; 
 and it fell not. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, 
 and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which 
 built his house upon the sand : and the rain descended, and the floods 
 
 came, and winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell. Matt. 
 7:24, 27. 
 
 The Cliff House is quite near Golden Gate, San Francisco. It 
 is built upon the solid rock. The rocks in the water are where the 
 Seals live. The storms from the sea may rage, and the high waves 
 roll in their might, still the house is safe, for it is on a solid founda- 
 tion. What a difference it would make, were it built on the sandy 
 shore. Christ is the Rock that is laid for the safety and security of 
 man for eternity. Our future depends wholly on where, how and 
 what we build. The big buildings in San Francisco were tumbled 
 down by the earthquake because they were built upon the wrong 
 kind of foundation. It was a boggy place filled with wood piling ; 
 but this house remained, being built upon the rock. Read Psalm 
 37 — , special verse 37. 
 
12 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 THE RIGHT DIRECTION. 
 
 Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heav- 
 ens. Ps. 123 :i. — Hide not thy face from me; put not thy servant 
 away in anger : thou hast been my help : leave me not, neither for- 
 sake me, O God of my salvation. Ps. 27 :g. — I will lift up mine 
 eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. Ps. 121 :i. — 
 Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there 
 is no help. Ps. 146:3. — And straightway the father of the child 
 cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe ; help thou mine un- 
 belief. Mark 9 124. — And he said, Come. And when Peter was 
 come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 
 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid : and beginning 
 to sink, he cried, Lord, save me. Matt. 14:29, 30. 
 
 This is a statue of Sacajawea in the Portland Fair. She was 
 the faithful guide of Lewis and Clark in their exploring expedition. 
 Many weary footsteps across mountain and plain she gave in the 
 exploration journey. Fatigued of body, and soul tried, yet her face 
 is turned heavenward. Peter looked downward and at circumstan- 
 ces, and got into trouble. Confide and trust in Him who is able to 
 help. To believe in God is to look up to Him. Looking unto 
 Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith ; who for the joy that was 
 set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set 
 down at the right hand of the throne of God. Heb. 12 :2. — You 
 will be looking on the bright side of things by so doing. Look up 
 and then help to lift up. 1 Kings 19 — .special verse 9. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 NOT MY WILL. 
 
 And he (Jesus) came out, and went, as he was wont, to the 
 mount of Olives : and his disciples also followed him. And when 
 he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into 
 temptation. And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's 
 cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, saying, Father, if thou be wil- 
 ling, remove this cup from me : nevertheless not my will, but thine, 
 be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven 
 strengthening him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly : 
 and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to 
 the ground. And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to 
 his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, and said unto 
 them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. 
 
 Luke 22 139, 46. — And when they had preached the gospel to that 
 city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to 
 Iconium, and Antioch, confirming the souls of the disciples, and ex- 
 horting them to continue in the faith, and that we must throup-h 
 much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. Acts 14:21,22. 
 — If we suffer, we shall also reign with him ; if we deny him, he als:> 
 will deny us. 2 Tim. 2 :i2. — And if children, then heirs; heirs of 
 God, and joint-heirs with Christ: if so be that we suffer with him, 
 that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the suf- 
 ferings of this present time are not to be compared with the glory 
 which shall be revealed in us (the Christian). Rom. 8:17, 18. 
 
 The picture represents Mount Olive. Gethsemane is at the 
 lower left hand corner. A short distance up the mount is a Greek 
 Church. Half-way up, in the triangular spot, is said to be the 
 
14 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 place where Christ lamented over Jerusalem. The summit, the 
 place of his ascension, marked by Greek and Roman Convents, and 
 a Mohammedan Mosque. Gethsemane is so significant. Leaving 
 his disciples and enjoining them to pray, he went alone to pray, and 
 while he was undergoing such extreme suffering for mankind, they 
 fell asleep. What could have been more noble of Jesus, when he 
 said, "Not my will, but thine, be done?''' Suffering for the sinful. 
 For you and me. How little we suffer with him and for him! 
 Read Isaiah 53. 
 
 THE LOVE OF GOD. 
 
 He that loveth not knoweth not J3k)d : for God is love. And 
 we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God 
 is love : and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in 
 him. 1 Jno. 4: 8, 16. — For God so loved the world, that He 
 gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him 
 should not perish, but have everlasting' life. Jno. 3: 16. — But 
 God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved 
 us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together 
 with Christ, (by grace are ye saved) : Eph. 2 : 4, 5. — Behold, 
 what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we 
 should be called the sons of God : therefore the world knoweth 
 us not, because it knew him not. 1 Jno. 3:1. 
 
 THE WEAPONS FIRST. 
 
 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may 
 be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the 
 presence of the Lord. Acts 3 : 19. — Then Peter said unto them. 
 Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus 
 Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of 
 the Holy Ghost. Acts 2 : 38. 
 
 The raiment of salvation is often disapproved. Pardon is 
 conditional. Only on certain grounds can we be forgiven. For 
 example : sin must be given up. That is indispensable. Con- 
 promise is out of the question. How can a perfectly holy God 
 accept one who holds fast to his transgressions? A French 
 officer, whose ships had been captured by the English, advanced 
 towards Nelson, and offered him his hand. '"First give me your 
 SAVord," said the Admiral. There can be no true reconciliation 
 with God while we retain the weapons of our rebellion. Let 
 the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his 
 thoughts, then the Lord will have mercy upon him, and will 
 abundantly pardon. Conscious and deliberate wrong-doing 
 must be abandoned — the weapons put away first. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 UNKNOWN. 
 
 And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto 
 you, What mean ye by this service? Ex. 12:26. — That this may 
 be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in 
 time to come, What mean ye by these stones ? Joshua 4 :6. — For 
 as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with 
 this inscription, To The Unknown God. Whom therefore ye 
 ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. Acts. 17:23. — The 
 way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their 
 goings ; they have made them crooked paths : whosoever goeth 
 therein shall not know peace. Isa. 59 :8. — Therefore I said, Surely 
 these are poor, they are foolish ; for they know not the way of the 
 
 Lord, nor the judgment of their God. Jer. 5 4. — Howbeit every 
 nation made gods of their own, and put them in the houses of high 
 places which the Samaritans had made, every nation in their cities 
 wherein they dwelt. 2 Kings 17:29. — Ye worship ye know not 
 what: we know what we worship; for salvation is of the Jews. 
 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall 
 worship the Father in spirit and in truth: For the Father seeketh 
 such to worship him. John 4:22, 23. 
 
 One has well said, "A good creed is a gate to the city that hath 
 foundations ; a misleading creed may be a road to destruction, or if 
 both misleading and alluring it may become what Shakespeare calls 
 a primrose path to the eternal bonfire." The little houses or shrines 
 are really meaningless things. I could not find out just why they 
 were placed in the rear yard of so manv homes. It forms a part of 
 
i6 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 the religious belief among the Japanese. The arch or torii is also 
 a traditional affair without any special significance at the present 
 time, still they are used. Many people in our county still worship 
 meaningless things, even now. Creeds and ceremonies may become 
 to one, just like these, held in a superstitious reverence, and become 
 unprofitable to the spiritual life. Not having Christ to dwell with- 
 in them, they dwell upon the outward forms. Jesus said that "It 
 is the Spirit that quickeneth." Jno. 6 163. \St. Paul says : "And 
 the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commanded! 
 all men everywhere to repent. Acts 17:30. How patient and 
 longsuffering God has been with us these many years ! Read Neli. 
 1 — , special verse 4. 
 
 THREE DOORWAYS. 
 
 On the triple doorway of a great cathedral in Milan, Italy, 
 there are three inscriptions spanning the archway. Over one is 
 carved a beautiful wreath of roses, and underneath are the wor.ds : 
 "All that which pleases is but for a moment." Over another is 
 sculptured a cross, upon which we read: "All that which troubles 
 is but for a moment." But underneath the great central entrance 
 ■of" the main aisle is the inscription: "That only is important 
 which is eternal." 
 
 THE MERCY OF GOD. 
 
 For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive: and plente- 
 ous in mercy unto them that call upon thee. But thou, O Lord, 
 art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and 
 plenteous in mercy and truth. Psalm 86:5, 15. — Know therefore 
 that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keep- 
 eth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his 
 commandments to a thousand generations. Duet. 7 :g. — And 
 
 said, O Lord God of Israel, there is no God like thee in the heaven, 
 nor in the earth : which keepest covenant, and she west mercy unto 
 thy servants, that walk before Ithee with all their hearts. 2 Chron. 
 6 :i4. — Many sorrows shall come to the wicked : but he that trusteth 
 in the Lord, mercy shall compass nim about. Ps. 32:10. — Keep- 
 ing mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and 
 sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty : visiting the iniquity 
 of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, 
 unto the third and to the fourth generation. Ex. 34:7. — Let the 
 wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts : and 
 let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him : 
 and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. Isai. 55 \J. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 17 
 
 THE ONLY ENTRANCE. 
 
 Strive to enter in at the strait gate ; for many, I say unto you, 
 will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master 
 of the house is risen up, and hath shut the door, and ye begin to 
 stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open 
 unto us ; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not 
 whence ye are : then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk 
 in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall 
 say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all 
 ye workers of iniquity. Luke 13:24, 27. — Verily, verily, I say 
 unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but 
 climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. I am 
 
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 the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go 
 in and out, and find pasture. Jno. 10:1, 9. 
 
 True it is, there is only one entrance to heaven. The door 
 above is the only entrance to one of the finest temples in Tokio, 
 Japan. It is a splendid and beautiful edifice. To enter it one must 
 take of! the shoes, for the floor is enameled with red and black 
 lacquer, and is easily soiled. Besides it is considered by them as a 
 holy place. I have been in some churches in this country where 
 the children and even the older people did not have the proper re- 
 spect for the house of prayer. This entrance is the separation from 
 the world, and that is just what Jesus came to do, to take people 
 out of this old cold world, and offers them something better, high- 
 er, nobler, yes, eternal life, even here, but he says, "I am the door." 
 You cannot enter the glory-land on your own good works, or good- 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 loess, but by the finished work of Jesus upon the Cross. That is the 
 positive condition. All others come short and fail. Read I Cor. 
 2 — ; , special verse 14. 
 
 THE TWO FARMERS. 
 
 In a small country town, in Massachusetts, there lived, says 
 Rev. Daniel Smith, two wealthy farmers, whose land adjoined each 
 other. On some account or other, they became involved in a law 
 suit, which both lessened their money, and promoted a spirit of 
 rancour towards each other. After a time, one of these men was 
 convinced of the sinfulness of his past conducS, when, yielding" to 
 the influence of the gospel, he became desirous of reconciliation and 
 friendship with his neighbor. With a trembling heart, he rapped 
 at the door of the man he had offended, which he had not before 
 entered in six years. Not suspecting who he was, his neighbor in- 
 vited him in. He went in, took his seat, acknowledged that he had 
 in the affair been much to blame, and entreated forgiveness. The 
 other was much astonished, but maintained his high ground. "I 
 always knew that you were to blame, and I never shall forgive 
 you," with much more to the same purpose, was the reply given 
 to him. He again confessed his wrong, asked the pardon of his 
 neighbor, expressed the hope that the Divine Being would forgive 
 him: and added, "We have been actuated by the wrong spirit; and 
 we shall be. afraid to meet each other at the bar of God, where we 
 must soon appear." The other became a little softened, and they 
 parted. The family, when left to themselves, were filled with as- 
 tonishment. But the mystery was solved when they learned that 
 their neighbor had become a follower of Christ. "What!" said 
 
 the farmer, has S become a Christian ? Why should he 
 
 come and ask my forgiveness? If religion will humble such a 
 man, it is surely a great thing. He said, "We shall be afraid to 
 meet each other at the bar of God." Such reflections as these, with 
 the consciousness of his own ill conduct, occasioned him great dis- 
 tress for several days. At length, he could smother his feelings 
 no longer — he took his hat, and went to see his once-hated neigh- 
 bor. As he entered the door, he received a cordial welcome : they 
 took each other by the hand, and burst into tears. He said, "You 
 came to ask my forgiveness the other day, but I find I have been 
 a thousand times worse than you." They retired and prayed to- 
 gether. They became members of the same church, and many years 
 in uninterrupted harmony. Such are the triumphs of Christianity, 
 compared with which, "The laurels that Csesar reaps are weeds." 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 19 
 
 PRAISE. , 
 
 Let the heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and everything- 
 that moveth therein. Ps. 69 134. — Because thy loving kindness is 
 better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee 
 while I live ; I will lift up my hands in thy name. Ps. 63 13, 4. — I 
 will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart. Ps. 9:1. — I will 
 sing unto the Lord as long as I live : I will sing praise to my God 
 while I have my being. My meditation of him shall be sweet : I 
 
 will be glad in the Lord. Ps. 104 133, 34. — And when they had laid 
 stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor 
 to keep them safely. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and 
 sang praises unto God and the prisoners heard them. Acts 16: 
 23, 25. — Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such 
 as I have I give thee : in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise 
 up and walk. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered 
 with him into the temple, walking, leaping, and praising God. 
 Acts 3 :6, 8. 
 
 Even this beautiful Kiri-furi Falls near Nikko, Japan, seemed 
 to speak its praises to the very heavens. Christians lose much of 
 
20 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 their spiritual life by continually asking favors of God, and never 
 praising him for anything. Praise enlarges the heart, and widens 
 the scope of spiritual vision, and brings more real blessings into 
 the life, for the Lord says, "Him that honoreth me I will honor." 
 It pleases Him and makes you happier. You will not have any 
 chance to praise Him after this life if you forget or neglect to do 
 so while here on earth. Have you begun to do so yet? Praise 
 is something within the soul that leaps out to God in joy and glad- 
 ness. Read i Cor. 6:1-20 — , special verse 20. 
 
 FIRST LOVING. 
 
 We love Him, because He first loved us. 1 Jno. 4: 19. 
 Backward and forward in her little rocking-chair went Alice 
 Lee, now clasping her beautiful waxen doll to her bosom, and 
 singing low, sweet lullabies ; then smoothing its flaxen curls, 
 patting its rosy cheeks, and whispering softly, "I love you pretty 
 dolly :" and anon casting wistful glances towards her mother, 
 who sat in the bay window busily writing. After what seemed 
 to be a very long time to the little daughter, Mrs. Lee pushed 
 aside the papers, and, looking up, said pleasantly, "I am through 
 for today, Alice; you may now make all the noise you choose." 
 Scarcely were the words uttered ere the little one had flown to 
 her and nestled her head on her loving heart, saying earnestly, 
 "I'm so glad ; I wanted to love you so much, mamma." Did you, 
 darling?" and she clasped her tenderly: "I am very glad my 
 Alice loves me so; but I fancy you were not very lonely while 
 I wrote, you and dolly seemed to be having a very happy time 
 together." Yes, we had, mamma, but I got tired after awhile 
 of loving her." "And why?" "Oh, because she never loves 
 me back!" "And that is why you love me?" "That is one 
 way, mamma; but not the first one or the best." "And what 
 is the first and best?" "Why, mamma, don't you know guess?" 
 and the blue eyes grew very bright and earnest. "It's because 
 you loved me when I was too little to love you back : that's why 
 I love you so." "We love Him because He first loved us," whisp- 
 ered the mother; and fervently she thanked God for the little 
 teacher. 
 
 O do not pray for easy lives; pray to be stronger men. Do 
 not pray for tasks equal to your powers; pray for powers equal 
 to your tasks : then the doing of your work shall be no miracle. 
 But you shall be a miracle. Every day you shall wonder at 
 yourself, at the richness of life which has come to you bv the 
 grace of God. — Phillips Brooks. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 WORSHIP. 
 
 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, 
 Satan : for it it written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and 
 him only shalt thou serve. Luke 4 :8. — But the hour cometh, and 
 now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit 
 and in truth : for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is 
 a spirit ; and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and 
 in truth. John 4 123, 24. — He spake unto them in the cloudy pil- 
 lar : they kept his testimonies, and the ordinance that he gave them. 
 Ps. 99 :y. — O come, let us worship and bow down ; let us kneel be- 
 fore the Lord our maker. Ps. 95 :6. — Give unto* the Lord the glory 
 due his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. Ps. 29 :2. 
 
 The totem poles are worshipped by the Alaskan people as gods. 
 Strange figures are carved ahd painted on them, and each figure 
 
 seems to have a special significance. All the primitive peoples, 
 such as the Indians, etc., have their forms of worshipping the Great 
 Spirit. To some the nearest that they could get to this was by 
 worshipping the Sun. Others fire, water and such other elements. 
 It is quite natural that they should choose something visible, and 
 this is why the Lord gave to the Israelites the First and Second 
 commandments. See Ex. 20:1, 2. — The mind being darkened by 
 sin as to whom God really is, these things are contrived by them. 
 Now, however, God has revealed himself to< mankind through his 
 Word, and demands that he be worshipped in spirit and in truth. 
 
 It would not be well to take their idols from them, if there 
 were nothing better to offer them instead. But to-dav we may 
 know God personally, his love, his Christ, and his Holy Spirit. We 
 may worship him in the beauty of Holiness. Some sav they believe 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 in nothing* and worship nothing. Possible ! Such one must have 
 a very empty and unsatisfying- life. Read Revelation 20 — , special 
 verse 12. 
 
 INSINCERITY. 
 
 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now 
 commandeth all men everywhere to repent. Acts 17: 30. 
 
 A lady came to Charles Wesley, complaining that she was 
 the chief of sinners — the worst of transgressors — utterly lost 
 and helpless. "I have no doubt, madam," he replied, "that you 
 are bad enough." She instantly flew into a passion, declaring 
 that she was no worse than her neighbors, and scolded the 
 preacher as a slanderer. Thus confession of sin may prove in- 
 sincere. 
 
 THE LIGHT. 
 
 Dr. A. C. Dixon relates this beautiful incident: "Samuel 
 Hebich, 'the master fisher of men' in India, entered an English 
 officer's tent and asked him to read the first two verses of Gen- 
 esis. The officer took down his unused Bible and read them. 
 Then Hebich knelt and prayed. The next day he returned, made 
 they same request, offered the same prayer and left without 
 another word. After the strange man had left, the officer began 
 to feel that his life was truly 'without form and void, and dark- 
 ness was upon the face of the deep.' The third day Hebich 
 came in and said, 'Now read the first three verses of Genesis,* 
 and as the officer read, 'God said. Let there be light,' the light 
 of salvation flooded his soul and he began to rejoice. May that 
 be the exoerience of every reader of these words! 
 
 EVERYDAY RELIGION. 
 
 "I have so fixed the habit in my own mind," said Stonewall 
 Jackson, "that I never raise a glass of water to my lips without 
 asking God's blessing. II never seal a letter without putting a 
 word of prayer under the seal. I never take a letter from the 
 post without a brief sending of my thoughts Heavenward. I never 
 change my classes in the section room without a minute's petition 
 for the cadets who go out and those who come in." 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 SAVED. 
 
 Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall 
 be saved: for thou art my praise. Jer. 17:14. — Behold, the Lord's 
 hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, 
 that it cannot hear. Isa. 59:1. — But when he (Peter) saw the 
 wind boisterous, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried, 
 saying ,Lord, save me. Matt. 14 130. — And she shall bring forth a 
 son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus : for he shall save his people 
 from their sins. Matt. 1 :2i. — For the Son of man is come to seek, 
 and to save that which was lost. Luke 15:10. — For whosoever 
 shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Rom. 10:13. 
 ■ — Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of . sal- 
 vation. 2 Cor. 6 :2. — Wherefore he (Jesus) is able to save them to 
 
 ON THE LAKE AT THE PORTLAND FAIR. 
 
 the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to 
 make intercession for them. Heb. 7 125. 
 
 ' A supposed shipwreck at sea. The ship is sinking. The Life 
 Saving Crew is called upon to save the perishing ones aboard. With 
 the cannon they hurl the life line out across the ship, which is then 
 fastened to one of the masts, and the passengers are drawn ashore. 
 The sinful are perishing. Jesus left his home of glory to come to 
 this sin stricken world to save the perishing one. Sinner, will you 
 grasp the life line while you have a chance? Boast not thyself of 
 to "morrow, for that may be too late. It is your opportunity now. 
 Christ wants to lift you from the wreckage of sin in this world. 
 He is able to do it, if you will let him. Putting off or delaying to 
 receive this salvation after hearing of the way is only heaping guilt 
 upon guilt against one's self. It is to-day. Decide right now, A 
 
M RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 Christian is always a sinner saved by grace. Saved from sin, 
 death, and ourselves unto God. Present salvation from sin. See 
 Rom. 5:1-6.; Rom. 8:1. — Every day salvation from the power of 
 sin. 1 Cor, 10:13; Matt. 26:41. — Future salvation from the pres- 
 ence of sin. Jno. 14:1, 2; Rev. 21:27; 2. Thes. 1:8, 9; Rom. 8: 
 23. Read Col. 1 n-15 — , special verse 14. 
 
 WHAT CONVINCED HIM. 
 
 A minister had delivered a course of addresses on infidelity, 
 and as time went on he was delighted to find that an infidel was 
 anxious to unite himself with the congregation. 
 
 "Which of my arguments did you find the most convinc- 
 ing?" asked the minister. 
 
 "No argument moved me," was the reply, "but the face and 
 manner of an old blind woman who sits in one of the front 
 rows. I supported her one day as she was groping along, and, 
 putting out her hand to me, she asked, 'Do you love my blessed 
 Saviour?' 
 
 "The look of deep content, her triumphant tones, made me 
 realize as never before that He who could suffice to make one 
 so helpless bright and glad, must be a 'blessed Saviour' indeed." 
 
 NOT SAFE TO WAIT. 
 
 A lady came to Dr. Chalmers one day and said : "Doctor. 
 I cannot bring my child to Christ. I've talked, and talked, but 
 it's of no use." The doctor said, "Now you be quiet and I will 
 talk to her p.lone." 
 
 When the doctor got the Scotch lassie alone he said to her, 
 "They are bothering you a great deal about this question; now 
 suppose I just tell your mother you don't want to be talked to 
 any more upon this subject for a year. How will that do?" 
 
 The Scotch lassie hesitated a little, and then said she "didn't 
 think it would be safe to wait for a year, something might turn 
 up. ;She might die before then." 
 
 "Well, that's so," replied the doctor, "but suppose we say 
 six months." 
 
 She didn't think even this would be safe. After a little 
 hesitation, the girl finally said, "I don't think it would be safe to 
 put it off at all," and they went down on their knees and found 
 Christ. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 OUT. 
 
 But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the 
 Lord : and be sure your sin will find you out. Num. 32 123. — As 
 for the earth, out of it cometh bread : and under it is turned up as 
 it were fire. Job 28 15. — Keep thy heart with all diligence : for out 
 of it are the issues of life. Prov. 4 123. — O generation of vipers, 
 how can ye, being evil, speak good things ? for out of the abundance 
 of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good 
 treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things ; and an evil man 
 out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. Matt. 12 134, 
 35. — And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge 
 thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knowest that I was an austere 
 man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not 
 
 sow. Luke 19 :22. — If ye were of the world, the world would love 
 his own ; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen 
 you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Jno. 15 :io,. 
 — Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at 
 Iconium, and at Lystra ; what persecutions I endured : but out of 
 them all the Lord delivered me. 2 Tim. 3:11. 
 
 Iron ore is being hoisted out of the mine at Eveleth, Minn. It 
 is dumped into the bin and then loaded onto the cars from a trap- 
 door below. In every person there are the good and the evil. God 
 knows how to find them out. He looks upon the intents of the 
 heart, and the evil that proceeds therefrom, as being things that 
 defile the life. Every person shall be judged by the evil that has 
 proceeded from his own mouth. If the world hate you, let it dis- 
 
26 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 turb you not, for it hated Jesus also. But all power is given him 
 and he is able to deliver his own out of their difficulties in this life, 
 as he did Saint Paul. Read Acts 18 124-28. 
 
 BILLY BRAY AND SATAN. 
 
 Billy Bray, the Cornish miner, whose rugged piety and real, 
 consistent consecration to Christ's service have been made a 
 blessing to so many hundreds of God's children, gives much in- 
 struction, in his quaint way, as to how to treat the temptations 
 of Satan. He says of himself that, one day, when he was a 
 little downhearted, he stood upon the brink of a coal pit, and 
 some one seemed to say, "Now, Billy, just throw yourself clown 
 there, and be rid of all your trouble." He knew in a minute 
 who it was, and, drawing back, said : "O, no, Satan ; you can 
 just throw yourself down there. That is your way home; but I 
 am going to my home in a different direction." 
 
 Another time, he tells us, his crop of potatoes turned out 
 poorly, and as he was digging them in the fall Satan was at his 
 elbow, and said, "There, Billy, isn't that poor pay for serving 
 your Father the way you have all the year? Just see those small 
 potatoes." He stopped his hoeing, and replied, "Ah, Satan, at 
 it again, talking* against my Father. Bless His name! Why, 
 when I served you I didn't get any potatoes at all. What are you 
 talking against my Father for?" And on he went, hoeing and 
 praising the Lord for small potatoes. A valuable lesson for us 
 all. 
 
 HOLD FAST. 
 
 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without waver- 
 ing: (for he is faithful that promised); Heb. 10:23. 
 
 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed 
 into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our pro- 
 fession. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, 
 that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of 
 need. Heb. 4: T4. t6. In the reign of Queen Mary of Eng- 
 land, a man named Palmer was condemned to die. Before his 
 death he was earnestly persuaded to recant, and among other 
 things, a friend said to him, "Take pity on thy golden years, 
 and pleasant flowers of youth before it is too late." His beauti- 
 ful reply was, "Sir, I long for those springing flowers which 
 shall never fade away," When in the midst of the flames he 
 exhorted his suffering companions to constancy, saying, "We 
 shall not end our lives in the fire, but make a change for a better 
 life : yea, for coals we shall receive pearls." 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 27 
 
 IMPROPER ATTITUDE. 
 
 How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed ? or how shall I 
 defy, whom the Lord hath not defied? Num. 23:8. — Then said 
 David to the Philistine (Goliath), Thou comest to me with a sword, 
 and with a spear, and with a shield ; but I come to thee in the name 
 of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou 
 hast defied. I Sam. 17 145. — How shall we escape, if we neglect so 
 great salvation? Heb. 2:3. — It is a fearful thing to fall into the 
 hands of the living God. Heb. 10:31. — God is jealous, and the 
 Lord revengeth ; the Lord revengeth and is furious ; the Lord will 
 take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his 
 enemies. Nahum 1 :2. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but 
 give place unto wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will 
 
 repay saith the Lord. Rom. 12 :io,. — And to you who are troubled 
 rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven 
 with his mighty angels, in a flaming fire taking vengeance on them 
 that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ. 2 Thess. 1 \j, 8. 
 
 The poor Indian has suffered severely for his defiant attitude 
 toward the white man, whatever his rights may have been in the 
 past. He was naturally blind to the progressive ways of mankind. 
 Defiance is always the wrong spirit, and the improper attitude to 
 take. There are many who defy their God every clay. Rebelling 
 against his way, closing their hearts against his laAvs and Jesus 
 Christ; but such will be the loser in the end. In the words of 
 George Eliot we find the right spirit, "How will you find good ? It 
 is not a thing of choice ; it is a river that flows from the foot of the 
 
28 
 
 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 invisible throne, and flows by the path of obedience." Read i Cor. 
 3 — , special verse 16. 
 
 READY. 
 
 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to 
 obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work. Titus 3:11. — 
 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Gal. 
 6 :2. — We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the 
 weak, and not to please ourselves. Rom. 15 :i. — And let us not be 
 weary in well doing ; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint 
 not. As we have opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especial- 
 ly unto' them who are of the household of faith. Gal. 6 :g, 10. — 
 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him 
 it is sin. Jas. 4:17. 
 
 
 
 L —\- IJH 
 
 
 HPP 
 
 ml JH 
 
 
 
 pt^^x 
 
 ;■• . • 
 
 
 
 
 If you were to visit Yokohama, Japan, you would see many of 
 these little buggies pulled about by men in place of horses. The 
 jinrikisha is now famous, for it is used in. most of the eastern 
 countries, particularly so in Japan. It is the common vehicle of 
 conveyance for the people. iThis man is ever alert, watching, wait- 
 ing and ready to serve you. Every Christian should also be ready 
 to lend a helping hand, and to do good to his fellow men, especially 
 so to his own brethren in the faith. In the words of Phillips Brooks 
 we may say, "It is good for us to think that no grace or blessing is 
 truly ours till we are aware that God has blessed some one else with 
 it through us." As the Apostle says, Be ye doers of the word, 
 and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. James 1 :22. 
 Read Psalm 136. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 29 
 
 THE IMPORTANT STEP. 
 
 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; 
 and all these things shall be added unto you. Matt. 6:33. — For 
 which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and 
 counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish. Luke 14 128, 
 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land. But 
 if ye refuse and rebel, then ye shall be devoured with the sword. 
 Isa. 1 119, 20. — For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are 
 your ways my ways, saith the Lord. Isa. 55 :8. — Jesus began to 
 preach, and to say, Repent : for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 
 Matt. 4:17. — Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the 
 life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Jno. 14:6. Re- 
 pent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted 
 out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of 
 
 the Lord. Acts 3 119. — I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in 
 heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and 
 nine just persons, which need no repentance. Luke 15:7. — I tell 
 you, Nay : but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Luke 
 
 There is always a beginning to every thing in this world. To 
 begin rightly is the all-important matter. "To know thyself" is a 
 good basis to work on. Many build air-castles which will crumble 
 to pieces in time. This will apply to the secular and spiritual things 
 alike. All wish to succeed is natural. It is the desire of every one 
 to go to the heavenly land when through with this world. But to 
 go anywhere necessitates a starting point. Many think, speculate. 
 and dream about it, but what good of all this? It is the starting 
 that is so essential. If one would enter heaven he must surely 
 consider the cost and pay the price. 
 
3o RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 This is the entrance to the Portland Fair. Some are entering, 
 while others are standing on the outside and do not go in. They 
 were probably not willing to pay the price. Jesus made the way 
 clear when he said, "REPENT." The price God demands, is, accept 
 Jesus for your Savior, Master and Lord, and give up your sinning 
 and your ways and take his ways and follow him. Sinful man is 
 going away from God, so it is necessary to right-face-about, and go 
 to him. This is real repentance. False repentance is where one 
 feels sorry for his sins, but does not turn to God for help. Judas, 
 the traitor, had this kind of repentance or sorrow. Matt. 27 13-5. 
 The test of true repentance of a Christian is: 1. Love to God; 2. 
 Love to man; 3. Hatred of evil. 
 
 The great Earl of Shaftesbury when a young man said, "I have 
 been considering my future career. The first principle is God's 
 honor ; the second, man's happiness ; the means, prayer and unre- 
 mitting diligence." Read Galatians 1 — , special verse 8. 
 
 FOLLOWING CHRIST. 
 
 Matthew, look up ; you are called ! City man, you are called ! 
 Cashier, you are called! Don't you hear? Called! Answer to the 
 call. Business men, Christ walks into business, and calls men by 
 His grace Avhile at the seat of custom. He is instant in season, and 
 •out of season." "And Matthew left all, rose up, and followed 
 Him." (Matt. 9:9.) My hearers, I have told you often from this 
 pulpit unless God had spoken in this Book I had no message to men. 
 My whole stock-in-trade is just to repeat what He has said. This 
 only is the witchcraft I have used. Look at it. "And he left all, 
 rose up, and followed Jesus." If that entry has not been made in 
 your spiritual biography and daily, your life has not been worth liv- 
 ing up till now. I dare to repeat it, and look into your face. With 
 all your abilities, your years, honors, successes, unless that red-letter 
 entry can be put beside your name, your life is a wretched failure 
 up to now. "He left all, rose up, and followed Christ." Then he 
 began to live : never till then. The life received meaning and pur- 
 pose. — McNeill. 
 
 CHRIST. 
 
 Napoleon once testified to Christ's power when he said, "Alex- 
 ander, Caesar, Charlemagne and myself founded empires on force, 
 and they perished : Jesus of Nazareth alone, a crucified Jew, founded 
 His kingdom on love, and at this hour millions of men would die 
 for Him." 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 31 
 
 THE WORLD VS. THE CHRISTIAN. 
 
 They (the Christians) are not of the world, even as I am not 
 of the world. 'Jno. 17:16. — Pure religion and undefiled before 
 God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and the widows 
 in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. 
 Jas. 1 127. — Love not the world, neither the things that are in the 
 world. If any man love the world, the love of God the Father is 
 not in him. 1 Jno. 2:15. — Teaching us that denying ungodliness 
 and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in 
 this present world. Titus 2:12. — For Demas hath forsaken me, 
 having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica. 
 2 Tim. 4:10. — If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me be- 
 fore it hated you. Jno. 15 :i8. — I pray not, that thou shouldest take 
 
 them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from evil. 
 Jno. 17 :i5. — In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good 
 cheer: I have overcome the world. Jno. 16:33. — I pray for them: 
 I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; 
 for they are thine. Jno. 17:9. 
 
 This view shows the main buildings at the Portland Fair. It 
 is used here to represent the world through which the Christian 
 must pass. He begins the Christian life by accepting Jesus as his 
 personal Savior from sin, but is left to sojourn in this world for 
 certain number of days, months or years. The world has many 
 beautiful things to offer and attract, to entice and pull him away 
 from the objective destination. The friendship received from the 
 world is cold, sullen, and unkind. Augustine said, "Trust not the 
 "world, for it never payeth what it promiseth." Crates threw his 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 gold into the sea, saying, "I will destroy thee, lest thou destroy me." 
 ''If men do not put the love of the world to death, the love of the 
 world will put them to death,'' remarks Venning. One cannot 
 hold on to Christ and the world at the same time. God has given 
 man the power of choosing whom he will serve. See John I :i2. 
 Read John 17 — , special verse 3. 
 
 ASSOCIATES. 
 
 Sophronius, a wise teacher, would not suffer his grown up 
 sons and daughters to associate with those whose conduct was 
 not pure and upright. '"Dear father," said the gentle Eulalia 
 to him one day, when he forbade her, in company with her 
 brother, to visit the volatile Lucinda, "you must think us very 
 childish if you imagine that we would be exposed to danger by 
 it." The father took in silence a dead coal from the hearth, and 
 reached it to his daughter. "It will not burn you, my child; 
 take it. "She did so, and behold, her delicate white hand was 
 soiled and blackened, and her dress soiled, too. "We cannot be 
 too careful in handling coals; even if they do not burn, they 
 will blacken. So it is with the company of the vicious." 
 
 THE DANGER. 
 
 General Philip Sheridan was once asked by a friend : ".Phil, 
 if you could choose for your little son from all the temptations 
 which will be beset him the one most to be feared, what would 
 it be?" 
 
 The General leaned his head on his hand and said soberly : 
 "It would be the curse of strong drink. Boys are not saints. 
 We are all self-willed, strong-willed, maybe, full of courage, 
 and thrift, and push, and kindness, and charity; but woe be to 
 the man or boy who becomes a slave of liquor! Oh, I would 
 rather see my little son die today than to see him carried in to 
 his mother drunk! One of my brave soldier boys in the field 
 said to me just before battle, when he gave me his message to 
 his mother if he should be killed : 'Tell her I have kept my 
 promise to her, not one drink have I tasted.' The boy was 
 killed. I carried the message with my own lips to the mother. 
 She said : 'General, that is more glory for my boy than if he 
 had taken a city.' 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 33 
 
 THE BRIDGE OF TIME (Day.) 
 
 'Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence 
 of things not seen. Heb. 1 1 :i. — By the word of truth, by the pow- 
 er of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and n 
 the left. 4 2 Cor. 6 7. — That was the true light, which lighteti 
 every man that cometh into the world. Jno. 1 :o,. — Moreover thou 
 leddest them in the day by a cluody pillar. Neh. 9:12. — As long- 
 as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. Jno. 5 15. — 
 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not accord" 
 ing to our works, but according" to his own purpose and g'race, 
 which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, but is 
 now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, 
 who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality 
 to light through the gospel. 2 Tim. 1 :g, 10. — The Lord is my 
 light and my salvation ; whom shall I fear ? the Lord is the strength 
 of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Ps. 27 :i. 
 
 
 i20L 
 
 trr-*^! ..JbSftjmiittfiddifli. 
 
 iiiiti nttittliftfaiif 
 
 This bridge takes one across the lake to the Government Build- 
 ing at the Portland Fair. Christ is the light of the word to the 
 lost. He calls people out of darkness heavenward which place the 
 earthly do not fully understand. They must take him at his word, 
 and walk toward it by faith. The Israelites were led by the cloudy 
 pillar by day, and by a pillar of fire by night. Christ is the true 
 light to the people through this earthly journey. About half-way 
 cross the bridge there is a stairway leading clown to the lake, where 
 the boatmen are soliciting your attention. Many have started with 
 the best of intentions to cross to the Government Building, but- 
 stopped off at the half-way station for a boat-ride. The sun may 
 have been hot, and they may have become tired, or merely seeking 
 
34 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 pleasure. Many good intentions never reach heaven, as well as 
 many good-intentioned people who have stopped off somewhere. If 
 you have, you must get on where you left off, or you will always be 
 unhappy and finally lost. 'Read John 16 — , special verse 33. 
 
 THE STRONGER. 
 
 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them : be- 
 cause greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 1 
 Jno. 4 '.4. — For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world : 
 and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 
 1 Jno. 5 '.4. — These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye 
 might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation : but be 
 of good cheer: I have overcome the world. Jno. 16:33. 
 
 A little boy came to his father one day, looking very much in 
 earnest, and asked, "Father is Satan bigger than I am?" "Yes, 
 my boy," said the father. "Is he bigger than you, Father?" "Yes, 
 my boy, he is bigger than your father." The boy looked surprised, 
 but thought again, and then asked, "Is he bigger than Jesus" "No, 
 my boy, answered the father, Jesus is bigger than he is." The 
 little fellow, as he turned away, said with a smile, "Then I am not 
 afraid of him." 
 
 DOUBLE GOING. 
 
 Sir Edward Peary, the Artie explorer, thought himself travel- 
 ing poleward at the rate of ten miles a day, but found that the ice- 
 floe on which he was sledging, was drifting equator-ward twelve 
 miles a day, but he would not have known he was being carried 
 daily backward two miles, had he not looked skyward. So, the 
 pilgrim, who only plods along with his gaze on the ground, may 
 be losing instead of making progress. No one can be certain of 
 advancing without looking up. On the dead level of life, there are 
 no landmarks. However, a good many people are going to heaven 
 this way. 
 
 A CHEERFUL VIEW. 
 
 And of His fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. 
 Jno. 1: 16. "How dismal you look!" said a bucket to his com- 
 panion as they were going to the well. "Ah !" replied the other, 
 "I was reflecting upon the uselessness of our being filled; for let 
 us go away ever so full, we always come back empty." "Dear 
 me! how strange to look at it in that way!" said the other 
 bucket. "Now, I enjoy the thought that' however empty we 
 come, we always go away full. Only look at it in that light, 
 and you'll be as cheerful as I am." 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 35 
 
 BRIDGE OF TIME. (Night.) 
 
 The day is thine, the night is also thine; thou hast pre- 
 pared the light and the sun. Ps. 74:16. — And in the night by a 
 pillar of fire, to give them (the Israelites) light in the way wherein 
 they should go. Neh. 9:12. — For God who> commanded the light 
 to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light 
 of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 
 2 Cor. 4 :6. — Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying. I am the 
 light of the world ; he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, 
 but shall have light of life. Jno. 8:12. — I am come a light into 
 the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in dark- 
 
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 ness. Jno. 12 146. — And this is the condemnation, that light is 
 come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, be- 
 cause their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth 
 light, neither cometh to the light, 'lest his deeds should be reproved. 
 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be 
 made manifest, that they are wrought of God. Jno. 3:19-21. 
 
 The life in this world may be dark an dreary, but there are 
 lights along the way to guide the Christian traveler, and his busi- 
 ness is to keep himself in the light and in the way. Christ's light 
 shines in the darkness as well as the day. Walking, praying, trust- 
 ing and hoping in the love and power of Jesus Christ every day 
 and all the way is the Christian's duty. Man fails when he loves 
 to walk in the darkness. It is unsafe. Read John 14 — , special 
 ^erse 27. 
 
^ 
 
 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 INSPECTION DAY. 
 
 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that 
 every one may receive the things done in his body, according to 
 that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 2 Cor. 5 :io. — When 
 the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with 
 him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory ; and before him 
 shall be gathered all nations; and he shall separate them one from 
 another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats. Matt. 
 25 131, 32. — So then every one of us shall give an account of him- 
 self to God. Rom. 14:22. — His Lord said unto him, Well done, 
 thou good and faithful servant ; thou hast been faithful over a few 
 
 r 
 
 things, I will make thee ruler over many things ; enter thou into the 
 joy of thy Lord. Matt. 25 :2i.« 
 
 The soldiers were serving at the Portland Fair, and this was 
 Inspection Day. They had to undergo inspection by their superior 
 officer. They had to give an account personally of the condition 
 of their uniforms, and weapons, and how they had used them, and 
 how they kept them in order. Every Christian shall be called to ap- 
 pear personally before Christ on the great Inspection Day to give 
 an account of the things that he has done in his course of life while 
 on the earth. |If we could all be ready to say with Paul, "I have 
 fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the 
 faith." 2 Tim. 4:6. — How blessed it would be to hear Christ say, 
 "Well done!" Read John 9:13-41, special verse 31. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 37 
 
 THE HEAVENS. 
 
 But our God is in the heavens; he hath done whatsoever he 
 hath pleased. Ps. 115 :3. — Unto< thee I lift up mine eyes, O thou 
 that dwellest in the heavens. Ps. 123:1. — For we know that if 
 our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a build- 
 ing of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 
 2 Cor. 5 :i. — Let not your heart be troubled : ye believe in God, be- 
 lieve also in me (Jesus). In my Father's house are many mansions : 
 if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place 
 for you. Jno. 14:1, 2. — But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor 
 ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things 
 which God hath prepared for them that love him. 1 Cor. 2 :g. 
 
 (The Government Building at the Portland Fair was built on an 
 island and was a marvel in itself. Everything appertaining to our 
 own country was on exhibit there. Each Department ( State, War. 
 
 etc.) vied with each other in excellency. I spent several days scan- 
 ning over the many objects to be seen, from the cheapest postage 
 stamp to the powerful warship — a model. Too much to behold! 
 The mind could not receive it all. The more one studied, the more 
 he saw to study. One could not imagine what was inside by look- 
 ing from the outside, nor would anybody that had been inside ven- 
 ture to tell you. How often we speculate about heaven. Heaven 
 is not a condition. Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared peo- 
 ple. God has revealed only sufficient to us to know the way to en- 
 ter it. We shall never understand it all while in this world. We 
 can only see the steeples (the stars) of it now. The Psalmist said, 
 "Marvellous are thy works." So I liken this building to heaven. 
 It is necessary to enter it personally, and then you will become en- 
 
^8 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 raptured with its splendors. Meeting a friend here, and saluting 
 another there, with a "Well I didn't ever expect to see you here" to 
 another, but all the time absorbed in its glories. The way to enter 
 is by the narrow bridge over the lake of time. The light shineth 
 by day, and by night. To enter here you must truly begin with the 
 lesson entitled "The Important Step." This is the point where so 
 many fail. (Many are trying to slip into heaven by a back-door. 
 Read John 3:1-14, special verse 12. 
 
 PERSECUTION FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS SAKE. 
 
 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. 
 1 Jno. 2:15. 
 
 When Lady Huntingdon withdrew from the fashionable 
 circles of the great, the line of conduct she thought proper to 
 pursue naturally excited the enmity of those of her own rank, 
 although she had a testimony in the consciences of them, as ap- 
 peared even in their words, that what she did was right. One 
 day at Court, the Prince of Wales inquired of Lady Charlotte 
 Edwin, a lady of fashion, where my Lady Huntingdon was, that 
 she so seldom visited the circle. Lady Charlotte replied with 
 a sneer, "I suppose, praying with her beggars." The Prince 
 shook his head, and turning to Lady Charlotte, said, "Lady 
 Charlotte! when I am dying, I think I shall be happy to seize the 
 skirt of Lady Huntingdon's mantle, to lift me up with her to 
 heaven." 
 
 THE SECRET OF IT. 
 
 The Count of Toulouse was once asked by a friend how it 
 was he had managed so completely to win the love of his 200 
 servants. "Indeed," said the friend, "I believe there is not one 
 of them that would not die to save your life." "That may be," 
 replied the count, "but I would rather lost 200 lives than that 
 any of them ^should suffer." That answer unconsciously ex- 
 plained the whole matter. The servants loved their master be- 
 cause he loved them. And it is this that explains the power of 
 Christianity, which is not fundamentally a philosophy or even a 
 theology, but centers in a person, Jesus Christ, of whom it was 
 said by one of his most devoted followers : "We love him be- 
 cause he first loved us." Christ's love for humanity is the 
 ground of that passionate devotion to himself which, instead of 
 passing from the earth, is daily increasing, and will yet claim 
 all the sons of men. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 39 
 
 THE INTRODUCTION. 
 
 One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, 
 was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first findeth his own 
 brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, 
 which is, being interpreted the Christ. And he brought him to 
 Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the 
 son of Jona : thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpreta- 
 tion, A stone. Jno. I :4c, 42. — The following day Jesus would go 
 forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow 
 me. Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto' him, We have found 
 him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus 
 of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. And Nathanael said unto him, 
 Can any good thing come out of Nazareth ? Philip said unto him, 
 
 Come and see. Jno. 1 144,46. — And they came to Jericho ; and as 
 he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of 
 people, blind Bartimseus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway 
 side begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, 
 he began to cry out and say, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy 
 on me, Mark 10:46, 47. 
 
 To every friendship there is always the beginning — the intro- 
 duction. The Japanese ladies are being introduced. They never 
 shake the hand, as is the custom in this country, but in a manner as 
 is shown. It would be a difficult way for the American, and from 
 outward appearance, it seems very tedious for them. To become a 
 Christian this is a very necessary step. If you have no one to in- 
 troduce you to Jesus, then you have the same privilege as Bartim- 
 seus did. Let not that chance slip by you. It might be your last. 
 Then think also about your father, mother, brothers and sisters. 
 
40 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 friends and neighbors, as did Andrew and Philip. "And this is 
 life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus 
 Christ, whom thou hast sent." Jno. 17:3. — To know of or about 
 Jesus is not sufficient. You must know Him as your personal 
 Savior and friend. He is the surest and truest friend a man can 
 have. You are missing much if you do not personally know Him. 
 Do you realize this? Read Matt. 24:29, 51 — , special verse 44. 
 
 AM I A CHANNEL, OR A BARRIER? 
 
 Dr. J. E. Carson, of New York City, said to his congrega- 
 tion one Sunday morning, that every saved man was either a 
 channel through which the Spirit of God was reaching the un- 
 saved, or' a barrier preventing the Spirit from doing His work. 
 One of the trustees of the church said to himself on the way 
 home: "Am I a channel, or a barrier?" That night he could 
 not sleep, and cried out: "O Lord, make me a channel!" Al- 
 most the first thought that came was that there were some men 
 in his employ to whom he had never spoken a word about Jesus 
 Christ. He confessed his fault, and told the Lord that if he 
 would make him a channel he would speak to these men. The 
 first man that entered his office next morning was his confidential 
 clerk, who had been with him eighteen years. The merchant 
 said: ''Edward, haven't I been a good employer to you?" "Yes, 
 sir." "Have not I treated you well?" "Yes, sir. Why, sir, 
 what have I done," said the clerk, "that you are going to dis- 
 charge me?" "Edward, I am on my way to heaven, and I want 
 you to go with me." Tears came into the eyes of both men as 
 Edward took the merchant's extended hand, and said : "I will 
 sir." Doctor Carson afterwards received eleven men into his 
 church because this trustee has consented to be a channel for the 
 Holy Spirit. — J. W. Mahood. 
 
 THE THREE LINKS. 
 
 Who hath believed our report. Isa. 53.1. 
 
 William Carter in a sermon to the outcasts of Londan, said : 
 "Hear what Jesus declares : 'Verily, verily, I say unto you, he 
 that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath 
 everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is 
 passed from life unto life.' Here, my friends, there are three 
 links in the blessed chain of truth — hearing, believing-, and having. 
 The devil always tries to cut these links off, and give three links 
 of his own forging, viz. — doing, praying, and feeling." God's 
 way of salvation is clear, and plain when we get the right view of 
 it. It is very easy to become side-tracked on the devil's plan. It 
 takes one just near enough "to lose it." 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 4i 
 
 . TUNE-UP. 
 
 And David and all Israel played before God with all their 
 might,, and with singing and with harps. 1 Chron. 13 :8. — And 
 the children of Israel that were present at Jerusalem kept the feast 
 of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness : and the Levi- 
 tes and the priests praised the Lord day by day, singing with loud 
 instruments unto the Lord. 2 Chron. 30 :2i. — -Serve the Lord with 
 gladness: come before his presence with singing. /Ps. 100:2. — 
 Sing, O heavens ; and be joyful, O earth ; and break forth into sink- 
 ing, O mountains : for the Lord hath comforted his people, and will 
 have mercy upon his afflicted. Isa. 49:13. — Therefore the re- 
 deemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing unto Zion ; 
 and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain 
 gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away. Isa. 
 
 51:11. — I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will sing 
 praise to my God while I have my being. Ps. 104:33. — I will sing 
 a new song unto thee, O God : upon a psaltry and instrument of 
 ten strings will I sing praises unto thee. Ps. 144:9. — Speaking to 
 yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and 
 making melody in your heart to the Lord. Eph. 5 :i9« 
 
 Shakespeare said, "The man that hath not music in himself, 
 and is not moved with accord of sweet sounds, is fit for treason, 
 stratagems/and spoils; let no man trust him." I would say that 
 such one is out of tune with God and needs to be tuned up by a 
 touch of His love. The Japanese are not a musical people, yet they 
 love music. I saw only one band in the country. They have 
 specially trained singing girls, who play upon a kind of banjo, and 
 
42 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 there is about as much music to it, as I used to make, when a boy. 
 upon my two-stringed corn-stalk fiddle. Their singing" is simply 
 making a fearful humdrum noise, pitched at the highest or lowest 
 note of the scale with scarcely anything in between; but a noise is 
 always better than nothing. They always did their best so they 
 w r ere to be praised for making even the noise. < The young woman 
 is playing a different instrument, a harp, on Christmas Day, to a 
 christian blind school in Yokohama. The christian songs are doing 
 much to awaken the Japanese to a new life, as well as other peoples 
 of the world. Sing such hymns as, ''Nearer my God to thee/'* 
 "What a friend we have in Jesus," Pass me not, O gentle Savior," 
 "Jesus lover of my soul," "There is a fountain filled with blood," 
 "Just as I am without one plea," "Tell Mother I'll be there" and 
 "Let Jesus come into your heart." Singing these precious songs 
 will help you along the way. Sing! Sing!! Make a joyful noise 
 anyway! Read Acts 12 — , special" verse 23. 
 
 DO YOUR BEST. 
 
 A minister tells how, when a boy, he was a great whistler, 
 and sometimes whistled in unusually and unseemly places. One 
 day, not long since, says an exchange, he came out of a hotel 
 whistling quite low. A little boy playing in the yard heard him, 
 and said: "Is that the best you can whistle?" 
 
 '"No," said the minister, "can you beat it?" 
 
 The boy said he could, and the minister said : "Well, let's 
 hear you." 
 
 The little fellow began to whistle, and then insisted that 
 the minister should try again. He did so, and the boy acknowl- 
 edged that it was good whistling, and as he started away the 
 little fellow said : "Well, if you can whistle better, what were 
 you whistling that way for?" 
 
 The world has plenty of poor, slip-shod, third-class work 
 done by people who could do better if they would. 
 
 OUR MISSION IN LIFE. 
 
 /Life is not a mere living. It is worship — it is the surrender 
 of the soul to God; and the power to see the face of God; and it is 
 service — it is to feel that when we die, whether praised or blamed, 
 whether appreciated or misinterpreted, whether honored or ignored, 
 whether wealthy or destitute — we have done something to make 
 the world we came to better and happier — we have tried to cast 
 upon the waters some seeds which, long after we are dead, may still 
 'bring forth their flowers of Paradise. The seed dies, but the har- 
 vest lives. Sacrifice is always fruitful, and there is nothing fruit- 
 ful else. — Canon Farrar. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 43 
 
 THE OLD. 
 
 Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things 
 of old. Isa. 43 :i8. — Hast thou marked the old way which wicked 
 men have trodden? Job. 22:15. — Behold, the Lord God will help 
 me ; who is he that shall condemn me ? lo, they all shall wax old as 
 a garment; the moth shall eat them up. Isa. 50 :g. — And the great 
 dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, 
 which deceiveth the whole world : he was cast out into the earth, 
 and his angels were cast out with him. Rev. 12 :g. — Cast me not 
 off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength fail- 
 eth. Ps. 71 :g. — Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may 
 be made a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For Christ our pass- 
 over is sacrificed for us. 1 Cor. 5 7. — That ye put off concerning" 
 
 the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to 
 the deceitful lusts. Eph. 4 -.22. — Therefore, if any man be in 
 Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, 
 all things become new. 2 Cor. 5:17. 
 
 The old way of transporting and traveling exhibited at the 
 St. Louis Fair, showing the llama, burro, mule and horse. 
 
 Life is progressive in both the spiritual and secular world. 
 The conversion of a man spiritually is an instantaneous work of 
 Grace, but there may be a gradual leading up to this point of life, 
 as well as a gradual and progressive work in the life thereafter. 
 There goes the old farmer with his old worn-out spring-wagon. 
 The wheels wibble-wabble and clatter and cut up all sorts of fan- 
 tastical capers till all the neighbors have it for a by-ward. He says 
 to himself, "I ought to have a new one." He thinks, and thinks 
 hard over the matter all the way to town. While in Ecuador, S. 
 
44 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 A., I went from Guayaquil, the seaport, to Quito, which is nearly 
 two miles above the sea level. The first day was by a river steam- 
 er. Then it took six days to climb the Andes mountains. The 
 highest point reached, was 14,000 ft. at the foot of Mount Chim- 
 borazo, which is 20,700 feet. There was no railroad, nor even a 
 wagon road, but the narrow bridal path for the little mule, or the 
 burro, the only means of conveyance for the past centuries. It 
 was a wonderful trip, but six days on that little mule almost spoiled 
 it. When night came I was tired and glad* to get rid of the little 
 fellow, and when morning crept around I felt just as sorry to see 
 him again. It is the old way of traveling. He just suited for the 
 old times. Sinful man is traveling in and on the old way. He 
 needs not an improvement, nor to be patched up, but an entire 
 change of life. To put away the former things, the old past life 
 with all its former worldly and sinful habits, and to take on the 
 new. Who would think of using these old ways now? We have 
 something new. Try it. Read Ps. 134 — , special verse 7. 
 
 ONE SIN. 
 
 iWhile I was walking in the garden one bright morning, a 
 breeze came through and set all the flowers and leaves a fluttering. 
 Now this is the way they talked, so I pricked up my ears and lis- 
 tened. Presently, an old elder tree said, "Flowers, shake off your cat- 
 erpillars !" "Why!'' said a dozen altogether, for they were like some 
 children, who always say "Why," when they are told to do anything 
 — bad children, those! The elder said, "If you don't they'll eat 
 you up alive." So the flowers set themselves a shaking till the cat- 
 erpillars were shaken off. In one of the middle beds there was a 
 beautiful rose, who shook off all but one, and said to herself, "Oh, 
 that's a beauty! I'll keep that one." The elder overhead her, and 
 and called out, "One caterpillar is enough to spoil you." "But," 
 said the rose, "look at his brown and crimson fur, and his beautiful 
 black eyes, and scores of little feet ; I want to keep him ; surely one 
 won't hurt me." A few mornings after, I passed the rose again; 
 there was not a whole leaf on her; her beauty was gone; she was 
 all but killed, and had only life' enough to weep over her folly, while 
 the tears stood like dew-drops on her tattered leaves. "Alas ! I 
 didn't think one caterpillar would ruin me." — C. A. Dams. 
 
 If a man has got any religion worth the having, he will do 
 his duty and not make a fuss about it. It is the empty kettle 
 that rattles. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 45 
 
 THE NEW. 
 
 Behold, I will do a new thing ; now it shall spring forth ; shall 
 ye not know it? flsa. 43 :io,. — Behold, the former things are come 
 to pass, and new things do I declare ; before they spring forth I tell 
 you of them. Isa. 42 :g. — They (blessings) are new every morn- 
 ing; great is thy faithfulness. Lam. 3 123. — A new heart also will I* 
 give you, and a new spirit will I put within you : and I will take away 
 the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of 
 flesh. Ezek. 36:26. — By a new and living way, which he hath 
 consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his (Christ's) 
 flesh. Heb. 10:20. — Therefore if. any man be in Christ, he is a 
 
 
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 new creature. 2 Cor. 5 117. — Nevertheless we, according to his 
 promise, look for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth 
 righteousness. 2 Pet. 3:17. — And they sung a new song, saying, 
 Thou (Jesus Christ) art worthy to take the book, and to open the 
 seals thereof ; for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God, by 
 thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation. 
 Rev. 5:9. 
 
 When Solomon said, "there was no new thing under the sun,'' 
 he spoke the truth. God has had for man from the beginning all 
 that he has to-day. The wise and great king that he was, was sat- 
 isfied with a chariot. He had all the elements for an automobile 
 then as we have now. God says to us, My thoughts are not your 
 thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. Isa. 55 :8. — He gives 
 these things to man in his own way and time. The old farmer 
 hitches his horse in front of a certain store. A man comes out and 
 says to him, "Don't you think you ought to get a new rig?" "I've 
 been thinking about it," he replies. He goes into the shop and ex- 
 
46 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 changes his old wagon with some cash for the best new carriage in 
 the house. In place of the frown, he carries home with him a glad 
 heart. His neighbors rejoice and pass him now without fear of a 
 wreck. His wife, sons and daughters are made happy. Every- 
 thing about the home soon takes on a new aspect. Human nature 
 is the same the world over, and is absolutely helpless without God 
 aiding and controlling it. This is why he sent Jesus into the world 
 to change the old order of things, and to bring in a new, particu- 
 larly in the spiritual. The old way was "an eye for an eye, tooth 
 for a tooth, and redemption through the sacrifice of animals." Now, 
 it is love thy enemy, and thy neighbor as thyself, and redemption 
 through the sacrifice that Jesus made upon the Cross. Jesus came 
 that this old nature and spirit might be made new. He makes it 
 possible for us to exchange our sinfulness for God's righteousness 
 through his shed blood. See Rom. 3 124, 26. — This new man in 
 the new way with a new hope shall sing a new song in a new heav" 
 en. How wonderful ! Have you made the change ? Read Matt. 
 .5:1-16. 
 
 HOPE FOR SUCH. 
 
 \A German prince visited the arsenal of Toulon, where a large 
 number of men, condemned for different crimes, were working as 
 galley slaves. The prince was told that, in compliment to his visit, 
 he was allowed to free one of them. He inquired of first one, then 
 another, the cause of his punishment. Each declared that he had 
 been unjustly accused, or wrongfully arrested, till he came to a fine 
 big man with a sorrowful face. He confessed what he had done, 
 and said, "I acknowledge it, and I deplore it. I deserve my pun- 
 ishment." Turning to the officers, the prince exclaimed, "This 
 is the man for whose release I make request. He is the first I have 
 found who feels he has done wrong and has anything to be forgiv- 
 en." Does God ever have to say to us, "Behold, I will plead with 
 thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned?" 
 
 TWO FACES. 
 
 When Rev. Roland Hill at one time was in Scotland, he 
 was introduced to an aged minister, somewhat resembling himself 
 in piety and eccentricity. The old man looked at him for some 
 time very earnestly, and at length said : "Weel, I have been 
 looking for some teem at the ieens of your face." "And what 
 do you think of it?" said Mr. Hill. "Why, I am thinking that 
 if the Grace of God had not changed your heart, you would be 
 a most tremendous rogue." Mr. Hill laughed heartily, and said : 
 "Well, you have just hit the nail on the head.' ,r 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 \7 
 
 HALF-WAY BUSINESS. 
 
 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this 
 day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers 
 served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the 
 Amorites, in whose land ye dwell, but as for me and my house, we 
 will serve the Lord. Josh. 24:15. — And thou, Solomon my son. 
 know thou the God of thy fathers, and serve him with a perfect 
 heart and with a willing mind : for the Lord searcheth all hearts, 
 and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts : if thou 
 seek, him, he will be found of thee ; but if thou forsake him, he will 
 cast thee off forever. 1 Chron. 28 :g. — No man can serve two 
 .masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else 
 he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve 
 
 God and mammon. Matt. 6 -.24, — Because thou servedst not the 
 Lord thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the 
 abundance of all things : therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies 
 which the Lord shall send upon thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and 
 in want of all things. Dent. 28 47, 48. — I beseech you therefore, 
 brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a liv- 
 ing sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God. which is your reasonable 
 service. Rom. 12:1. — For God's my witness, whom I serve with 
 my spirit in the gospel of his son, that without ceasing I make men- 
 tion of you always in my prayers. Rom. 1 :o,. 
 
 The Swan is used at Sioux City, Iowa, only during the short 
 season, and the remainder of the year lies idle. It rusts, and gets 
 out of working order generally, and must be overhauled, before it 
 
48 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 is fit for service again. There are many church members like this 
 little boat. They take quite an active interest for a little while dur- 
 ing the year, and then want to take a lay off for the rest, and let 
 everything go to smash. Then it takes an extra preacher, and a 
 revival to get them ready for service again. The Lord will not 
 bless half-way (half-hearted) business in his service. "Thou shalt 
 love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with 
 all thy mind. Matt. 22 \^y. Read Malachi 3 — , special verse 10. 
 
 SHE HAPPIED HIM UP. 
 
 jAgnes is a little girl with such a bright, happy face that it is a 
 pleasure to look at her. 
 
 One day, in answer to her mother's call, she came running- 
 home from a neighbor's tAvo or three doors away. 
 
 Jler eyes were so bright, her lips so smiling, that her mother 
 smiled too. 
 
 Do you want me mother ?" asked Agnes. 
 
 "No, dear," said her. mother. "Not for anything important. 
 I missed you, that is all. Where were you, daughter?" 
 
 "At the Browns'. And oh, mother, Walter was cross, but I 
 happied him up, so that he got all over it ; and then the baby cried, 
 and I had to happy her up ; then someone stepped on the kitten's 
 tail, and I was just going to happy her up when you called me." 
 
 The mother laughed. 
 
 "Why, what a happyingf time you had ! It must make you 
 happy yourself to happy up little boys, and babies, and kittens, for 
 you look as happy as possible.." 
 
 And this is true, dear girls. The more Ave try to make others 
 happy, the happier Ave shall be ourselves. Then put aAvay frowns 
 and pouting lips. Try to "hapuv up" those avIio are troubled, 
 cross or sick and soon you will find yourself so happy that your 
 face will shine with smiles. 
 
 HE PLANTED FOR OTHERS. 
 The poor man avIio seeks to help, even in the smallest Avay, but 
 with a right spirit, his felloAV men, is of infinitely greater Avorth to 
 the race than the man of millions, Avhose chief aim and end are his 
 OAvn pleasure. A poor and aged man AA^as seen planting an apnle 
 tree and Avas someAvhat rudely accosted by a stranger who said, 
 "Why do you plant trees when you cannot possibly live long enough 
 to eat the fruit of them?" The poor man raised himself and lean- 
 ing on his shovel said : "Someone planted trees before I was born, 
 and I have eaten the fruit ; I iioav plant for others, that the memorial 
 of my gratitude may exist Avhen I am dead and gone." That is 
 the Christian point of vieAV. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 49 
 
 PRAYER. 
 
 Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that 
 are escaped of the nations : they have no knowledge that set up the 
 wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save. 
 Isa. 45 :20. — Then shall ye call upon me and ye shall go and pray 
 unto me, and I will hearken unto you. Jer. 29 :i2. — Hearken unto 
 the voice of my cry, my King, and my God : for unto thee will I 
 pray. Ps. 5 :2. — But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closer, 
 and when thou hast shut thv door, pray to thy Father which is in 
 secret ; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee open- 
 ly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: 
 for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 
 Matt. 6 :6, 7. — If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not 
 
 hear me. Ps. 66:18. — Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye 
 shall find ; knock, and it shall be opened unto you : for every one 
 that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that 
 knocketh it shall be opened. Matt. 7 :j, 8. — And he spake a parable 
 unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to 
 faint. Luke 18:1. — What is it then? I will pray with the spirit 
 and I will pray with the understanding also. 1 Cor. 14:15. 
 
 A prayerless person is a perishing person. The one thing the 
 Christian will do, that is to pray. It is the natural thing for the 
 one depending on God, his Father, to do. The Japanese temple you 
 see, is a small one, possibly twelve feet square. There is placed 
 in it a bronze idol. Just below and in front of the idol is a wooden 
 box with bars across the top, in which the offerings are cast. You 
 see the rope suspended from the top and a bell attached to it. Most 
 of the people when they go to worship, just take hold of the rope 
 
50 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 and ring the bell (to call the attention of their god) and clap their 
 hands three times and then bow the head and offer a short prayer. 
 It is seemingly all done in a moment. One thing is always certain 
 before they pray, and that is to make their offering in money. If 
 you do not know how to pray, then do as the disciples did, say, 
 "Lord teach me how to pray" and then keep at it. He will not pay 
 any attention to the mistakes of your language, for he looks at the 
 heart what it says. I Sam. 16:7. Read Acts 17:10-34, special 
 
 verse 23. 
 
 A PAUSE IN THE PRAYER. 
 
 "If I should die 'fore I wake," said Donny, kneeling at 
 grandmother's knee, "'f I should die 'fore I wake" — 
 
 "I pray," prompted the gentle voice. "Go on, Donny." 
 
 "Wait a minute," interposed the small boy, scrambling to 
 his feet and hurrying away downstairs. In a brief space he 
 was back again, and, dropping down in his place took up his 
 petition where he had left it. But when the little white-gowned 
 form was safely tucked in bed, the grandmother questioned with 
 loving rebuke concerning the interruption. 
 
 "But I did think what I was savin', grandmother; that's 
 why I had to stop. You see, I'd upset Ted's menagerie, and 
 all his wooden soldiers on their heads, just to see how he'd tear 
 'round in the mornin'. But 'f I should die 'fore I wake, why — ■ 
 I didn't want him to find 'em that way, so I had to go down and 
 fix 'em right. There's lots of things that seem funny if you're 
 goin' to keep on livin', but you don't want 'em that way if you 
 should die 'fore you wake." 
 
 "That was right, dear; it was right," commended the voice 
 with its tender quaver. "A good many of our prayers wouldn't 
 be hurt by stopping in the middle of them to undo a wrong." — 
 The Children's Friend. 
 
 THE TRANSFORMING POWER OF LIFE. 
 
 The Arabs have a saying about the palm tree, that it stands 
 with its feet in salt water and its head in the sun. They often 
 cannot drink the brackish water found in the oasis where the palm 
 grows, but they tap the tree and drink the sweet palm sap. 
 
 The palm tree, by the magic of its inner life, can so change 
 the elements found in the unkindly soil around it that they minister 
 to its growth and strength and fruit-bearing. So we, in our earthly 
 life, must often have our feet in the mire and bitterness of sin 
 around us ; and upon our heads will beat the fierce heat of tempta- 
 tion. But in spite of these things, we shall be able to grow and 
 grow strong, if within there is the making of a new life through 
 Jesus Christ. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 51 
 
 PRIDE AND VANITY. 
 
 'Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a 
 fall. Prov. 16:18. — A man's pride shall bring him low: but honor 
 shall uphold the humble in spirit. Prov. 29:23. — The pride of 
 thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of 
 the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who 
 shall bring me down to the ground? Obadiah 1 :3. — And they re- 
 jected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, 
 and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they fol- 
 lowed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen* that 
 were around about them, concerning whom the Lord had charged 
 them, that they should not do like them. 2 Kings 17:15. — I have 
 not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers. 
 Ps. 26 '.4. — Thou wilt save the afflicted people ; but wilt bring down 
 high looks. Ps. 18 127. — Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the 
 proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Jas. 4:6. — If a man 
 
 think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth 
 himself. Gal. 6:3. — Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth 
 take heed lest he fall. 1 Cor. 10:12. 
 
 This is a portion of Butte City, Mont., showing some of the 
 famous copper mines. These mines were very interesting to me, 
 but this little girl was too, for she seemed to be "bigger" in her 
 own estimation than everything else in the world. A pretty little 
 girl she was, but so full of pride and vanity, because of her peculiar 
 curls and cow-boy trousers, which the other boys and girls did not 
 have. We find that the people older than she, are sometimes pos- 
 sessed with this same sort of feeling. Pride is not always hidden 
 under silks and satins, but quite often crops out from under the 
 
52 
 
 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 meanest kind of garb. It is dangerous to the soul of man, where- 
 ever it may dwell. These terrible things cheat many lives out oi 
 happiness, and peace, and heaven. Read Psalm 119:33-48. 
 
 PERISHING. 
 
 And the children of Israel spake unto Moses, saying, Behold, 
 we die, Ave perish, we all perish. Num. 17:12. — The wicked shall 
 see it and be grieved ; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt 
 away: the desire of the wicked shall perish. Ps. 112:10. — The 
 hope of the righteous shall be gladness : but the expectation of 
 the wicked shall perish. Prov. 10:28. — I tell you, Nay: but, 
 except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Luke 13:3. — And 
 
 I (Jesus) give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, 
 neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. Jno. 10:28. — 
 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because 
 thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with 
 money. Acts 8 .20. — The Lord is not slack concerning his 
 promise, as some count slackness : but is longsuffering to us-ward, 
 not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to 
 repentance. 2 Pet. 3 :g. 
 
 The house is in Butte, Montana. The fire is raging within, 
 and the firemen are doing their utmost to save the building. It is 
 perishing. Man is in the like condition. The terrible fire of sin 
 is raging within, and w T ill cause the soul to be lost, unless there is 
 a turning unto the stream that never fails — Jesus, the Saviour, 
 the friend of the sinner. Do you realize your own danger ? Read 
 Mark 2:1-12, special verse 9. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 53 
 
 THE GATES. 
 
 Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the 
 truth may enter in. Isa. 26 :2. — Enter into his gates with thanks- 
 giving, and into his courts with praise : be thankful unto him, and 
 bless his name. Ps. 100:4. — Open to me the gates of righteous- 
 ness : I will go into them, and I will praise the Lord. This gate of 
 the Lord, into which the righteous shall enter. Ps. 118:19. 2c. — 
 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be lifted up, ye everlasting 
 doors ; and the King of glory shall come in. Ps. 24 :y. — Blessed is 
 the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at 
 the posts of my doors. Prov. 8 :34. And the gates shall not be 
 shut at all by day : for there shall be no night there. Rev. 21 125. — 
 Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? Gen. 18 125. 
 
 The Eastern Cities were generally enclosed by high walls and 
 
 at certain parts of this wall there were gates, which were opened in 
 the morning and closed in the evening. In these gates the Kings 
 and Judges sat to hear the causes or complaints of the people, as 
 our judges do in the courts of to-day. See Deut. 16:18, 1 Sam. 
 8 14, 5. — Far up in the mountains of Japan is a place called Ashinoyu, 
 which consists mainly of one large hotel. When the guests arrive, 
 they are met at the gate and ushered into the hotel. If you are a 
 Foreigner, then you go into the foreign department, and if a Jap- 
 anese, then into their department. The German Army Officer is 
 near the Japanese entrance. In this life we ought to take all our 
 causes to the gates of the Great Judge of all the earth, and have 
 them settled by and with him. And we should surely open the 
 gates of our hearts to let the King of Glory (Jesus) come in and 
 rule, if there is a desire on cur part to enter the gates where there 
 is no more night. Read John 4:1-43, special verse 42. 
 
54 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 LITTLE CARES. 
 
 Be careful for nothing : but in every thing by prayer and sup- 
 plication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto 
 God. Phil. 4 :6. — Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall 
 sustain thee : He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. Ps. 
 55:22. — Casting all your care upon him: for He careth for you. 
 1 Pet. 5:7. 
 
 Little cares should be brought to the Lord. Some persons 
 will bring their great cares to Him, but not their little cares. But 
 this is foolish. It is the little cares of life that wear the heart 
 out. One of the most cruel torments of the Inquisition was to 
 place the poor victim beneath a trap, and let the cold water fall- 
 upon the head drop by drop. This was not felt at first, but at 
 last the monotony of the water dropping always on one spot be- 
 came almost unendurable : the agony was too great to be expressed. 
 It is just so with little cares. When they keep constantly falling 
 drop by drop upon one individual they tend to produce irritation, 
 calculated to make life nigh insuooortable. To prevent this, then, 
 God would have us take our little trials to Him as well as the 
 great trials, and that, too, because we often bear up more bravely 
 under the greater and faint under the lesser. 
 
 THE JUSTICE OF GOD. 
 
 The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his 
 works. Ps. 145:17. — The just Lord is in the midst thereof: he 
 will not do iniquity : every morning does he bring his judgment 
 to light, he faileth not : but the unjust knoweth no shame. Zeph. 
 3:5. Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end: but 
 establish the just : for the righteous God trieth the hearts and 
 reins. My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart. 
 God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked 
 every day. Ps. 7:9-11. — For the Lord your God is God of gods, 
 and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and terrible which re- 
 gardeth not persons, nor taketh reward. Deut. 10:17. — Because 
 he hath appointed a clay, in the which he will judge the world in 
 righteousness by that man (Jesus Christ) whom he hath given 
 assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. 
 Acts 17:31. — In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men 
 by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. Rom. 2:16. — And as 
 it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. 
 Heb. 9:27. — What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness 
 with God? God forbid. Rom. 9:14. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 55 
 
 THE LIVING WATER. \ 
 
 They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor 
 sun smite them; for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, 
 even by the springs of water shall he guide them. Isa. 49:10. — 
 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness; 
 for they shall be filled. Matt. 5 :6. — Jesus answered and said unto 
 her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again. But who- 
 soever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst ; 
 but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water, 
 springing up into everlasting life. The woman saith unto him, 
 
 - HOT SPRINGS S. D. PEOPLE WAITING TO GET A DRINK. 
 
 Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to 
 draw. Jno. 4:13-15. — Ho, every one that thirsteth, come to the 
 waters, and he that hath no money, come ye, buy, and eat; yea, 
 come buy wine and milk without money and without price. Isa. 
 55 :i. — They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither 
 shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is 
 in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto 
 living fountains of water. Rev. 7:16,17. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 A small stream of water flows out of the rock just back of the 
 stand. It is a mineral water, and is said to be good for the healing 
 of certain diseases. People go there from many parts of the country 
 to drink of this water. But we read that there is an eternal foun- 
 tain of living water open to all and for all. We need not travel 
 afar to find it, nor pay money to get it. The invitation is sent di- 
 rectly to you. Listen ! "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. 
 And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst 
 come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." 
 Rev. 22:17. Jesus, the Lord of heaven, bids you, Come and take 
 of this ever-flowing fountain. It satisfies. Read Rev. 3 — , special 
 verse 2t. 
 
 GOD'S ANSWER TO PRAYER. 
 
 Mr. Spurgeon tells of a young woman who was in great con- 
 cern about her soul. "I placed Christ before her very plainly, but 
 she did not seem to understand the way. One morning she came 
 to me after service. 'Dear sir, will you pray for me?' She was 
 thunderstruck when I said 'No.' 'But, sir, I am anxious to be 
 saved; won't you pray for me?' 'No.' 'O sir, you don't mean it.' 
 'I do. I have set Jesus Christ before you; if you will not have 
 him, there is no use praying; you will be lost. There is no other 
 way, and I don't want there should be any other way. Will you 
 have Christ, or will you not?' There was a pause; then she said, 
 'Yes, I will, if I may.' 'May? He has put it, "He that believeth 
 shall be saved, and he that believeth not shall be damned." Surely 
 you may have him, when there is such a dreadful threatening 
 against unbelief.' 'Well, I will.' 'Then let us get down directly 
 and pray now. If you are willing to obey God's command, then 
 we may pray.' We did pray," said Mr. Spurgeon, "and I am sure 
 that young woman has never doubted that she was saved from 
 that hour. If you won't believe in Jesus, all the praying between 
 heaven and earth won't save you. But if you seek him in simple 
 faith, soon shall you say with rejoicing — T have found him whom 
 my soul loveth, and I will never let him go.' " 
 
 When Lord Peterborough lodged for a season with Fenelon, 
 Archbishop of Cambray, he was so delighted with his piety and 
 virtue, that he exclaimed at parting, "If I stay here any longer 
 I shall become a Christian in spite of myself!" 
 
 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your 
 good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matt. 
 
 5: 16. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 57 
 
 ABUNDANCE. 
 
 O generation of vipers (hypocrites) ; how can ye, being evil, 
 speak good things ? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth 
 speaketh. Matt. 12 134. — For by one man's offense death reigned 
 by one ; much more they which receive abundance of grace and the 
 gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. Rom. 
 5:17. — And he (Jesus) said unto them, Take heed, and beware of 
 covetousness ; for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the 
 things which he possesseth. Luke 12:15. — And the Lord passed 
 by before him (Moses), and proclaimed, Thy Lord, the Lord God, 
 merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and 
 truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and trans- 
 gression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty. Ex, 
 
 34 :6, 7. — Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
 which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto 
 a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. I 
 Pet. 1 13. — The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and 
 to destroy: I (Jesus) am come that they might have life, and that 
 they might have it more abundantly. Jno. 10 :io. — Now unto him 
 (God) that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we 
 ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. Eph. 3 :2c 
 They are loading iron ore at Eveleth, Minn., right from the 
 mine into the car. The brush and many feet of the surface of the 
 earth have been removed, until the body of ore was reached. In 
 most mines it is necessary to pick the ore loose, but here they can 
 scoop it up by the tons. Abundance is the proper word. Would 
 it not be folly for the owners of this mine to use the pick and shovel ? 
 
58 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 Many people are doing this very things when God offers them so 
 much. If we could only get away the brush and surface of sin. 
 Christ came that all might have new life, peace and joy now, and 
 have them more abubndantly. Are you living a life of misery and 
 darkness, or are you scooping up some of the wonderful blessings 
 of life — hope, joy, peace and contentment as you go along? Read 
 Romans 3 — , special verse 31. 
 
 BLIND TO OPPORTUNITIES. 
 
 There is a story that Queen Victoria of England, in one of 
 her wanderings among the cottages of the poor, was caught in a 
 shower. Entering the dwelling of an old woman, she said : 
 
 "Will you lend me an umbrella?" 
 
 "I hae twa unbrellas," said the old woman; "ane is a guid 
 ane, t'other verra old. You may take this; I guess I'll never see 
 it again," and she handed over the old umbrella, which showed 
 its ribs through its coarse, torn cover. The visitor took the um- 
 brella, which was better than nothing, and went forth into the 
 rain. The next day one of Her Majesty's servants returned the 
 umbrella, and then the cottager knew what she had missed. 
 
 "Ay, ay; had I but kenned who it was that asked for the 
 loan, she wad hae been welcome to the best of a' that I hae in 
 the world," exclaimed the mortified old woman. She had missed 
 her opportunity ; she did not know her visitor. 
 
 ,To the woman by Jacob's well the Saviour said, "If thou 
 knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give 
 me to drink, thou wonkiest have asked of Him, and He would have 
 given thee living water." Jno. 4:10. 
 
 THE SURE GUIDE. 
 
 The late Dr. Andrew A. Bonar related the following incident : 
 "A man once asked me, Ts not conscience a safer guide than the 
 Holy Spirit?' I just took out my watch and said, Ts not my 
 watch better than the sun?' Suppose that I said to you, T will 
 tell you the hour by my watch, and you must always take the 
 time from me.' That is conscience. It is the sun that is to rule 
 the time. Conscience is fallen and corrupt. If we had an un- 
 fallen conscience, like lioly Adam, it would be as if my watch 
 were always to agree with the sun. But now it is a most unsafe 
 guide. Sometimes we hear men say, 'I don't see any harm in 
 this practice; my conscience doesn't condemn it.' It is not your 
 conscience or your consciousness that is the rule of right and 
 wrong; the law is the standard. By the law is the knowledge 
 of sin; sin is the transgression of the law, not of conscience." 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 59 
 
 CAUSE OF FAILURE. 
 
 Therefore thus saith the Lord, behold, I will plead thy cause, 
 and take vengeance for thee: and I will dry up her seas (wicked 
 Babylon), and make her springs dry. Jer. 51 :$6. — Behold, he 
 (God) withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth 
 them out, and they overturn the earth. Job. 12:15. — And Jesus 
 said unto him, no man, having put his hand to the plough, and look- 
 ing back, is fit for the kingdom of God. Luke 9 '.62. — For Demas 
 hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed 
 unto Thessalonica. .2 Tim. 4:10. — Holding faith, and good con- 
 science; which some having put away concerning faith have made 
 shipwreck. 1 Tim. 1 119. — Ye (the Christian) are the salt of the 
 earth : but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be 
 
 salted ? it is good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden 
 under foot. Matt. 5:13. — I marvel that ye are so soon removed 
 from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gos- 
 pel. Gal. 1 :6. — Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, be- 
 cause thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from 
 whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works ; or else 
 I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick 
 (Holy Spirit) out of his place, except thou repent. Rev. 2:4, 5. 
 A failure establishes only this, that our determination to suc- 
 ceed was not strong enough, that is, not having gotten a proper 
 grasp on the thing undertaken. This is true in the spiritual things, 
 as well as the temporal affairs of life. See the terrible failures in 
 the business world, the lives wrecked and ruined. The sad failures 
 many make in the spiritual life. The picture shows two active 
 geysers and one "dead one" — the hole. No doubt, it was at one 
 
6o RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 time as active, interesting, and beautiful as the rest of them, but 
 something- happened to its life. There are many causes for failure 
 in the christian life. Neglecting the prayer season, forgettin~ the 
 church duties, which God gives one to do; letting the worldly things 
 absorb the moments that ought to be driven to things eternal, h^ 
 grieving the Holy Spirit of God (see Eph. 4:30), he withdraws 
 his presence, and consequently indifference and coldness sets in, 
 and life will dry up as does the grass before the parching sun. As 
 the apostle Paul has said, "One thing I do, forgetting those things 
 which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are 
 before." Phil. 3 :i3. — If you have tried and lost your grip in some 
 way, then remember that Christ is your Advocate with God. 1 
 Jno. 2 : 1 . — Take courage and determine to press on, and say with 
 David, "Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me 
 with thy free spirit." Ps. 5.1 :i2. Read. 2 Thes. 5—,. special. verse 21. 
 
 UNHEEDED WARNINGS. 
 
 A man and his wife, with her brother, were at White River 
 with a sled heavily loaded, the dogs worn with travel and weary 
 almost to death. They were trying to reach Dawson in their 
 search for gold. An experienced traveler told them, "The bot- 
 tom's likely to drop out of the trail at any moment," and that 
 only fools, with the blind luck of fools, could have come thus far. 
 "All the same," is the reply, "we'll go to Dawson." The traveler 
 watched till they were a quarter of a mile away, crawling along 
 over the ice. Suddenly they saw the back end of the sled drop 
 down, as into a rut, and the gee-pole, with one of the men clinging 
 to it, jerk into the air. The woman's scream came to his ears. 
 He saw the other man turn and make one step to run back, and 
 then a whole section of ice gave way, and dogs and humans dis- 
 appeared. A yawning hole was all that was to be seen. The bot- 
 tom had dropped out of the trail. 
 
 Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit ; there is more hope 
 of a fool than of him. He that, being often reproved, hardeneth 
 his neck, shall suddenly be cut off. Prov. 29:1. 
 
 WORKING AND RUSTING, 
 
 Two plow-shares were once made by the same blacksmith, 
 in the same smithy, from the same kind of iron, and both bought 
 by the same farmer. One was used at once, and the other laid 
 by and became rusty. After some time the unused one was brought 
 out, and upon seeing its colleague "all bright" exclaimed, "Oh, 
 what a difference ! What makes you so bright ? I feel quite ashamed 
 to be seen." It is the use of your life that makes it brighter. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 61 
 
 FILLED. 
 
 And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall 
 come : and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts. 
 Hag. 2 :y. — Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and 
 peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power 
 of the Holy Spirit. Rom. 15 113. — He hath filled the hungry with 
 good things : the rich he hath sent empty away. Luke 1 153. — 
 But Peter said, Ananias, Why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie 
 to the Holy Spirit? Acts 5 13. — And they were all filled with the 
 Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit 
 gave them utterance. Acts 2 14. — And when they had prayed, the 
 place was shaken where they were assembled together : and the)' 
 were all filled with, the Holy Spirit, and they spake the word of 
 God with boldness. Acts 4:31. — And the disciples were filled with 
 
 joy, and with the Holy Spirit. Acts 13 152. — And Ananias went 
 his way, and entered into the house : and putting his hands on him 
 said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus that appeared unto thee in 
 the way as thou earnest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive 
 thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Acts 9:17. — And be 
 not drunk with wine, wherein is excess : but be filled with the 
 (Holy) Spirit. Eph. 5 :i8. — For this cause we also, since the day 
 we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye 
 might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and 
 spiritual understanding. Col. 1 19. 
 
 A creek is running by the side of the spring. 
 
 A Spanish proverb is, "He that loseth wealth, loseth much : 
 he that loseth friends, loseth more: but he that loseth his spirits, 
 loseth all." This is quite true of the worldly minded people, as 
 well as the professed Christian. The Christian has a power great- 
 
62 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 er, however, than his own spirit to depend upon. The Holy Spirit 
 of God must come in and possess the life, or there will be a blank 
 failure. King Saul failed when God removed the Spirit from him, 
 and David gained when he was filled with the Spirit (see i Sam. 
 16:13, 14). Peter failed before he received the Holy Spirit into 
 his life, even denied his. Lord, but afterward never. Life is repre- 
 sented in Revelation 3:15, 16 as hot — boiling, cold — icy cold, or 
 lukewarm. In this connection we may learn what this signifies 
 from Cliff Spring in the Yellowstone Park. The water in it is 
 always boiling. It keeps filled, and a regular portion over-flowing 
 the sides, thus warming up everything round about. Saint Paul 
 exhorts us to "Be filled with the Holy Spirit." He brings new 
 life, new ideals, new sympathy into the life, and the over-flow of 
 these will reach out to some one else. Your life will be warmed- 
 up and blessed, and you will be a blessing to others about you. 
 Read 1 Tim. 4 — , special verse 7. 
 
 A CAUSE OF TROUBLE. 
 
 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit 
 within you: and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, 
 and will give them an heart of flesh. Ezek. 11 : 19. 
 
 Theodore Monod made use of a beautiful illustration one 
 time. He said, "If a piece of iron could speak, what would it 
 say? It would say, T am black, I am cold, I am hard.' Per- 
 fectly true. But put that piece of iron into a furnace and wait 
 awhile, and what would it say? 'The blackness is gone, and the 
 coldness is gone, and the hardness is gone' — it has passed into 
 a new experience. But if that piece of iron could speak, surely 
 it would not glory in itself, because the fire and the iron are two 
 distinct things that remain distinct to the last. If it could glory 
 it would glory in the fire, and that not of itself, but in the fire 
 that kept in a bright and molten mass. So in myself, I am 
 black, I am cold, and I am hard : but if the Lord takes posses- 
 sion of my soul, if I am filled with love, if His Spirit fills my 
 being, the blackness will go, and yet the glory does not belong 
 to me, but to the Lord who< keeps me in a sense of His love." 
 
 HARDENING CONSCIENCE. 
 The first film of ice is scarcely perceptible. Keep the water 
 stirring and you will prevent the ice from freezing. But once 
 it films over and remain so, it thickens over the surface, and it 
 thickens still. At last it is so solid that a wagon might be drawn 
 over the frozen water. So> with our conscience. It films over 
 gradually, and at last it becomes hard, unfeeling; and then it 
 can bear a weight of iniquity. — Bishop Simpson. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 63 
 
 THE DEVIL'S SLIDE, 
 
 Be sober, be vigilant : because your adversary the devil, as a 
 roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. 1 Pet. 
 5 :8. — Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father 
 ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not 
 in the truth, because there was no truth in him. Jno. 8 144. — And 
 supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas 
 Iscariot, Simons son, to betray him, (Jesus). Jno. 13:2. — Then 
 cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, 
 lest they should believe and be saved. Luke 8 :i2. — And no marvel : 
 for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 2 Cor. 
 11:14. — If the gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in 
 whom the god (the devil) of this world hath blinded the minds of 
 them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of 
 
 Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 2 Cor. 
 4 :3, 4. — Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to 
 stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against 
 flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against 
 rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in 
 high places. Eph. 6:11, 12. — Lest Satan should get an advantage 
 of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices. 2 Cor. 2:11. 
 
 The view shows Cinnabar Mountain north of the Yellowstone 
 Park. The white streak is a wall of reddish rock formation sup- 
 posed at one time to be Cinnabar. It runs up the mountain about 
 2000 feet. It looked like the workmanship of a master stone-ma- 
 son so well laid. Indeed it was laid by the Master of all masters. 
 From some cause it has received the name of "The Devil's Slide.'' 
 St. Paul tells us that, "Some have already turned aside after the 
 devil." 1 Tim. 5:15. — So I find many people getting into diffi- 
 
64 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 culties by wilfully playing around the devil's slide. Many people 
 come to me with the question, "Do you believe in a personal Devil ?" 
 There is only one answer. That is "yes." The Devil, Satan, Evil 
 One, Serpent and other names refer to the same person in the Bible. 
 He was the high angel of God. He is a spiritually created Being 
 of vast power. Through his exalted position and his pride he fell 
 into open rebellion against God. Being a Spirit he is unseeable by 
 the human eye. He is called the prince (Eph. 2 :i) or god of this 
 world. He is attempting to foil God in his plan with man. Man 
 is his special objective. The demons are the subordinate angels 
 that fell with him. They have a regularly organized system or gov- 
 ernment in opposition to God over the human beings on this mother 
 earth. Adam and Eve listened to him. Man is by nature sinful. 
 He appears as an angel of light to deceive men into ways of wick- 
 edness against God. A man thus deceived is in his power, and 
 does his bidding at every turn. All that the devil desires of man is 
 that he disobey God's laws, thereby dishonoring God. He sets to 
 work in man's heart the enticing and unlawful desires which lead 
 him into doubting God and into sin. Then man loses self-control. 
 The ball keeps on rolling down the mount, adding more sin, and 
 going faster. For this reason God sent Jesus into the world to 
 stop the ball, and bring it back to the top of the mount. To re- 
 deem man from sin, and set him aright again. St. John says : "For 
 this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy 
 the works of the devil." Through Jesus Christ man can overcome 
 the power of Satan. In himself he cannot. Satan is the cause of 
 all the sin, sickness and sorrow in the world. What havoc he has 
 played! Every cemetery, every funeral, and every separation by 
 death owes its existence to the devil. He makes preachers in the 
 pulpit preach a "soft" gospel. Never to mention the traitor's name 
 — Judas Iscariot, nor whisper even about the Cross on Calvary, nor 
 the Resurrection. As a transformed angel of light he draws a veil 
 over the gospel just thick enough to hide from man the view of 
 Jesus Christ as a Savior from sin. He is a blind leader of the 
 blind, and he with all his followers will fall into the pit before they 
 are aware of it. St. James gives man the remedy when he says, 
 "Submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from 
 you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Jas. 
 4 7, 8. — Read Ps. 4. 
 
 One life : a little gem of time between two eternities : no second 
 chance to us forevermore.' — Thomas Carlyle. 
 
 Herein is my lather glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so 
 shall ye be my disciples. John 15: 8. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 6f> 
 
 IDOLS. 
 
 I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the 
 land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no 
 other gods before me. Ex. 20:2, 3. — And when he (the Kin^) 
 had broken down the altars, and the groves, and had beaten the 
 graven images into powder, and cut down all the idols throughout 
 all the land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem. 2 Chron. 34 :y. — 
 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. Ps. 115 : 
 4. — Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was 
 stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. Acts 
 17:16. — For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering 
 in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve 
 
 the living and true God. 1 Thes. 1 :g. — Little children, keep your- 
 selves from idols. ijno. 5 121. — Charge them that are rich in this 
 world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, 
 but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things. I Tim. 6:17. 
 These are Buddha idols made of bronze. In fact, it is one idol 
 in two positions. They are located just outside of the large temple 
 gate which is shown on another page. The one is praying, and the 
 other giving his blessing. This is the god of most of the Japanese, 
 Chinese, and also the Indian in Southern Asia. It seems to be the 
 way of the natural man to worship something visible. This is why 
 God gave to us the Second Commandment. Ex. 20:1-4. — How- 
 ever, there are many kinds of idols in this world besides those of 
 bronze. Whatever we put between God and us on which the heart 
 becomes fastened, is an idol worshipped, and is a sin. It may be 
 our money, property, intellectual gifts, our manner of dress, the 
 
66 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 display of jewelry on our person, the deck of cards, the Sunday 
 morning newspaper, etc. St. Paul says, Even covetousness is idol- 
 atry. Col. 3 15. — In fact, anything which provokes pride in the 
 heart, or comes between us and the worship of God. When the 
 worshippers of the bronze idols receive Jesus Christ for their Savior 
 and Lord they put away their idols. Have you put yours away? 
 You know what they are better than anybody else. 
 
 "The dearest idol I have known, 
 . Whate'er that idol be, 
 Help me to tear it from thy throne, 
 And worship only thee'' ? 
 
 Read Eph. 4 — , special verse 32. 
 
 TIME TO THINK. 
 
 An old man lay on his death-bed, and beside him was his 
 son, a worldly-minded youth. The father, who had long yearned 
 for the conversion of his boy, now asked him to grant a favor ere 
 he died : and the dying request could not be refused. "Promise 
 me," said the father, "that for six months after my death you will 
 retire to my room for a half-hour every day and THINK. "About 
 what?" said the son. "That I leave to yourself," answered the 
 father, and soon died. The youth kept his promise, and for some 
 time had no difficulty in passing the half-hour. But soon the 
 thought of eternity, and the condition of his soul, came up before 
 his mind. His father had taken care that the lad should have 
 time to THINK: and ere long the half-hour had lengthened into 
 hours, as he sat thinking on his eternal well-being. Thus he was 
 led to the Bible, and led to believe on Jesus and was saved. Could 
 you bear to be alone for half an hour, pondering the great ques- 
 tion, "Where will I spend ETERNITY?" 
 
 WINDOWS IN THE FACE. 
 
 Is it not true that there are windows in our faces? Once an 
 Afghan passed a single hour in the presence of the saintly Dr. 
 William Marsh, of England. It was only a few short minutes, 
 and yet, when in after days the poor heathen learned that the good 
 doctor was dead he cried passionately : "His religion shall now 
 be my religion ; his God shall be my God ! I must go where he is 
 and see his face again !" So the Christlike character revealed in 
 the face had determined one who had formerly been a heathen to 
 become a Christian. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 67 
 
 IMPROVE THE TIME. 
 
 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, 
 and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you. 1 Thes. 
 4:11. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and 
 hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them. 2 
 Tim. 3 114. A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and 
 a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels. Prov. 1 15. 
 — As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill 
 in all learning and wisdom : and Daniel had understanding in all 
 visions and dreams. Dan. 1 \iy. — For whatsoever things were 
 written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through 
 patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. ORom. 15 : 
 4. — Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that 
 needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 
 Tim. 2:15. 
 
 A Japanese sewing class in a mission school in Hakodate, 
 Japan. The teacher is at the right, and the fire-box or stove in 
 front. These girls were once pagans, but now Christ's love reigns 
 in their hearts. They are bright students and are willing workers. 
 They study that their lives may be useful and fruitful, both in the 
 spiritual and the secular things. God says to us, "Redeem the 
 time." Eph. 5:16. As every thread of gold is valuable, so is 
 every moment of time. 
 
 "Spend your time in nothing which you know must be repented 
 of ; in nothing on which you might not pray for the blessing of God ; 
 in nothing which you could not review with a quiet conscience on 
 your dying bed ; in nothing which you might not safely and properly 
 be found doing if death should surprise you in the act." — Baxter. 
 
68 
 
 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 The devil says, "Pass the time." God says, "Redeem the 
 time." Read Ruth i — , special verse 16. 
 
 SECRET THINGS. 
 
 The secret things belong unto the Lord our God : but those 
 things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for- 
 ever, that we may do all the words of his law. Deut. 29 :2Cj. — 
 Hast thou heard the secret of God? and dost thou restrain wisdom 
 to thyself? Job 15:8. — For God shall bring every work into 
 judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether 
 it be evil. Eccles. 12:14. — Who can understand his errors? 
 cleanse thou me from secret faults. Ps. 19:12. — Shall not God 
 search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart. Ps. 
 44:21. 
 
 The building stands in one of the temple courts in Tokio, 
 Japan. I could get no clue to its real meaning for the position it 
 held. Failing to find out its purpose, I set it down as one of 
 the hidden things to me. God has revealed some things to us 
 and for us in this life, but there are many others that man will 
 not be able to fathom here on earth. He withholds them for 
 our good, and his glory. Should we not use those that he has 
 given to us before trying to pry into other mysteries? Then, 
 too, there may be our secret sins that may be hidden from man, 
 but do you know that God will search them out ? It might be well 
 also to keep our own secrets, (if we should have any), boxed 
 up a little more than we do, for our own benefit as well as for 
 others. Franklin says, "Three may keep a secret, if two of them 
 are dead." Read Joshua 1 — , special verse 5. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 69 
 
 A CAVE. 
 
 For as he (man) thinketh in his heart so is he. Prov. 23 :7. 
 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: 
 who can know it? Jer. 17:9. — Shall not God search this out? for 
 he knoweth the secrets of the heart. Ps. 44:21. — But God be 
 thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from 
 the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Rom. 6:17. 
 For we commend not ourselves, again unto you, but give you 
 occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to 
 answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart. 2 Cor. 
 5 :i2. — Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Matt. 
 5 :8. — But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither 
 
 have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath pre- 
 pared for them that love him. 1 Cor. 2 :g. — Search me, O God, 
 and know my heart. Ps. 139:23. — Create in me a clean heart, O 
 God; and renew a right spirit within me. Ps. 51 :io. — The Lord 
 is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart ; and saveth such as 
 be of a contrite spirit. Ps. 34:18. 
 
 The small round black spot in the ground is the original open- 
 ing to the now famous "Wind Cave/' Hot Springs, S. D. It was 
 discovered in 188 1 by a cowboy riding down the gulch after a deer. 
 He heard a strange noise, it is said, and went to> examine it. When 
 he .attempted to look into the mysterious hole, the out-coming cur- 
 rent blew his hat high into the air. Informing his companions, 
 the next day they went with him to see it also, doubting his fairy 
 tale. Nearing it again with his hat in his hand, said, "watch it 
 carry my hat into the air," but the opposite happened. This time 
 
70 RUBIES AND DIAMO'NDS. 
 
 it drew his hat down into its dark and still deeper mysterious being. 
 At times the air current is entering, and at other periods it is going 
 out, depending on the condition of the atmosphere. At the present 
 time ninety seven miles have been explored, and no telling how 
 many more there may be. It has three thousand rooms. The 
 largest covers three acres. It is composed of eight stories, that is, 
 one tier of rooms over each other like a house. Every room is 
 peculiarly different from the others. Some colored red, white and 
 others blue. It is intensely dark. When the guide would light- 
 up the different rooms with his magnesium tapers, it would drive 
 away that terrible feeling that seemed to creep over and around 
 you in the thick darkness. You could then see all the beautiful 
 scenes about you and enjoy them immensely. The heart is just 
 like that Cave. It will deceive one in so many ways. It has many 
 rooms also, which are filled with the dark things of life. See Gal. 
 5 :ig. — It needs a guide who can throw on the light to drive out the 
 darkness, so the beautiful may be seen. Jesus is the safe guide 
 and he must throw on the light — the light of eternal life. Saint 
 Paul tells us, That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth- the Lord 
 Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from 
 the dead, thou shalt be saved. Rom. io:q. — It is not head belief, 
 but a heart belief. True belief must go deep enough to touch the 
 heart. Saved from darkness and despair for eternity. Let Jesus 
 come into your heart. Read Acts 8 19-24, special verse 23. 
 
 RESULT OF A KIND ACT. 
 
 Samuel F. Jones, a prominent mission worker of Boston, says : 
 "Do you know that little things oftentimes result in a great deal of 
 good? One day a man, dead drunk, was lying in a gutter in my 
 native town, and a well-known lady of the city, as she passed 
 along on the sidewalk, seeing his face upturned to the blazing rays 
 of the noonday sun, took out her lace handkerchief and spread it 
 over his face. She did it for Jesus' sake. And when that man 
 came to his senses and found who that lady was, it resulted in 
 that man's conversion to God." 
 
 FOR WHOM INTENDED. 
 
 Andrew Fuller once asked an old friend for money for for- 
 eign missions. The friend said : "I will give you five pounds, 
 Andrew, seeing it is you." Fuller handed it back. "I will take 
 nothing," he said, "seeing it is I." The man saw the point, and 
 replied : "Andrew, you are right. Here are ten pounds, seeing 
 it is for the Lord Jesus !" 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 71 
 
 FISHERS. 
 
 Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the Lord, and they 
 shall fish for them. Jer. 16:16. — The fishers also shall mourn, 
 and all that cast angle into the brooks shall lament, and they that 
 spread nets upon the waters shall languish. Isa. 19:8. — Simon 
 Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also 
 go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immedi- 
 ately ; and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning 
 was now come Jesus stood on the shore : but the disciples knew not 
 that is was Jesus. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye 
 any meat? They answered him, No. And he said unto them, 
 Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They 
 cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the mul- 
 
 titude of fishes. Jno. 21 :y6. — And Jesus walking by the sea of 
 Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his 
 brother, casting a net into the sea : for they were fishers. And he 
 saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 
 Matt. 4:18, 19. 
 
 It is said that about one third of the Japanese make a living 
 by fishing. Here we see a fishing boat leaving the canal at Yoko- 
 hama. Note the way they row the boat. When they reach the 
 open sea the sail is raised. Sometimes they return with the boat 
 ladened with fish, and at other times they are not so successful. 
 Jesus said "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men." Ev- 
 ery Christian (not the preacher only) should be a fisherman for 
 lost souls of their fellow men. Do you do your part of this im- 
 portant work? There are your relatives, friends and companions. 
 The disciples were obedient to the command of Christ. Blessings 
 
J2 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 will only come by so doing. You mav not be very successful at 
 first, but cast your net on the right side. Show them Christ's love, 
 his warnings, his eternity. That is your part. The Apostle says, 
 Let him know, that he which converteth a sinner from the error of 
 his way shall save a soul from death. Jas. 5 :20. Read Daniel 
 12 — , special verse 3. 
 
 TWO KINDS OF LIVING. 
 
 We have heard of a business firm composed of a member of the 
 church and a man who was notoriously profane. One day the 
 pastor was in the store; the profane man was indulging in his 
 profanity. The minister spoke to him about it. ,The man re- 
 plied, "I am the swearing member of the firm, and my partner 
 is the praying member. He lives according to his praying and 
 I live according to my swearing. I would give worlds to be like 
 him, but he would not be like me for worlds." 
 
 What a striking testimony that was ! "He lives according to 
 his praying!" How vastly different it would have been if he had 
 said, "I don't mean anything by my swearing, and he don't mean 
 anything by his praying!" "Let your light so shine before men 
 that they * '* * glorify your Father which is in Heaven." 
 
 WOMAN'S WORK FOR CHRIST. 
 
 Here is a practical gem from Dr. Torrey. He said : "Some 
 years ago a woman who had a family of young children had been 
 reading the life of Frances Willard, and was greatly stirred by 
 reading that life. She came to me one day, and said, T wish I 
 could do something for Christ.' I said, 'You can.' 'No,' she 
 said, T can't; my duty is with my family.' I replied, 'Of course 
 it is, but you can do something for Christ; you can bring your chil- 
 dren to him ; you can bring your servants to Christ ; you can bring 
 the shop-keepers you deal with to Christ.' 
 
 "And I watched that woman. Every child in her family was 
 converted in early childhood; one of them is now studying for the 
 ministry, two of them expect to go as foreign missionaries, one of 
 them was called to the other' world at nine years of age. The 
 morning the little child of nine died she was told that a nurse was 
 coming to nurse her, and she said to her mother, T wonder if the 
 nurse is a Christian; if she isn't we must lead her to Christ.' 
 Every servant that came into that home was spoken to about her 
 soul; when the butcher came with the meat he was spoken to about 
 his soul ; whenever she went shopping to buy cloth, or a bonnet, or 
 anything else, the clerks with whom she dealt were spoken to about 
 their souls." 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 73 
 
 PRECIOUS. 
 
 And of Joseph he said, Blessed of the Lord be his land, for 
 the precious things of heaven, for the dew, and for the deep that 
 coucheth beneath, and for the chief things of the ancient mountains 
 and for the precious fruits brought forth by the sun, and for the 
 precious things put forth of the moon, and for the chief things of 
 the ancient mountains, and for the precious things of the hills. 
 Deut. 33:13-15. — Happy is the man that getteth understanding. 
 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, 
 and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than 
 rubies : and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared 
 unto her. Prov. 3:13-15. — Whereby are given unto us exceeding 
 great and precious promises', that by these ye might be partakers 
 
 *t#*»4 i *' ii'i'illi'flililiiyill^ti^^l^^ 1 ^ 
 
 of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the 
 world through lust. 2 Pet. 1 4. — For the redemption of their soul 
 is precious. Ps. 49 :8. — How precious also are thy thoughts unto 
 me, O God! how great is the sum of them. Ps. 139:17. — For as 
 much as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible 
 things, as silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ as 
 a lamb without blemish and without spot. 1 Pet. 1 :i8, 19. 
 
 The iron ore pit at Eveleth, Minn., is possibly three-fourths of 
 a mile in circumference. From the top of the surface to the little 
 train is about seventy feet. 'It is a valuable spot. The deposit of 
 ore is about ninety feet deep. The top layer of earth has been re- 
 moved. The little train is running on the top of the ore bed. 
 Tunnels are worked underneath the ore bed, and then vertical shafts 
 are made and the miners dig the ore from the top into the shafts 
 
74 .RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 and the ore falls into little tram cars below, and from thence it is 
 hauled to the elevator. Wonderfully precious in dollars and cents 
 is this place. But God has still more precious things for man. 
 Do you really realize the value of them? 'See above. Read I 
 John i — , special verse 7. 
 
 HE KNOWS. 
 
 Dr. Louis Albert Banks relates this interesting incident which 
 teaches what the world needs. There was a woman whose little 
 child very suddenly died in her arms. It was her only child, and 
 the very idol of her heart. She was stunned by her grief. She 
 could not even cry. The fountain of tears seemed to have frozen. 
 She would not let anybody take the body of her child. Her hus- 
 band lovingly tried to comfort her, and sought to persuade her to 
 give the child to him, but she would not. For hours she held the 
 little boy close to her breast, her face full of untold agony. At last 
 the husband thought of a neighbor down the street who had lost a 
 little child not long before, about the same age as their little one. 
 He went to her and told her of the awful sorrow that had come to 
 their home and the sad condition of his wife, and begged her to 
 come to see if she would know how to comfort her. The woman 
 came and quietly went in, and without a word sat down beside the 
 poor grief-dazed mother, put her arm around her, her own tears 
 rolling down over her cheeks, and kissed her, and simply said, "I 
 know all about it, dear." The refreshing tears came to her eyes: 
 her frozen heart melted in her bosom, and she held the body of the 
 child out to her neighbor, and said, "I can give it to you. I could 
 not give it to anyone else, for they did not know." When we are 
 tried and need comfort there is always one to whom we may go 
 for sympathy. Jesus is the one. He knows and understands. He 
 was tempted and tried as we are. Heb. 4:15. 
 
 HIS TREASURE. 
 
 "I was much struck," says a distinguished divine, in reading 
 about a certain nobleman who died lately. |He had an iron safe or 
 chest all locked up, but marked : "To be removed first in case of 
 fire." After he died his friends opened the chest, supposing, of 
 course, that some valuable documents or deeds of property, rich 
 jewelry or costly plate, would be found, but what was their aston- 
 ishment when they found nothing but the toys of his little child, 
 who had gone before him. Richer to him were they than all the 
 world's wealth : richer than his coronet, brighter than all the jewels 
 that sparkled on its crest. Not his estate, not his jewels, not his 
 equipage, nothing glorious and great in this world, but the dearest 
 objects to him were the toys of his little child." 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 75 
 
 A LITTLE MOUND. 
 
 For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Rom. 
 3 123. — The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither 
 the children be put to death for the fathers : every man shall be 
 put to death for his own sin. Deut. 24:16. — What shall we say 
 then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, 
 but for the law : : for I had not known lust, except the law had said, 
 Thou shalt not covet. Rom. 7 \y. — Whosoever committeth sin 
 transgresseth also> the law : for sin is the transgression of the law. 
 1 Jno. 3:4. — (See what the law is in Exodus, Chap. 20, Gal. 5: 
 10-21). For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend 
 in one point, he is guilty of all. Jas 2 :io. — For the wages of sin 
 is death ; but the gift of God is eternal life through lesus Christ our 
 Lord. Rom. 6 123. — For when ye were the servants of sin, ye 
 
 
 
 
 
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 Watching a Parade, 
 were free from righteousness. Rom. 6 :2c — For exhort one anoth- 
 er daily, while it is called To-day; lest any of you be hardened 
 through the deceitfulness of sin. Heb. 3:13. — Wherefore seeing 
 we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let 
 us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset 
 us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Heb. 
 12 :i. 
 
 1. S-I-N is quite an insignificant word, as far as its size is con- 
 cerned, but its power over man is terrible, and its consequence will 
 be dreadful. Sin is any disobedience to God's law. (See what 
 law is in Ex. 20 and Gal. 5 : 19-21.) It shuts the soul out of heav- 
 en, and away from God. The pile of dirt is in the main plaza at 
 
76 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 the St, Louis Fair. At certain places it would hide from one's 
 sight the most beautiful views in the fair — particularly the artificial 
 lake and festival hall. Sin is just a little mound on the life, or 
 possibly there are many of them, and they are hiding from you the 
 vision of the blessed Redeemer, and causes many blessings to be 
 withheld which God is waiting to give you, even now. Read Daniel 
 6 — , special verse 27. 
 
 THE MATERIAL AND THE SPIRITUAL. 
 
 Things material are abundant. Our mills and factories are 
 numerous, large, and prosperous, but things material, including 
 money itself, should only be the foundation upon which are reared 
 things material. Our mines of coal and iron have not completed 
 their mission when transmuted into dollars. Not till the dollars 
 are transmuted into service for others has wealth completely justi- 
 fied its existence. Dollars are only dross until spiritualized, a 
 means to an end, and miserable is the man, mean and squalid his 
 life, who knows no better than to deaden his soul by mere posses- 
 sion, using his faculties in old age in augmenting the useless stuff 
 which ministers not to any taste worthy of man. 
 
 Little does and little can the speculator on the exchange or the 
 mere dollar grabber in any line of activity know of the higher 
 pleasures of human existence. Only when a man labors for the 
 general good and for other than general aims that end with self 
 can he know and enjoy the high spiritual rewards of life. — Andre-v 
 Carnegie. 
 
 A CROOKED RULER. 
 
 Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking 
 heed thereto according to thy word. Ps. 119:9. 
 
 "The Bible is so strict and old-fashioned," said a young man 
 to a grey-haired friend who was advising to study God's word 
 if he would learn how to live. There are plenty of good books 
 written now-a-days, that are moral enough in their teaching, and 
 do not bind one down as the Bible." The old merchant turned 
 to his desk and took out two rulers, one of which was slightly 
 bent. With each of these he ruled a line, and .silently handed 
 the ruled paper to his companion. "Well," said the young man, 
 "what do you mean?" "One line is not straight and true, is it?" 
 When you mark out your path in life do not take a crooked 
 ruler ! 
 
 Cyrus, the conqueror of Babylon, of whom we read in the 
 Bible, was once asked what was the first thing he learned. "To 
 tell the truth," he replied. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 77 
 
 REMOVED. 
 
 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, 
 Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world. 
 Jno. 1 129.- — I (David) acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine 
 iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions 
 unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Ps. 32 : 
 5. — It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil which 
 I purpose to do unto them ; that they return every man from his 
 evil way; that I (God) forgive their iniquity and their sin. Jer. 
 36:3. — And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the 
 Lord. And Nathan said unto* David, The Lord also hath put away 
 thy sin: thou shalt not die. 2 Sam. 12:13. — And he laid it upon 
 my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips ; and thine ini - 
 quity is taken away, and thy sin purged. Isa. 6 \J. — And they shall 
 
 teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother 
 saying, Know the Lord : for they shall all know me, from the least 
 of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord : for I will for- 
 give their iniquity, and I will remember them no more. Jer. 31 : 
 34. — He hath not dealt with us after our sins ; nor rewarded us 
 according to our iniquities. As far as the east is from the west, 
 so far hath he removed our transgressious from us. Ps. 103: 
 10-12. — But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have 
 fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his 
 Son cleanseth us from all sin. 1 Jno. 1 \J. 
 
 You see the same place as in the former lesson about a week 
 later. It was quite an unbecoming and uninviting spot then, be- 
 cause of the pile of dirt, but now it has been removed. The char- 
 acter of the place has been changed. So sin on the life separates 
 us from God, and must be removed. St. Paul says, "In whom 
 (Jesus) we have redemption through his blood, even the forgive- 
 
78 
 
 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 ness of our sins. 
 the sin forever. 
 
 Col. 1 114. — When God forgives us, he puts away 
 Read Ex. 3:11, 12, 13 and 4:1, 10 Excuses. 
 
 PECULIAR PEOPLE. 
 
 Now therefore, if you will obey my voice indeed, and keep my 
 covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all 
 people; for all the earth is mine. Ex. 19:5. — For thou art an holy 
 people unto the Lord thy God, and the Lord hath chosen thee to 
 be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon 
 the earth. Deut. 14 :2. — But ye are a chosen generation, a royal 
 priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people : that ye should show 
 forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into 
 his marvellous light. 1 Pet. 2 19. — Who gave himself for us, that 
 
 he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a 
 peculiar people, zealous of good works. Titus 2:14. — But know 
 that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself : the Lord 
 will hear when I call unto him. Ps. 4 13. 
 
 The building of the State of Washington at the St. Louis Fair 
 is a peculiar design. Each upright post is made of one tree and is 
 over one hundred feet long, and two feet square at either end. The 
 posts are set into the ground on a good foundation, and then center- 
 ing at the top. The Redeemed of this world are called a peculiar 
 people and are scattered all over this wide world. They belong to 
 God, and have their hearts centered on the Christ, the Son of God. 
 They are a peculiar people unto God for they follow him, trust in 
 him, love him, and work for him. The worldly people have all 
 their affections centered on themselves and the things of this world. 
 Read John 3:14-36, special verse 16. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 79 
 
 PRESERVATION. 
 
 Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust. Ps. 16: 
 I. Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O Lord: let 
 thy loving kindness and thy truth continually preserve me. Ps. 
 40 :i 1. — Preserve my soul ; for I am holy : O thou my God, save thy 
 servant that trusteth in thee. Ps. 86 :2. — Jude the servant of 
 Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by 
 God and Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, Jude 1. The Lord 
 preserveth all them that love him ; but all the wicked will he de- 
 stroy. Ps. 145:20. — For he (the Lord) shall give his angels 
 charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways. Ps. 91 :n. — And 
 the very God of peace sanctify 37-011 wholly; and I pray God your 
 whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the 
 coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thes. 5 \2^. — I pray not that 
 
 thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest 
 keep them from evil. Jno. 17:15. — Now unto him that is able to 
 keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the pres- 
 ence of his glory with exceeding joy. Jude 24. 
 
 This is such an important lesson for all Christians, and es- 
 pecially for converts. The two blocks of wood were on exhibit 
 at the St. Louis Fair. Both were the same kind of wood used for 
 piling for a railroad bridge. The first looks like a sponge. It 
 was used only one year, and the apparent decay is merely worm 
 eaten. In its natural state it could not withstand the attacks of the 
 teredo. The other was chemically treated for preservation and 
 was used twenty years, and still is solid. Many people say they 
 would be Christians, if they thought they could hold out. No 
 Christian is able to keep himself, but the Lord Jesus is. He has 
 the power to preserve you and keep you from falling. The only 
 
8o 
 
 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 question is, Will you let Him do it? 
 verse 6. 
 
 Read 2 Tim. 1 
 
 special 
 
 BY FAITH. 
 
 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of 
 things not seen. Heb. 11 :i. — Therefore being justified by faith, 
 we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Rom. 
 5 :i. — But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it 
 is evident: for the just shall live by faith. Gal. 3 :n. — I am cruci- 
 fied with Christ : nevertheless I live ; yet not I, but Christ liveth in 
 me : and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of 
 the Son of God, who loveth me, and gave himself for me. Gal. 2 : 
 20. — For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 
 
 Gal. 3 :26. — For we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Cor. 5 \j. 
 
 Here in Spearfish Canon is a short space of straight track of 
 railroad going over the Black Hills. The descent is about 150a 
 feet, and the train zigzags back and forth on the mountain sides 
 full seven miles to get down to this point. Scenery! It is every- 
 where. The rest of the way was just up and down, and right and 
 left until the head would fairly swim with dizziness. I said to 
 myself several times during the trip that this was surely "riding 
 by faith." It is really true of the Christian. He is justified by 
 faith. He becomes the true child of God by faith. He walks by 
 faith. He lives by faith in Christ Jesus. Have we gotten hold 
 of these great truths in our own personal experience? Faith is be- 
 lieving. It is not seeing. To believe is to be strong. Belief is 
 power. He who doubts is weak. Jeremy Taylor says that, "Faith 
 is the root of all blessings. Believe, and you shall be saved; be- 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS, 
 
 81 
 
 lieve, and you must needs be satisfied ; believe, and you cannot but 
 be comforted and happy." Read John 21—, special verse 17. 
 
 LABOR. 
 
 In the sweat of thy face thou shalt eat bread, till thou return 
 unto the ground. Gen. 3:19. — Six days shalt thou labor, and do 
 all thy work. Ex. 20:9. Now he that planteth and he that water- 
 eth are one : and every man shall receive his own reward according 
 to his own labor. 1 Cor. 3 :8. — The sleep of a laboring man is 
 sweet, whether he eat little or much : but the abundance of the rich 
 will not suffer him to sleep. Eccle. 5 :i2. — And in the same house 
 remain, eating and drinking such things as they give : for the labor- 
 er is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house. Luke 10: 
 
 7. — And, the laborer is worthy of his reward. 1 Tim. 5 :i8. — 
 Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which 
 endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give 
 unto you. Jno. 6 127. — For he that is entered into his rest, he also 
 hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us 
 labor therefore, to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the 
 same example of unbelief. Heb. 4:10, 11. 
 
 This man is laboring up in the Minnesota Pineland, miles from 
 anywhere. The trees are felled during the summer and winter 
 seasons; but they are usually hauled in this fashion in the winter 
 time over icy roads to the temporary railway station to be loaded 
 on the cars, which carry them to the saw mill. He has 5,000 feet 
 of pine on the sleigh and could haul much more. In this manner 
 he gains his daily bread. Someone has said, "The fruit derived 
 from labor is the sweetest of all pleasures." In this world it is 
 
82 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 necessary to labor. It is God's plan; some with the brain and 
 muscle, and others with the muscle and brain. Abraham Lincoln 
 remarks that "God must have loved the poor because he made so 
 many of them." The Almighty surely has placed his loving seal 
 upon the laborer. Adam was a gardener. Noah was a carpenter. 
 Abraham, Jacob and David were shepherds. Amos was a 
 farmer. Elisha was found at the plow handle. Peter was a fish- 
 erman. .Even Jesus ennobled it by being a carpenter with his 
 father. The wilfully idle one is always a tool for Satan to use in 
 his business. Six days are sufficient for human nature; besides, 
 it is God's law. He who disrespects this plan will lose, in some 
 way, manifold more than he gains. I. Labor for the earthly 
 bread. 2. Labor for the spiritual bread. 3. Labor to enter 
 into the eternal rest. He who labors for these three things is a 
 fully rounded-out man. He who has only the first one in view 
 has hardly begun to live rightly. That is, he is only getting one- 
 third out of life. He will have labored almost in vain, for he has 
 lost two-thirds of what God intended him to have. 
 
 "Work, for the night is coming, 
 Work through the sunny noon; 
 Fill brightest hours with labor, 
 Rest comes sure and soon, 
 Give every flying minute, 
 Something to keep in store; 
 Work, for the night is coming, 
 When man works no more. 
 Read 1 Cor. 13 — , special verse 12. 
 
 A NEGLECTED DUTY. 
 
 Dwight L. Moody has told the story of a boat that had 
 been away three years on a whaling voyage. On board was 
 the son of the lighthouse keeper at the port of sailing. Every 
 night the father carefully kept his lamp and waited anxiously 
 for the return of his boy. One night in a gale the wind blew 
 it out, and he neglected to relight it. It was on that night that 
 the whaler returned. Those on the lookout peered for a light 
 to guide them into the harbor, but none was visible. The vessel 
 dashed upon the rocks and the entire crew was drowned. Next 
 morning when the father went out to examine the shore for 
 wreckage and anything that might have survived the storm, he 
 saw his son's body stretched out lifeless on the sand. 
 
 One neglected duty had been responsible for this disaster, 
 and by this careless act he had lost his only son. Many a father 
 has by his neglect and immoral example wrecked the soul of 
 his boy. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS, 83 
 
 GIFTS. 
 
 From God. — Every good gift and every perfect gift is from 
 above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom 
 there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Jas. 1 :i/. 
 The spiritual gifts. — 1. A Savior. — For God so loved the world, 
 that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in 
 him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Jno. 3:16. 
 The Holy Spirit. — If ye then being- evil, know how to give good 
 gifts unto your children : how much more shall your heavenly 
 Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him. Luke 11 113. — 
 3. Grace. — But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God 
 resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Jas. 4:6. 
 — 4. Faith. — For by grace are ye saved through faith : and that 
 not of yourselves : it is the gift of God. Eph. 2 :8. — The Temporal 
 Gifts. — Therefore I say unto you. Take no thought for your life, 
 
 what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink: nor yet for your body, 
 what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body 
 than raiment. Behold the fowls of the air : for they sow not, neith- 
 er do they reap, nor gather into barns : yet your heavenly Father 
 feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they. Matt. 6 125, 26. 
 — While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and 
 heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. 
 Gen. 8 -.22. ■ — The gifts to God. — I Beseech you therefore, brethren, 
 by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacri- 
 fice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 
 Rom. 12:1. — Upon the first day of the week let every one of you 
 lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him. 1 Cor. 16:2. — 
 But to do good and communicate forget not : for with such sacri- 
 
8 4 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 flees God is well pleased. Heb. 13:16. — Every man according as 
 he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of 
 necessity : for God loveth a cheerful giver. 2 Cor. 9 :y. — Give, 
 and it shall be given unto you : good measure, pressed down, and 
 shaken together, and running over, shall men give unto your 
 bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall 
 be measured to you again. Luke 6 138. 
 
 'The Agricultural Building at St. Louis Fair covered twenty- 
 two acres. Nearly all the states were represented, by bringing in 
 their finest products to exhibit. This is the Virginia booth, so 
 beautifully and artistically decorated with their choicest fruits and 
 grains. They were the temporal gifts from God for man's welfare, 
 but the soul of man needs the spiritual gifts also. The greatest 
 gift to man is God's divine favor in giving Jesus and the Holy 
 Spirit. Then he demands very naturally gifts in return from his 
 chosen ones. The main question is, Am I receiving his gifts — 
 blessings — daily in my life? If so, then it will be one of the first 
 thoughts of my life to bring him my gifts for his use. The liberal 
 soul shall be blessed. The good tree gives forth its fruit. The 
 front half of the Gospel ship is salvation, and the rear half is the 
 giving of ourselves, time, and money for God's purpose. To be 
 in harmony, the whole ship must be propelled by the power of love. 
 We love him, because he first loved us, says Jno. 4:19. 
 
 NO TIME. 
 
 A Christian man who was riding on the outside of a London 
 omnibus got into a conversation with the driver, and after a time 
 asked him : 
 
 "Do you love Jesus Christ?" ; 
 
 With a startled look he replied, "No, sir; I've no time to 
 think of such things." 
 
 "Are you married?" was the next question. 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 "How many hours in the day do you work?" 
 
 "Sixteen, sir." 
 
 "Then I am sorry for your wife." 
 
 "Why are you sorry?" 
 
 "Because you have no time to love her." 
 
 f 'Love her!" said the driver. "Why, I loves her every yard 
 I drives!" 
 
 The life that is love-controlled carries love into all its activi- 
 ties. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 THE CHILDREN. 
 
 Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst 
 of them, said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and 
 become as children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 
 Matt. 18:2, 3. — So they brought young children to him, that he 
 should touch them : and his disciples rebuked those that brought 
 them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said 
 unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid 
 them not : for of such is the Kingdom of God. Verily I say unto 
 you, Whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little 
 child, he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, 
 put his hands upon them, and blessed them. Mark 10:13-16. — 
 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul. Ps. 19 \y. 
 
 Herein is the kernal to the Christian life. tWhat does it 
 mean, to become like a child ? How can we obtain such a life as a 
 little child represents? It is that which secures to one the right 
 kind of pleasures, profits and blessings in this present life, and 
 eternal life with all of its accompanying happiness inj:he life to 
 come. Every person growing up to. manhood or womanhood is 
 naturally inclined to become indifferent, cold, possibly hard-hearted, 
 and even self-willed and rebellious through the many trials, and 
 temptations of life. This is effected by the deceptive work of sin, 
 or the Evil One upon the life. This is the very cause that brought 
 Jesus from heaven to do, or rather to undo. He taught the rich 
 and learned Nicodemus how — the secret — of it when he said to 
 him, Ye must be born from above. Jno. 3 13-5. — That is renewed 
 or made over in the spiritual sense. The experience of the poor 
 woman of Samaria was similar. See St. John fourth chapter. 
 
86 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 Jesus said he had the power of changing a person's life. She 
 needed a changed heart. He could make her life like a well spring- 
 ing up into everlasting life. This change brings real joy, happiness 
 and comfort to the heart at once. God tells very clearly how this 
 change is to come to us personally. Listen ! "A new heart also will 
 I give you, and new spirit will I put within you; and I will take 
 away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart 
 of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you." Ezek. 36 '.26, 27. 
 ■ — God will do all this for you in Jesus' name. He will take away 
 the sinful things of the heart, and will give you a cleansed and 
 spiritual one. This will bring into your life the precious character- 
 istics—the RUBIES and DIAMONDS— of a child heart and life, 
 which are: 1. Teachable. 2. Confidence in God as a Father. 
 3. Dependence on God as a Father. 4. Loving obedience to God. 
 Just a little confidential talk with Jesus like Nicodemus had will 
 bring the change. It is the only solution for a happy and contented 
 life, and eternal life. Read Romans 8:14-39, special verse 2J. 
 
 "O for a glance of heavenly day, 
 
 To take this stubborn heart away, 
 
 And thaw, with beams of love divine, 
 
 This heart, this frozen heart of mine ! 
 
 But power divine can do the deed ; 
 
 And Lord, that power I greatly need : 
 
 Thy Spirit can from dross refine, 
 
 And melt and change this heart of mine!" 
 
 NOT AFRAID. 
 
 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, 
 behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and 
 parted them both asunder. 2 Kings 2: 11. 
 
 Two little boys were talking together about Elijah's going 
 to heaven in a chariot of fire. "I say, Charlie," said George, "but 
 would you not be afraid to ride on such a chariot?" "Why, no: 
 I shouldn't be afraid if I knew that the Lord was driving." That 
 was what David felt in his life when he said, "What time I am 
 afraid, I will trust in Thee. In God I will praise His Avord, in 
 God I will have put my trust : I will not fear what flesh can do 
 unto me. Ps. 56 : 3, 4. 
 
 We live in deeds, not years : in thoughts, not breaths : in 
 feelings, not figures on a dial. We should count time by heart 
 throbs. He lives most, who thinks most, feels the noblest, acts 
 the best — Bailey. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 FOR BLESSINGS. 
 
 Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in 
 the field. Deut. 28 :3- — Now when he had left speaking;, he said 
 Unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets 
 for a draught. And Simon answering 1 said unto him, Master we 
 have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at 
 thy word I will let down the net. And when they had this done, 
 they inclosed a great multitude of fishes : and their net brake. And 
 they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, 
 that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled 
 both the ships, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw 
 it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am 
 a sinful man, O Lord. Luke 5 14-8. — Now it came to pass on a 
 
 certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples : and he said 
 unto them, Let us go unto the other side of the Lake. And they 
 launched forth. Luke 8 :22. — And there arose a great storm of 
 wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 
 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow : and 
 they awake him, and say unto him, Master carest thou not that we 
 perish? lAnd he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the 
 sea, Peace be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great 
 calm. Mark 4:37-39. 
 
 Who does not desire God's blessings? The rain comes upon 
 all, and the sun shines over all in common, but there are many bles- 
 sings besides these that should be sought after. Seek and ye shall 
 find is the scripture injunction. The writer was at San Fernando, 
 Northern Luzon, P. I. Going from there to the mountains of 
 Benguet Province to regain impaired health. On returning to the 
 
88 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 coast we found that the steamship had sailed and there was no way 
 to get back home. With my two companions, we hired this little 
 boat. It was a hazardous voyage in the open sea, riding the boist- 
 erous waves. But blessings will not come to one, unless he 
 "Launches out into the deep." Have you done so in your Christian 
 experience ? 
 
 "But many, alas ! only stand on the shore, 
 And gaze on the ocean so wide : 
 They never have ventured its depths to explore, 
 Or to launch on the fathomless tide. 
 Oh, let us launch out on this ocean so broad, 
 Where the floods of salvation o'erflow : 
 Oh, let us be lost in the mercy of God, 
 Till the depths of His fulness we know. 
 Storms may rise and threaten destruction, but Jesus can speak 
 "Peace be still." Read Matt. 13. 
 
 GIVE LIMPY A CHANCE. 
 
 Here, boy, let me have a paper." 
 
 "Can't." 
 
 "Why not? I heard you crying them loud enough to be heard 
 at the city hall." 
 
 "Yes, but that was down t'other block, ye know, where I 
 hollered." 
 
 "What does that matter? Come, now, no fooling. I'm in a 
 hurry." 
 
 "Couldn't sell you a paper on this here block, mister, 'cause 
 it b' longs to Limpy. He's just up at the furdest end now. You'll 
 meet him . 
 
 "And who is Limpy? And why does he have this block?" 
 
 "Cos us other kids agreed to let him have it. Ye see, it's a 
 good run, 'count of the offices all along, and the poor chap is 
 that lame he can't git around lively like the rest of us, so we agreed 
 that the first one caught sellin' on his beat should be thrashed. See?" 
 
 "Yes, I see. You have a sort of brotherhood among your- 
 selves?'" • 
 
 "Well, we're goin' to look out for a little cove that's lame, 
 anyhow." 
 
 "There comes Limpy now. He's a fortunate boy to have such 
 friends. 
 
 The gentleman bought two papers of him, and went on his 
 way downtown, wondering how many men in business would 
 refuse to sell their wares in order, to give a weak, halting brother 
 a chance in the field. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 89 
 
 THE WAY OF THE WORLD. 
 
 The way of the Lord is strength to the upright : but destruc- 
 tion shall be to the workers of iniquity. Pro v. 10:29. — When 
 your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as 
 a whirlwind : when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then 
 shall they call upon me, but I will not answer : they shall seek me 
 early, but they shall not find me : for that they hated knowledge, 
 and did not choose the fear of the Lord. Prov. 1 127-29. — Hell 
 and destruction are before the Lord : how much more then the 
 hearts of the children of men? Prov. 15:11. — But there were 
 false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false 
 teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, 
 even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves 
 swift destruction. 2 Pet. 2:1. — For when they shall say, Peace 
 
 and safety: then sudden destruction cometh upon them (the 
 wicked) as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not 
 escape. 1 Thes. 5 :3, 4. — And to you that are troubled rest with 
 us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His 
 mighty angels, in a flaming fire taking vengeance on them that 
 know not God, and obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ : 
 who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the pres- 
 ence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power. 2 Thes. 1 :y,g. 
 The beautiful flowers spring forth in the morning and may 
 be gone before night. The sweet perfumed blossoms come out 
 at mid-day, and the storm sweeps over them, and they are no 
 more. The corn may be almost ready to send out its tassels, but 
 the little hail-stones will cut it to the ground. Even man is like 
 the grass of the field, which glories in the morning, but is with- 
 ered before the Sun hides himself beyond the evening horizon. 
 
9o RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 (Ps. 90:5, 6). The tornado will wipe out of existence a city 
 in a few moments time. The earthquake will lay the strongest 
 buildings to the ground, and fire will destroy to ashes whatever may 
 be in its way. When people conjure up their feelings to believe 
 that they have peace and safety in this life, as well as the future,. 
 without the Redemption of Jesus, and obey not His Gospel, then 
 is just when they are sorely deceiving themselves. Roaring Moun- 
 tain is in the Yellowstone Park. It is a large mountain, and 
 seems to be all afire underneath and is very likely only a crust. 
 At times the noise of the steam emitting from it may be heard 
 at a great distance, therefore the name. You remember how God 
 sent the water in former days to destroy the wicked. He will 
 banish all sinners and sin sometime. He works through many 
 agencies to bring to pass His will. The things of this present 
 world cannot be depended upon and are in a great measure quite 
 deceiving. Read 2 Tim. 3 — , special verse 5. 
 
 THE WHY OF THE LIGHTNING BOLT. 
 
 A congregation in a hilly district in Ohio bought a small tract 
 of land and erected a church building upon it. Then the question 
 
 of insurance came up. Mr. S , the wealthiest member, who 
 
 had contributed more than half the money needed for the new 
 structure, declared that he did not believe in insurance. "This is 
 the Lord's building. He'll take care of it," he said. 
 
 His view prevailed, and there was no insurance. In a few 
 weeks the building was struck by lightning and almost totally con- 
 sumed by fire. Another one was erected. Mr. S contrib- 
 uting the greater portion of the fund as before. This time the de- 
 mand was almost unanimous that it be insured, but Mr. S 
 
 again objected on the same ground. "If it burns down again, 
 brethren," he said, "I'll rebuild it myself." 
 
 Again he carried his point. In less than a month the new 
 church was struck by lightning again, and although strenuous ef- 
 forts were made to save it, the loss was almost total. 
 
 "There must be some reason for this, brethren," said Brother 
 S . "I'm going to find out what it is." 
 
 Thereupon he engaged a force of men to sink a shaft on the 
 site of the twice-destroyed church. Within a few days a rich vein 
 of iron was found, and the church property was sold for many 
 times the amount needed to buy land in another locality and build 
 again. 
 
 "I tell you, brethren," said Brother S , "it pays to, trust 
 
 the Lord. He's a great deal better business manager than anybody 
 in this congregation." 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS, 91 
 
 THE KINGDOMS. 
 
 She (the eagle) dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the 
 crag of the rock and the strong place. Job. 39:28. — Set your af- 
 fection on things above, not on things on the earth. Col. 3 :2. — 
 John came, saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at 
 hand. Matt. 3 :2. — Jesus answered, My kingdom! is not of this 
 world. Jno. 18:36. — For the kingdom of God is not eating and 
 drinking; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. 
 Rom. 14:17. — And he (the thief) said to Jesus, Lord, remember 
 me when thou comest into thy kingdom. Luke 23 :42. — But they 
 that wait upon the . Lord shall renew their strength ; they shall 
 mount up with wings as eagles ; they shall run and not be weary ; 
 and they shal walk, and not faint. Isa. 40:31. — That ye walk 
 
 worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory. 
 I Thess. 2:12. — And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil 
 work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom. 2 Tim. 
 4:18. 
 
 We have here a large mountain in the Yellowstone Park. You 
 will observe the tall round stone pinnacle or point standing at the 
 lower part of it. It is many feet high. 'On the top of it the eagle 
 has builded her nest. The point is just large enoug j h for her little 
 living place — her home. She lives away from all the disturbing 
 things of the world below. She is in her kingdom. She has clone 
 wisely. We will now look at man's kingdoms. The first is the 
 Christian Dispensation or Gospel kingdom on earth. That is the 
 time from the birth of Jesus until he comes again to reign on earth. 
 The second is the Spiritual (kingdom) life after one's conversion 
 or the renewing of the life from sin through the receiving of the 
 Gospel of Christ in the heart. As Jesus said the kingdom of God 
 
92 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 is within you (the Christian). Luke 17:20, 21. It is that inward 
 experience of a real change out of the burdened, guilty and sinful 
 life to that of freedom in a new life which gives us joy, peace and 
 happiness. Mr. Bliss, the famous singer, once said to a friend, "I 
 tell you, the kingdom of heaven is within, and let's you and I get 
 as much of it packed up as possible before we take our long journ- 
 ey." It is like the eagle — placing the life in a kingdom above the 
 disturbing elements in the world, while yet living in the world, 
 
 "O for a heart of calm repose 
 Amid the world's loud roar; 
 A life that like a river flows 
 Along a peaceful shore. 
 
 Above these scenes of storm and strife 
 There spreads a region fair ; 
 Give me to live that higher life 
 And breathe that heavenly air." 
 
 The third is the kingdom of heaven itself. The unchristian 
 man has no part in the last two kingdoms. He will surely miss 
 the better part of life. Read Acts 9 .'32-43 — , special verse 42. 
 
 THANKFULNESS. 
 
 And now, behold, I have brought the first fruits of the land, 
 which thou, O Lord, hast given me. And thou shalt set it before 
 the Lord thy God, and worship before the Lord thy God. Deut. 
 26:10. — O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good: for His 
 mercy endureth forever. Ps. 107:1. — Honor the Lord with thy 
 substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase. Prov. 
 3 :g. — Or despiseth thou the riches of His goodness and forbearance 
 and longsufTering : not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth 
 thee to repentance ? Rom. 2 14. — In everything give thanks : for 
 this is the will of God in Jesus Christ concerning you. 1 Thess. 
 5 :i8. 
 
 There, is a very touching little story told of a poor woman 
 with two children, who had not a bed for them to lie upon, and 
 scarcely any clothes to cover them. In the depth of winter the\ 
 were nearly frozen, and the mother took the door of a cellar oft* 
 the hinges, and set it up before the corner where they were 
 crouched down to sleep, that some of the draught and cold might 
 be kept from them. One of the children whispered to her mother, 
 when she complained of how badly off they were, "Mother, what 
 do those dear children do, who have no cellar door to put up in 
 front of them?" Even there, you see the little heart found cause 
 for thankfulness. — Mr. Spurgeon. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 93 
 
 THE OVERCOMING LIFE. 
 
 It is the Spirit that quickeneth. Jno. 6 163. — Not by works of 
 righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he 
 saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the H0I3 7 
 Spirit. Titus 3 15. — And you hath he quickened, who were in 
 trespasses and sins. Eph. 2:1. — For the law of the Spirit of life 
 in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 
 Rom. 8 :2. — For John truly baptized with water ; but ye shall be 
 baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days hence. Acts 1 15. — 
 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak 
 with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2 14. — 
 Then Peter said unto them, Repent and be baptized every one of 
 you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of 
 sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2 138. 
 
 — For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteous- 
 ness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Rom. 14:17. 
 
 The spiritual life may be unsatisfactorv to one, resulting from 
 many causes, such as indifference to God's word, discontinued 
 prayer, non-attendance at worship, and worldly associates, an ill 
 temper, disobedience to God's laws, etc. No blessings can come 
 for such a disposition towards God and his cause. There mav be 
 also some unrepented sin still in the life which must be given up. 
 The St. Louis Fair was set in motion by President Roosevelt 
 touching an electric button in his office in Washington. The Fail- 
 officials had sent him a message that they would be ready at a 
 certain time. The secret current running along the wire made ac- 
 tivity reign, starting the water to flow, and the machinery agoing, 
 and gave new life to every thing about the place. It is the old life 
 that needs to be quickened by the Holy Spirit. Have you sent 
 
■94 
 
 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 in your message by prayer? It is certain to be answered by Him 
 who said, "Ask and ye shall receive." Read Psalm 145 — . 
 
 ENTER IN. 
 
 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man 
 be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the king- 
 dom of God. Jno. 3 15, 7. — I am the door : by Me if any man 
 enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pas- 
 ture. Jno. 10:9. — And he set the porters at the gates of the 
 house of the Lord, that none which was unclean in anything should 
 enter in. 2 Chron. 23:19. — Not every one that saith unto me, 
 Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that 
 •doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Matt. 7:21. — 
 
 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by 
 the blood of Jesus. Heb. 10:19. — And there shall in no wise 
 •enter into it (heaven) anything that defileth, neither whatsoever 
 worketh abomination or maketh a lie; but they which are written 
 in the Lamb's book of life. Rev. 21 \2J. ' 
 
 To all the temples in Japan there are gates or entrances, 
 which this clearly shows. This is one of the largest, and is 
 probably seventy-five feet high. All is made of wood except the 
 roof which is tile. Any one may pass through it and enter the 
 temple. The infidel, the curious, the indifferent, the careless and 
 the criminal as well as the innocent. It will not be so at the gate 
 of heaven. None but those, who have a life right with God shall 
 be permitted to enter. How do you expect to enter ? Read 1 Peter 
 1 — , special verse 7. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 95 
 
 SOME TURNS IN LIFE. 
 
 For if ye turn again unto the Lord, your brethren and your 
 children shall find compassion before them that lead them captive, 
 so that they shall come again into this land : for the Lord your God 
 is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, 
 if ye return unto him. 2 Chron. 30 :g. — As for such as turn aside 
 unto their crooked ways, the Lord shall lead them forth with the 
 workers of iniquity: but peace shall be upon Israel (the believer). 
 Ps. 125 15. — Of the nations concerning which the Lord saia unto 
 the children of Israel. Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall 
 'they come in unto you : for surely they will turn away your heart 
 after their gods : Solomon clave unto these in love. 1 Kings 1 1 : 
 2. — And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall 
 
 be turned unto fables. 2 Tim. 5:15. — For there are certain men 
 ■crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this con- 
 demnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasci- 
 viousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus 
 Christ. Jude 1 14. — The Lord preserveth. the strangers ; he reliev- 
 eth the fatherless and widow : but the way of the wicked he turn- 
 eth upside down. Ps. 146:9. — Unto you first God, having raised 
 up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one 
 of you from his iniquities. Acts 3:26. — And one of them (the 
 lepers) when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a 
 loud voice glorified God. Luke 17:15. 
 
 Life is very much like a railway journey over the mountains. 
 This is one of the many turns (curves) of the railroad going over 
 the Black Hills. There is one curve for every 425 feet for thirty 
 miles. Just when everything appeared to be going along smoothly, 
 
96 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 and all were enjoying the wonderful scenery stretching out over 
 the mountain tops, and the valleys below with their little mining 
 towns, and the great plains in the distance as far as the eye could 
 see, then all on a sudden, and without a moments warning, you 
 would be almost unnerved by the effects of such a sharp turn as 
 this. There are many kinds of turns that come to us in this life. 
 Trials, distresses, false friends, business failures, and others that 
 may come upon us without a moments warning. Jesus said, Have 
 faith in God. Mark 11:22. — The worst turn possible is to turn 
 from God to the weak beggarly elements of this present world for 
 comfort. Above everything else we should turn to God and hold 
 fast. Things seen are not permanent. Read Ps. 119:81-96. 
 
 JACK WAS NOT FORGOTTEN. 
 
 I pray for them : I pray not for the world, but for them 
 which thou has given me;for they are thine. Jno. 17 :g. 
 
 A God fearing boy was reasoning with a wretched companion 
 about his continuance in a wicked course. The reply was : "It is 
 the right thing for you, Harry, to be glad, for you have lots of 
 people who care for you ; but as for me nobody prays for me. I'm 
 so bad that nobody thinks it worth while to pray for me — even if 
 they ever did pray for me, they have given it up now." "Don't 
 say that, Jack; God is my witness that I never go to sleep, but I 
 
 pray for you "O God, bring dear Jack into the fold of 
 
 Christ." Jack wept and repented. Let no perishing school fellow 
 be able to say : "You have not taken the trouble to pray for me." 
 
 THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD. 
 
 Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful 
 God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him 
 and keep his commandments to a thousand generations. Deut. 
 7 :g. — God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship 
 of His Son Jesus Christ. 1 Cor. 1 :i9. — Faithful is he that calleth 
 you, who also will do it. 1 Thess. 5 :24. — But the Lord is faithful, 
 who shall establish you, and keep you from evil. 2 Thess. 3 :3. — 
 For the word of the Lord is right : and all His works are done in 
 truth. Ps. 33 14. — If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful : he 
 cannot deny himself. 2 Tim. 2:13. — There hath no temptation 
 taken you but such as is common to man : but God is faithful, who 
 will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, but will 
 with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be 
 able to bear it. 1 cor. 10:13. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 97 
 
 A BARREN PLACE. 
 
 Behold, he (the Lord) withholdeth the waters, and they dry- 
 up. Job. 12:15. — Arid I will lay it waste: It shall not be pruned, 
 nor digged ; but there shall come up briers and thorns : I will also 
 command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. Isa. 5 :8. — 
 When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have 
 sinned against thee; if they pray toward this place, (the temple) 
 and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou afflictest 
 them : then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servant, 
 and of thy people Israel, that thou teach them the good way where- 
 in they should walk, and give rain upon thy land, which thou hast 
 given to thy people for an inheritance. 1 Kings 8:35, 36. — He 
 turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the water springs into dry 
 ground ; a fruitful land into barrenness, for wickedness of them that 
 
 dwelt therein. Ps. 107:33, 34. O wretched man that I am! who 
 shall deliver me from the body of this death ? Rom. 7 \2J. — Nev- 
 ertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy 
 first love. Remember therefore from whence thou hast fallen, and 
 repent, and do the first works ; or else I will come unto thee quick- 
 ly, and will remove thy candlestick (Holy Spirit) out of his place, 
 except thou repent. Rev. 2:4, 5. 
 
 Riding on the train from San Francisco southward, the scene 
 like this is what constituted nearly one whole day's journey. Only 
 a dry, bleak, and barren plain, producing nothing, but the scattered 
 sage brush, and the thorny cactus tree now and then to be seen. 
 However, this only lacks the water to make it fruitful, and beauti- 
 ful. The Holy Spirit is likened to water in the christian life. God 
 says, "And I will make them and the places round about my hill a 
 blessing : and I will cause the showers to come down in its season : 
 
c>S RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 there shall be showers of blessing." Eze. 34:26. — A life with '{,. 
 temper, self-love, revengeful, and not having sympathy, love, kind- 
 ness, and prayer is like the representation in the picture. It pro- 
 duces nothing worth having or seeing. Read Titus 3 — , special 
 verse 5. 
 
 WHERE IS HEAVEN? 
 
 A minister one day preached on Heaven. Next morning he 
 was going downtown and he met one of his old wealthy members. 
 The brother stopped the preacher and said : 
 
 "Pastor, you preached a g-ood sermon about Heaven. You 
 told me all about Heaven, but you never told me where Heaven is." 
 
 "Ah !" said the pastor, "I am glad of an opporunity this morn- 
 ing. I have just come from the hill-top yonder. In that cottage 
 there is a member of your church. She is sick in bed with fever ; 
 her two little children are sick in the other bed; and she has not 
 got a bit of coal nor a stick of wood, nor flour, nor sugar, nor any 
 bread. If you will go downtown and buy five dollars worth of 
 things — nice provisions — and send them up to her, and then go 
 up there and say, "My sister, I have brought you these nice provis- 
 ions in the name of our Lord and Savior; then ask for a Bible and 
 read the twenty-third Psalm, and then get down on your knees and 
 pray — if you don't see Heaven before you get all through, I'll 
 pay the bill." 
 
 The next morning he said : 
 
 "Pastor, I saw Heaven, and spent fifteen minutes in Heaven 
 as certain as you are listening." 
 
 
 GAVE UP. 
 
 Many professed christians are very much like the old lady who 
 was in a carriage when the horses were running away, said she had 
 perfect trust in the Lord till the harness broke, and then she gave 
 right up. Some can trust God while everything runs smoothly, but 
 under trials and difficulties they give up. Make God your refuge 
 always. 
 
 A CHANCE FOR A BLESSING. 
 
 A collector for benevolent causes said one day to a lawyer, 
 whose offering he had just received, "I guess you would be glad 
 never to see me coming again ?" 
 
 "Why should I?" asked the lawyer in surprise, "I should miss 
 one chance to get a blessing. If I stopped giving, I should soon 
 p-et as thin as a fence-rail." 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 99 
 
 A DIFFERENCE. 
 
 He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry 
 ground into water springs. And sow the fields, and plant vine- 
 yards, which may yield fruits of increase. Ps. 107 135, 37. — In- 
 stead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the 
 brier shall come up the myrtie tree : and it shall be to the Lord for 
 a name for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off. Isa. 55 : 
 13. — Jesus answered, verily, verily, I say unto thee, except ye be 
 born of water and the Spirit, Ye cannot enter into the kingdom of 
 God. Jno. 3 15. — But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall 
 give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him 
 shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. 
 Jno. 4:14. — Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly 
 love; in honour preferring one another; not slothful in business; 
 
 ~1 
 
 fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope; patient in 
 tribulation ; continuing instant in prayer ; distributing to the neces- 
 sities of saints; given to hospitality. Bless them which persecute 
 you, bless, and curse not. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome 
 evil with good. Rom 12:10-14, 21. 
 
 This beautiful spot is in the City Park, Portland, Ore. It was 
 not naturally attractive and beautiful, but has been made so, by being 
 properly tended, and watered. This is a contrast to the former 
 lesson. An unrighteous life may be made righteous. An unsatis- 
 fying christian life may become an overcoming life. The first 
 point is to know that we have been "made new" as Jesus taught. 
 That is the only way out of the old desert life. Then it. must be 
 properly tended by prayer, and watered by the divine presence of 
 the Holy Spirit. The things that were once difficult tasks will 
 
ioo RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 become the natural, and pleasants ones to do. Which of these two 
 scenes does your life represent? Read Isa. 61 — , special verse i. 
 
 THINGS NECESSARY. 
 
 Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye 
 may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to 
 stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and 
 having on the breast plate of righteousness; and your feet shod 
 with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking 
 the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the 
 fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and 
 the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God : praying always 
 with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching there- 
 
 unto with all perseverence and supplication for all saints. Eph. 
 6:13-18. 
 
 Saint Paul has bequeathed to us a splendid pen picture of a 
 Christian. He must have the whole armor to be triumphant against 
 the devices of the devil. The man above will fail, because he is 
 only partly armored. The darts of the wicked one will find lodg- 
 ment somewhere on him. One may have the "Sword of the 
 Spirit" — the Bible, but it will be onlv a life of failure where it is 
 not backed up with the "helmet of salvation," and the "breastplate 
 of righteousness." You may talk to' people about the good book, 
 but if you lack any one of these essentials, then your life will be a 
 certain failure. Other people will hurl at you "inconsistency" very 
 rightly, too. Do you wish to be successful? Then with a glad 
 heart take St. Paul's advice, and put on the whole armor of God. 
 We may learn a great lesson on this from Goliath the giant, when 
 such a little fellow as David appeared before him. David had a 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 01 
 
 sling and a smooth little stone from the brook which struck the 
 giant straight in the forehead. Goliath carelessly left off his hel- 
 met, which was the most important part of his armor at this point 
 in his life. He lost his life. Find out the part you lack and put 
 it on. Read Isa. 57 — , special verse 19. 
 
 HAPPINESS. 
 
 He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good : and who so 
 trusteth in the Lord, happy is he. Prov. 16:20. — Where there is 
 no vision, the people perish : but he that keepeth the law, happy is 
 he. Prov. 29:18. — For a day in thy courts is better than a thous- 
 and. I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God, than 
 to dwell in the tents of wickedness. IPs. 84:10. — Happy is that 
 people, that is in such a case : yea, happy is that people, whose God 
 
 is the Lord. Ps. 144:15. — But and if ye suffer for righteousness* 
 sake, happy are ye : and be not afraid of their terror, neither be 
 troubled. 1 Pet. 3:14. — But Abraham said, Son, remember that 
 thou in thy lifetime received thy good things and likewise Lazarus 
 evil things, but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. Luke 
 16:25. 
 
 Paschal once said, "Happpiness is neither within us only, or 
 without us; it is the union of ourselves with God." How often 
 we see people trying to conjure up happiness in some worldly 
 manner, but no solid happiness can be secured in that way. The 
 only really happy one in this world is he, who has the Lord Jesus 
 on his side, and walks and talks with Him daily. The Indian 
 chief lives in South Dakota and is a happy Christian man, though 
 he lives in a tent. Happiness may dwell in a mansion, but the 
 very opposite is often the case. The wicked may have plenty of 
 
102 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 their own sort of pleasure, which they falsely call happiness, but 
 that will cease sometime. The Christian will have pleasure, a 
 solid happiness in this life, which will be enlarged when he moves 
 out into eternity. To be right with God is to be happy. To be 
 out of harmony with Him is to be wrong and consequently unhappy. 
 Mr. Spurgeon truly puts it thus, "The grand essentials to hap- 
 piness in this life are, something to do, something to love and 
 something to hope for." A lawyer once tried to tanele up a 
 German in the cross-examination in a certain case, by asking him, 
 "Which way the stairs in his house run?" After a moments hes- 
 itation the witness replied, "When I am oop stairs dey roon down, 
 and when I am down stairs dey roon oop." Happiness belongs to 
 those who can stand before God with a clear conscience, to such 
 the stairs will always be running in the right direction. Read 
 Prov. 10 — , special verse 28. 
 
 ORDINARY PEOPLE. 
 
 First of all, if you feel that you are ordinary, thank God that 
 you are not extraordinary. I am tired and sick and bored almost 
 to death with extraordinary people. They take all their time to 
 tell you how very extraordinary they really are. You know as well 
 as I do, my brother and sister, that the most of the useful work of 
 the world is done by unpretentious people who toil right on — by 
 people who do not get much approval, and no one seems to say : 
 "That is well done." Phenomena are of but little use. Things 
 that are exceptional cannot be depended on. Better trust the small- 
 est planet that swings on its orbit than ten comets shooting this 
 way and that, imperiling the longevity of worlds attending to their 
 own business. For steady illumination better is a lamp than a 
 rocket. Then, if you feel that you are ordinary, remember that 
 your position invites the less attack. — Dr. Talmage. 
 
 MONOTONOUS. 
 
 In the course of his pastoral visitations Rev. Dr. Chalmers 
 called upon a worthy shoemaker, who, in recounting his blessings, 
 said that he and his . family had lived happily together for thirty 
 years without a single quarrel. This was too much for the doctor, 
 who struck his cane on the floor and exclaimed : "Terribly monot- 
 onous, man ! terribly monotonous !" 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 IC3 
 
 HE LEADETH ME. 
 
 Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy 
 country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto 
 a land that I will shew thee. Gen. 12:1. — And the Lord went 
 before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way, 
 and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light : to go by day 
 and night. Ex. 13:21. — For this God is our God forever and 
 ever: he will be our guide even unto death. Ps. 48:14. — Thou 
 shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to thy 
 glory. Ps. 73 :24. — And I will bring the blind by a way that they 
 knew not, I will lead them in paths that they have not known : I 
 will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. 
 These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them. Isa. 
 42 :i6. — Lead me in thy truth, and teach me : for thou art the God 
 
 of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. The meek will he 
 guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach the way. Ps. 
 2 5 : 5- 9- — To him (the Shepherd) the porter openeth, and the 
 sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name and 
 leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he 
 goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his 
 voice. Jno. 10:3, 4. — For as many as are led by the Spirit of 
 God, they are the sons of God. Rom. 8:14. 
 
 God's promises are ever true and he will perform them. He 
 will lead and guide His own, but it must be in His own way and 
 not theirs. How often people endeavor to get ahead of their 
 guide, and generally suffer thereby. The Japanese as a rule do not 
 use the horse on the public road, tyut. is doing so here. He goes 
 up and down, and about the mountains, and some places that are 
 dangerous, but he is led. He would not go very far alone before 
 
104 
 
 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 some accident would happen: but he is always safe when guided 
 by his master. The Christian will not walk safely alone in this 
 life without the guidance of his heavenly Father, Jesus his Savior, 
 and the Holy Spirit. Read 2 Cor. 12 — , special verse 9. 
 
 THE EMPTY CHAIR. 
 
 David's place was empty. 1 Sam. 20:25. — Thou preparest a 
 table before me in the presence of mine enemies : thou anointest my 
 head with oil : my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy 
 shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the 
 house of the Lord forever. Ps. 23 :5, 6. — And David (The King) 
 said unto him (Mephibosheth) Fear not: for I will surely shew 
 thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee 
 
 all the land of Saul thy father ; and thou shalt eat bread at my table 
 continually. 2 Sam. 9 7. — Bless the Lord, O my soul : and all that 
 is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and 
 forget not all his benefits, ps. 103 :i, 2. 
 
 This is in a Japanese Nobleman's home in Tokio. It is the 
 parlor for foreigners, which explains the presence of the table and 
 chairs. The parlor is on the second floor and in the rear end of 
 the house, overlooking a splendidly kept rear yard, and the wide 
 river. The room is quite large, having beautiful brussels carpet 
 and only the furniture that is seen in the picture. They were ex- 
 ceedingly kind, thoughtful and generous in making my visits to 
 them pleasant. The table was always prepared, and ladened with 
 the best things of the home. In fact, they were better to me than 
 I deserved. Do we forget the benefits the Lord bestows upon us 
 day by day ? There is your chair at home, and in the church. Are 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 IO: 
 
 you filling up the place? Then too, Jesus went back to heaven to 
 
 prepare a place for you. Will your seat be empty ? Jno. 14 :i,2. 
 
 Read Phil. 4 — , special verse 19. 
 
 LITTLE BUT MIGHTY. 
 
 Even the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. 
 Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth ! And the tongue 
 is a fire, and a world of iniquity: but the tongue can no man tame; 
 it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Jas. 3 15, 6, 8. — Where- 
 fore, laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hyprocrisies, and 
 enemies, and all evil speakings. 1 Pet. 2:1.— The words of his 
 mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his 
 
 words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords. Ps. 
 55 :21 - — Wherefore seeing we also are composed about with so 
 great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the 
 sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience 
 the race that is before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher 
 of our faith ; who for the joy that was set before him endured the 
 cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of 
 the throne of God. Heb. 12 :i, 2. 
 
 The little rustic bridges are near Old Faithful geyser in the 
 Yellowstone Park. Driving along the road one would see the 
 trees having these odd looking bumps on them. It is said that 
 they were caused by the sting of an insect. I presume that every 
 time the tongue is set unlawfully in motion that it leaves a bump 
 on some one's life and character. The better way is to look to the 
 
ico RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 Author and Finisher of our faith, than to occupy ourselves in that 
 manner. 
 
 ' 'There is so much bad in the best of us, 
 And so much good in the worst of us, 
 That it ill becomes any of us 
 To talk about the rest of us." 
 
 — R. L. Stevenson. 
 Read Psalm 84 — , special verse 11. 
 
 THE FOUR WHEELS OF DIVINE PROMISE. 
 
 I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold 
 thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the 
 people, for a light of the Gentiles ; to open the blind eyes, to bring 
 out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness 
 out of the prison house. Isa. 42 :6, 7. 
 
 Frances Ridley Havergal, the poet saint, whose songs breathe 
 an atmosphere of Christian confidence unsurpassed by any writer 
 outside of the Bible, used these words as her chariot of fire to 
 bear her home. On the last day of her life she asked a friend to 
 read her this forty-second chapter of Isaiah. When the friend 
 had reached these verses Miss Havergal stopped her, "Called, 
 held, kept, used," she whispered. "Well, I will just go home on 
 that." And she did go home on that, making it her celestial 
 chariot, which no one doubts had abundant entrance through the 
 pearly gates into the city of gold. — Dr. L. A. Banks. 
 
 A HANDSOME APOLOGY. 
 
 Ned and his grandmother are the best of friends, but some- 
 times the little boy's tongue is too quick to please the old lady. 
 Then Ned apologizes, after a fashion of his own, which his 
 grandmother approves. 
 
 ' "I got tired lugging that wheelborrow for grandmother when 
 she was changing her plants," Ned said to his mother, recounting 
 the day's events at bedtime, "and I said, 'I wish there wasn't 
 another speck of this hateful dirt in all the world!" But then 
 afterward I 'pologized." 
 
 "I'm glad of that," said his mother. "Did you tell her you 
 were sorry?" 
 
 "No, that's not the kind grandmother likes best," said Ned. 
 "I got another wheelbarrowful, and I just said, 'Don't you want 
 some more of this nice dirt, grandmother?' And then we were 
 all right again." — Youth's Companion. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS, 
 
 107 
 
 PREPARED. 
 
 Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel : and because I 
 will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God. Amos 4:12. — 
 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to 
 turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient 
 to the wisdom of the just to make ready a people prepared for 
 the Lord. Luke 1 \ij. — And saith unto them, Ye shall drink 
 indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am 
 baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not 
 mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is pre- 
 pared of my Father. Matt. 20:23. — And that servant, which 
 knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according; 
 to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. Luke 12 \^y. — 
 
 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither 
 have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath 
 prepared for them that love him. 1 Cor. 2 :g. See also Jno. 
 14:1, 2. 
 
 A view of the canal running through Yokohama, Japan, and 
 looking out to the Bay. It is a busy place. The fishing boats, 
 barges, and canoes ply back and forth all the day long. The 
 first barge is filled with coal, which is being placed in the coaling 
 station for certain foreign vessels that may happen to run short of 
 fuel. In this way they are always prepared while away from 
 home ports for such an emergency. Note how they load and un- 
 load. It is very tedious work. God has called out of heaven to 
 all mankind to prepare and be ready to enjoy the blessed things 
 that he is preparing for his obedient children. Are you preparing 
 to be carried out of this earthly life? Heaven is a prepared place 
 
io8 
 
 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 for a prepared people. God said to the rich man, Thou fool, this 
 night thy soul shall be required of thee. Luke 12 :2c He for- 
 got to get ready. That was all. Read Psalm 91 — , special 
 verse 1. 
 
 MADE CLEAN. 
 
 Purge me with hysop, and I shall be clean : wash me, and I 
 shall be whiter than snow. Ps. 51 :/. — Come now, and let us 
 reason together, said the Lord : though your sins be as scarlet, 
 they shall be as white as snow ; though they be red like crimson, 
 they shall be as wool. Isa. 1 :i8. — But if we walk in the light, as 
 he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the 
 blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we 
 
 ■confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and 
 to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 Jno. 1 :y,g. — And from 
 Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of 
 the dead, and the prince of kings of the earth. Unto him that 
 loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood. Rev. 1 : 
 5. — In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgive- 
 ness of sin, according to the riches of his grace. Eph. 1 \J. 
 
 The Japanese woman is at the brook washing the soiled cloth- 
 ing. It is a pure stream coming from the mountains. It is very 
 typical of the work that Christ came to this world to do for sinful 
 man. No sins will be permitted to creep into heaven in any man- 
 ner, therefore man must be cleansed from this awful stain in this 
 present life, if he would enjoy the future with God. It makes no 
 difference who you are, you may come to Jesus and be cleansed from 
 all sin. ,He is the living and eternal fountain. Are you made 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. nx> 
 
 clean? And Jesus moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and 
 touched him, (the leper) and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. 
 
 "Oh, precious is the flow, 
 That makes me white as snow; 
 No other fount I know, 
 Nothing but the blood of Jesus." 
 
 Read Ephesians i — , special verse 3. 
 
 A NOBLE ANIMAL. 
 
 The Rajah Dowlah, with a large train of followers, was once 
 going hunting in the" neighborhood of Lucknow. On their way 
 they had to pass through a ravine, in which several invalids were 
 lying to receive what benefit they could from the exposure to the 
 sun and air. ;When their attendants saw the approaching party, 
 they ran away leaving their charges to their fate. The Grand 
 Vizier, who was riding his favorite elephant, saw the invalids 
 were right in his way, but was determined not to alter his course 
 for their sakes. As long as the elephant had a free path he went 
 on at full pace, but as soon as he came to the helpless persons he 
 stopped, and would not go on in spite of all the goads the driver 
 inflicted. "Stick the beast in the ear!" cried the Rajah, becoming 
 furious. It was done, but in vain. The noble animal waited 
 some time, but as no one came to remove the invalids, he care- 
 fully carried each separately in his trunk to a place where the)'" 
 would not be in danger of being trampled to death by the passing 
 procession. — Edward James Tripp. 
 
 '■ WHERE WAS THE DEVIL? 
 
 A colored brother was in the habit of seeing a devil in the 
 organ behind the pulpit. His bishop said to him : "I. expect 
 when you go into the church, the devil is there sure enough but 
 you don't locate him right. He's not in there right behind the 
 pulpit, but he's in you. You've mislocated things; that's the 
 trouble." 
 
 The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: 
 thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness. Ps. 41 13. 
 
 Bishop O. P. Fitzgerald says a certain pastor called upon one 
 of his members who was severely tried through sickness and asked 
 him, How are you, sir? He replied, My head is resting very 
 sweetly on three pillows — infinite love, infinite wisdom and infinite 
 power." 
 
no 
 
 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 HE CARES FOR YOU. 
 
 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. Ps. 23:1. — I 
 have been young, and now am old, yet have I not seen the right- 
 eous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. He is ever merciful, 
 and lendeth, and His seed is blessed. Ps. 37 125, 26. — But my 
 God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory 
 by Christ Jesus. Ps. 4:19. — What is man, that thou art mindful 
 of him ? and the son of man, that thou visiteth him ? Ps. 8 '.4. — 
 He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the 
 goodness of the Lord. Ps. 2>3 : 5- — How precious also are thy 
 thoughts unto me, O God ! how great is the sum of them. Ps. 
 139:17. — When my father and my mother forsake me, then the 
 Lord will take me up. Ps. 27:10. 
 
 These are Japanese Buddhist priests begging. They worship 
 
 ■a superstitious god that ever fails them. (See page 65). They 
 merely beg for their own gain, and not to distribute, and to do 
 good with it. The motive is purely selfish. They will go to the 
 door, and ring a little bell, and sing a few words, that neither 
 they nor anybody else understand. They may receive a rin (1-10 
 of a cent) or go rin (1-2 cent) and go on their journey. It is 
 like many Christians begging of God to do something for them, and 
 not receiving from Him because there is too selfish a motive at- 
 tached to it. Selfishness is the tremendous sin in the world to- 
 day. When sin is in the heart the Lord will not hear. See Ps. 
 66:18. Christ came into the world to put away sin, and to place 
 man back in communion with God so that he may claim the right 
 to his covenants and promises. God never fails that which he 
 promised to man. We often fail, but he pities still and cares for 
 us always. As long as he (Uzziah) sought the Lord, God made 
 him to prosper.- 2 Chron, 26:5. Read Psalm 119: 129-160. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 in 
 
 PEACE. 
 
 The Lord will give strength unto His people; the Lord will 
 bless His people with peace. Ps. 29:11. — Mark the perfect man, 
 and behold the upright. For the end of that man is peace. Ps. 
 37 : 37- — Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with 
 God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Rom. 5:1 — But God hath 
 called us to peace. 1 Cor. 7 :i5. — For thou shalt be in league with 
 the stones of the field, and the beasts of the field shall be at peace 
 with thee. Job. 5 123. — There is no peace saith my God to the 
 wicked. Isa. 57:21. — They have healed also the hurt of the 
 •daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there 
 :is no peace. Jer. 6:14. — And let the peace of God rule in your 
 
 hearts, to the which ye are called in one body; and be ye thank- 
 ful. Col. 3:15. — Peace I (Jesus) leave with you, My peace I 
 give unto you : not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not 
 your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27. 
 
 This is in the Yellowstone Park nearby the road. The man 
 is tenting for the day. The bear came from his wild woodland 
 den to visit him, and receives in return some sugar or syrup from 
 the dish. They are on very peaceable terms. It is hardly be- 
 lievable, yet true. Between God and the unrighteous there is no 
 peace, but the work of Jesus Christ was to bring sinful man back 
 to God, thereby making peace. To be at peace with God, and 
 to have the peace of God ruling in our hearts, are supreme priv- 
 ileges of the Christian. Have you these in your life? 
 
 Read Ezekiel 33 :y- 16, special verse 9. 
 
112 
 
 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 THE THRONE. 
 
 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we 
 may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in the time of need. Heb. 
 4:16. — Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly 
 above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh 
 in us. Eph. 3 :20. — Be careful for nothing : but in every thing by 
 prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be 
 made known unto God. Phil. 4:6. — Likewise the Spirit helpeth 
 our infirmities : for we know not what Ave should pray for as we 
 ought : but the Spirit himself maketh intercession for us with groan- 
 ings which cannot be uttered. Rom. 8 '.26. — Continue in prayer, 
 and watch in the same with thanksgiving. Col. 4:2. — What is it 
 then ? I will pray with the Spirit, and I will pray with the under- 
 standing also : I will sing with the Spirit, and I will sing with the 
 
 understanding also. 1 Cor. 14:15. — Remember me, O my God, 
 for good. Neh. 13:31. — For the eyes of the Lord are over the 
 righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers : but the face of 
 the Lord is against them that do evil. 1 Pet. 3:12. 
 
 This is the same temple, as on page 49, opened on dedication 
 day. Many came to make their offerings, and go through their 
 very simple religious ceremony. I noticed that they, who only rang 
 the bell, standing outside, were going through merely a super- 
 ficial form. You can see the woman kneeling inside. She meant 
 business. She was really in earnest. She came with her little son. 
 They did not remain at the door, like the others, but entering and 
 kneeling, she prayed. A beautiful devotion, indeed, even to a sup- 
 erstitious god made with hands. How much more ought we, who 
 have the Scriptures to know who God is, and who Christ is, as 
 well as the Holy Spirit? Read 1 John 3 — , special verse 2. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 ii.S 
 
 OBEDIENCE. 
 
 God says, Now therefore, if ye will obey My voice indeed, 
 and keep My covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto 
 me above all the people. Ex. 19 15. — Behold, I set before you this 
 day a blessing and a curse : a blessing, if ye obey the command- 
 ments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day. 
 Deut. 1 1 '.26, 27. — And the people said unto Joshua, The Lord 
 our God will we serve, and His voice will we obey. Joshua 24 124. 
 — Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We 
 ought to obey God rather than men. Acts 5 129. — Children, obey 
 your parents in the Lord : for this is right. Eph. 6:1. — And being 
 found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became 
 obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Phil. 2 :8. — 
 For the time is come that the judgment must begin at the house 
 
 of God : and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that 
 obey not the gospel of God? 1 Pet. 4:17. 
 
 The old philosopher Aristotle once said that, "Wicked men 
 obey from fear: good men, from love." This is quite true. 
 "Obedience," says Aeschylus, "is the mother of success, and is 
 wedded to safety." There is no principle more noble, surely 
 none more holy than that of true obedience. Sometimes it seems 
 to me that this is the day and age of parent becoming obedient to 
 their children, rather than the children obeying the parents. God's 
 way should be adhered to under all circumstances. At the St. 
 Louis fair I saw a beautiful instance of obedience in the famous 
 twenty mule team which hauls mineral out of Death Valley. 
 Above we see only six of the teams. It seemed that just a word 
 from the lips of the driver was perfectly understood and forth- 
 with obeyed. They would turn the sharpest corner and never 
 
ii4 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 touch a lamp-post or tree, so true were they to their master's 
 direction. Man's blessings depend upon his obedience to God. 
 As Christ obeyed even unto the death on the cross, so should the 
 Christian be willing to obey God's commands wholly, and holy. 
 Read James i — , special verse 12. 
 
 THE FEELING CAME LATER. 
 
 For by grace are ye saved through faith : and that not of your- 
 selves : it is the gift of God : not of works, lest any man should 
 boast. Eph. 2 :8, 9. 
 
 A wealthy dealer in land was present one night at a service 
 in Dr. Torrey's Chicago church. 
 
 "Are you a Christian?" the evangelist asked him afterwards. 
 
 "No," was the reply. "I should like to be a Christian, and 
 hope to become one sometime or other." 
 
 "But why not tonight?" queried Dr. Torrey. 
 
 "I haven't the feeling of the conviction of sin," came the 
 answer. 
 
 "Don't you know you are a sinner, that Jesus Christ died for 
 your sins, and that if you accept Christ He will save you just as 
 you are?" 
 
 "I haven't the feeling!" 
 
 "Bother the feeling!" retorted the evangelist; "it's a question 
 of common sense. Suppose a man came to your office to offer you 
 a plot of land worth $5,000, which you knew would eventually be 
 worth $20,000, would you feel like buying it or would you refuse 
 it?" 
 
 "I would buy it, feeling or no feeling" — eagerly. 
 
 "Will you accept Christ, feeling or no feeling?" said Dr. 
 Torrey, driving the point home. 
 
 "I will," he declared promptly. 
 
 The man afterwards became a trustee of the church and a 
 staunch worker. 
 
 WONDROUS LOVE. 
 A repulsive-looking old woman who, after a life of unbelief, 
 had been converted, became the subject of persecution at the hands 
 of her godless neighbors. In every way they sought to anger or 
 otherwise disturb the spirit of patience and loving-kindness that 
 now possessed her. Finally an old persecutor, having exhausted all 
 her resources in the attempt, venomously exclaimed, "I think 
 you're the ugliest old woman that I ever saw." To which the old 
 woman, her face beaming with a light that made her beautiful, re- 
 plied in tears, "Wasn't it wonderful that He (Jesus) could have 
 loved an ugly woman like me?" 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 ii5 
 
 BATTLES OF LIFE. 
 
 That we also may be like all nations ; and that our king may 
 judge and go out before us, and fight our battles. 1 Sam. 8 120. — 
 
 1 pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid : for the Lord 
 will certainly make my Lord a sure house; because my lord fight- 
 eth the battles of the Lord, and evil hath not been found in thee all 
 thy days. 1 Sam. 25 :28. — With him is an arm of flesh; but with 
 its is the Lord our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the 
 people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah. 
 
 2 Chron. 32 :8. — What shall we say then to these things ? If God 
 be for us, who can be against us? Rom. 8:31. — The Lord is my 
 light and my salvation : whom shall I fear ? The Lord is the 
 
 strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Ps. 27:1. — Fear 
 thou not ; for I am with thee : be not dismayed ; for I am thy God : 
 I will strengthen thee ; yea, I will help thee ; yea, I will uphold thee 
 with the right hand of my righteousness. Isa. 41 :io. 
 
 You have read all about the battle of Santiago de Cuba. Here 
 we see it on a small scale, as represented at the St. Louis Fair. 
 Note the forts and the ships. It appeared to be quite real, though 
 the ships were small and the forts not very substantial. The boom- 
 ing of the cannon from both the ships and the forts, stirred up one's 
 patriotism to the highest pitch. You could hear the terrible ex- 
 plosion of the shells right behind the stone walls. Now and then 
 Spanish warships (the enemy) would sail out to fight, only to change 
 their minds and return to safety. It made the heart glad to know- 
 that this was no real battle, no one hurt in any way. But do you 
 know there are real active battles in the every day life of man? 
 Each person has his or her. battles both inward and from without 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 to fight every hour in the day. Trials and temptations are many. 
 Who can know them till they are upon us? Blessed it is to hear 
 the Divine Voice say, 'Tear not." The Lord is always willing to 
 help in time of trouble. Romans 12 — , special verse 2. 
 
 WASTED. 
 
 And he said, A certain man had two sons : and the younger 
 of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods 
 that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And 
 not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and 
 took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance 
 with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a 
 
 mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. Luke 
 15:11-14. — He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him 
 that is a great waster. Prov. 18:9. — I went by the field of the 
 slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; 
 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered 
 the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. Then 
 I saw and considered it well : I looked upon it and received in- 
 struction. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the 
 hands to sleep : so shall thy poverty come as one that traveleth ; and 
 thy want as an armed man. Prov. 24 130-34. 
 
 [Time wasted is ever lost. In the scene above you see the 
 Gibbon river, Yellowstone Park. In the stream there is a large 
 rock. How long it has been there, no one knows, but He who 
 placed it there. It is standing on a mere stem. Quite a curiosity 
 it is. The water has eaten away the lower part little by little, 
 grain by grain. What a picture of life. Wastefulness of time, 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. n 
 
 money and energy ruins the life and brings grief and desolation 
 to many a heart. Wilful waste makes woeful want. Read Gal. 
 6 — , special verse 8. 
 
 THE ADDITIONS. 
 
 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness : 
 and all these things shall be added unto you. Matt. 6 133. — Where- 
 by are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises : that 
 by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped 
 the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, 
 giving all diligence, add to. your faith virtue; and to virtue know- 
 ledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; 
 
 and to patience godliness ; and to godliness brotherly 
 kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things 
 be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be 
 barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
 But he that lacketh these things is blind and cannot see afar off, 
 and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 2 Pet. 
 1 14. — And God is able to make all grace abound toward you ; that 
 ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every 
 good work. 2 Cor. 9:8. 
 
 This life is one of addition and subtraction, of gain and loss. 
 The cone-shape object is the Lone Star geyser in the Yellowstone 
 Park. It is probably 12 feet high and about that many feet in 
 diameter at the base. The crater consists of a large central open- 
 ing, out of which is thrown every three or four hours boiling water, 
 spray and steam from 6c to 100 feet high. This cone is interest- 
 
iiS RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 ing and beautiful — being striped vertically with bands of white, 
 brown, lavander, and intermixed with the varying shades of yel- 
 low, and covered with an almost innumerable variety of pearl- 
 like beads. How long it has been in building, man can only con- 
 jecture, but probably centuries. Forming itself by adding little 
 by little of the mineral substance contained in the water. Every 
 one is adding something to his or her character every day. It is 
 either good or evil. The Christian should be adding the elements 
 named above, which are necessary to a growing christian life. It 
 you lack any of these essential elements in your life then ask God 
 to add them to you. Jesus says, "If we will to do his will." Jno~ 
 7:17. — That is the secret of it. Read Mark 4:14-25. 
 
 HE WAS SO BUSY. • 
 
 T 
 
 "One year ago to-day I sat at my desk busy with the month's 
 bills and accounts, when a bright-faced, starry-eyed lad of twelve 
 rushed in and impetuously announced, "Say, pa, this is your birth- 
 day; you are fifty-five years old and I am going to give you fifty- 
 five kisses, one for each year." And he began to make good his 
 word when I exclaimed, "O Andrew, don't do it now, I am so 
 busy!" His silence attracted my attention, and, looking up, I saw 
 his big blue eyes filled with tears, and apologetically said, "You 
 can finish to-morrow." He made no reply, but was unable to con- 
 ceal his disappointment, his face wearing a grieved expression as 
 he quietly walked away. 
 
 The same evening I said, "Come and finish the kisses now, 
 Andrew," but he did not respond to the invitation. 
 
 Two months later, in consequence of an accident, the waves 
 of the Fox River closed over his body, and we carried him away 
 to sleep near the village where he loved to spend his summer 
 vacations. The robin's note was never sweeter than his voice, 
 and the turtle-doves that coo to their nestlings where he sleeps 
 could not be more gentle than my little boy who never finished 
 his love-imposed task. 
 
 If I could build a ladder to the skies and find him there : it 
 I could only tell him how much I regret the thoughtless word 
 spoken; if I could be assured that he understands and knows how 
 my heart is aching because of the unkind request, there would be 
 no man in all this wide world so inexpressibly happy as the one 
 who sits to-day and thinks how he prevented an act that love in- 
 spired, and grieved a little heart as tender as the mercy of God. 
 
 "And, be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted." — A. W. 
 Bruner. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 j 19 
 
 RICHES. 
 
 O Lord, how manifold are Thy works ! in wisdom hast Thou 
 made them all : the earth is full of Thy riches. Ps. 104 -.24.- — 
 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high 
 minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God who 
 giveth us richly all things to enjoy. 1 Tim. 6:17. — Despiseth 
 thou the riches of His goodness and forebearance and long-suffer- 
 ing, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to re- 
 pentance? Rom. 2 4. — That in the ages to come He (God) might 
 show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us 
 through Christ Jesus. Eph. 2:7. — Unto me, who am less than 
 the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach 
 among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ. Eph. 3 :8. 
 
 — O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of 
 God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past 
 finding out. Rom. 11:13. — I 11 whom we have redemption 
 through His blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches 
 of His. grace. Eph. 1 \j. 
 
 How devotedly people dig after the worldly riches! This is 
 noble, if the riches are used nobly. See the long steel bridge and 
 the train it carries, Each little steel car holds four tons of ore. 
 It is a gold mine at Lead City, S. D. This ore has been brought 
 up from a depth of 1100 feet. It is said the deeper they go, the 
 richer the ore. The train carries the ore from the elevator of Hie 
 mine to the stamp mill, where the gold is separated from the 
 dirt. Riches untold. The Bible is a mine, in which are stored 
 the riches of God's promises for man. Riches for the unbeliever 
 and precious things for the believer, for the young and the aged, 
 
120 
 
 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 eternal riches of God. Are you living an unhappy spiritual Hie 
 with all the riches of heaven so freely offered to you through 
 Christ? Read i Kings 3:1-15, special verse 9. 
 
 FORTRESS. 
 
 And he said, The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my 
 deliverer; The God of my rock; in him will I trust : he is my shield, 
 and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my 
 savior ; thou savest me from violence. 2 Sam. 22 :2, 3. — O Lord 
 my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of afflic- 
 tion. Jer. 16:19. — The Lord also will be a refuge for the op- 
 
 pressed, refuge in times of trouble. Ps. 9 :g. — But I will sing of 
 thy power ; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning : for 
 thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble. 
 Ps. 59:16. — In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my 
 strength, and my refuge is in God. Ps. 62 \J. — The Lord is my 
 light and my salvation; whom shall I fear; the Lord is the strength 
 of my life; of whom shall I be afraid. Ps. 27:1. 
 
 This round tower or fort was built in 1821, which now forms 
 a part of Fort Snelling, near St. Paul, Minn. It was used by 
 the white people (soldiers) and others to protect themselves from 
 the Indian attacks and ravages. It was their safe hiding place 
 and refuge in time of trouble and danger. In affliction and trouble 
 the Christian has a hiding place that the worldly one knows not. 
 Read John ic — s special verse 38. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 121 
 
 FOLLOWERS. 
 
 The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and 
 findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. John 1 143. — My 
 sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 
 John 10:27. — -But Peter followed him afar off unto the high 
 priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the 
 end. Matt. 26:58. — And many shall follow their pernicious ways; 
 by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 2 
 Pet. 2:2. — For even hereunto were ye called: .because Christ also 
 suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his 
 steps. 1 Pet. 2:21. — Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any 
 man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his 
 cross and follow me. Matt. 16:24. — If any man serve me, let 
 him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be; 
 
 if any man serve me, him will my father honor. John 12 126. 
 
 The Philippine Band is playing on the opening day at the St. 
 Louis Fair. They were happy to have the privilege to do so. 
 It was an honor conferred upon them indeed, coming from their far 
 off Island home, to lead in the program of this day. They were 
 willing workers, ready to follow their captain wherever he should 
 lead them,. In another way they had to deny themselves very much, 
 by leaving their homes and loved ones, to come over here. No 
 doubt that in their hearts there were many crosses to bear. The 
 Christians ought to be even more willing workers for their Captain 
 Jesus, who has redeemed them from the curse of sin, and to fol- 
 low him, though there be some heavy crosses to bear and denials 
 in life. If you watch other people you will get your life no 
 better nor higher than theirs. Follow no man. Follow Christ. 
 
122 
 
 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 This will keep you from many painful stumblings. 
 i :i-i6, special verse 16. 
 
 Read Romans 
 
 BURDENS. 
 
 For every one shall bear his own burden. Cal. 6:5. — So then 
 every one of us shall give an account of himself to God. Rom. 14 : 
 12. — For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. 
 Rom. 3 123. — For we must all appear before the judgment seat of 
 Christ; that everyone may receive the things done in his body, 
 according to that he hath clone, whether it be good or bad. 2 Cor. 
 5:10. — For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is 
 eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Rom. 6:23. — For thy 
 name's sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity; "for it is great. Ps. 
 
 25 :n. — Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and 
 death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have 
 sinned. Rom. 5 :i2. 
 
 The Japanese women are carrying coke to market from the 
 mountains. Quite a burden they carry. All of us have little 
 earthly burdens to carry, but the greatest of all burdens, -.is the 
 burden of sin that is strapped to one's own soul. It is too heavy 
 for man to bear up. Trying to be joyful will not take it away. 
 Wordly knowledge cannot dislodge it. Worldly amusements only 
 deepens the sting. The good deeds you may do will not have 
 any merit to atone for sin. Sympathy of your friends will not 
 be strong enough to remove the awful pangs coming from it. 
 Will you carry the burden alone eternally? Listen to the only 
 cure! "For when we were yet without strength, Christ died for 
 the ungodly" (the sinner). Rom. 5:6. The three great burdens: 
 1. Cast thy burden on the Lord. Ps. 55:22. Help your 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 12 
 
 fellow-brother with his burden. Gal. 6:2. 3. The burden of 
 Jesus Avas the sins of the people. Luke 19:41. He wept over 
 sinful Jerusalem and its people. Read 1 Peter 4 — , special verse 17. 
 
 STRENGTH. 
 
 And Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, I pray thee, wherein 
 thy great strength lieth, and wherewith thou mightest be bound 
 to afflict thee. Judge 16:6. — Wait on the Lord; be of good 
 courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart : wait, I say, on the 
 Lord. Ps. 27:14. — The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of 
 languishing. Ps. 41 13. — But the God of all grace, who hath called 
 us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suf- 
 
 fered awhile, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you. — 
 1 Pet. 5 :io. — Then he (Nehemiah) said unto them, Go your way, 
 eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for 
 whom nothing is prepared : for this day is holy unto our Lord : 
 neither be ye sorry : for the joy of the Lord is your strength. 
 Neh. 8:10. — That he (God) would grant you, according to the 
 riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit 
 in the inner man. Eph. 3:16. — I can do all things through Christ 
 which strengthened! me. Phil. 4:13. — In the day when I cried 
 thou answeredest me, and strengthenest me with strength in my 
 soul. Ps. 138:3. 
 
 The men are driving piles for the foundation of a large build- 
 ing in Sioux City, Iowa. The pilings are made of concrete, and 
 are driven into the ground by an immense iron weight. How 
 could that dried mixture of crushed stone and cement stand such. 
 
124 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 tremendous shocks? I then saw the wooden box mould, into this 
 was placed three heavy iron rods the same length as the mould, 
 and the concrete poured in around them and then left to be hardened 
 by the sun. The now invisible rods were the strength of the piles. 
 So Christ in the inner man becomes his strength. It is the Holy 
 Spirit of God that enters and quickens the life, and the storms of 
 the world may beat away, but in Christ's name and strength such 
 will stand the tests. For every new day and every new task you 
 will need new, or renewed strength. The strength of yesterday 
 will not do for to-day. The engine cannot pull its load to-day with 
 the coal and steam that was used yesterday. Read Psalm 27 — , 
 special verse 13. 
 
 PICK UP AS YOU GO. 
 A young girl visiting the country was following the farmer's 
 wife along a winding half overgrown path amid a tangle of wild 
 flowers. The young visitor exclaimed at their variety and beauty. 
 "I mean to gather all I can carry when we come back and I have 
 a little more time," she said. "Better pick them now if you want 
 them," said the elder woman. " 'Taint likely we'll come back 
 this way." It was one of those' simple, homely incidents that 
 sometimes seem to epitomize life. (We must pick now, if we want 
 them at all, the flowers that God scatters along our way. The 
 pleasant hours, the dear friendships, the offered confidences, the 
 happy gatherings — all the brightnesses and blessings that we so 
 often push aside, but mean to find leisure to enjoy sometime — we 
 must take them day by day as they come, or we shall lose them 
 altogether ; we never can turn back to find them. 
 
 THE MORALIST. 
 The dahlia would surely be a very empress among flowers if 
 it had but perfume equal to its beauty: even the rose might need 
 to look to her sovereignty. Florists have tried all their arts to 
 scent this lovely child of autumn but in vain, no fragrance can be 
 developed or produced. The reflecting mind will be reminded of 
 those admirable characters which are occasionally met with, in 
 which everything of good repute and comely aspect may be seen, 
 but true religion, that sweet ethereal perfume of grace, as wanting : 
 if they had but love to God, what lovely beings they would be, 
 the best of the saints would not excel them, and }^et that fragrant 
 grace they do not seek, and after every effort we may make for 
 their conversion, they remain content without the one thing which 
 is needful for their perfection. O that the Lord would impart to 
 them the mystic sweetness of his grace by the Holy Spirit. — Spur- 
 geon. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 12: 
 
 THE PHILOSOPHER. 
 
 (The Infidel, Agnostic, Unitarian and Christian Science), 
 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain de- 
 ceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, 
 and not after Christ. Col. 2 :8. — Now I beseech you, brethren, 
 mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doc- 
 trine which ye have learned; and avoid them. Rom, 13:17. — Bui; 
 the natural (unconverted) man receiveth not the things of the Spirit 
 of God : for they are foolishness unto him : neither can he know 
 them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Cor. 2:14. — Be 
 not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a 
 good thing that the heart he established with grace ; not with meats^ 
 which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. Heb. 
 
 13:9. — Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of 
 these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of diso- 
 bedience. Eph. 5 :6. — That we henceforth be no more children, 
 tossed to and fro, carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the 
 sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to 
 deceive. Eph.4:i4. — Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the 
 spirits whether they are of God : because many false prophets are 
 gone out into the world. 1 Jno. 4:1. — For we are not as many, 
 Which corrupt the word of God : but as of sincerity, but as of God, 
 in the sight of God speak we in Christ. 2 Cor. 2:17. 
 
 Since the first man fell away from God, this world has been in 
 a bad mix-up. Sin takes advantage of man now, as it did then, 
 and by its utmost subtlety, induces men to become would-be philos- 
 ophers. God himself gave the truth to the Israelites, and trusted 
 it to them for their use, as well as for the whole of mankind, but 
 
the Gentile part of the world would not have it, so they began in 
 their own strength and wisdom to search and speculate about the 
 weightier things of life and eternity, but in vain. They had the 
 precious truth right in their midst, but because of doubt, distrust, 
 and selfishness they were not able to grasp it. They were playing 
 around the roots of the tree, or scanning the starry sky, and missed 
 the fruit. This philosopher may be very respectable and moral 
 in his outward life, nevertheless, in his heart there is sin, which 
 God sees and knows. He makes his reason his god. He lives on 
 his pride and self-conceit, and is just as badly mixed-up as the 
 picture. It is doubled. He trys to stand with his feet above the 
 Church and her teachings. He usually wears a sad and unsatisfied 
 countenance. He never has an open hand to anybody or anything. 
 He believes in anything that is for himself. He will probably 
 admit the moral teachings of Jesus Christ to be good, but will re- 
 ject all the rest of the Scriptures pertaining to Jesus as a Divine 
 Savior from Sin. He would rather live and die by a law made by 
 himself than to have one given from God. He prefers a man 
 made religion than a God revealed religion. The great Apostle 
 says, But there were false prophets also among the people, even 
 as there shall be false teachers among you, Avho privily shall bring 
 in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, 
 and bring anon themselves swift destruction. 2 Pet. 2:1. — As 
 Dr. William A Ouayle expresses it, "It (the Bible) is the only 
 book in the world that treats of eternity." Cherish it. Love it. 
 It has been the means of making millions of lives happier, even, 
 in this life, and will make yours also, if you will use it rightly. 
 Read Joshua 24:14-29. 
 
 A SINNER. 
 
 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so 
 much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, 
 God be merciful to me a sinner. Luke 18:13. — God, thou art my 
 God : early will I seek thee : my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh 
 longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is. 
 Ps.'63:t. 
 
 When the Duke of Kent, the father of Queen" Victoria, 
 was expressing, in the prospect of death, some concern about the 
 state of his soul, his physician endeavored to soothe his mind 
 by referring. to his high respectability, and his honorable conduct 
 in the distinguished situation in which Providence had placed him, 
 when he stopped him short, saying, "No, remember if I am to be 
 saved, it is not as a Prince, but as a sinner." 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 127 
 
 CLOTHED AND UNCLOTHED. 
 
 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness 
 are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, 
 like the wind, have taken us away. Isa. 64.6. — For they being 
 ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their 
 own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the right- 
 eousness of God. Rom. 10:3. — Know ye not that the unrighteous 
 shall not inherit the kingdom of God ? 1 Cor. 6 :g. — For the 
 wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness of 
 men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness. 'Rom. 1 :i8. — That 
 ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which 
 is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts ; and be re- 
 newed in the spirit of your mind ; and that ye put on the new man, 
 
 which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. 
 Eph. 4 -.22-24. — And be found in him, not having mine own 
 righteousness, which is after the law, but that which is through 
 the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith : 
 that I may know him (Christ), and the power of His resurrection, 
 and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable 
 unto His death. Phil. 3 :c/, 10. — I put on righteousness, and it 
 clothed me. Job 29:14. — Then they went to see what was done; 
 and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the demons 
 were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right 
 mind. Luke 8:35. — Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is 
 a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are 
 become new. For He hath made Him (Christ) to be sin for us, 
 who knew no sin; that we might be made the .righteousness of 
 God in Him. 2 Cor. 5:17, 22. — I will greatly rejoice in the 
 
128 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God: for He hath clothed 
 me with the garment of salvation, he hath covered me with the 
 robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with orna- 
 ments, and as a bride adorneth herself with jewels. Isa. 61 no. — 
 But the path of the just (righteous) is as a shining light, that 
 shineth more and more unto the perfect clay. Prov. 4:18. 
 
 On the dividing line of the mountains and plain in northern 
 Luzon, Philippine Islands, stands a little village called San Sebas- 
 tian. The mountainous portion is inhabited by the Igorrotes, one 
 of the primitive tribes of the Island. To this place they come 
 to barter for their rice and dogs, and carry cargo, from a match 
 box to a living person, that may be destined for their part of the 
 country. I saw about 100 dogs on the market here, selling from 
 twenty-five cents to $2.00 each. At the very sight of these people 
 they would set up the most piteous howls, seeming to know in- 
 stinctively that they were to be led back to their woodland huts 
 to be slaughtered and feasted over. The huts are surely, dark 
 dingy places. Their clothing is the natural God given garb with 
 a breech-clout thrown in the bargain, and all badly soiled by the 
 accumulated filth of time. A bath to them would be apparently as 
 unnatural as it would be for a canary bird to live in a mud-puddle. 
 The blessed Gospel of Jesus Christ is necessary to change them. 
 You see four of these men, strong and muscular, standing together. 
 They carried the writer (who was unable to walk, and no horses 
 in that part to be had) clown to this village from Baggiou. You 
 see also nearby the tree the Christian Philippines standing, 
 clothed. It is a true picture of the two classes of people in the 
 world to-day — the unrighteous and the righteous, in other words, 
 the unclothed and the clothed. The Igorrotes seem to be satisfied 
 wearing their soiled and filthy garments, and I could imagine them 
 saying, "We are just as good as they are." So it is with the 
 unrighteous or rather self-righteous, whether they are the strictest 
 moralists or the vilest of men. They are seemingly self-satisfied, 
 but are buried alive under their filthy garments of sin. God 
 offers to such His robe of righteousness through the Redeeming 
 work of Christ. Do you desire it or do you prefer to meet Him 
 face to face in your own garb of self-righteousness? David was 
 quite honest and cried out of a full heart to God : I acknowledge 
 my sin unto thee. Ps. 32 .-5. Read Hebrews 4 — , special verse 16. 
 
 Make each clay useful and cheerful, and prove that you know 
 the worth of time by employing it well. Then youth will be 
 happy, old age without regret, and life a beautiful success. — 
 Louise M. Alcott. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 129 
 
 CAPTIVE AND IN PRISON. 
 
 •'But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the 
 Lord : and be sure your sin will find you out. Num. 32 123. — 
 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law 
 of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which 
 is in my members. Rom. 7 123. — And at midnight Paul and Silas 
 prayed and sang praises unto God : and the prisoners heard them. 
 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the founda- 
 tions of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors 
 were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. Acts 16:25, 2 ^. 
 — But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the 
 door, and saw him, they were astonished. But he, beckoning 
 
 unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them 
 how the Lord had brought him out of prison. And he said, Go 
 tell these things unto James, and the brethren. And he departed, 
 and went into another place. Acts 12:16, 17. — -The Spirit of the 
 Lord is upon me .(Jesus), because he hath anointed me to preach 
 the gospel to the poor ; he hath sent me to heal the broken hearted, 
 to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to 
 the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised. (Luke 4:18. — If 
 the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. 
 Jno. 8:36. 
 
 This is the Minnesota State Prison which had in it in the 
 fall of 1905 nearly 700 men and women. Some were there for 
 life, while others were serving lesser sentences. It made one feel 
 sad to see them penned up in these high walls with sentinels 
 watching, that none may escape. Somehow their sin had found 
 them out, and put them there. As I walked about the prison, the 
 
no RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 thought struck me so forcibly that we were all captives and pris- 
 oners in sin. Jesus had power to set Peter and Paul free from 
 the earthly prison, so he has power to set the sinner free from the 
 law of sin and death. Paul says, There is therefore now no 
 condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not 
 after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of 
 life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and 
 death. Rom. 8:1, 2. Orthodoxy of opinion can never liberate 
 us, priest-craft cannot, morality cannot; but the divine redeeming 
 Christ can. Millions of every age gladly testify to his delivering 
 power. Once in bondage of sin, now they are free. Christ has 
 set them free. Read Psalm 103 — , special verse 13. 
 
 THE TOIL OF SIX. 
 Henry Ward Beecher said, "There was a man in the town 
 where I was born who used to steal all his firewood. He would 
 get up on cold nights and go and take it from his neighbors wood 
 piles. A computation was made, and it was ascertained that he 
 spent more time and worked harder to get his fuel, than he would 
 have been obliged to if he had earned it in an honest way, and at 
 ordinary wages, and this thief is a type of thousands of men who 
 work a great deal harder to please the devil than they would have 
 to work to please God." 
 
 WORD TO PARENTS. 
 
 Dr. John C. Paton tells this experience while laboring in mis- 
 sion work in Glasgow. "In my mission district I was the witness 
 of many joyful departures to be with Jesus — I do not like to call 
 them "deaths" at all. John Sim, a dear little boy, was carried away 
 by comsumption. His child-heart seemed to be filled with joy 
 about Jesus. It was the very pathos of the song incarnated to 
 hear the weak quaver of his dying voice singing out 
 "I lay my sins on Jesus, 
 The Spotless Lamb of God." 
 
 Shortly before his decease he said to his parents, "I am go- 
 ing soon to be with Jesus : but I sometimes fear that I may not 
 see you there." 
 
 '"Why so, my child?" said the weeping mother. 
 
 "Because," he answered, "if you were set on going to heaven, 
 you would pray about it, and sing about it, and talk to others about 
 Jesus. All this my dear Sabbath School teacher taught me, and 
 she will meet me there." The little eight year old boy did not 
 know what a message from God had pierced their souls through 
 his innocent words. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 m 
 
 THE CHURCH. 
 
 i. The Tabernacle. 1491 B. C. Moreover thou shalt make the 
 tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twained linen, and blue, and 
 purple and scarlet. Ex. 26:1.-2. The Temple, ion B. C. And 
 it came to pass in the four hundredth and eightieth year after the 
 children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth 
 year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the 
 second month, that he began to build the house of the Lord. 1 Kings 
 6:1. — Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I 
 am the Lord. Lev. 19 :3c — The first of the fruits of the land thou 
 shalt bring into the house of the Lord thy God. Ex. 23:19. — 3. 
 The Church. A. D. 30. And I (Jesus) say unto thee, That thou 
 art Peter, and upon this rock (me — Christ) I will build my church; 
 
 and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Matt. 16:18. — 
 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: 
 but if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to 
 behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the liv- 
 ing God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 1 Tim. 3:14, 15. — 
 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized : and the 
 same clay there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 
 And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 
 praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord 
 added to the church daily such as should be saved. Acts 2 141, 44, 
 47. — That there should be no schism (division) in the body, but 
 that the members should have the same care one for another. 1 
 Cor. 12 125. — For mine house shall be called an house of prayer for 
 ^11 people. Isa. 56 :y. — And said unto them, It is written, My 
 
IV RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a 
 den of thieves. Matt. 21 113. — Enter into his gates with thanksgiv- 
 ing, and into his courts with praise : be thankful unto him, and 
 bless his name. Ps. 100:4. — F° r second Temple restored, see 
 Ezra ,1 and 3:1, 2; building suspended, Ezra chap. 4; resumed 
 Ezra 4:24; finished, Ezra 6:13-15. Herod's temple, see Jno. 2: 
 20, Mark 13 :i, 2, Matt. 24:1. 
 
 At San Fernando, Pampanga Province. Methodist. 
 This is the first wholly constructed Protestant Church, so 
 far as the writer is informed for the Philipines to worship in . It 
 is under construction here. The material used is bamboo, except 
 the main upright (wood) posts. The roof is nipa, a species of 
 palm leaf, made into a sort of a shingle, and is tied to the strips 
 of bamboo with rattan from the underside. Seats with backs and 
 the pulpit were also made of bamboo. The ceiling is made of fine 
 bamboo mat and the outside is covered with the coarse mat. It 
 will seat about four hundred persons. When people turn to God 
 through the finished work of Jesus Christ, it is necessary to es- 
 tablish the House of the Lord — the house of worship and prayer 
 for them. Jesus came and died for sin. He gave us life, doc- 
 trines and power, and went away, leaving the church in human 
 hands. He left the world to the church and the church to the 
 w T orld. The church at first was composed of only a few believers. 
 He handed it over to them and went back to heaven and said to 
 them, you must carry it on. Believers join in the ranks and work 
 for the building up of God's Kingdom. That is your duty. Jesus 
 depends upon you. The church will be just what the individual 
 members make it — spirit-less or spirit-full, prayer-less or prayer- 
 full, help-less or help-full. Which are you making it? >Read 2 
 Cor. 6 — , special verse 20. 
 
 ON STRONG FOUNDATIONS. 
 
 "Is it a strong congregation?" asker a man, respecting a 
 body of worshipers. 
 
 "Yes," was the reply. 
 
 "How many members are there?" 
 
 "Seventy-six." 
 
 "Seventy-six! Are they so very wealthy?" 
 
 "No ; they are poor." 
 
 "Why, then, do you say it is a strong church?" 
 
 "Because," said the man questioned, "they are earnest, de- 
 voted, at peace, loving each other and striving to do the Master's 
 work. Such a congregation is strong whether composed of five 
 or five hundred members." 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 133 
 
 FRUIT. 
 
 I. The fruit or works of the unchristian. Now the works 
 of the flesh are manifest, which are these : adultery, fornication, 
 uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, 
 emulations, wrath, strife, sedition, heresies, envyings, murders, 
 drunkenness, revellings, and such like : of the which I tell you in 
 time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the 
 kingdom of God. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 
 Matt. 7 :2p. — 2. The fruit of the Christian. But the fruit of the 
 Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 
 meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Gal. 5 : 19-23. 
 — (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness 
 
 and truth:) proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. Eph. 5:9, 
 10. — Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away : and 
 every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it that it may bring 
 forth more fruit. Jno. 15 :2. 
 
 Christ cursed the fig tree, because it did not bear fruit. Matt, 
 21 :i9. — The one principal idea running throughout the New Tes- 
 tament is the fruit of the Christian life. This is a typical Japanese 
 fruit store, and exhibits a variety of the native fruits. lEvery life 
 is a storehouse, and in it the unrighteous one has stored up the 
 works that are given in Gal. 5 : 19-21, and the righteous the splendid 
 fruit that is given in Gal. 5 :22, 23. — This is what makes the Christ- 
 ian life happy and contented. This is the blessed fruit of the Holy 
 Spirit living and abiding in him. The worldly person cannot un- 
 derstand this. They miss this part of life, and it is the real and 
 enjoyable present portion. Read Jno. 15:1-15, special verse 10. 
 
134 
 
 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 LIBERTY CAP. 
 
 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this 
 is impossible : but with God all things are possible. Matt. 19:26. 
 — For with God nothing shall be impossible. Luke 1 137. — But 
 without faith it is impossible to please him : for he that cometh to 
 God must believe that he is, and that he is a re warder of them that 
 diligently seek him. Heb. 1 1 :6, — But the natural man receivetli 
 not the things of the Spirit of God : for they are foolishness unto 
 him : neither can he know them, because they are spiritually dis- 
 cerned. 1 Cor. 2:14. — -For the preaching of the cross is to them 
 that perish foolishness ; but unto us which are saved it is the power 
 of God. 1 Cor. 1 :i8. 
 
 The peculiar looking shaft is located near the Mammoth Hot 
 
 w 0* 
 
 Springs in the Yellowstone Park, and is called Liberty Cap. It 
 is 52 feet high and 22 feet in diameter at the base. It has an ori- 
 fice at the top, and the inference is, that it has been an active geyser 
 or spring at one time. It stands there all alone, and no one seems- 
 to understand its presence fully. However, it is there — a facr. 
 People wonder and speculate over its strangeness, just like they do 
 about the doctrines of the Holy Trinity, the Incarnation of Jesus, 
 the Creation of man, Sin, and the New Birth, as Jesus taught Nico- 
 dermis in the third chapter of St. John's gospel. But the only 
 conclusion to arrive at, is, that what is impossible with man, is 
 possible with God, and that he fully understands all of these things. 
 They are for man to manfully accept and he may fully understand 
 them some time. Not now, but in the coming years — perhaps in 
 eternity. If we could see everything clearly now there would be 
 no faith, therefore no honor to God. Jesus saith unto him, Thorn- 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 135 
 
 as, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed : blessed are they 
 that have not seen, and yet believed. Jno. 20:29. — Read Romans 
 8:1-15 — , special verse 9. 
 
 THE GOSPEL. 
 
 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is 
 given unto me in heaven and in the earth. Go ye therefore, and 
 teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and 
 of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit; teaching them to observe all 
 things whatsoever I have commanded you. Matt. 28:18, 19. — For 
 whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 
 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed .' 
 
 
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 and how shall they believe in him whom they have not heard ? and 
 how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, 
 except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of 
 them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good 
 things. Rom. 10:13-15. — And they that be wise shall shine as 
 the brightness of the firmament : and they that turn many to right- 
 eousness as the stars for ever and ever. Dan. 12 13. — And this 
 gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world, for a 
 witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. Matt 
 24:14. 
 
 A little village school in Japan. They now have 2900 public 
 schools for the children. Bright little boys and girls these are. 
 They can read, write and cipher, and appear to be happy. I looked 
 at their faces, and noted the odd dresses and saw their sparkling 
 black eyes, and the fancy way the girls made up their hair, but the 
 
136 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 thought came to me so forcibly, that they had a living soul to be 
 saved, and yet not one of them- knew Jesus as their Savior. No 
 one had been to that place to tell them. Who will say like Isaiah 
 of old did, "Here am I: send me." Isa. 6:8. — If you can not. go, 
 then you may help to send some one in your place. It is a great 
 investment indeed to send the gospel to those who have not had 
 the privilege of knowing about a Redeemer that loves them. Read 
 Matt. 25:31-46. 
 
 THREE POINTS OF CONTRAST. 
 
 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which 
 was lost. Luke 19:10. And they said, Believe on the Lord 
 Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved. Acts 16:31. 
 
 A Chinese Christian thus described the relative merits of 
 Confucianism, Buddhism and Christianity: "A man had fallen 
 into a deep, dark pit, and lay in its miry bottom groaning and 
 utterly unable to move. Confucius walked by, approached the 
 edge of the pit, and said, 'Poor fellow, I am sorry for you : why 
 were you such a fool as to get in there? Let me give you a 
 piece of advice : if you ever get out, don't get in again.' T can't 
 get out,' groaned the man. THAT IS CONFUCIANISM. 
 
 A Buddhist priest next came by, and said, "Poor fellow, I am 
 very much pained to see you there, I think if you could scramble 
 up two-thirds of the way, or even half, I could reach you and lift 
 3 r ou up the rest." But the man in the pit was entirely helpless 
 and unable to rise. THAT IS BUDDHISM. 
 
 Next the Savior came by, and, hearing his cries, went to the 
 very brink of the pit, stretched down and laid hold of the man, 
 brought him up, and said, "Go, sin no more." THAT IS CHRIS- 
 TIANITY. 
 
 YOUR DUTY. 
 
 And he said unto them, go ye into all the world, and preach 
 the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized 
 shall be saved ; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Mark 
 16: 15, 16. 
 
 A clergyman was once asked by the Duke of Wellington, 
 "How are you getting on with the propagation of the gospel 
 abroad? Is there any chance of the Hindoos becoming Chris- 
 tians?" To which the clergyman replied, "Oh, no! I do not 
 see anything doing there; I see no reason to suspect any work 
 of the kind being successful." "Well," said the Duke, "What 
 have you to do with that? What are your marching orders? 
 Are they not, 'Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel 
 to every creature'? Do your duty, sir, and never mind results." 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 1.37 
 
 SERVICE. 
 
 And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto 
 the Lord, i Chron. 29 15. — With good will doing service, as to the 
 Lord, and not to men. Eph. 6 \J. — Not slothful in business : fervent 
 in spirit; serving the Lord. Rom. 12 :ii. — Serving the Lord with 
 all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which 
 befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews. Acts 20:19. — I know 
 thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, 
 and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. Rev. 2 119. 
 ■ — I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that 
 ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, 
 which is your reasonable service. Rom. 12:1. 
 
 The altitude of the Yellowstone Lake in Wyoming is nearly 
 
 8000 feet. The beautiful sky blue water is hemmed in by the tall 
 rugged mountains. The travelers oftentimes become weary of 
 journeying by wagon on the dusty road, so this boat is ever ready 
 to carry them from Thumb Bay in the southern part to the northern 
 point of the lake. It is ready for service and brings blessings 
 to many. The worldly people serve the world and 
 
 its master in their fullness. Eph. 2:1. — The Christian will serve 
 his Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, with a joyful heart. God will 
 turn the sacrifices and self-denials into blessings. "If you want to 
 be miserable, think about yourself — about what you want, what you 
 like, what respect people ought to pay to you, and what people 
 think of you," so said Charles Kingsley. 
 
 "I live for those who love me, 
 For those who know me true, 
 For the heaven that smiles above me, 
 
i3« 
 
 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 And awaits my spirit, too ; 
 
 For the cause that lacks assistance, 
 
 For the wrong that needs resistance, 
 
 For the future in the distance, 
 
 And the good that I can do." — Geo. L. Banks. 
 
 SEEK ONE TO COME. 
 
 Arise ye and depart ; for this is not your rest : because it is 
 polluted, it shall destroy you, even with a sore destruction. Micah 
 2:10. — For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to 
 come. Heb. 13 114. — For he looketh for a city which hath founda- 
 tions, whose builder and maker is God. But now they desire a bet- 
 ter country, that is, an heavenly : wherefore God is not ashamed to 
 
 be called their God : for he hath prepared for them a city. Heb. 
 11 :io, 16. 
 
 The Camp is a typical one of those who travel through the 
 Yellowstone Park. Camping is permitted by the national govern- 
 ment only one day at the same place, so it is always, move on. The 
 unchristian is merely a wanderer. The Christian is traveling home- 
 ward. This world is not the Christians real home. He is living 
 here temporarily as a foreign citizen, having no continuing city to 
 abide in. They are just sojourning here for the time being, wait- 
 ing for that blessed hope of eternity with God. Saint Paul says, 
 "Now we are Ambassadors' for Christ." 2 Cor. 5:20. — We know 
 that the Ambassador resides in a foreign country, so we can say 
 with the good poet : 
 
 "My heavenly home is bright and fair : 
 No pain nor death can enter there; 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 139 
 
 Its glittering towers the sun outshine ; 
 That heavenly mansion shall be mine.'" 
 
 Read Psalm 126 — , special verse 6. 
 
 DARKNESS TO LIGHT. 
 
 A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow or 
 death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness. Job 
 10:22. — Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord 
 come, who both will bring to light hidden things of darkness, and 
 will make manifest the counsels of the heart : and then shall every 
 man have praise of God. 1 Cor. 4:5. — Blessed be the Lord God 
 of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people. To give 
 
 light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to 
 guide our feet into the way of peace. Luke 1 :68, 79. — To open 
 their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from 
 the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness 
 of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith 
 that is in me. Acts 26:18. — And this is the condemnation, that 
 light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than 
 light, because their deeds were evil. Jno. 3:19. — But ye are a 
 chosen generation (the Christian), a royal priesthood, an holy 
 nation, a peculiar people, that ye should show forth the praises of 
 him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. 
 1 Pet. 2 :g. — Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which 
 thing is true in him and in you : because darkness is past, and the 
 true light now shineth. 1 Jno. 2 :8. 
 
 Africa is called the "dark continent" because of the teeming 
 millions of black people (negroes) that inhabit it, and are living in 
 
140 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 the darkest kind of heathenism. Different governments of Europe 
 have taken possession of most of the land, and are working to 
 establish stable forms of government. The exhibit is that of 
 German East Africa at the St. Louis Fair. It showed progress 
 especially on agricultural lines. Notice the warrior chief (imi- 
 tated) a relic of barbarism. Also the fine elephant tusks. The 
 larger one is about nine feet in length. The Christian churches 
 are carrying the Gospel (Good News) to these benighted people. 
 Establishing schools, and planting the printing press for them, so 
 they may have opportunities the same as other nations of the earth. 
 How admirable the work! Many of the warrior chiefs are laying 
 down their worldly warring weapons, and are accepting a dif- 
 ferent weapon, the "Holy Bible." This brings them into a dif- 
 ferent relation with their fellowmen. It brings love instead of 
 the club. It gives life and light in place of darkness and super- 
 stition. 
 
 "Brother, for Christ's kingdom sighing, 
 
 Help a little, help a little; 
 
 Help to save the millions dying, 
 
 Help just a little. 
 
 O the wrongs that we may righten, 
 
 O the hearts that we man lighten! 
 
 O the skies that we may brighten! 
 
 Helping just a little." 
 
 Read Psalms 22 and 23. 
 
 What is the use of religious profession if Jesus is out of it? 
 
 We will have to fight the devil with the cradle, and get ten 
 minutes ahead of him by bringing the children to Jesus in their 
 early days. 
 
 You may have the streets of gold and the walls of jasper, but 
 that would not be Heaven for me if I hadn't Christ and those I love. 
 
 I wonder whether, if Jesus Christ came to some of our churches 
 where they are looking for a pastor, He would be invited to fill the 
 vacant pulpit. 
 
 St. Paul's Cathedral is nothing but a glorified quarry if Christ 
 be out of it, and my old Gypsy tent is a cathedral when Christ is in 
 it. Christ makes the temple. 
 
 God can open the blind eye, or unstop the deaf ear, or paint 
 a lily-bell, or form a dewdrop, or create the trill of the bird song, 
 or open the gates of the morning without a creak of their hinges, or 
 set an atom swinging in the sunshine with all its rhythm and poetry, 
 as much as control the movement of a constellation; but He can 
 save no man against his will. — Gipsy Smith. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 TRUST. 
 
 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses : but we will re- 
 member the name of the Lord our God. Ps. 20 7. — In thee, O 
 Lord, do I put my trust ; let me never be ashamed : deliver me in 
 thy righteousness. Ps. 31:1. — Trust in the Lord, and do good; 
 so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Ps. 
 37 13. — The righteous shall be glad in ±he Lord, and shall trust in 
 him, and all the upright in heart shall glory. Ps. 64:10. — 
 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him : but I will maintain 
 mine own ways before him. Job. 13:15. — Thus saith the Lord; 
 cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his 
 arm, and whose heart is departed from the Lord. Blessed is the 
 man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. Jer. 
 
 I 7 : 5» 7- — The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; 
 and he knoweth them that trust in him. Nahum. 1 7. 
 
 This train is a very interesting one indeed. It runs from 
 Deadwood, South Dakota, whose altitude is 4539 feet and climbing 
 up the mountains to the height of nearly 6425 feet and down the 
 other side to Spearfish, which has an altitude of 3647 feet. The 
 distance is about 15 miles air line, but the train goes about 45 
 miles. It is a narrow gaug-e road, and it seemed to be nearly all 
 curves (375 in thirty miles) about the mountains. The pitch is 
 generally 100 feet to the mile and often 200 feet. One had to 
 almost hold the breath, and surely his hat and his seat. At times 
 I thought the engineer had gone mad. It was now upon the 
 mountain top, and then down into the valley. At every curve one 
 would wonder if the thing would jump the track, or run into the 
 mountain ahead. In all my travels I never got into such a 
 
142 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 winding- mix-up as this experience. The inward and outward 
 fears were tremendous for awhile. The conductor quieted our 
 sensitive feelings by saying, "Don't fear! that engineer knows his 
 business. He's the only man that has run this train since the 
 road was built." How like the Christian life! Jesus is running 
 the train of Eternal Life heavenward for his own people, and he 
 is at the throttle. He commands them, "Follow me." He may 
 carry them over some high and rough places, and down into 
 many valleys, but he knows the way. It is necessary to trust to 
 his wisdom, power, and skill to run the train through in safety. 
 See how beautiful St. Paul expressed his confidence, "For I know 
 whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep 
 that which I have committed unto him against that day." 2 Tim. 
 1 :I2. Read Psalm 90 — , special verse 17. 
 
 This grace of silence under trial is one of the most rare and 
 difficult graces ; but it is one of the most pleasing to God, and most 
 conducive to strength and beauty of Christian character. 
 
 None of us loves to suffer, and we all shudder at the sight of 
 the probe or the amputating knife. But when the infinite Love is 
 engaged in cutting out a selfish lust or cutting off a diseased limb, 
 our duty is to submit. 
 
 "Keep still, my friend," says the surgeon to the patient in the 
 hospital; "for restlessness may produce false cuts and aggravate 
 the process." 
 
 If the brave fellow is wise, he will say, "Doctor, go as deep 
 as you choose; only be sure to fetch out the bullet." 
 
 Ah, the battlefield often requires less courage than the hospital ! 
 The onset of service, with drum beating and bugles sounding, does 
 not so test the mettle of our graces as to be thrown down wounded, 
 or to be commanded to lie still and suffer. To shout a battle-cry 
 at the mouth of the cannon is easier than to put our hands on our 
 mouths and be silent because God did it. If he is silent as to ex- 
 planations of trying providences, let us be silent in our filial sub- 
 mission. God knows what is best for us — that is enough. — Theo- 
 dore L. Cuyler, D. D. 
 
 SURE FAITH. 
 
 Thomas Carlyle, shortly before his death, said : "I am now an 
 old man, and am done with the world. Looking around me, before 
 and behind me, and weighing all as wisely as I can, it seems to me 
 there is nothing solid to rest on but the faith which I learned in my 
 ■old home, and from my mother's lips." And there is nothing else. 
 Modern substitutes for "the faith once for all delivered to the 
 saints" are worthless. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 143 
 
 THE WICKED. 
 
 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way 
 of the evil men. Prov. 4:14. — Many sorrows shall be to the 
 wicked. Ps. 32:10. — For there shall be no reward to the evil 
 man ; the candle of the wicked shall be put out. For their calamity 
 shall rise suddenly, and who knoweth the ruin of them both? Prov. 
 24:20, 22. — Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: 
 on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou 
 continue in his goodness: otherwise thou shalt be cut off. Rom. 
 11:22. — For the time is come that judgment must begin at the 
 house of God : and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of 
 them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous 
 scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and sinner appear? 1 
 Pet. 4:17, 18. — There is no peace, saith my God to the wicked. 
 
 Isa. 57:21. — But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall 
 he prolong his days, which are as a shadow ; because he f eareth 
 not before God. Eccles. 8:13. — So shall it be at the end of the 
 world : the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from 
 among the just. Matt. 13:49. — Say unto them, As I live, saith 
 the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; that 
 the wicked turn from his way and live. Ezek. 33 :n. — And death 
 and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 
 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast 
 into the lake of fire. Rev. 20:14, *5- See Prov. 10:2, 7, 16, 20, 
 24, 27, 28. — Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous 
 man his thoughts : and let him return unto the Lord, and he will 
 
144 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly 
 pardon. Isa. 55 :j. 
 
 The place out of which the steam is rising - , is in the Yellow 
 stone Park, and is called "Heirs half-acre." It is a geyser (Ex- 
 celsior) which has been so violent in its explosions, as to form a 
 large pit, possibly thirty feet deep, and half an acre in extent. The 
 water in it is always sizzling-, boiling, and madly gushing, as though 
 the whole underworld was afire, and all was trying to escape at 
 this one place. I walked around it with another man, who was 
 just what we commonly call a morally good fellow, but had not 
 given much serious thought about the future life. He said he did 
 not belong to any Church, but managed to go once in a while for 
 appearance sake, as a good many do. When we got about half way 
 round it, he said, using his own venacular, "That's hell isn't it?" 
 "No," I replied, "that is probably only a foretaste and warning of 
 what is reserved for the wicked, who reject God's mercy, his love, 
 and his redemption provided through Jesus Christ." The life of 
 the wicked shall be shortened. Ps. 55 123. — Even the desire of the 
 wicked shall perish. Ps. 112 :io. — He is not at peace with God at 
 any time. His word has gone forth forever. It shall stand. No 
 man can undo it. Hell is a very real place. God has not made 
 anything for a sham. Good water and bad water do no live in 
 the well at the same time, neither shall the righteous, and the un- 
 righteous, in the future world. Every one is given a fair oppor- 
 tunity in this world to prepare for eternity. God calls to you. 
 
 "Make haste, O man, to live, 
 
 For thou so soon must die ; 
 
 Time hurries past thee like the breeze; 
 
 How swift its moments fly! 
 
 Make haste, O man, to live, 
 
 Thy time is almost o'er ; 
 
 O sleep not, dream not, but arise, 
 
 The Judge is at the door !" 
 
 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation? . Heb. 
 2:3. — Read 2 Kings 20:1-6, special verse 5. 
 
 THE BRAKES. 
 Out in the Rocky Mountains there was a stage driver who 
 had driven down the mountain sides for forty years. He had 
 lived a godless life. He came to the hour of death. His friends 
 watching near him saw that he was grasping after something, it 
 seemed in despair. They asked him, "Bill, what is the matter?" 
 He exclaimed, "Boys, I am speeding down hill to hell and I can not 
 find the brakes." 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 145 
 
 OUT OF THE LITTLE COMES THE GREATER. 
 
 And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou 
 hast done? And the woman said, The serpent (devil) beguiled me, 
 and I did eat. And unto Adam he said> Because thou hast heark- 
 ened unto the voice of thy wife and hast eaten of the tree, of which 
 I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it : cursed is the 
 ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the clays of 
 thy life. Gen. 3:13, 17. — Out of one act of disobedience has come 
 the sin, sickness and sorrow in this world. 2. Out of the little 
 covetousness, and one untruth, Gehazi, the servant of Elisha became 
 a miserable leper. See 2 Kings 5 12022, 27. — 3. And immediate- 
 ly the Lord smote him (Herod) because he gave not God the glory; 
 and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost. Acts 12 123. — 
 
 Out of the little selfish act of taking the glory, belonging to God, 
 to himself, this king met his miserable doom. 4. But Peter said, 
 Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Spirit ? 
 And Ananias hearing these words fell down and gave up the ghost. 
 Acts 5 :3-5. — Out of one lie to God this man and his wife lost their 
 lives. 5. Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, 
 Whomsoever I shall kiss, that is he : hold him fast. Matt. 26 :48. 
 — Out of this deceitful kiss of Judas, came the betrayal of Jesus, 
 the Savior of sinful men. -i. Behold, when we come into the land, 
 thou shalt bind this scarlet thread in the window which thou didst 
 let us down by : and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, 
 and thy brethren, and all thy father's household, home unto thee. 
 And the young men that were spies went in, and brought out Rahab, 
 etc. Josh. 2:18, and 6:23. — Out of an act of kindness of this 
 woman Rahab to God's people, she and her kindred were saved at 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 the destruction of Jericho. It is always better to be on God's side. 
 2. Then went he (Naaman) down, and dipped himself seven times 
 in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: (Elisha) 
 and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he 
 was clean. 2 Kings 6 114. — Out of simple obedience to God's word, 
 this great man, a leper, received this marvellous blessing. 3. And 
 Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? There remaineth 
 yet the youngest, and he tendeth sheep. And he sent, and brought 
 him in. Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in 
 the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon 
 David from that day forward. 1 Sam. 16:11-13. — Out of this 
 ruddy shepherd boy came the great King David. 4. And Moses 
 made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, 
 that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked unto the ser- 
 pent of brass, he lived. Num. 21 :g. — Out of a sincere look show- 
 ing faith in God's power, life was saved. 5. She shall bring 
 forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus : for he shall save 
 his people from their sins. Matt. 1 :2i. — Out of the little babe 
 Jesus came the only hope for the Redemption of this world from 
 Sin. 6. And he (the thief) said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me 
 when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, 
 Verily I say unto thee, To-day shalt thou be with me in Paradise. 
 Luke 23 42,-43. — Out of sincere repentance, this thief was forgiven 
 his sins, and made fit to enter into heaven. It was undoubtedly the 
 first opportunity he had had to hear of Redemption through Jesus 
 Christ. There is no excuse for a man to live all his life in sin, 
 after he has heard the Gospel so often, and then at the very lasr 
 moment ask God for forgiveness. 7. And Saul was consenting 
 unto his (Stephen's) death. Acts 8:1. — I (Paul) am crucified 
 with Christ : nevertheless I live : yet not I, but Christ liveth in me : 
 and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the 
 Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Gal. 2 :20. 
 ■ — Out of this Saul — the wicked ruffian persecutor of the Christians 
 came that great noble-hearted christian life we commonly call Paul. 
 These are Christian girls in the Mission School at Hakodate, 
 Japan. They are spinning silk. A few of the cacoons are on the 
 chair. Out of the mulberry leaf the little silk-worm makes its tiny 
 fiber, and then weaves it into the little cacoon. The girls place 
 the cacoons into a kettle of hot water, which loosens the fibers, and 
 then they spin it onto the reel. From this silk they are making a 
 large American flag for their school. So we see that out of the 
 little leaf comes the beautiful flag. Out of the little things of life 
 — whether good or evil, come the larger, either more debased and 
 depraved without Christ unto eternal death, or more noble and 
 beautiful with Christ unto life eternal. Yes, God can take our mis- 
 erable, sinful lives and make them into new, hopeful, loving, obedi- 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS, 
 
 147 
 
 ent, and worshipping ones. Will we let him have a chance to do 
 it ? Eph. 2 — , special verse 8. 
 
 SHIPS. 
 
 The Ark-ship of salvation. Gen. 6:13-22. — The ships of 
 peace and good will — for commerce and passengers. Jonah 1 13, 
 Isa. 60:9, Acts 21 13. — For ferriage. 2. Sam. 19:18. — For fishing. 
 Luke 5 :y. — Life boats. Acts 27 :30~32. — Warships. Num. 24 : 
 24. — Now there are diversities of gifts, but by the same Spirit. 
 And there are differences of administration, but the same Lord. 
 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which 
 worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to 
 
 every man to profit withal. 1 Cor. 12 '.4-7. — And God hath set 
 some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly 
 teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, govern- 
 ments, diversities of tongues. But covet earnestly the best gifts. 
 1 Cor. 12 128-3 1. 
 
 There are many kinds of ships in the world to-day made of 
 wood and steel. All of them are built for definite purposes. The 
 one is not intended to do the work of the other. These are models 
 exhibited at the St. Louis Fair, of the Chinese ships. There is 
 the little ship or boat for fishing, and is very unpretentious in ap- 
 pearance, but it does its part in the work of life. Then there is the 
 crafty little vessel that plies up and down the river, carrying its 
 cargo and passengers from port to port. It just suits for that pur- 
 pose. The ferry-boat runs between the ports on either side of the 
 
148 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 river. The weather, whether of rain or sunshine makes no differ- 
 ence, for it is always at its place ready for the task assigned to it 
 day by day. Sometimes its burden is very heavy, but does the work 
 cheerfully when possibly it would have good ground for com- 
 plaint. Then there is that playful little tug-boat which seems to 
 have no regularly planned out daily work, but skips about over the 
 water hither and thither, dodging around the larger craft, to keep 
 from being run down, seeking for something to do. It finds a 
 stranded vessel on the sand-bar, or an accident has happened to 
 some other ship, or probably one of the big ships cannot push into 
 port because the water is too shallow, then it is right at home to 
 help in time of trouble. To be sure it does a lot of whistling, pul- 
 ling, puffing, and twisting about, but it tugs away until it rescues 
 the helpless one, and goes on its way rejoicing, looking for another 
 opportunity to do good. Then there is also the coasting ship which 
 travels from port to port along the coast. It is not large in com- 
 parison with other ships, and it never ventures very far from the 
 shore line for fear of the heavy storms of the sea, but it willing!} 7 
 does its part in the battle of life. We can see spinning her way 
 across the great ocean the ship of peace and good will — the Big 
 Liner. She is long enough, wide enough and sets deep enough into 
 the water to weather most any kind of a storm. She carries her 
 burden of three thousand living souls, and twenty thousand tons 
 of cargo. She could not do the work of the little river boat if she 
 tried ever so hard. She is happy and contented ploughing her way 
 through the mighty foaming and fretting waves. The ship of War 
 spans the mighty deep to the four points of the compass. She goes 
 on her journey around the world, saluting Kings and Emporers of 
 many lands. She goes on her mission with authority to enforce 
 and power to protect her rights in the event of danger from an 
 enemy. She carries a great responsibility. God has a plan for 
 every man in this life, and the thing necessary for him, is to enter 
 into that plan. The first part of it is to serve Him. Matt. 22 137. 
 — The second part is to serve his fellow-men. Matt. 22 139. — He 
 makes his people spiritual ships, and each one has a definite work 
 to do for His glory. The question is, What kind of a ship does 
 He want me to be ? Even the little canoe is often a great blessing, 
 but we must not be satisfied to be a canoe in life, when He would 
 have us to be a fishing boat. We must not bend and twist our con- 
 science to feel that we would rather be a coasting vessel, when He 
 would have us to be an Ocean Liner or a Warship to carry heavy 
 burdens for Him, and uphold His truth with power and love. Do 
 not try to be a warship when He plans for you to be a canoe. 
 Jesus says, "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you. Jno. 
 15:16. — Some people pray, Oh, to be nothing! It should be, Oh, 
 to be something ! The canoe may look up and say, "I've done my 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 14Q 
 
 best/' The Big Liner can only reply, "I've done my best." Read 
 Isa. 6 — , special verse 8. 
 
 MARKED AND SEALED. 
 
 And the lord set a mark upon Cain, (the wicked) lest any 
 rinding him would kill him. Gen 4:15. — And the Lord said unto 
 him, (the prophet) go through the midst of the city, through the 
 midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of them 
 that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the 
 midst thereof. Eze. 9 4. — That we should be to the praise of 
 his glory who first trusted in Christ, in whom also after that ye 
 believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise. Eph. 1 : 
 13. — Who< hath also sealed us and given the earnest of the Spirit 
 
 in our hearts. 2 Cor. 1 :22. — And grieve not the holy Spirit of 
 God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Eph. 4: 
 30. — And Jesus, when he was baptized, went straightway out of 
 the water : and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw 
 the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him : 
 and lo a voice from heaven, saying, this is my beloved Son, in 
 whom I am well pleased. Matt. 3:16, 17. 
 
 On railway cars you will always see a trade mark. When the 
 car is loaded and the door closed, it is then sealed. One of the 
 railway companies has adopted this curious shaped emblem for 
 their trade mark. Curious Creek is a small stream running quiet- 
 ly through Hayden Valley, Yellowstone Park. The windings at 
 this place are strangely remarkable. As these companies mark 
 and seal their cars so that they may know their property wherever 
 it may be found, so God marks and seals people upon the earth. 
 
i;o RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 He sets his mark upon the wicked and upon the righteous. He 
 knows them by the special marks and seals that each one of them 
 carry. He seals his Redeemed with his Holy Spirit. I give unto 
 them eternal life. Jno. 16:28. — My peace, I give unto you. Jno. 
 14 \2J. — That my joy might remain in you. Jno. 15 :i 1. — "If ye love 
 me keep my commandments" says Jesus. Love to him and life, 
 peace and joy from him are the peculiar marks of God's people. 
 He that doeth the will of God abideth forever. 1 Jno. 2:17. — 
 Read 1 Peter 2 — , special verse 17.- 
 
 A PROUD FATHER. 
 
 Twenty years ago a discouraged young doctor in one of our 
 large cities was visited by his father, who came up from a rural 
 district to look after his boy. 
 
 "Well, son," he said, "how are you getting along?" 
 
 "I'm not getting along at all," was the answer. "I'm not do- 
 ing a thing." 
 
 The old man's countenance fell, but he spoke of courage and 
 patience and perseverance. Later in the day he went with his son 
 to the "Free Dispensary," where the young man had an unsalaried 
 position. 
 
 The father sat by, a silent but intensely interested spectator, 
 while twenty-five poor unfortunates received help. The doctor for- 
 got his visitor while he bent his skilled energies to his task; but 
 hardly had the doctor closed on the last patient when the old man 
 burst forth : "I thought you told me that you were not doing any- 
 thing! Not doing anything! Why, if I had helped twenty-five 
 people in a month as much as you have in one morning I would 
 thank God that my life counted for something." 
 
 "There isn't any money in it, though," exclaimed the son, 
 somewhat abashed." 
 
 "Money!" the old man shouted, still scornfully. "What is 
 money in comparison with being of use to your fellow-man? Never 
 mind^the money; you go right along at this work every day. I'll 
 go back to the farm, and gladly earn enough to support you as long 
 as I live. 
 
 A GREAT LOVE. 
 
 "It takes great love to stir a human heart 
 
 To live beyond the others and apart, , 
 
 A love that is not shallow, is not small, 
 
 Is not for one or two, but for them all. 
 
 Love that can wound love for its higher need, 
 
 Love that can leave love, though the heart may bleed." 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 i;i 
 
 THE WORLD. 
 
 Again, the devil taketh him (Jesus) up into an exceedingly 
 high mountain, and sheweth Him all the kingdoms of the world, 
 and the glory of them; and saith unto him, All these things will 
 I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. St. Matt. 4: 
 8, 9. — For what is a man profited, if he gain the whole world, and 
 lose his soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 
 Matt. 16:26. — For after that in the wisdom of God the world by 
 wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishmess of 
 preaching to save them that believe. 1 Cor. 1 :2i. — Ye adulterers 
 and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is 
 enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the 
 world is the enemy of God. Jas, 4:4. — And we know that we 
 are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. 1 John 5 :icj. 
 
 — Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. 
 If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 
 I John 2:15. — Men of the world, which have their portion in this 
 world. Ps. 17:14. — The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto 
 him, saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin 
 of the world. John 1 :2c;. 
 
 It seems somewhat strange that such a name as Deadwood 
 should be given to a City. However, Deadwood, South Dakota, 
 sets in, and fills up a valley with its hotels, stores, factories, and 
 many of the homes are built upon the sides of the mountains. 
 The mountain scenery surrounding it is beautiful, and taken all 
 together, is picturesque. Much wealth is represented here, be- 
 cause of the rich mines. As one would climb the mountain heights, 
 it appeared to be a little world shut in to itself. Jesus was taken 
 
152 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 to the top of the mount, and was offered the world, if he would 
 only fall down and worship the Satanic prince. Many are wil- 
 ling to worship him for the benefits of this present world. While 
 on the mountain top, and looking out over all its riches, the words 
 of Jesus came to my -mind that, "What would it profit a man to 
 gain all that this represents — the social life, money life, and polit- 
 ical life, and lose his own soul?" These are all perishable things. 
 One may gain all of them, and yet have a deep longing for some- 
 thing that is still unsatisfied. Something more enduring, some- 
 thing eternal : something that satisfies the hungering soul. Jesus 
 said to the people, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me 
 shall never hunger. Jno. 6:35. He is the true satisfying portion 
 for the soul. God's love cannot dwell where the love of the world 
 dwells. The one you desire most will push out the other in your 
 life. Read Matt. 25:1-14, special verse 13. 
 
 A man lost his footing and fell from the top story of a sky- 
 scraper window. As he passed each story in his headlong flight 
 he cried into the windows: "All right so far." But he hit the 
 bottom, and he hit hard. That was the end. When a man lets 
 go of God he begins to fall, as certainly as did the man in the sky- 
 scraper, and he will hit the bottom just as surely, though he is a 
 little longer on the trip, and it's going to hurt. When a youth 
 begins to break away from home -influences, he is just slipping over 
 the sill, and the precipice is ahead of him if he lets go. The end 
 may be delayed, but it is there, and he'll hit the bottom and hit 
 hard. When a girl becomes restive under the restraints of a lov- 
 ing home, she is edging perilously near the sky-scraper window. 
 When spiritual things begin to grow dim and this world looms up 
 in undue proportions, and the voice of the Master is but faintly 
 heard in the soul, a man is casting longing eyes toward that win- 
 dow. He cannot see the end of the way any more than the man 
 could see the bottom when he started to fall, but it was there, and 
 he hit it. He may sail along smoothly, and for many a day his 
 song may be, "All right so far" ; but he is falling, and will hit the 
 bottom as surely as did the sky-scraper man. And he is going to 
 get hurt. 
 
 The only safe way is to keep your grip on God. 
 
 The best of men and the most earnest workers will 
 make enough of mistakes to keep them humble. Thank 
 God for mistakes and take courage. Don't give up on 
 account of mistakes. — Moodv. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 153 
 
 THE WAY. 
 
 Enter ye in at the strait gate : for wide is the gate, and broad 
 is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which 
 go in thereat : because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, 
 which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Matt. 
 7:13, 14. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the 
 life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Jno. 14:6. — 
 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are 
 the servants of the most high God, which shew us the way of 
 salvation. Acts 16:17.— And he began to speak boldly in the 
 synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they 
 took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God 
 more perfectly. Acts 18:26.— The way of the transgressor is 
 
 hard. Prov. 13:15. — And many shall follow their own pernicious 
 ways: by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 
 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following 
 the way of Balaam, the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of 
 unrighteousness; for it had been better for them not to have 
 known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, 
 to turn from the holy commandment (delivered unto them. 2 Pet. 
 2:2, 15, 21. — Teach me thy way, O Lord, I will walk in thy 
 truth: unite my heart to fear thy name. Ps. 86:11. — _ 
 
 This is an instructive scene. With the ever increasing pop- 
 ulation on our Pacific Coast, and the extension of commerce with 
 the Eastern countries, our Government deemed it necessary to 
 have coaling stations in Japan, whose ports were closed to the 
 foreigner. In 1852 Commodore Perry in command of several 
 warships, was sent to treat with the Sunrise nation. After some 
 
154 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 difficulty a treaty was concluded with them to open certain ports 
 to the foreigner. The Government set apart certain portions of 
 these ports (Cities) where the strangers should reside, separating 
 them because of the feeling of antipathy against them by the 
 natives. This is one of the busy streets of Yokohama. The 
 narrow crescent shaped hill was the place designated for all the 
 new-comers to live. Even now, there is still a noticeable preju- 
 dice against the stranger in some parts, yet he is free to travel 
 anywhere without being molested. It has been beautified, and is 
 surely a delightful place to make a home. Here we have our Navy 
 Hospital and Missionary Schools. The one hundred steps lead 
 to the top of the bluff. This was quite an interesting place to me. 
 I often thought that this represented the world. The narrow way 
 up the hill represents the way of life. The people in the broad 
 street are so busily engaged that hardly a thought is given to the 
 all important question of Eternity. The words of Jesus made a 
 deeper impression on my mind than ever before, when he said, 
 Narrow is the way, and few there be that enter into life. Satan 
 is the downward way. Jesus is the upward way. Which one 
 have you chosen? Read Heb. 10 — , special verse 29. 
 
 NEVER MIND. 
 
 "Sometimes, when nothing goes just right, 
 
 And worry reigns supreme, 
 When heartache fills the eyes with mist, 
 
 And all things useless seem, 
 There's just one thing can drive away 
 
 The tears that scald and blind — 
 Someone to slip a strong arm 1 'round, 
 
 And whisper, "Never mind." 
 
 No one has ever told just why 
 
 Those words such comfort bring, 
 Nor why that whisper makes our cares 
 
 Depart on hurried wing; 
 Yet troubles say a quick "Good-day!" — 
 
 We leave them far behind — 
 When someone slips an arm around, 
 
 And whispers, "Never mind." 
 
 ■ — Unknown. 
 
 I was never happy till I gave up trying to be a great man, 
 and was willing to be nobody. — Pay son. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 3> 
 
 ALL SUFFICIENT. 
 
 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, 
 and all these things shall be added unto you. [Matt. 6 133. — But 
 my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in 
 glory by Christ Jesus. Phil. 4:19. — And God is able to make all 
 grace abound toward you, that ye, always having all sufficiency in 
 all things, may abound to every good work.- 2 Cor. 9:8. — I have 
 been young, and now am old : yet have I not seen the righteous 
 forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. Ps. 37 125. — Not that we 
 are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves, but 
 our sufficiency is of God. 2 Cor. 3 15. 
 
 I call this man a Japanese walking restaurant. He carries 
 
 quite a load. Note the round rice chest on the top. The rice is 
 always kept warm and ready to serve. There seems to be a 
 never-ending supply. The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness 
 thereof. Ps. 24:1. — The children of God are those who have 
 been reconciled to Him through the redeeming work of Jesus 
 Christ. They seek God's kingdom first and receive from him 
 the needful things of life; but the worldly man seeks the additions 
 and leaves God out of the matter. What he gets from the world 
 he will not be able to carry out of the world with him at the final 
 settlement. So what shall he profit? Mark 8:36. God is fully- 
 able to provide for his children their needs, but he does not 
 promise to supply all they might want. Do you seek His king- 
 dom, and do you receive from his bountiful store house the good 
 things he has for you? What do you need? More faith, more 
 love to God and your fellow-men, more patience, more courage,. 
 
156 RUBIES AXD DIAMONDS. 
 
 more bread and butter? If you do, Jesus said, "Ask and ye shall 
 receive; seek, and ye shall find." Matt. 7:7. Read Joshua 23 — , 
 special verse 11. 
 
 LOVE TO JESUS. 
 
 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given 
 himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling 
 savour. Eph. 5 :2. — Who gave himself for our sins, that he might 
 deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of 
 God and our Father. Gal. 1 14. — One cold morning, in a street 
 in London, a boy might have been seen ragged and miserable- look- 
 ing. A gentleman passing was struck with his hungry appearance 
 and abject look's ; and after a few questions had been asked and 
 answered, the promise of food and shelter for the day induced the 
 boy to consent to attend a ragged school not far off, though the 
 condition that he should also learn was not so attractive to him. 
 Poor fellow! he had never known a mother's love, and his father 
 was a drunkard, and paid little heed to him. The story of Jesus 
 and His love came to him as a new and wonderful thing. He had 
 never heard it before. Gradually the light shone into his soul, 
 and it was evident to all around that Willie was indeed one of 
 Jesus' little ones. He had carried such a well-spring of happiness 
 about with him, that even his miserable home seemed brighter. 
 One evening he sat singing to himself — 
 
 "I am glad that Jesus loves me!" 
 "Stop that !" roared his father, and Willie was silent : but soon, 
 with the forgetfulness of children, began again, "I am so glad." 
 This time he was ordered to bed ;and though he went quietly enough 
 the words kept singing in his head, "Jesus loves me," and he felt 
 he could not be unhappy now that was true. In the middle of the 
 night he was awakened by hearing his name called, "Willie," Wil- 
 lie, sing that again." Could it be a dream? No, there sat his 
 father beside his bed. So Willie sat up and sang the hymn." "Is 
 it all true, Willie?" "Quite true, father; Jesus died for you and 
 me, so he must love us." "Willie, could you pray for me?" "I 
 don't know quite what to say, father." "Say I'm the biggest sin- 
 ner on earth, but I want Jesus to love me and make me good." 
 With his arms clasped round his father's neck, Willie prayed, "Lord 
 Jesus, this is my father, and he says he has been very wicked. O 
 Lord Jesus, make him fit to live with thee in heaven, and teach 
 him to love Thee." Little Willie's prayer was answered. His 
 father got forgiveness and peace and joy he now so earnestly 
 sought. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 THE DAILY SPIN. 
 
 I will make him an help meet for him. Gen. 2 : 18. — She 
 layeth her hands to the spindle and her hands hold the distaff. 
 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry, her clothing is silk and 
 purple. Prov. 31 : 19,22. "A cheerful temper, joined with inno- 
 cence, will make beauty attractive, knowledge delightful, and wit 
 good natured. It will lighten sickness and affliction," said Addison. 
 
 "Spin cheerfully, not tearfully, 
 
 Though wearily you plod; 
 Spin carefully, spin prayerfully, 
 
 But leave the thread with God. 
 
 Japanese woman at her daily task in her home. 
 
 The shuttles of His purpose move 
 To carry out His own design, 
 
 Seek not too soon to disapprove 
 His work, nor yet assign 
 
 Dark motives, when, with silent dread, 
 For lo ! within each darker thread 
 
 There twines a thread of gold. 
 
 Spin cheerfully, not tearfully, 
 He knoweth the way you plod; 
 
 Spin carefully, spin prayerfully, 
 But leave the thread with God." 
 
 Read Galatians 3 — , special verse 24. 
 
isS 
 
 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 LITTLE THINGS. 
 
 For who hath despised the day of small things? Zech. 4:10. 
 — For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept: line 
 upon line, line upon line : here a little, and there a little. Isa. 28 : 
 ic. — A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of 
 many wicked. Ps. 37:16. — And whosoever shall give to drink 
 unto one of the least of these little ones a cup of cold water only 
 in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise 
 lose his reward. Matt. 10:42. 
 
 A Persian Proverb says, "Do little things now : so shall big 
 things come to thee by and by, asking to be done." He who waits 
 to do a great deal of good at once will never do anything, so said 
 
 Dr. Johnson. |Life is made up of little things. It is very seldom 
 that an occasion is offered to one for doing a great deal at one time. 
 One drop of water helps to swell the ocean. It is the single grains 
 that make the heap. Seconds make the hour. From the little 
 acorn planted in the ground comes the great oak tree. This is the 
 -way the Japanese sprinkle the streets. The King by a word may 
 move armies or save the life of a condemned man, but this man in 
 his humble way brings blessings to thousands of people. If God 
 gives us little tasks, let us be content to do the little. Read 2 Tim. 
 2 — , special verse 19, 
 
 I don't believe that the way to make a man love heaven is 
 to disgust him with earth. Let us love all that is bright and beau- 
 
 Beecher. 
 
 tiful and good in this world 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 159 
 
 SOWING. 
 
 Behold, a sower went forth to sow. Matt. 13 13. — Thou shalt 
 not sow thy seed with migled seed. Lev. 19:19. — Then I will give 
 you rain in clue season, and the land shall yield her increase, and 
 the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. Lev. 26 '.4. — Be not 
 deceived : God is not mocked : for whatsoever a man soweth, that 
 shall he also reap. Gal. 6:7. — Sow to yourselves in righteousness, 
 reap in mercy, break up your fallow ground : for it is time to 
 seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. Hosea 
 10:12. 
 
 All through the Bible we find that the Holy Spirit through 
 his writers uses the natural common place things of life to set be- 
 
 fore man certain things. Jesus also said, "The sower went forth 
 to sow." This will appeal to the mind of man at once, for we 
 see it in actual practice every year. This man lives in northern 
 Minnesota. He is sowing oats. He will harvest, thirty, sixty, and 
 maybe an hundred fold. Matt. 13 123. I opened the seed box, and 
 said to the farmer, "You are sowing a lot of wild oats, too." "Yes," 
 he replied. "I didn't have time to separate it, and I expect we will 
 get more of that than anything else at harvest time." The wilful 
 sower of folly! This wild oats is very pernicious and perserving. 
 It is sown. It grows, and chokes out the good. Then the farmer 
 becomes angry with it, because it has treated him so meanly. He 
 says, "I will destroy it. I will plow it under so deep that it cannot 
 possibly grow." He does so. The wild seeds laugh at him and 
 
i6o RUBIES AXD DIAMONDS. 
 
 say, "We will just rest until he plows again." He keeps them un- 
 der a year, or probably five years or more. "Now," he says to 
 himself, "I reckon it will be safe to plow that field. He plows and 
 sows again, but that bad seed is now turned to light, so it grows, 
 too. One morning he goes out to inspect his crop, and finds this 
 wild oats several inches taller than the good oats, stealing the 
 nutriment from the ground which the good needs for its supply. 
 He is pained by the sight of it. He suffers the consequences of 
 his own folly of the first sowing. Other seeds would rot, but this 
 does not. So it is in life. (The heart is the seed-box, and we will 
 sow whatever it has in it. Sower Divine, plow up and fill this 
 heart of mine. If we wilfully sow wild oats — meanness, hatred, 
 cruelty, and dishonesty to man, and disobedience to God and his 
 laws, we shall suffer therefrom. But if we sow the good — kind- 
 ness, love, and honesty to man, and obedience to God, we shall 
 receive accordingly the good. 
 
 "We are sowing, ever sowing, 
 In the paths where others move, 
 And the harvest that shall follow, 
 Shall a bane or blessing prove ; 
 Are we sowing thorns and thistles, 
 That shall pierce the traveler's feet, 
 Or the seeds of love and mercy 
 That shall make existence sweet?" 
 
 Read Matt. 5:13-20. special verse 20. 
 
 WOMAN'S LOOKS. 
 
 Someone once asked a woman how it was she kept her youth 
 so wonderfully. Her hair was snowy white, she was eighty years 
 old, and her energy was waning ; but she never impressed one with 
 the idea of age, for her heart was still voung in sympathy and in- 
 terests. And this was her answer: "I knew how to forget dis- 
 agreeable things. I tried to master the art of saying pleasant things. 
 I did not expect too much of my friends. I kept my nerves well 
 in hand, and did not allow them to bore other people, I tried to find 
 any work that came to hand congenial. J I retained the illusions 
 of my youth, and did not believe 'every man a liar,' and every woman 
 spiteful. I did my best to relieve the misery I came in contact with, 
 and sympathized with the suffering. In fact, I tried to do to> others 
 as I would be done by, and you see me in consequence reaping the 
 fruits of happiness, and a peaceful old age." 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 161 
 
 REAPING. 
 
 And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the 
 vintage shall reach unto the sowing time : and ye shall eat your 
 bread to full, and dwell in your land safely. Lev. 26:5. — He 
 that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger 
 shall fail. Prov. 22 :8. — For they have sown the wind, and they 
 shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no 
 meal ; if so be it, the stranger shall swallow it up. Hosea. 8 \j. — ■ 
 Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity, ye have 
 eaten the fruit of lies : because thou didst trust in thy way, in the 
 multitude of thy mighty men. Hosea 10:13. — And he that 
 reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal : that 
 
 both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. 
 Jno. 4:36. — But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap 
 also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall- reap also 
 bountifully. 2 Cor. 9:6. 
 
 There is the sowing, reaping and threshing time. In some 
 places reaping and threshing are done at the same time, so we will 
 put them together to mean the same here. Here they are thresh- 
 ing. If the farmer desires to reap good grain he must sow good 
 grain. If he should sow wild oats or other bad seed with it, he 
 will reap accordingly. The wicked hearted people naturally sow 
 in this world wicked deeds, and acts, and will consequently reap 
 a full harvest of their own folly and wickedness at the end of time. 
 The Christian will faithfully endeavor to sow things of heaven, 
 so that he may reap heaven with all its blessings. What will 
 you reap? Read Matt. 6:19-33, special verse 33. 
 
i6? RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 RECONCILIATION. 
 
 Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God 
 through our Lord Jesus Christ : For if when we were enemies, we 
 were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being 
 reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. Rom. 5:1, 10. — And all 
 things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus 
 Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation. 2 Cor. 
 5:18. — Having abolished in his flesh the enmity even the law of 
 commandments contained in ordinances : for to make in himself of 
 twain one new man, so making peace : and that he (Jesus) might rec- 
 oncile both unto God in one body by the cross having slain the en- 
 mity thereof. Eph. 2 115, 16. — And, having made peace through the 
 blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself : by 
 him I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. 
 Col. 1 :20. — Wherefore in all things it behoved him (Jesus) to be 
 made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faith- 
 ful hight priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation 
 for the sins of the people. Heb. 2:17. 
 
 It was in the country and in the same community in which I 
 lived, that an elderly lady died. She had a large family- of chil- 
 dren and many relatives. The most of them had been citizens of 
 the community the greater part of their lives, and prospered. But 
 somehow the children fell to quarrelling about money matters, until 
 relations became so strained among them that one-half would not 
 speak to the other half. It was heart-breaking to the parents to 
 undergo such trials, and hastened both of them to their graves. 
 One day the physician told the mother that she only had a few 
 hours to remain in this earthly tabernacle. She sent for all her 
 children. They gathered in her room. It was a heart-searching 
 time for all. There was no time for beautifully colored words. 
 She began to whisper each of their names, and they gathered about 
 her bed, and she had them to place their right hands together over 
 her dying body. Apologies and forgivenesses flowed in streams 
 from hearts to hearts, and were expressed in tears. Malice and 
 envy took their flight. Every heart was melted- and friendship 
 restored. What the mother could not do in life, she accomplished 
 in her death. They were reconciled. What Jesus could not do in 
 his life, he did do in his death upon the Cross. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 163 
 
 CARELESS. 
 Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on 
 horses", and trust in chariots, because they are many ; and in horse- 
 men, because they are strong ; but they look not unto the Holy One 
 of Israel, neither seek the Lord. Isa. 31:1. — They have not set 
 God before them. Ps. 54:13. — And they consider not in their 
 hearts that I (God) remember all their wickedness: now their own 
 doings have beset them about; they are before my face. Hosea. 
 7:12. — Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength, but 
 trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in 
 his wickedness. Ps. 52 :y. — There is a way which seemeth right 
 unto man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. Prov. 14: 
 12. — Boast not thyself of tomorrow, for thou knowest not what a 
 
 day may bring forth. Prov. 27:1. — Having the understanding 
 darkened, being alienated from the life of God through ignorance 
 that is in them, because of the blindness of the heart. Eph. 4:18. 
 — For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten 
 Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have 
 everlasting life. Jno. 3:16. 
 
 This is just the way some are going through this world. The 
 cowboys are represented doing a town. It is a scene of statuary 
 work in the main plaza of the Portland Fair. The beautiful bed 
 of flowers right in front of them. It seems that the very next 
 leap of the horses will be right onto that lovely spot. So do many 
 trample on God's wonderful love in the journey through this life. 
 The wise man counseled us with very strong words when he says, 
 "He that being often reproved and hardeneth his neck (refusing 
 
1 64 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 counsel) shall suddenly be destroyed and that without remedy. 
 Prov. 29:1. Think of it, without any remedy thereafter. Read 
 Ex. 8:16-32, and 10:1. 
 
 AN IMPOSSIBLE EFFORT. 
 
 A young man who died some years ago uttered this last 
 vain request: "Give me back my influence." When John Newton 
 was on board "The Harwich," he led a young man into infidelity. 
 Years after he was converted, he tried to unto the wrong he 
 had done, but without success. His mis-spent influence was gone 
 forever, and its fruits were past recall. Many a Christian would 
 revise the influence of his early years, but finds in the summing up 
 that what he has written is written indelibly, that he cannot make 
 amends. 
 
 THE BOY THAT DEWEY PRAISED. 
 
 The following story of Admiral Dewey is told by one of the 
 sailors who returned on the Raleigh : Just before the battle of 
 Manila, when the order was given to strip for action, the smallest 
 powder-boy on the flagship accidently dropped his coat overboard. 
 He ''asked permission to jump after it, but was refused. He went 
 to the side of the ship, dropped overboard, recovered his coat, 
 and was promptly arrested for disobedience. Admiral Dewey 
 spoke kindly to the youngster, who broke down and said that the 
 coat contained his mother's picture, which he had just kissed, and 
 he could not bear to see it lost. Dewey's eyes filled with tears ; 
 he fairly' embraced the boy and ordered him released, saying, 
 "Boys who love their mothers enough to risk their lives for her 
 picture cannot be kept in irons on this fleet." 
 
 AN HONOR. 
 
 The Philadelphia Ledger says that J. Sterling Morton, Presi- 
 dent Cleveland's secretary of agriculture, had inscribed on his de- 
 ceased wife's tombstone the following: "Caroline French, Wife of 
 J. Sterling Morton, and Mother of Joy, Paul, and Mark Morton." 
 He then took the lads to the cemetery, showed them the inscription, 
 and said : "If one of you ever does anything dishonorable, or of 
 which your mother would be ashamed, were she alive, I will chisel 
 your name from this tombstone." It adds that all the names are 
 still there. It seems like an odd bit of parental exhortation, but 
 it is striking enough to make an impression on any boy. — S. S. 
 Journal. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 165 
 
 GRINDING. 
 
 And the people went about, and gathered it, (the manna) 
 and ground it in the mills, or beat it in a mortar, and baked it in 
 pans, and made cakes of it :and the taste of it was as the taste -of 
 fresh oil. Num. 11 :i8. — But the Philistines took him, (Sampson), 
 and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound 
 him with fetters of brass : and he did grind in the prison house. 
 Judges 16:21. — Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one 
 shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore : for ye know 
 not what hour your Lord doth come. Matt. 24:41, 42. 
 
 In the' first verse the Israelites were wandering in the wilder- 
 ness on their journey to their promised land. They had not time 
 
 to sow and reap, but God's great goodness was shown to them 
 by handing down every day his manna for their use, and it had 
 to be prepared by grinding and baking. It is the Divine plan that 
 man shall bestow labor upon whatever he receives honestly in this 
 world. A notable man once said that, "The fruit derived from 
 labor is the sweetest of all pleasures." In the second verse we see 
 Sampson, the man of marvelous strength, fail, and he had to grind 
 for his enemies, because he was careless and indifferent to the 
 temptations that were seeking his ruin. This labor was not sweet- 
 ness to him. Sin makes people grind whether they desire to do so 
 or no. Do not our lives become dreary, dull and heavy at times? 
 It may seem that life is hardly worth living. It is just grind and 
 
166 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 grind away every day at the same things. These two Japanese 
 are grinding rice. It is round, round and round. What an ordeal ! 
 It is very needful for them. After the storm, the calm. Behind 
 the black cloud is the beautiful sunshine. But with all the trivial 
 annoyances, and the big and little difficulties set before us in our 
 every day life, still after the day's toilings and grindings are 
 over, are there not many blessings coming out of it, which so richly 
 repay, that we would not miss them for all the grind? Count 
 your many blessings, and name them one by one. The third verse 
 (primarily refers to Christy's second coming) teaches us that some 
 day this daily earthly grinding at the mill shall end — for the 
 Christian shall be taken up to live with Christ in heaven or to be 
 with Him at His coming to the earth again to set up His kingdom. 
 Where Jesus is 'tis heaven you know. Read I Cor. 15 141-58, spec- 
 ial verse 54. 
 
 THE PHILOSOPHY OF CONTENT. 
 
 It is said that Diogenes was once noticed viewing the show 
 windows of the streets of Athens, and, on being asked what he 
 saw that interested him so much, replied that he was just re- 
 joiced to see that there were so many things for sale which he 
 did not need. The eccentric Stoic Philosopher was in possession 
 of the secret of a contented life, as well as of the secret of economy 
 and wealth. 
 
 Let us take Dr. Edward Everett Hale's shrewd advice. He 
 says, "Never bear more than one kind of trouble at a time. Some 
 bear three — all they have had — all they have now, and all they 
 expect to have." 
 
 PASS ON THE SUNSHINE. 
 
 "If you have sunshine in your heart, 
 
 ,Don't keep it — pass it round, 
 To those who need it, give a part, 
 
 Don't keep it — pass it round. 
 It wasn't made alone for you, 
 It's yours, of course, but still it's true 
 It's meant for other people, too. 
 Don't keep it — pass it round." 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 167 
 
 MANY CARES. 
 
 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, 
 and the lusts of other things entering- in, choke the word, and it 
 becometh unfruitful. Mark. 4:19. — And take heed to yourselves, 
 lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and 
 drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day come upon you 
 unawares. Luke 21:34. — But Martha was cumbered about much 
 serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that 
 my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she 
 help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, 
 thou art careful and troubled about many things : but one thing is 
 needful : and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be 
 
 taken away from her. Luke 10 140-42. — Casting all your care 
 upon him ; for he careth for you. 1 Pet. 5 :y. 
 
 Shakespeare says : "Care is no cure, but rather a corrosive for 
 things that are not to be remedied." The modern commercialism 
 has so gotten hold of men and women that they have almost gone 
 mad. Unrighteous competition and rivalry in every thing and for 
 everything. A man getting forty dollars per month is trying to 
 live like the man receiving one hundred dollars, and so on. The 
 biggest house, the finest furniture, the richest wardrobe to display — 
 in fact, God has a very small part in it if any at all. The desolate 
 hearts made in this way in this wide world if they could be dis- 
 covered ! There is something beautiful and attractive in the Jap- 
 anese home. I presume it is because of its very simplicity. Their 
 
1 68 RUBIES AXD DIAMONDS. 
 
 customs are different from ours, and we could not do exactly as 
 they do. For instance, they sit in a kneeling posture, as is seen in 
 other pictures. They have fine straw mat floors so that chairs can- 
 not be used. The mats are soft and spongy so that no shoes can 
 be worn in the house, therefore no dirt is carried in in this way. 
 The little table (which is a luxury) is used in the day time and at 
 night is taken out and the mattress is placed on the floor for the 
 bed, and in the morning this is removed again. The worldly cares 
 choke out the real and true happiness of life. I believe Jesus 
 thought the home of Martha and Mary was quite ideal. He loved 
 to be there. It was the home of the young man Lazarus whom he 
 tenderly loved. They were both actively engaged in the enter- 
 tainment of their famous guest, but in different ways. Somehow 
 this day Martha became over-anxious about too many things about 
 the house, while Mary was intensely interested with the wonderful 
 teachings of her Lord and Master. I presume they were talking 
 about the things of this present world and of eternity, for it seems 
 that God had taken away the father and mother : about the home 
 that Jesus was going to prepare for them. Jno. 14:1-2. — That it 
 would be far superior to their present one, though it was undoubt- 
 edly a splendid home. Martha was thinking about TIME and 
 Mary about ETERNITY. It is needful for us to be anxious, but 
 nor over-anxious. This over part of it belongs to the Lord, and he 
 wants us to cast it upon him. He is able to take care of it. Why 
 not let him do it? Martha did quite well in her serving, but Mary 
 seems to have chosen the better part. It is always better to spend 
 a little more time with the Lord Jesus than too much upon the 
 vain, frivolous and unsatisfying things of this present life. Cares 
 will burden us down, but I hear the voice of Jesus say, "Come un- 
 to me, and I will give you rest." Read 2 Thes. 3 — , special verse 
 6. 
 
 A STMPLE CURE. 
 
 It is said that John Wesley was once walking with a brother, 
 who related to him his troubles, saying he did not know what he 
 should do. They were at that moment passing a stone Avail to a 
 meadow, over which a cow was looking. 
 
 "Do you know," asked Wesley, "why that cow looks over 
 that wall?" 
 
 "No," replied the one in trouble. 
 
 "I will tell you," said Wesley. "Because she cannot look 
 through it ; and that is what you must do with your troubles — look 
 over and above them." 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 169 
 
 LETTERS. 
 
 jBut these ate written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the 
 Christ, the son of God, and that believing ye might have life through 
 his name. John 20:31. — And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the 
 word of exhortation : For I have written a letter unto you in 
 few words. Heb. 13:22. — By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto 
 you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying 
 
 that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand. 1 Peter 5:12. 
 — I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the 
 holy brethren. 1 Thes. 5 \2J. — -All scripture is given by inspira- 
 tion of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correc- 
 tion, for instruction in righteousness : that the man of God may 
 be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Tim. 3 : 
 16, 17. 
 
 God's love letters to you. What a pleasant thought it is, that 
 the great Lord of heaven should condescend to look upon man at 
 all- (But the fact is, he has, and does. He has made known his 
 
i;o RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 ways unto men. Have you ever received loving letters from home, 
 father, mother, sister, etc ? Did they stir up the very spirit within 
 you? Did you read them, then re-read them? The Japanese 
 woman is writing a letter. She uses a pointed stick for a pen. The 
 paper is soft and porous, so that a pen could not be used. I 
 wonder if the one to whom she may be writing would read it? It 
 would be very ungrateful not to do so I hear you say. God has 
 sent letters to all of us, setting forth his love, compassion, and 
 warnings. They were written for our special benefit. Do we slight 
 them? Do we even look at them at all? Take your Bible and 
 begin now, to read his letters by St. Paul named the Ephesians. 
 Then the two called Corinthians. Then the letters entitled St. 
 John. You will find many interesting things in the letters called 
 St. Peter, Jude, and James. Then you will want to read the 
 famous letters to the Galatians, Romans, Philippians, Colossians, 
 and the two to Timothy. Read and study them several times, and 
 I know your life will receive many new ideas and blessings. Read 
 Luke 17:11-19, special verse 15. 
 
 COURAGE. 
 
 Sir Francis Drake, being in a dangerous storm in the Thames, 
 \vas heard to say, "Must I, who have escaped the rage of the 
 ocean, be drowned in a ditch !" Will you, experienced saints, who 
 have passed through a world of tribulation lie down and die of 
 despair, or give up your profession because you are at present pas- 
 sing through some light affliction? Let your past preservation in- 
 spire you with courage and constrain you to brave all storms for 
 Jesus' sake. 
 
 IMPRESSING A LESSON. 
 
 An old minister, very eccentric and accustomed to impress 
 spiritual lessons in unique and unexpected ways, one day entered 
 the shop of a member of his church without knocking or ringing 
 the bell, and inquired before he had made any salutation, "Did 
 you expect me?" "No," was the astonished reply. "What if I 
 had been Death?" he solemnly asked, then stepped out as abruptly 
 as he had come, and was gone before his parishioner could make 
 any answer. It made a tremendous impression upon the man, 
 and brought to his mind a new emphasis, such as he had never 
 realized before, on the Savior's words, "Be ye also read} 7 : for in an 
 hour that ye think not the Son of man cometh." 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 171 
 
 A MARVEL. 
 
 For the Lord thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land 
 of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and 
 hills. Deut. 8 \J. — I will open rivers in high places, and fountains 
 in the midst of the valleys : I will make the wilderness a pool of 
 water, and the dry lands springs of water. 41 :i8. — For the Lamb 
 which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead 
 them unto living fountains of water. Rev. 7:17. — Behold I will 
 stand before thee (Moses) there upon the rock of Horeb; and thou 
 shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the 
 people may drink. Ex. 17:6. 
 
 There are many strange things in nature in this world in which 
 
 we live. When God said, Let there be light, light came. He 
 spoke, and it was done. The Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, the 
 Wind Cave in South Dakota, and the Grand Canon and the Geysers 
 in the Yellowstone Park are marvellous instances. The geologists 
 have failed to fathom the true cause of their existence. If one has 
 any ambition to live in dreamland, which many are prone to do, he 
 would surely be awakened into a lively realization that something 
 is going on, while he is in the midst of the many wonderful Gey- 
 sers and Hot Springs in the Park. This Geyser is called the Bee- 
 hive, because its crater resembles the hive. It is four feet high, 
 and seven feet in diameter at the base. As one looked at the colos- 
 sal shaft of water and steam being hurled 200 feet into the air, by 
 
172 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 such a tremendous unseeable force, he would be almost overpowered 
 by its beauty and immensity. So hot is the water that it nearly all 
 evaporates while in the air. Five minutes passes, and still you 
 stand and marvel at it, a couple minutes more go by, and then all 
 at once it subsides — collapses. You see only the crater now and 
 walk up to it, and wonder where it has all gone. There is nothing 
 to be seen, and only a rumbling and a hissing noise to be heard in 
 its dark depths below. 'It may speak forth several times during the 
 day, and probably not for several weeks. It is quite uncertain, 
 irregular and spurty in its working life. Life is very frequently 
 like this. Especially do we find this the case in the religious life, 
 serving the Lord just when we feel like it. A spurty christian life 
 never receives the blessings needed to make it a true success, 
 God does not have time to get hold of such life. This injures one's 
 own spiritual growth, though it be ever so beautiful for a while. 
 Saint Paul exhorts us to "Rejoice always," and "Pray without ceas- 
 ing." That is, be regular and consistent, and then the life will be 
 a spiritual fountain which will be receiving from the eternal foun- 
 tain, and will grow and be victorious. Read Matt. 25:14-30, 
 special verse 23. 
 
 LET THE LIGHT IN. 
 
 The Rev. John Watson, writing on the question, "What Should 
 a Christian Read ?" assures us that Christ did not come "to cramp" 
 anyone's manhood ; He came to fulfill it. 
 
 "What ought a Christian to read? Every book that feeds the 
 intellect. Where ought he to go? Every place where the moral 
 atmosphere is pure and bracing. What ought he to do? Every- 
 thing that will make character. Religion is not negative, a giving 
 up this or that ; but positive, a getting and a possessing. If a man 
 will be content with nothing but the best thought, best work, best 
 friends, best environment, he need not trouble about avoiding the 
 worst. The good drives out the bad. There are two ways of 
 lighting a dark room — one is to attack the darkness with candles; 
 the other is to open the shutters and let in the light. 
 
 "When light comes, darkness goes. There are two ways of 
 forming character. One is to conquer our sins ; the other is to cul- 
 tivate the opposite virtues. The latter plan is the best, because it is 
 surest — the virtue replaces the sin. Christianity it not a drill ; it is 
 life, full, free, radiant and rejoicing. What a young man should 
 do is, not vex himself about his imperfections, but fix his mind on 
 the bright image of perfection ; not weary his soul with rules, but 
 live with Christ as one liveth with a friend. There is one way to 
 complete manhood, and that is fellowship with Jesus Christ." 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 1/3 
 
 HUMILITY AND CONTENTMENT. 
 
 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased, and he 
 that humbleth himself shall be exalted. Matt. 23:12. — Likewise, 
 ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be 
 subject one to another, and be clothed with humility : for God 
 resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 1 Pet. 5 15. 
 — And now, O Lord my God, thou hast made thy servant (Solo- 
 mon) king instead of David my father : and I am but a little 
 child: I know not how to go out or come in. 1 Kings 3 :J. — Not 
 that I speak in respect of want : for I have learned, in whatever 
 state I am, therewith to be content. Phil. 4:11. — But godliness 
 with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this 
 world, and it is certain we carry nothing out. And having food 
 
 and raiment let us be therewith content. I Tim. 6 :6-8. — And let 
 us not be weary in well doing : for in due season we shall reap, 
 if we faint not. Gal. 6 :g. 
 
 My young guide to foot of Lower Falls, Yellowstone Park. 
 Always at it. Quite a contrast to the former lesson. This 
 is a geyser also, giving out the hot water and steam. Very few 
 people ever see it. It is apparently insignificant, as to size. It 
 has never been deemed worthy of a name. I crawled down the 
 side of the canon to the Yellowstone River and happened to run 
 onto the Little Wonder. It is quite close to the Falls, within a 
 few feet of the river. Probably it has been there for centuries. 
 It neither complains nor apologizes for being so little. Neither 
 does it throw out much steam and water at a time, but it is al- 
 ways and ever at it. Contentment seems to be written upon its 
 very face. We must have godliness first, then contentment and 
 
174 RUBIES AXD DIAMONDS. 
 
 happiness will be written upon our lives. Be all that God wants 
 you to be, and do what is in your power to do. The humble mind 
 and heart will do all the good possible in this world without ex- 
 pecting a great name or the applause of the world. Read Acts 7 : 
 51-60. 
 
 THE HOLY SPIRIT. 
 
 The Holy Spirit is a spiritual person, and not an influence as 
 many falsely believe. 
 
 1. What he does for the unconverted man. 
 
 (a) And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive 
 with man. Gen. 6:3. — And when he (the Holy Spirit) is come, 
 he will convict (convince) the world of sin, of righteousness, and 
 of judgment. Jno. 16:8. — He strives with and convinces man. 
 
 (b) Except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot 
 enter into the kingdom of God. Jno. 3 15. — He regenerates or 
 makes man anew. 
 
 (c) Jesus said, It is the spirit that quickeneth: the flesh 
 profiteth nothing : the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, 
 and they are life. Jno. 6:63. — And you hath he quickened who 
 were dead in trespasses and sins. Eph. 2:1. — He quickens the 
 life. 
 
 2. He dwells with the converted person. 
 
 Even the Spirit of truth ; whom the world cannot receive, be- 
 cause it seeth him not, neither knoweth him : but ye know him : for 
 he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. Jno. 14:17. 1 Jno. 
 
 2 \2J. 
 
 3. He helps, teaches, and brings to our remembrance. 
 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father 
 
 will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all 
 things to your remembrance, whatsoever I (Jesus) have said unto 
 you. Jno. 14 '.26. 
 
 , 4. He guides into all truth. 
 
 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide 
 you into all truth. Jno. 16:13. 
 
 5. What the unconverted do. 
 
 Ye do always resist the Holy Spirit. Acts 7:51. Heb. 3: 
 15, 19. — Resisting the Holy Spirit makes rank infidels. Be care- 
 ful to listen to the voice of God as he speaks and works through 
 the Holy Spirit. 
 
 6. What the Christian does. 
 
 .Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto 
 the day of redemption. Eph. 4:30. — Quench not the (Holy) 
 Spirit. 1 Thes. 5:19. — The Christian grieves the Holy Spirit 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 175 
 
 He comes to live with him while here on earth. He becomes 
 grieved by our wilfully disobeying the laws of God. A continu- 
 ance of this kind of life will drive the Spirit away and this is called 
 quenching the Spirit. This is what makes backsliders and often- 
 times the infidel. 
 
 ALL NATIONS. 
 
 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people 
 whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. Ps. 33:12. — Come 
 near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye people; let the earth 
 hear, and all that is therein. Isa. 34:1. — Behold, thou shalt call 
 a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee 
 shall run unto thee because of the Lord thy God. Isa. 55:5. — 
 
 Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, 
 and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be con- 
 verted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee. 
 Isa. 60:5. — And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to 
 dwell on the face of the earth. Acts 17:26. — Let all the nations 
 be gathered together, and let the people be assembled. Isa. 43 :g. 
 — Then Peter said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter 
 of persons : but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh 
 righteousness, is accepted with him. Acts 10:34, 35. — And they 
 sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and 
 to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed 
 us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and peo- 
 ple, and nation. iRev. 5 :g. 
 
 It was inspiring indeed to see the many states of the union re- 
 
J 176 RUBIES AND 
 
 presented at the great St. Louis Fair ; but how much more the many 
 nations of the earth. Here we see the beautiful government build- 
 ing of China, representing Orientalism. The pagoda to the left, 
 and the gate or entrance with its artistically hand carved wood- 
 work in the front, and all painted in brilliant colors. The Brazi- 
 lian building is just back, of it, (you see only the white dome,) 
 representing South America. And the Belgium building is at the 
 right, a representative of Europe. All planted on the free soil 
 of our own beloved North America. All people are made of one 
 blood to dwell together on the face of the earth. In former times 
 the nations had been living to themselves, but they are now culti- 
 vating a closer friendship. Somehow the Gospel of Jesus Christ 
 brings people to a better understanding with each other. God calls 
 all to righteousness now, and will gather the Redeemed of all the 
 nations in that great day in which he shall judge them. Then, sin, 
 sickness, sorrow, and death shall be put away forever. What a 
 gathering that will be! What a happy day! Isaiah 55 — , special 
 verse 7. 
 
 In the days of the cruel Inquisition a girl, who refused to 
 bow to the priest, was being carried out to be shot. She was 
 made to sit upon her own coffin. Just before the place was reached 
 where she was to give up her life for her faith, a man rushed up 
 and said, "What will it take to buy the life of that girl?" An 
 enormous price of money was stated, and the man quickly said, 
 "I will pay the price." It was done. The girl was taken down and 
 given her liberty. 
 
 What was the first thing she did? She crouched at her 
 savior's feet, and, lifting her hands, said, "Oh, sir, let me be your 
 slave. I would love to serve a man as good as you." 
 
 This is a faint reflection of Jesus ; it is very faint, indeed, but 
 nevertheless it gives us a hint of Him. When the devil had us 
 on the way to hell, Jesus came and purchased our freedom. He 
 did not purchase it with money. Oh, no. Money could not buy 
 it; He purchased it with His own blood shed upon the cross. 
 
 THE POWER WILL BE GIVEN. 
 
 When Cyrus captured Sardis, the only son of Croesus, who 
 was dumb, saw a soldier ready to give the king, whom he did not 
 know, a stroke upon the head With his scimeter. The son made such 
 a violent effort to save his father by a word that he broke the string 
 of his tongue, and cried out, "Soldier, spare the life of Croesus !" 
 And so, if we love Christ and His cause earnestly, our tongues will 
 be loosened. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 177 
 
 THE MOTIVE POWER. 
 
 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the 
 word of the Lord unto Zerubabel, saying, not by might, nor^by 
 power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. Zech. 4 :6. — And, 
 behold, I slend the promise of my Father upon you : but tarry ye in 
 the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. 
 Luke 24 149. — But ye shall receive power, after that the Holv Spirit 
 is come upon you : and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in 
 Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the utter- 
 most part of the earth. Acts 1 :8. — Not by works of righteousness 
 which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by 
 the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Spirit. 
 Titus 3 :5- — It is the Spirit that quickeneth ; the flesh profiteth noth- 
 
 ing : the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are 
 life. Jno. 6 163 . — And when they had prayed, the place was shaken 
 where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with 
 the Holy Spirit and they spake the word with boldness. Acts 4: 
 3 1 . — But ye are not in the flesh : but in the spirit, if so be that the 
 Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit 
 of Christ, he is none of his. Rom. 8 :q. 
 
 (' The hidden things about us are many. Some of them are be- 
 yond our comprehension, even though they are brought to light. 
 In the Christian life and character this stands out very clearly, and 
 it is often a wonder why some apparently and really do, have more 
 strength, and fortitude than others. While it is quite true, yet it 
 is very easily understood by the light of God's Word. Some have 
 learned the secret of the motive power. The writer was stopping 
 
i;8 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 at a certain large hotel up in the mountains of Japan. The hotel 
 was illuminated with electricity, and it was a mystery, as to how 
 they generated it. One day I started off to find out for myself, 
 and after walking quite a distance, saw off at the foot of the moun- 
 tains the little building above, and went over to inspect the affair 
 standing there all alone. It was found that the Japanese had 
 harnessed the mountains with ditches, and canals, by which the 
 water was gathered, and carried to this place where it created the 
 power that made the electricity, and sent it down to< the hotel. 
 When the Holy Spirit quickens and fills your life then there comes 
 light, power, joy and peace. When the water runs low, then the 
 power is decreased, and the lights grow very dimily. It is so with 
 the spiritual life. 
 
 "Come, Holy Spirit, heavenly Dove, 
 With all thy quickening powers; 
 Kindle a flame of sacred love 
 In these cold hearts of ours." 
 
 • Read Isaiah 53 — . 
 
 GOOD MOTTOES. 
 
 One of the great mercantile establishments of London is that 
 of Whiteley, the "Universal Provider" and William Whiteley, 
 coming up from Yorkshire a penniless lad, became one of the mil- 
 lionaires of England. In his account of his own methods of success, 
 he says some illuminating things. "I began", he asserts, "with 
 more than my shop and stock in trade. To my capital I added my 
 conscience. In my skin money bag I had some old-fashioned mot- 
 toes, and it was my intention that all money going thereinto should 
 pass through these mottoes, as it were; for then I should be certain 
 of earning good money. 
 
 "For instance, "Be honest" — that was in the bag; consequently 
 no money could get in unless it had been earned honestly. Then 
 punctuality, civility, cleanliness. Then I never said, "What is the 
 most I can get for an article?" but, "What is the least I can sell it 
 for? 'I was firmly convinced of the necessity of having rules, sys- 
 tem, order. Not any rules — the first to hand — but the best to do 
 business by, the best system of working, the most perfect order, no- 
 thing less. It didn't matter to me whether they had been tried be- 
 fore or not." 
 
 Small wonder that such a man succeeded. But even if he had 
 failed, at least he would have failed nobly. His business ideals were 
 the best — nothing less. — Forward. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 179 
 
 THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. 
 
 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, 
 and all these things shall be added unto you. Matt. 6:33. — 
 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but hav- 
 ing seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and em- 
 braced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims 
 on the earth. Heb. 11 113. — For the promise is unto you, and to 
 your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the 
 Lord our God shall call. Acts 2 139. — Jesus saith unto him, I am 
 the way, the truth, and -the life ; no man cometh unto the Father, 
 but by me. Jno. 14:6. — Thine eyes shall see the king in his 
 beauty : they shall behold the land that is very far off. Isa. 33 :i7. 
 
 „ wu The & reat fac t is, that life is a service. The question is, 
 Whom shall we serve ?" Jesus very clearly tells us in the first 
 verse above. The view gives us a glimpse of the Lower Falls in 
 the Yellowstone Park. It appears to be quite small, indeed, but 
 because it is AFAR OFF. The distance is probably one and 
 three-fourths miles. And so it is with one that is just commenc- 
 ing to live a new life in Christ Jesus. It may seem to be a very 
 small matter at first, but God calls you to start, and he will add 
 more unto you, as you go along the way. St. Paul exhorts all to 
 Be followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ 
 also^ hath loved us, and hath given himself for us, an offering and 
 sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor. Eph. z:i 2 Read 
 Psalm 1—, special verse 6. 
 
i8o RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 POTATOES. 
 
 Though the Christian is to expect to be set free from cor- 
 roding fear, he should never permit himself to relax his own ef- 
 forts after an attainable good. Paul has expressed the true doc- 
 trine in his exhortation, "Work out your own salvation, for it is 
 God that worketh in you." Many good people are at times inclined 
 to become fanatical by assuming that God works without means 
 or will work a miracle for any or no reason. Christmas Evans, 
 the celebrated Welsh preacher, once told his wife with whom he 
 was discussing the potato question : "Catherine, you never mind 
 the potatoes; put your trust in Providence and all will be well. ,, 
 His wife, who was a thrifty and sensible woman, replied, "Christ- 
 mas, you go and sit down on the top of the hill waiting for Provi- 
 dence, and I'll go and hoe the potatoes; and we shall see to which 
 of us Providence will come first." 
 
 ? WHY HE LOST THE RACE. 
 
 So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, and he that 
 smootheth with the hammer him that smote the anvil. Isa. 41 :y. 
 
 Some little boys were running a race, and all felt sure that 
 Tommy, the boy in the lead, would win as he was the fastest 
 runner. Those looking on began to cheer the different boys, and 
 Tommy gradually fell behind until he was the last one to reach 
 the goal. His friends gathered around inquiring why this was. 
 And Tommy, wiping the tears from his dirty little face, replied : 
 "You yelled go it, John, go it, Jimmy ! but there was not one yelled 
 go it Tommy, and somehow I just could not run at all." A word 
 of cheer frequently makes the difference between success and 
 failure. 
 
 WOULDN'T DO. 
 
 Bishop Ames tells a story of a slave master in the olden time 
 who said to his chattel : "Pompey, I hear you are a great preach- 
 er." "Yes, massa, de Lord do help me powerful sometimes." 
 "Well, Pompey, don't you think the Negroes steal little things 
 on the plantation?" "Fse mighty 'fraid they does, massa." "Then, 
 Pompey, I want you to preach a sermon to the Negroes against 
 stealing." After a brief reflection, Pompey replied : "You see, 
 massa, dat wouldn't never do, 'cause 'twould trow such a col'ness 
 over de meetin'." — Foster's Cyclopaedia. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 181 
 
 THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. 
 
 Come ye near unto me, hear ye this : I have not spoken in 
 secret from the beginning, from the time that it was, there am 
 I: and now the Lord God, and his spirit, hath sent me. Thus 
 saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel : I am the 
 Lord thy. God which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest 
 go. Isa. 84:16, 17. — But it is good for me to draw near to God: 
 I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy 
 works. Ps. j$ :28.— For the law made nothing perfect, but the 
 bringing in of a better hope did: by the which we draw nigh -unto 
 God. Heb. 7:19. — But the path of the just (righteous) is as the 
 shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. 
 Prov. 4:18. 
 
 This second view represents the Christian getting into a nearer 
 relationship with the eternal God and a deeper insight into the 
 new life imparted by Jesus Christ. The understanding opened and 
 the dark and deep sayings of the Scriptures becoming clearer and 
 the vision brighter. But this is not the stopping place in the race 
 set before you. Sometimes, as I walked along the road, this 
 beautiful scene would be hidden from me by little hills and tall 
 trees, so the poets words came to my mind : 
 
 "So on I go, not knowing, 
 I would not if I might; 
 I'd rather walk by faith with Him 
 
 Than 
 
 <;o alone in the light; 
 
182 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 I'd rather walk by faith with Him 
 Than go alone by sight." 
 Read Luke 17:20-37, special verse 21. 
 
 THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. , 
 
 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake 
 out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we be- 
 lieved. Rom. 13:11. — Let us draw near with a true heart in full 
 assurance of faith. Heb. 10:22. — Draw nigh to God, and he will 
 draw nigh to you. Jas. 4:8. 
 
 As St. Paul well says, "I press on toward the mark for the 
 prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Phil. 3:19. 
 
 Coming nearer the journeys end of our little allotted portion of 
 time, the Christian's life will centralize more and more on Him 
 who said, "If I be lifted up I will draw all men unto me/' The 
 way may seem weary at times, unfortunate circumstances may 
 come upon one, difficult tasks, afflictions and possibly persecution 
 from would-be friends, but to these things Ave may say, as the 
 Apostle did, "And we know that all things work together for 
 good to them that love God, to them who are called according to 
 his purpose." Rom. 8 :22. And that none of these things move 
 me, neither count I my life dear to myself, so that I might finish 
 my course with joy. Acts 20 :24. More blessings will be given 
 from heaven for your very faithfulness. Let no obstacle impede 
 your progress of the high calling. Read Dent. 32:1-14, special 
 verse 6. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 183 
 
 THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. 
 
 I know a man (Paul) in Christ about fourteen years ago: 
 (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or out of the body, I cannot 
 tell: God knoweth); such an one caught up to the third heaven. 
 And I knew such a man (whether in the body, or out of the body, 
 I cannot tell: God knoweth). How that he was caught up into 
 paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which is not lawful for a 
 man to utter. 2 Cor. 12 12-4. — Blessed be the God and Father of 
 
 our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy 
 hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of 
 Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and 
 undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 
 who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation 
 ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, 
 though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through 
 manifold temptations : that the trial of your faith being much more 
 precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, 
 
184 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing 
 of Jesus Christ, i Pet. 1 13-7. 
 
 This water falls 370 feet. It is 74 feet wide at the top. 
 There is no more water running over this high precipice now„ 
 than the one in the first view. There, it is quite small indeed, 
 but here, like a whole mountain of it had been turned loose. The 
 only difference is, I came nearer, yes even nearer than in the third 
 scene. The very mist moistened my parched lips. What a roar- 
 ing ! How beautiful ! Dead to the world. There in its magnificent 
 presence one's soul would be filled with the rapturous melody. It 
 seemed that heaven and earth met right here. Going down on 
 the east side of the canon is (which very few people do) quite a 
 journey of about 1500 feet, walking, crawling and sliding to the 
 foot of the Falls. Several times I thought I would give up the 
 task undertaken. How often we become faint-hearted and almost 
 ready to quit, when victory is nearly ours, but you remember what 
 Jesus says, "To him that overcometh." Rev. 3:21. I do not 
 wonder at St. Paul getting such a glimpse of the heavens as he 
 did. He was shut in with Christ for the time being, learning of 
 Him. Standing at the foot of the Falls, there was only one way 
 one could look, and that was UP. The first glimpse of the Falls 
 here buried all the thoughts of the weary trip. When the Chris- 
 tian's journey of life is finished, and he stands in the glorious 
 presence of Christ, the many hard trials and struggles shall be 
 turned into glories, as Paul says to Romans, Chap. 8-18 : For I 
 reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be 
 compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Read 
 Revelations 21 — , special verse 4. 
 
 HEART PRAYER. 
 
 When Dr. Bacchus (the president of Hamilton College) was 
 upon his deathbed the doctor called to see him, and, after exam- 
 ining the symptoms, left the room without speaking, but as he 
 opened the door to go out, was observed to whisper something to 
 the servant. "What did the physician say to you?" asked Dr. 
 Bacchus. "He said, sir, that you cannot live to exceed half an 
 hour." — "Is it so?" said the good man. "Then take me out of 
 my bed, and place me upon my knees : let me spend that time in 
 calling upon God for the salvation of the world." His request 
 was complied with : and his last moments were spent in breathing 
 forth his prayers for the salvation of his fellow sinners: he died 
 upon his knees. — Howes. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 i85 
 
 A SACRED PLACE. 
 
 And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be- 
 called the way of holiness, the unclean shall not pass over it, but 
 the redeemed shall walk there. Isa. 35 :8. — And there shall in 
 no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever 
 worketh an abomination, or maketh a lie : but they which are writ- 
 ten in the Lamb's book of life. Rev. 21 125, 27. — He that is un- 
 just, let him be unjust still ; and he which is filthy, let him be filthy 
 still ; and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still ; and he that 
 is holy, let him be holy still. Blessed are they that do his command- 
 ments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter 
 in through the gates into the city. Rev. 22:11, 14. — And the 
 ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs 
 
 and everlasting joy upon their heads : they shall obtain joy and glad- 
 ness and sorrow and signing shall flee away. Isa. 35 no. 
 
 This is the sacred bridge at Nikko, Japan. It was con- 
 structed for the special use of one of her great men (a king) 280 
 years ago. The pillars are stone and the rest of the bridge is 
 made of wood and painted with red lacquer. There is a gate at 
 either end, and they are kept under lock and key. None but those 
 of a royal family may cross it. I was told that President Grant 
 refused to go over it, for he was not of royal ancestry. ^Being in- 
 clined to hero worship, they looked upon the General 
 as worthy of this mark of distinction. I saw a Chinese 
 Prince cross over the sacred structure. It leads up to the 
 Emperor's beautiful temple on the right side. There is another 
 bridge nearby for the other people to cross this creek. The 
 
186 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 Redeemed of God belong to His royal family, and his way is a 
 way of holiness, which leads to the throne of God, and over which 
 only the ransomed may pass. When one makes up his mind 
 to go to God, Jesus will open the gates to let him enter in and 
 oyer. Saint John says, Unto him (Jesus) that loved us, and 
 washed us from our sins in his own blood. Rev. 7:5. Jesus says, 
 I am the way and the life. Jno. 14:6. Read Matt. 13:1-24, 
 special verse 23. 
 
 CAUSE OF UNHAPPINESS. 
 
 Harsh judgment, rough words, small but frequent acts of sel- 
 fishness and injustice, sometimes poison the heart that promises to 
 be healthy, and curse the start that promised to be blessed. There 
 are families that possess every earthly comfort — health, money, and 
 occupation — but are miserable from the jealousy and quarreling 
 that prevail within. There are married couples who live in daily 
 sorrow, not because they are in want, but because each thinks the 
 other unkind and arbitrary, and inconsiderate. Young people some- 
 times marry with their eyes shut ; and thus, instead of being mated 
 with angels, as they foolishly imagined they might be, they find 
 out afterward that they are only men and women, with the com- 
 mon work-a-day weaknesses and faults of their respective sexes. 
 This sham love easily gets soured, and then each reproaches the 
 other for not fulfilling the sentimental prospects with which they 
 entered the marriage state. Take any of the relationships of life, 
 and we find that the greater part of all our sorrow comes from the 
 same cause. Get anyone to tell you honestly what gives him the 
 most annoyance and disquietude, and he will tell you they come 
 from want of kindness, sympathy, and fellow feeling. He could 
 tell you that he would bear other things if he only met with more 
 consideration, support, and encouragement from the people with 
 whom he had to do. — Michigan Christian Advocate. 
 
 A lady visited New York city and saw on the sidewalk a 
 ragged, cold and hungry little girl, gazing wistfully at some 
 of the cakes in a shop window. She stopped, and taking the little 
 one by the hand led her in the store, though she was aware that 
 bread might be better for the cold child than cake, yet desiring to 
 gratify the shivering and forlorn one. She bought and gave 
 her the cake she wanted. She then took her to another place, 
 where she procured her a shawl and other articles of comfort. 
 The gratified little creature looked the benevolent lady up full 
 in the face, and with artless simplicity said : "Are you God's 
 wife?" Did the most eloquent speaker ever employ words to 
 better advantage ? 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 187 
 
 YE ARE LIGHTS. 
 
 But if we walk in the light as he is in the light we have 
 fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, His 
 Son, cleanseth us from all sin. John 1 :y. — Ye are the light of the 
 world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do 
 men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick, 
 and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Matt. 5.14. 
 51. — Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your 
 good works, and glorify your father which is in heaven. Matt. 
 5:16. — For ye were sometimes in darkness, but now are ye light 
 in the Lord ; walk as children of light. Eph. 5 :8. 
 
 This world is in spiritual darkness. Jesus came into the world 
 
 See the day scene on page 93. 
 
 to be the light of the world. When he ascended into heaven, he 
 made his chosen ones to be the light. It was a dark night 
 at the St. Louis Fair, but the many little lights made it almost like 
 the day. Here and there one could see a little light had gone out 
 and it had left a darkened place. It broke the continuous harmony 
 of the whole. It is so with' one of God's children, when praying 
 and testifying and working for the Lord is given up. The little 
 light goes out, and it makes confusion in the harmony that is es- 
 sential to the Christian life. The question for each one of us is, 
 Is my little candle burning, or has it been hidden under a bushel in 
 some way? Am I doing my little portion to make things around 
 me brighter and others more cheerful. Read John 1 135-51, special 
 verse 48. 
 
1 88 
 
 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 ON WHICH SIDE ARE YOU? 
 
 I have set before you, life and death, the blessing and the 
 curse. Therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may 
 live. Deut. 30:19. — Who his own self bare our sins in his own 
 body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto 
 righteousness : by whose stripes ye were healed. 1 Pet. 2 124. 
 
 1 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 6 
 
 7 
 8 
 
 9 
 10 
 
 11 
 
 WHAT I WAS. 
 
 Far "off. Eph. 2 113. 
 
 My sins as scarlet. Isa. 1 : 
 
 18. 
 
 Servant of Sin. Jno. 8 134. 
 
 Rom. 6:16, 20. 
 
 In bondage. Gal. 2 4. Gal. 
 
 Sinner. Rom. 3 123. 
 
 Sold under sin. Rom. 7 4. 
 
 Child of the Devil. Jno. 
 
 844. 
 
 Led captive by the Devil. 
 
 2 Tim. 2 '.26. 
 
 Shall perish. Luke 13:3. 
 
 Jesus knows not. Matt. 25 : 
 
 12. 
 
 Depart. Matt. 25 41, 46. 
 
 4- 
 
 5* 
 
 6. 
 
 10. 
 11. 
 
 WHAT I AM NOW. 
 
 Made nigh. Eph. 2:13. 
 Whiter than snow. Ps. 51: 
 
 7- 
 
 Servant of God. 1 Pet. 2 : 
 
 15, 16. 1 Cor. 7:22. 
 
 Free .Rom. 6 :22. 
 
 Saint. Rom. 1 7. 2 Tim. 
 
 1:9. 
 
 Bought with a price. 1 
 
 Cor. 6:20. 
 
 Child of God. Rom. 8:16. 
 
 1 Jno. 3:1, 2. 
 
 Led by the Holy Spirit. 
 
 Rom. 8 :i4. 
 
 Shall never perish. Jno. 10 : 
 
 28, 29. 
 
 Jesus knows. Jno. 10:27. 
 
 Come. Matt. 25:31, 34. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 THE HOME. 
 
 189 
 
 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you 
 this day whom ye will serve : But as for me and my house, we will 
 serve the Lord. Josh. 24:15. — For I know him, that he will com- 
 mand his children and his household after him, and they shall keep 
 the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment. Gen. 18:19. — 
 When I ca.ll to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, 
 (Timothy) which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy 
 mother Eunice ; and I am persuaded that in thee also. 2 Tim. 1 : 
 5. — And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, 
 which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith 
 which is in Christ Jesus. 2 Tim. 3:15. — Howbeit Jesus suffered 
 him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them 
 how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had com- 
 
 , 
 
 passion on thee. Mark. 5 :i9. — But if any widow have children or 
 nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite 
 their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God. 1 Tim. 
 5 '.4. — Train up a child in the way he should go : and when he is 
 •old, he will not depart from it. Prov. 22 :6. 
 
 Someone has well said, "that religion begins in the home." 
 A home is not really a home without God's presence living and 
 abiding in it. I was in a merchants home in the city of Minneapo- 
 lis one day, and saw this motto hanging over the table, "The Lord 
 Jesus Christ is the head of this house." Truly he was. Every- 
 thing about that home showed its impress. The Japanese grand- 
 mother is sitting in her parlor by the fire-place, with its ever ready 
 hot water to serve cha (tea) to any visitors that may come in. 
 She is reading a scripture lesson to her daughter and grandchil- 
 
190 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 dren, who are visiting her. The family altar is established in that 
 home, and the influence is felt by every one that enters it. Many 
 boys and girls go astray from the fact that they have never had 
 much offered to them in the home. Home signifies to enclose. 
 What does it enclose ? It takes the place of the garden of Eden — 
 Paradise. How beautiful the thought, "Home, sweet home." It 
 matters not whether it is a cottage or a mansion. It should be a 
 little world with strife shut out, and with a world of love shut in. 
 In this there will be joy, peace and happiness, where the mother 
 always loves to be found, the father longs to be — and the tie that 
 binds the hearts of the children. Mr. Spurgeon puts it thus: 
 "When the home is ruled according to God's Word, Angels might 
 be asked to stay with us, and not find themselves out of their ele- 
 ment." Good homes make a good community and virtuous society. 
 From these are built the state and' the nation. Without these no 
 nation can prosper. Read Prov. i 7-16, special verse 7. 
 
 A REAL HOME. 
 
 I never saw a garment too fine for a man or maid ; there never 
 was a chair too good for a cobbler or a king to sit in ; never a house 
 too fine to shelter the human head. Elegance fits man. But do we 
 not value these tools a little more than they are worth, and some- 
 times mortgage a house for the mahogany we bring into it? I had 
 rather eat my dinner off the head of a barrel, or dress after the 
 fashion of John the Baptist in the wilderness, or sit on a block all 
 my life, than consume all myself before I got to a home, and take 
 so much pains with the outside that the inside was as hollow as an 
 empty nut. Beauty is a great thing, but beauty of garment, house, 
 and furniture are tawdry ornaments compared with domestic love. 
 All the elegance in the world will not make a home, and I would 
 give more for a spoonful of real hearty love than for whole ship- 
 loads of furniture and all the gorgeousness the world can gather. — 
 O. W. Holmes. 
 
 AS A CHILD. 
 
 It was her father's custom to look into her room the last thing 
 before she fell asleep, and always the little voice would bid him the 
 same farewell : "Good-night, father ; I'll see you in the morning*." 
 
 Sickness came, and the beloved child drew near her end. Just 
 at the last she put her arms around her father's neck, and said, with 
 failing breath, "Good-night, father; "I'll see you in the morning." 
 
 She was quite right. The little child is always right in the 
 spiritual kingdom." — R. J. Campbell. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 in I 
 
 WAIT. ; 
 
 Blessed is the man that heareth me, (God) watching daily at 
 my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. P'rov. 8 134. — Wait on 
 the Lord : be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart : 
 wait, I say on the Lord. Ps. 27:14. — But they that wait upon the 
 Lord shall renew their strength : they shall mount up with wings 
 as eagles: they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk, 
 and not faint. Isa. 40:31. — It is good that a man should both 
 hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. Lam. 3 :25- — 
 And being assembled together with them commanded them that 
 they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of 
 the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. Acts 1 '.4. — For we 
 through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 
 
 Gal. 5 15. — And to wait for His Son from heaven, whom he raised 
 from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to 
 come. 1 Thes. 1:10. 
 
 The men are waitino- for the incline car, Duluth, Minn. It 
 is just patiently wait. "Wait" is a wondrously mysterious word to 
 many people. But to the Christian it becomes really a grace. When 
 everything seems to go wrong about you, then is the time to "wait" 
 on Him for wisdom, help and strength. The wicked do not wait 
 upon the Lord, because He is not in all their thoughts. Some 
 'Christians do not deem it necessary, and as too trifling a thing, 
 and especially why should I take all my little trials and temptations 
 to him. It is the right thing to do, for by such act, you acknowl- 
 edge your dependence upon God. He says, "Him that honoretli 
 me I will honor." Many blessings will come to* your personal life 
 that you do not receive now by remembering this privilege and duty. 
 
192 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 Try it in the i 
 many burdens. 
 
 Try it in the morning. It will help you through the day with its 
 many burdens. 
 
 "Jesus, my strength, my hope, 
 On thee I cast my care; 
 With humble confidence look up, 
 And know thou hearest my prayer. 
 Give me on thee to wait, 
 Till I can all things do ; 
 On thee, almighty to create, 
 Almighty to renew." 
 
 Read 2 Pet. 3 — , special verse 9. 
 
 HAD TESTE!) THE REMEDY. 
 
 It is related that Bishop Kavanaugh was one day walking, 
 when he met a prominent physician who offered him a seat in his 
 •carriage. The physician was an infidel, and the conversation 
 turned upon religion. 
 
 '"I am surprised," said the doctor, "that such an intelligent 
 man as you should believe such an old fable as that." 
 
 The Bishop said, "Doctor, suppose years ago someone had 
 recommended to you a prescription, and, taking it according to 
 order, you had been cured of a terrible disease, what would you 
 say of the man who would not try your prescription?'. 
 
 "I would say he was a fool." 
 
 "Twenty-five years ago," said Kavanaugh, "I tried the power 
 of God's grace. It made a different man of me. All these years 
 I have preached salvation, and whenever accepted, have never 
 known it to fail." 
 
 To do something for someone else ; to love the unlovely ; to give 
 a hand to the unattractive; to speak to the uncongenial; to make 
 friends with the poor and folks of lowly degree ; to find a niche in 
 the Church of the Lord, and to do something out of sheer love for 
 Him ; to determine in his house to 'have his mind ; to plan to win 
 at least one for the Master ; to aim to redeem past time that is lost ; 
 to will to let one's light shine; to cut off practices that are sinful 
 and costly ; to add the beauty of holiness — this is to make one's life 
 a thing of beauty and this is to grow in grace, for growing in grace 
 is simply copying the beautiful life of the altogether lovely one. — 
 Edward F. Reimer. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 193 
 
 TOUCH NOT, 
 
 God says : Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy 
 son with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, 
 lest ye die : it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations : 
 Lev. 10:9. — Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that 
 they may follow strong drink: that continue until night, till wine 
 inflame them! Isa. 5 :ii.— Wine is a mocker, strong drink is rag- 
 ing: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. Prov. 20:1. 
 Woe unto him that giveth his neighbor drink, that puttest thy bot- 
 tle to him, and makest him drunken also. Hab. 2 :i5. — They shall 
 not drink wine with a song ; strong drink shall be bitter to them that 
 drink it. Isa. 24 :g. Look not thou Upon the wine when it is red, 
 when it giveth his color in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. 
 
 At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. Prov. 
 23:31, 32. Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such 
 like : of which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time 
 past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom 
 of God. Gal. 5:21. — Let us walk honestly as in the day: not in 
 rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not 
 in strife and envying. Rom. 13 :i3- 1 
 
 Right at one of the main entrances of the St. Louis Fair was 
 a mass of saloons. This is one of them. A beautiful specimen of 
 our American institutions, is it not ? John Burns, the English labor 
 leader, describes them thus, "Throughout the centuries the drink 
 shop has been the ante-chamher to the workhouse, the chapel of 
 ease to the asylum, the recruiting station for the hospital, the ren- 
 dezvous for the gambler, the gathering ground for the jail." We 
 
194 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 all know this is a true picture, and still we will give them the right 
 of way to carry the young and the old to the pit of destruction. 
 Mr. Gladstone once said that, "Intoxicating drinks have produced 
 evils more deadly, than all those caused to mankind by the great 
 historic scourges of war, famine and pestilence combined." It 
 is a man wrecker. A home destroyer. It is the crime of all ages. 
 The sign reads A. B. C, which is literally true, that drink is the 
 a. b. c. to the downful, and even to the drunkards grave and to hell 
 to hundreds of thousands of people. Beware of the A. B. C. and 
 its kindred companions ! There is danger in the cup. It is the 
 first cup that makes the drunkard, and the last sends his soul to 
 perdition. Read Rom. 2:1-16, special verse 4. 
 
 It is said that Kudyard Kipling, the great English literary 
 genius, one time believed in the inalienable right of the individual 
 to exercise self-control and self-regulation on the liquor question, 
 but was converted to prohibition by witnessing the leading of two 
 young girls to ruin through drink, after which he wrote as follows : 
 "Then, recanting previous opinions, I became a prohibitionist. Bet- 
 ter it is that a man should go without his beer in public places and 
 content himself with swearing at the narrow-mindedness of the 
 majority; better it is to poison the inside with very vile temper- 
 ance drinks and to buy lager furtively at back doors than to bring 
 temptation to the lips of young fools such as the four I had seen. 
 I understand now why preachers rage against drink. I have said 
 there is no harm in it, taken moderately ; and yet my own demand 
 for beer helped directly to send those two girls reeling down a back 
 street to — God alone knows what end." 
 
 During revival meetings in Des Moines a few days ago a lady, 
 said to be the champion whist player of America, arose and said: 
 "I wish to state publicly that I will never touch cards again. My 
 conclusion has been reached deliberately, and I have come to see 
 the evil of card playing, especially in social circles. I can see 
 nothing but harm coming from it, and from now on I shall not 
 touch playing cards again. I care nothing for the honors I have 
 won at the game, and will abandon them without regret. As to 
 dancing, there is even more harm connected with it than in cards, 
 and I shall do all in my power to discourage it as a form of social 
 amusement. — N. W. C. A. Feb., 1907. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 195 
 
 THE DIVISION. 
 
 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy 
 angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory : 
 And before him shall be gathered all nations : and he shall separate 
 them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from his 
 goats : and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, and the stoats 
 on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, 
 Come ye blessed of my father, inherit the kingdom prepared for 
 you from the foundation of the world. Then shall he say also 
 unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into ever- 
 lasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels : and these shall 
 go away into everlasting punishment : but the righteous into eternal 
 life. Matt. 25:31, 34, 41-46. — Say unto them, As I live, saith 
 
 the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but 
 that the wicked turn from his way and live. Eze. 33:11. — And 
 whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into 
 the lake of fire. JRev. 20:15. — And there shall in no wise enter 
 into it (heaven) anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh 
 abomination or maketh a lie : but they which are written in the 
 Lamb's book of life. Rev. 21 :2y.—Re that is unjust, let him be 
 unjust still : and he which is filthy; let him be filthy still : and he 
 that is righteous, let him be righteous still : and he that is holy, 
 let him be holy still. Rev. 22 :u. 
 
 Some fair minded people seem to get (for the ease of their own 
 conscience) the one sided idea, that God is ALL love, so that they 
 through presumption on His mercy, and a darkened understanding 
 
196 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 concerning eternal things, may continue in SIN. God's love can 
 only be measured by his justice. Sin must be punished, wherever 
 it is found. God will find it on the Cross of Christ or on the soul 
 of man. If man is pleased to continue in sin during this life, then 
 at the judgment clay he will be separated from God's presence for- 
 ever and from all good. That one will live with all his sins com- 
 mitted here, dogging his footsteps eternally. The scene is on the 
 Continental Divide, in the Yellowstone Park. At this point, the 
 altitude is about 8000 feet the highest point on that part of the 
 range. Here is where the waters divide, some of it flowing into 
 the Pacific (peaceful) Ocean, and some of it into the Atlantic (the 
 Turbulent) Ocean. The Cross of Christ is the dividing line for 
 eternity. On the one side is darkness and despair, and on the 
 other peace and glory. Have you definitely accepted Jesus for 
 your personal Savior from sin? Read Acts 26 — , special verse 28. 
 
 THE GIVER MORE THAN THE GIFT. 
 
 Gipsy Smith tells in his autobiography how after having" been 
 away from his family for seven months they received him with joy 
 on his return, shortly after which all of them attended a bazar. . 
 
 Thinking to give pleasure to his little girl, he took some money 
 out of his pocket, and, displaying it in the palm of his hand, said : 
 ''Zillah, take what you like and go and spend it!" 
 
 The child's big dark eyes filled with tears. She looked wistful- 
 ly at her father, and said : "Daddy, I don't want your old money : 
 I want you! You have been away from us for seven months, do 
 you know it?" 
 
 THE FIFTH GOSPEL . 
 
 There are four written Gospels. The fifth is writing now. 
 The world may forget the four, and the leaves of the Book may 
 never be turned, but the fifth Gospel men are sure to read. 
 
 That fifth Gospel is your life of Christ; that is, your life in 
 Christ. Men may forget Christ; they never forget the Christian. 
 Christ lives in Heaven and on earth. The world's dull eyes have 
 never gazed upon His Heavenly glory, but they are looking eagerly 
 for Him on earth. Christ in men is the most powerful preaching. 
 
 The world has had many lives of Christ. Each Christian is 
 writing his own, and the very children read it. We are either re- 
 vealing or veiling Christ to men. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 197 
 
 AFFLICTIONS. 
 
 Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me, for I am deso- 
 late and afflicted. Look upon mine affliction and my pain, and for- 
 give all my sins. Ps. 25:16, 18. — I will go and return to my 
 place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face ; in 
 their affliction they will seek me early. Hosea 2:15. — It is good 
 for me that I have been afflicted: that I might learn thy statutes. 
 I am afflicted very much : quicken me, O Lord, according unto thy 
 word. Ps. 119:71, 107. — If when evil cometh upon us, as the 
 sword, judgment or pestilence or famine, we stand before this 
 house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house), and 
 cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help. 2 
 Chron. 20:9. — Is any one among you afflicted? Let him pray. 
 
 James 5:13. — For our. light affliction, which is but for a moment, 
 worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. 
 2 Cor. 4:17. — My son, despise not thou the chastening of the 
 Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him : for whom the Lord 
 loveth he chasteneth. Heb. 12:5, 6.— Most gladly therefore will 
 I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may 
 rest upon me. 1 Cor. 12 :g. 
 
 In the mountainous region of Japan there are a number of 
 hot mineral springs which are noted for their medicinal properties. 
 The man (a foreigner) in the chair was afflicted severely with 
 rheumatism. He is just ready to leave the hotel at Ashinovou, 
 Hakone. He is sitting in a cane chair and is carried by four lap- 
 anese. The chair is fastened to two poles. His lapanese wife is 
 carried in a basket shaped affair called a kago, which is used prin- 
 
198 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 cipally for the Japanese as they are as a rule smaller of stature 
 than the foreigner. The carriers have their prices for certain 
 distances. The kago is carried by two men. This man went away 
 benefitted to some degree. Where will not people go to find a 
 healing balm for this earthly body ? This place is visited by people 
 from all parts of the world. The Lord permits afflictions and 
 sorrows to come to us for a purpose. To the sinful he calls to 
 repentance, and to the righteous to a deeper consecration and to 
 be drawn nearer to him* in fellowship. It is a great teacher. 
 
 Some will fret and worry themselves sick. Remedy, Isa. 26 : 
 3; 45:22; Jno. 14:1, 2. Others will imagine themselves sick, that 
 is, they will think only about themselves, until they really think they 
 are sick. This is most distressing. Remedy — plenty of work 
 and sufficient play. The really and truly afflicted one God tries, 
 purifies and refines as does the silversmith his silver and gold. 
 Mai. 3 13. Sometimes he uses these things as his furnace. Isa. 
 48:10. Will we stand the test? It made Job stronger in faith. 
 It brought St. Paul into a brighter Christian experience. He had 
 to carry a certain affliction all his life, yet he glorified God through 
 it all. Jesus said to Paul, "My grace is sufficient for thee." 2 
 Cor. 12 :g. Whom the Lord loves he chastens sometimes beyond 
 our understanding. The Lord says, too, "Call upon me in the 
 day of trouble; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. Ps. 
 50:15. Read Romans 10:1-13, special verse 10. 
 
 GRATITUDE. 
 
 - Among the many beautiful stories of Queen Victoria this was 
 told just after she died. While visiting the wounded soldiers who 
 had been brought back from South Africa she was greatly dis- 
 tressed by the appearance of one poor man who had been terribly 
 injured. 
 
 "Is there nothing," said the queen, "that I can do for you?' 
 
 The soldier replied, "Nothing, your majesty, unless you would 
 thank my nurse for her kindness to me."' 
 
 The queen turned to the nurse and said, with tears in her eyes. 
 I do thank you with all my heart for your kindness to this poor 
 wounded son of mine." 
 
 There was something exquisitely beautiful in the soldier's ut- 
 ter self-for-q-etfulness. which led him to think not of anything from 
 his queen for himself, hut of pleasure and honor to her who was 
 serving him so faithfully. 
 
 tt 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 199 
 
 A RESTING PLACE. 
 
 And he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was 
 pleasant. Gen. 49.15. — Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your 
 rest: because it is polluted, it shall destroy you. Micah. 2:10 — 
 For ye are not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance, which 
 the Lord your God giveth you. Deut. 12 :g. — There the wicked 
 cease from troubling, and there the weary be at rest. job. S :L 7- 
 — There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For 
 he that entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own 
 works, as God did from his. Let us labor therefore to enter into 
 that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. 
 Heb. 4:9, 10, 11. 
 
 Traveling over the mountain roads of Japan, one will fre- 
 
 quently come to a little house, most always kept by a woman who 
 is endeavoring to gain a livelihood. They are kept for the weary 
 traveler. The old lady keeps this one. It is open during the day 
 time, and at night the slide doors are put in position again enclos- 
 ing it. One of them, the younger girl, generally goes out to greet 
 you with an "iraishaii," that is, "welcome, come in." You enter, if 
 you so desire, and they will bring you a cushion, a cup of green 
 tea, and some nicknacks. Here one may take a pleasant rest, and 
 then give them ju sen (5 cents gold) and start on his journey 
 again. These are earthly resting places, and we need them all 
 along the journey of life, but there is a higher and more excellent 
 resting place to which we should labor diligently to enter, and if 
 faithful will be welcomed by Him with an eternal "iraishaii." Jesus 
 says, "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I 
 
200 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 will give you rest.'' Matt, n 128. jThis means present rest to the 
 weary one as well as the eternal rest and is conditioned on our 
 Coming. Read Isaiah 26:1-12, special verse 3. 
 
 A LITTLE GIRL THAT SHONE. 
 
 "Well, grandma," said a little boy, resting his elbow on the old 
 lady's stuffed chair-arm, "what have you been doing here at the 
 window all day by yourself?" 
 
 ''All I could," answered dear grandma, cheerily; "I have read 
 a little, and prayed a good deal, and then looked out at the people. 
 There's one little girl, Arthur, that I have learned to watch for. 
 She has sunny brown hair, her brown eyes have the same sunny 
 look in them, and I wonder every day what makes her look so 
 bright. Ah! here she comes now." 
 
 Arthur took his elbows off the stuffed arm and planted them on 
 the window sill. 
 
 "That girl with the brown apron on?" he cried. "Why, I 
 know that girl. That is Susie Moore, and she has a dreadful hard 
 time, grandma." 
 
 "Has she?" said grandma. "Oh, little boy, wouldn't you give 
 anything to know where she gets all that brightness from, then?" 
 
 "I'll ask her," said Arthur, promptly, and to grandma's sur- 
 prise he raised the window, and called : 
 
 "Susie, O Susie, come up here a minute; grandma wants to 
 see you !" 
 
 The brown eyes opened wide in surprise, but the little maid 
 turned at once. 
 
 "Grandma wants to know what makes you look so bright all 
 the time?" 
 
 "Why; I have to," said Susie. "You see, papa's been ill a 
 long while, and mamma is tired out with nursing, and the baby's 
 cross with her teeth, and if I didn't be bright, who would be?" 
 
 "Yes, yes, I see," said old grandma, putting her arm around 
 this little streak of sunshine. "That's God's reason for things; 
 they are, because somebody needs them. Shine on, little sun ; there 
 couldn't be a better reason for shining than because it is dark at 
 home." 
 
 A CHARGE TO KEEP. 
 
 A charge to keep I have ; 
 
 A God to glorify : 
 A never-dving soul to save. 
 
 And fit it for the sky. — Charles Weslev. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 201 
 
 ANSWERS TO PRAYER. 
 
 I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of 
 his holy 'hill. Ps. 3 14. — The Lord hath heard my supplication, the 
 Lord will receive my prayer. Ps. 6 :g. — I called upon the Lord in 
 distress : the Lord answered me, and set me in a large place. I will- 
 praise thee : for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation. 
 Ps. 118:5, 2I - — The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, 
 to all that call upon him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of them 
 that fear him : he also will hear their cry, and will save them. Ps. 
 145 : 1 8, 19. — And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I 
 do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask 
 anything in my name, I will do it. Jno. 14:13, 14. — And whatso- 
 ever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments. 
 
 and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. 1 Jno. 3 :22. — 
 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume 
 it upon your own lusts. Jas 4 13. 
 
 It is surely God's delight to hear and answer the prayers of his 
 children. It is at morning prayer in a hospital in Hakodate, Japan. 
 An English missionary and his wife, who some years ago responded 
 to the Lord's call, "Whom shall I send." They have the double 
 privilege of healing the body, as well as leading the lost soul back 
 to the Great Physician. God has truly answered their prayers in 
 their own lives and in their work. Prayers are not answered when 
 we live in the last verse above. They are answered when we live 
 in the verse next to the last. We naturally want to do the things 
 that please ourselves and to spend them upon our own selfish lives. 
 .Selfishness displeases God. Instance of prayer test. 1 Kings 18 : 
 
202 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 24-39. Answers withheld. Deut. 23 15. Delayed. Jer. 42 14, 7, 
 Luke 18 \y. Answers to exceed petition. 1 Kinks 3 7-14, Acts 12 : 
 5, 15. Answers different from request. Deut. 3:23-27, 2 Cor. 12. 
 8, 9. Read Luke 23 134 — 46, special verse 42. 
 
 A PRAYER IN A PILLOW. 
 
 One night the mother of two little girls was away at bed- 
 time, and they were left to do as they would. 
 
 "I am not going to pray tonight," said Lillian when she was 
 ready for bed. 
 
 /'Why, Lillian !" exclaimed Amy, with round eyes of astonish- 
 ment. 
 
 "I don't care ; I am not going to. There isn't any use." 
 
 So she tumbled into bed, while Amy knelt and prayed. The 
 little prayer finished and the light extinguished, Amy crept into 
 bed. There was a long silence; then Lillian began to turn rest- 
 lessly, giving her pillow a vigorous thump and saying crossly: 
 "I wonder what is the matter with this pillow?" Then came a 
 sweet little voice from Amy's side of the bed : "I guess it's 'cause 
 there isn't any prayer in it." 
 
 PATIENCE. 
 
 A girl belonging to a church society went to call upon a 
 cripple, taking some sweet spring flowers to the invalid. After a 
 little conversation the visitor asked : 
 
 "Don't you get tired of being tied to that bed day and night, 
 Miss Grey, week after week?" 
 
 "Yes, I think I do sometimes; that is, I grow bodily tired," 
 was the response. "But I try not to think of that. I only want 
 to remember that God is good and merciful. In his love he spared 
 me, even though I am a cripple, to live, that I might learn to know 
 him here. You see, before I was hurt I never thought about him 
 as being a real friend and helper. But since I have been compelled 
 to lie here quiet and helpless, I can even find joy and thankfulness 
 in my affliction; I live to serve him, and that crowds almost every 
 other thought out." 
 
 And the one who had come to minister went away feeling that 
 she had received more than she had given during that brief visit. 
 "Joy and thankfulness in affliction." Truly, only those who know 
 him for their loving Saviour can say this. — Young People's Weekly 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 203 
 
 PLEASURES. 
 
 For the Lord God is a sun and a shield : the Lord will give 
 grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that 
 walk uprightly. Ps. 84 :i 1. — I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will 
 prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure, and, behold, this 
 also is vanity. Eccles. 2:1. — Her ways (wisdom — religion) are 
 ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. Prov. 3:17. — 
 The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope 
 in his mercy. Ps. 147:11. — For the Lord taketh pleasure in his 
 people : he will beautify the meek with salvation. Ps. 149 14. — He 
 that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man : he that loveth wine and oil 
 shall not be rich. Prov. 21 :iy. — But she that liveth in pleasure is 
 
 
 
 
 Ml 41 
 
 
 
 A little train at the St. Louis Fair 
 
 dead while she liveth. 1 Tim. 5 :6. — And that which fell among 
 thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are 
 •choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no 
 fruit to perfection. Luke 8:14. — Traitors, heady, highminded, 
 lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God. 2 Tim. 3 -.4. — Choos- 
 ing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy 
 the pleasures of sin for a season. Heb. 1 1 125. 
 
 i The Lord's ways are ways of pleasantness. Many are not 
 Christians, because they. fear they may not have any more pleasure, 
 but must live a withered and dried up life. Christ does not with- 
 hold any good thing from his own people, but only those things 
 which may be harmful to one's own spiritual life, and that of his 
 
204 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 companions. There are so many good pleasures to have in this life, 
 that God's children should not partake of questionable and doubtful 
 things. Worldly and sensual pleasures are usually false and deceit- 
 ful. An old proverb says, "He buys honey too dear who licks it 
 from thorns." The better rule to keep your life out of difficulty is 
 to do as Jesus directed, "Follow me," and then you will always be 
 safe in choosing your pleasures. A splendid rule to go by is, that 
 pleasure must first have the warrant that it is without sin, or that 
 which leads into sin; then the measure, that it is without excess. 
 Read Luke 19:1 — 10, special verse 8. 
 
 SOLD OUT. 
 
 And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same 
 red pottage ; for I am faint : And Jacob said, Sell me this day thv 
 birthright. And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die : and 
 what profit shall this birthright do to me ? And he sold his birth- 
 
 A part of Lead City, S. D. 
 
 right unto Jacob. Gen. 25 130-33. — Then one of the twelve, called 
 Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, and said unto them, 
 What will ye give me, and I will deliver him' unto you? And 
 they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. ' Matt. 26 : 
 J 4, 15- — An d from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but 
 the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not 
 Caesar's friend: Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 205 
 
 The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar. Then 
 delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they 
 took Jesus, and led him away. Jno. 19:12, 15, 16. — For Demas 
 hath forsaken me, having* loved this present world, and is departed 
 unto Thessalonica. 2 Tim. 4:1c. 
 
 Some years past a man discovered gold in the Black Hills. He 
 had labored long and sacrificed the home joys and comforts, and 
 had to endure all the hardships that belong to such a life in an un- 
 explored region. The homestake mine at Lead City, S. D., is one 
 of the richest in the world. It was his. At the present it employs 
 3000 men all the time. It has already given to the world $80.- 
 oco,ooo, and he sold out for a paltry little sum. Esau sold out 
 his right to the rich inheritance for a mess of pottage. Judas 
 Iscariot sold his Savior,' and Lord for a few pieces of silver. Pilate 
 sold Jesus to the Jews for the mere friendship of a bad king. 
 Demas sold out his interest in heaven for a few pleasures of this 
 world. Adam and Eve sold their glory for just a bite of an apple. 
 Many people are selling their souls to the devil for the sake of a 
 few trifling things of this world. It is necessary to sacrifice some 
 things here, but it means to gain greater ones in eternity. "He 
 that shall endure to the end, shall be saved. Matt. 24:13. — Are 
 you selling out your interest in heaven? Read John 11:25.-46, 
 special verse 35. 
 
 BACKWARD AND FORWARD. 
 
 One old lady kept a sighing ; 
 
 Said she wasn't young, 
 Didn't look as sweet's she used to, 
 
 Times were all unstrung; 
 Troubles, doubled aches, and favors 
 
 Went a flying past, 
 Wrinkles stung like thorns, and eyesight 
 
 Kept a failing fast. 
 
 One old lady kept a saying 
 
 Life was like the spring;, 
 Brighter blossoms always coming, 
 
 Birds around to sing; 
 Troubles came — and went ; she let 'em, 
 
 Didn't count the throng. 
 Thanked the Lord 'most every morning 
 
 She'd been young so long ! 
 
 lessis M. Shazv 
 
206 RUBIES AXD DIAMONDS. 
 
 HE'LL UNDERSTAND. 
 
 "In the course of my ministrations," says Rev. J. W. Daw- 
 son, "through the slums of London I came upon a sad case, that 
 of a woman, the mother of five children, the eldest of whom 
 was a girl of nine or ten. 
 
 "The mother at the time the family first came under my 
 notice was dying of consumption. The father, a hard working- 
 man, was barely able to earn sufficient to supply the meager 
 wants of the family, and they Avere often in dire straits. 
 
 "The bulk of the work devolved on the oldest girl, Mary 
 by name. Never have I seen the title of 'Little Mother' more 
 appropriately earned. She not only had the inalid to care for, 
 but the younger children as well, and Mary was often a very 
 tired little girl. 
 
 "Mary's duties soon were lightened to a certain extent by 
 her mother's death, but made heavier in another by the added 
 responsibility of the little family. ,The burden of the children 
 and the house was very heavy after the mother had gone. While 
 she lived Mary had always felt there was someone to direct and 
 guide her, but now she was forced to rely upon herself entirely. 
 
 "Mary's health, none too strong at any time, soon began to 
 fail under the great responsibility which had fallen on 
 her shoulders. The care of the children, the cooking, the wash- 
 ing and ironing, the sweeping and bed-making were too much 
 for the little woman's strength. Day by day she failed, fewer 
 and fewer became the outings which the lusty baby enjoyed. 
 The little fellow soon became too heavy for the thin, weak arms 
 of the Tittle mother-,' and it was but seldom that she could muster 
 courage and energy enough to carry him down the steep stairs, 
 which were his only breathing ground. 
 
 "The day came when even the slightest exertion was im- 
 possible for poor Mary and she was forced to depend upon the 
 kind services of neighbors as poor as she was herself. Mary 
 failed rapidly. She was soon confined to her bed, and then I 
 procured the services of one of my 'helpers' who took up Mary's 
 work where the 'little mother,' in sheer helplessness, had laid 
 it down. 
 
 "On one of my daily visits, as I stood in the doorway, un- 
 announced, I heard the murmur of child'islh voices. A little 
 friend of Mary's was sitting with her and had been laboriously 
 spelling out some verses of the Bible. 
 
 " 'O Maggie!' I heard Mary say. 'Whatever will I say to 
 Jesus when I meet him and he asks me why I did not go to 
 church and why I did not pray? You know I Was so tired r 
 Maggie, so tired, I just couldn't.' 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 207 
 
 " 'Never you mind, Mary/ the other child replied. 'When 
 you see Jesus just show him your hands, Mary, and he will 
 understand.' 
 
 WORKS OF GOD. 
 
 Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou 
 hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward : they cannot be 
 reckoned up in order unto thee : if I would declare and speak of 
 them, they are more than can be numbered. Ps. 40:5. — Among 
 the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord ; neither are there any 
 works like unto thy works. Ps. 86:8. — He hath made the earth 
 by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and 
 
 hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion. Jer. 10:12. — 
 For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in 
 truth. Ps. 33 4. — I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and won- 
 derfully made : marvellous are thy works ; and that my soul know- 
 eth right well. ,Ps. 139:14. — Unto thee, O God, do we give 
 thanks, unto thee do we give thanks : for that thy name is near : 
 thy wondrous works declare. Ps. 75:1. — For we are his work- 
 manship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath 
 before ordained that we should walk in them. Eph. 2:10. — For 
 it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good 
 pleasure. Phil. 2 :i3« 
 
 The earth, with her many voices, praises God; Everything 
 about this great globe sends its smile back to Him in thanksgiving. 
 "Nature," says Novalis, "is an Aeolian harp, a musical instru- 
 
2o8 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 merit, whose tones are the re-echo of higher strings within us." 
 This is beautifully expressed, and true indeed. The Grand Canon 
 of the Yellowstone is undoubtedly the most picturesque spot on 
 the face of the earth. We are looking down the river to Inspira- 
 tion Point, and the Old Canon. At that point the 
 sides are almost perpendicular. The sloping walls shown here 
 must be nearly one-half mile from the top to the river. The river, 
 as it foams, rushes, and dashes, along at a mad rate, seems like a 
 blue ribbon laid down there to make the scenic effect more entranc- 
 ing. The width is possibly ioo feet to 150 feet. The volcanic 
 rock formation called rhyolite has been decomposed by the action 
 of the hot water and steam underneath it. The water and steam 
 may still be seen spouting out all along the brink of the river of 
 the New Canon. The New Canon was made by erosion, or the 
 cutting away of this softened rock by the stream of water, aided 
 by the elements of rain, frost, and snow. The softer portion has 
 been carried down the river, but the harder portions are left stand- 
 ing on the sides, and form pinnacles, spires, and domes just as 
 though the Creator had planned them, and placed them there, as 
 these ornaments are placed upon a cathedral. The balmy pine tree 
 is clinging to the rocky edges everywhere. How wonderful the 
 richness, and variety of colors ! On other canons, and gorges there 
 is the dead dull sameness, but here as a flaming fire. The artist 
 stands mute before this scene. The camera and pigments will 
 never be able to reproduce it. It would be like a baby trying to 
 form the fountains of the deep. The primary colors are red and 
 yellow with all their varying shades, intermixed with the browns, 
 greys, black, and lavender. Then God's sunshine pouring down 
 upon it, and the soft blue sky above make the view, even more en- 
 chanting. Words fail to express the beauty and grandeur of it. 
 The blending and harmony of the shades of colors seem perfect 
 Who would venture to suggest a different arrangement of these? 
 In short, it seemed that God had permitted this chasm to rise up, 
 and kiss one of his most beautiful ocean sunsets, and then to re- 
 turn to earth with all its richness enameled upon its face. I won- 
 der what the Psalmist would have said, had he been permitted to 
 view this, at once, awful, solemn, beautiful, majestic and sublime 
 spectacle of nature. The little blade of grass and the tiny flower 
 are magnificent marks of a mighty power not understood by the 
 mind of man. All the combined power of the steam engines of 
 the world could not bring these out of the ground. What a lone- 
 some and empty feeling must an infidel — one who believes nothing, 
 — and an agnostic — one who knows nothing about eternity — ex- 
 perience in their lives without God. Saint Paul says, That the 
 goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance. Rom. 2 '.4. — Even so, 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 219 
 
 ought the marvellous works of Nature which is all around us, lead 
 us back to God. If we could all stand before this wonderful scene 
 for a while and ponder over its formation, and then consider too, 
 the starry heavens, and the workmanship of the human eye, the 
 ear, the hand and the heart, and then think of the soul within us. 
 I believe with all these testimonies any one should be drawn to the 
 real knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ. How many live on 
 the husks like the Prodigal son rather than the good? Luke 15: 
 18. See pp. 179 to 183 and 228. Read Acts 1:1-12, special verse 8. 
 
 THE BANNERS. 
 
 We rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we 
 will set up our banners : the Lord will fulfill all thy petitions. Ps. 
 20 :g. — Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may 
 be displayed because of the truth. Ps. 60 4. — I am not ashamed of 
 
 the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to 
 every one that believeth. Rom. 1:16. — For whosoever shall be 
 ashamed of me (Jesus) and of my words of him shall the Son of 
 man be ashamed when he shall come in his own glory, and in his 
 Father's and of the holy angels. Luke 9 '.26. 
 
 It was on a hot summer day in Minneapolis in 1906 that the 
 Veterans of the Grand Army of the Republic marched with their 
 banners unfurled to the ever soul-stirring music of the fife and 
 drum. Many of them were too aged to march when the heat was 
 so intense, but the moment they heard the old-time music and saw 
 the Stars and Stripes floating in the air they were anxious to 
 "fall in." Nothing could keep them out of the ranks even when the 
 
2io RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 doctors advised against running the risk. One high officer when 
 told .that he could not stand so much fatigue, said he would rather 
 fall while marching with his flag than anywhere else. He marched 
 but was soon overcome, and sank to the earth to rise no more. 
 These veterans were not ashamed of their banners which they had 
 willingly forty years before offered their lives to uphold and de- 
 fend. As these brave old men passed by you so light-hearted and 
 cheerful you just felt like "falling in" too, and marching with 
 them. I wonder what you have done with your Christian banners. 
 Are they unfurled to the w r orld about you? Some quite good peo- 
 ple have religion for one hour on the Sabbath and then very care- 
 fully fold it up and lay it away for the other 167 hours of the 
 week. Some find all manner of excuses to hide it behind. Mr. 
 Moody once said, "It is a very solemn thought that God will ex- 
 cuse you, if you want to be excused. He does not wish to do it, 
 but he will do it." Your excuse for not witnessing for 
 Christ before the world ; your failing to be regularly at the church 
 services and prayer meeting; your failing to stand for the right 
 when among scoffers and mockers of religion as you ought to, is 
 the cause of much shame to Christ. 
 
 "Jesus, and shall it ever be, 
 
 A mortal man ashamed of thee? 
 
 Ashamed of thee, whom angels praise, 
 
 Whose glories shine through endless days?" 
 Read Daniel 1:8-21, special verse 8. 
 
 THE FLAG. 
 
 Richmond Pearson Hobson said in Brooklyn : "It is a 
 good thing for us to be proud of our country because she is 
 great, but it is a better thing to be proud of her because she is 
 good. You cannot name a navy officer who is not a God-fearing 
 man. He is bound to be a God-fearing man. For four years 
 every man of them must go to church every Sunday, and every 
 fourth Sunday you will hear a clause like this : Tt is enjoined 
 upon every officer and enlisted man to attend the service of 
 God.' * * * On Sunday morning the bugle will begin to 
 blow slowly. That is the call for divine service. Then you 
 will see the flag lowered, and another flag go way up in the air. 
 Look at this, please. It is a white cross on a blue background. 
 You will see the national flag go up slowly and stop just under 
 the other flag. This is to me very impressive. There is not 
 another flag under heaven, made by the hand of man, that can 
 float above our stars and stripes. * j* * You will see that 
 glorious flag waving proudly above things of this earth, but you 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 211 
 
 will see it looking up in humility to the flag of the white cross 
 above." 
 
 TWO STREAMS. 
 
 But now that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for 
 himself: the Lord will hear when I call unto him. Ps. 4:6, 3.. — 
 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, 
 the Lord knoweth them that are his : and every one that nameth 
 the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 2 Tim. 2:19. — Be ye 
 not unequally yoked together with unbelievers : for what fellowship 
 hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion 
 hath light with darkness? 2 Cor. 6 114. — But ye are a chosen gen- 
 eration, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people : that 
 
 ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out 
 of darkness into his marvelous light. 1 Pet. 2 19. — Ye are the salt 
 of the earth : but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it 
 be salted ? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and 
 to be trodden under foot of men. Matt. 5 113. — For many are 
 called, but few are chosen. Matt. 22:14. 
 
 The world lieth in the "evil one" says Apostle John. It has 
 been and is God's plan to save man from the power of this evil 
 one — the devil. Christ came to do the redeeming work. See 
 Matt. 1 :2i. — Redeem them from sin and its terrible consequence. 
 These then become a peculiar people unto God, standing in different 
 relation to him; than the people of the world. (Jno. 17:1, 14). 
 Mixed up with the world, but not of the world. A chosen and 
 separated people. Sin is very enticing and allures God's people 
 into wrong paths. The two cannot possibly keep company very 
 
212 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 long, until the one or the other has conquered. The Christian has 
 gained the sinful one, or the sinful one has stained the life of the 
 Christian. You will be known by the company you keep. We 
 may gather a lesson on this point from the. above scene. Up in 
 the mountains of Japan, near Ashinoyu, are two springs. Where 
 the man stands is a small stream of hot sulphur water issuing forth, 
 and under the large rock, quite a stream of cold sulphur water flows 
 out. If the hot water should flow into the larger cold stream, it 
 would soon be overcome. The Japanese keep this little stream Sep- 
 arated for a special purpose. Read Matt. 28 — , special verse 19. 
 
 SAM JONES' CONVERSION. 
 
 Sam Jones was once asked how long it took him to get religion. 
 "Well" he said, "I was fooling along at it a whole week, but as 
 soon as I meant business, I got it right there. J went along a 
 whole week a-mourning, an' a-crying, an' a-praying, but at last 
 I said, 'Sam Jones, you -will have to give this thing up; you'll have 
 to do something more than weeping and praying." I had an idea 
 that the more you prayed and the more you cried and the more 
 you moaned, 'the more better,' as the darky said, 'you get it when 
 you do get it.' Well, as I have said, I kept on a whole week. 
 At the end of the week I took a calm, sensible survey of the field, 
 and said : 'Sam Jones, you haven't moved an inch. You've 
 turned 'around instead of going forward.' And I just stood right 
 there and gathered up every sin of my life and threw every one of 
 them down in a common pile ; and then I crossed the bridge to the 
 other side; and, lest I should return, I stopped and set fire to the 
 bridge, and watched the last spark drop into the water and waited 
 till I saw the pillars topple to the ground, and it was not fifteen 
 minutes till I was in the arms of God, a saved man. If you give 
 up your sins, every step you take is toward God ; and as long as you 
 keep them in your life, every step you take is toward the devil. 
 'What must I do to be saved?' 'Believe on the Lord Jesus 
 Christ.' 'How can I believe?' Repent. If you do repent, you 
 cannot keep from believing to save your life." 
 
 RUN NO RISK. 
 
 I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come 
 into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. peliver me out 
 of the mire, and let me not sink. Ps. 69 :2, 14. He brought me up 
 also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my foot 
 
 1 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 213 
 
 upon a rock, and established my goings. Ps. 40:2. — O Lord, I 
 know that the way of man is not in himself : it is not in man that 
 walketh to direct his steps. Jer. 10:23. — The steps of a good man 
 are ordered by the Lord : and he delighteth in his day. Ps. 37 123. 
 — Teach me thy. way, O Lord ; I will walk in thy truth : unite my 
 heart to fear thy name. Ps. 86:11. — Enter not into the path of 
 the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass 
 not by it, turn from it, and pass on. But the path of the just 
 (righteous) is as the shining light, that shineth more and more 
 unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is as darkness : they 
 know not at what they stumble. Prov. 4:14, 15, 18, 19. 
 
 The scene is just outside of the North entrance to the St. 
 Louis Fair, before it was paved. The owner of the wagon left 
 
 , 
 
 
 
 
 
 T 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 -■ /"' ' ■-:■. 
 
 >v ''■■ . .-. .... "■■■' 
 
 the high road and solid ground and attempted to go a doubtful 
 way, venturing to cross this muddy place and stuck fast in the 
 mire. He managed to get the horse out, but the wagon, — Alas! 
 So it is with many beginners in the Christian life as well as many 
 older ones. They venture into doubtful, questionable and dan- 
 gerous ways — worldly amusements, dances, theaters, card parties, 
 reading harmful books and such like, which will in time ruin any 
 spiritual life. Jesus said "Watch." Matt. 24:42. Are you like 
 this wagon in your spiritual life? Goliath left off his helmet. He 
 did not dream that the little pebble in David's hand would harm 
 him in the least. He would mock at it, but he lost his life by 
 running the risk. These things are the little stones that ruin 
 the life. Read 2 Cor. 5 — , special verse 10. 
 
214 
 
 RUBIES AND D I A M ONDS 
 
 COMMON GROUND. 
 
 The rich and the poor meet together : the Lord is the maker of 
 them all. Prov. 22 :2. — Charge them that are rich in this world, 
 that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but the 
 living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; that they do 
 good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing 
 to communicate ; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation 
 against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life, t 
 Tim. 6:17-19. — Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he 
 is exalted : but the rich, in that he is made low : because as the 
 flower of the grass he shall pass away. Jas. 1 :g, 10. — Then Peter 
 said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons. 
 Acts 10 134. — For there is no respect of persons with God. Rom. 
 
 2 :n. — For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which 
 was lost. Luke 19:10. 
 
 It was a blessed arranged plan that Jesus came to this world 
 to save the lost without distinction of person. A soul is a soul to 
 him. While there are made distinctions here on earth, yet before 
 God all are lost in sin, and need the same divine Savior. The 
 prince and his servant, black and white, must be saved on the same 
 terms. It is the only common ground. By looking at the three 
 women, one would naturally judge that there was no inequality, 
 but there is a difference. The one on the right is a Japanese No- 
 bleman's daughter, and the others are her servants. The one is 
 worth her thousands in money, and the others are dependent on 
 her for a living. There is only one door to heaven, and all that 
 will enter, must enter by the same door. There is only one com- 
 
RUBIES AND D I A M ONDS. 
 
 215 
 
 mon ground, and that is at the Cross of Christ. All must meet 
 here. Read Acts 16:25-40, special verse 31. 
 
 GRACE AND CHARACTER. 
 
 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and lov- 
 ing favor rather than silver and gold. Prov. 22 :i. — A good name 
 is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the 
 day of one's birth. Eccles. 7:1. — That we henceforth be no more 
 children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of 
 doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby 
 
 they lie in wait to deceive. Eph. 4 114. — But grow in grace, and in 
 the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Pet. 3 : 
 18. — Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye 
 continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed. Jno. 8:31, 
 — They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion 
 appeareth before God. Ps. 84 7. — But the path of the just is as a 
 shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. 
 Prov. 4:18. — Not as though I had already attained, either were 
 already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that 
 for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I 
 count not myself to have apprehended : but this one thing I do, 
 forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto 
 those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the 
 prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Phil. 3 : 12-14. — ■ 
 
216 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being 
 fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of 
 God. Col. i :io. — But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto 
 his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered awhile, 
 make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. i Pet. 5:10. 
 
 ,1 place these two subjects together from the fact that "grace" 
 includes the other, and especially is this true in speaking 1 of the 
 Christian life. There will be no Christian character, until the grace 
 (divine favor) of God through the redeeming work of Jesus has 
 begun in the life. Christian character is growing a flower for 
 God. Growing in God's favor day by day. Wonderful!! A 
 lesson may be gathered from the picture. The Japanese are quite 
 proud of their national flower — the chrysanthemum. This man 
 and his wife were devoted to them. He first found the soil, and 
 then the planting, succeeded by the growing time. It takes time 
 for trees, plants, and flowers to grow to maturity. That is not all, 
 •for the flowers had to have the proper attention given them. You 
 will see how careful they are with them. They will take a soft 
 brush, and tenderly brush the leaves on both sides, freeing the plant 
 of any insect or any thing that may be injurious to its growth. 
 With such care the little flower will develop into a large beautiful 
 one. St. Peter exhorts all to "grow in grace," that is in the "di- 
 vine favor," and knowledge of Jesus Christ. The heart is the soil, 
 and the Word of God is the Seed (Luke 8:11, 12) to be sown in 
 the soil, and then this must be watered by the presence of the Holy 
 Spirit, and prayer. You will begin a life that will then grow, and 
 character will develop until the time of reaping — when the great 
 Lord of heaven shall send his angel to pluck it, (the life) and bear it 
 hence, and to preserve it to' shew forth his glory of Redemption in 
 the ages to come. Eph. 2 :8.^This is the death so called. A tree 
 will not only lie as it falls, but it will fall as it leans. The great 
 question for all of us is this : Does my soul lean toward God with 
 with all its affections, or away from him? Character is made bv 
 leaning toward Him. Character is undone, and destroyed by lean- 
 ing from God. i Some one has said, "That being of grace must 
 go before the increase ; for there is no growth without life, and no 
 building without a foundation." "Grace," says Mr. T. Adams, 
 "comes into the soul, as the morning sun into the world; first a 
 dawning; then a light; and then at last the sun in his full bright- 
 ness." St. Paul tells us how to grow ; "Study to shew thyself 
 approved unto God." '2 Tim. 2 ;i5. — When God makes 3^our char- 
 acter, then your reputation will be guarded safely. What kind of a 
 flower are you growing for -eternity? Character is what you are, 
 and reputation is what people say you are. Reputation is only the 
 shell. Character is the kernal. Read John 8;i-i2. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS, 217 
 
 SOLDIERS. 
 
 And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his 
 (Jesus) head, and they put on a purple robe, and said, Hail, King 
 of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands. Jno. 19:2, 3. 
 — Thou therefore endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 
 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this 
 life that he may please him Who hath chosen him to a soldier. 
 2 Tim. 2 13, 4. — Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony 
 of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner : but be thou partaker of the 
 afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God, who hath 
 saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our 
 works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was 
 given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. 2 Tim. 1 :8, 9. — 
 
 Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my 
 brother, and companion in labor, and fellow soldier, but your 
 messenger, and he that ministered to my wants. Phil. 2 125. 
 
 These are Philippine soldiers marching on the opening day at 
 the World's Fair, St. Louis. Willingness, earnestness, obedience ana 
 endurance are the faithful marks of the good soldier. Unity is 
 their marching note, and they keep perfect step with their com- 
 mander. There is no falling out of rank, though they be weary 
 and fatigued. Pilate had his soldiers. Jesus now has his sol- 
 diers — a wonderful army, scattered over this wide world, whereso- 
 ever man is found. Saint Paul tells us that, Our citizenship is in 
 heaven. Phil. 3 :20. That is the Christians true home. If he 
 will not fight for that what will he fight for? Christ's soldiers 
 know but one weapon — the Bible. (Over), 
 
218 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 Must I be carried to the skies, 
 I On flowery beds of ease, 
 
 While others fought to win the prize, 
 And sailed through bloody seas? 
 
 Since I must fight if I would reign, 
 Increase my courage, Lord! 
 I'll bear the toil, endure the pain, 
 Supported by Thy grace. 
 Read Gen. 12:1-5, an d 5 :I_ 7- 
 
 THANKFUL FOR THE TRACKS. 
 
 It is a blessing that we have to do the things today that we 
 do not want to do. We may be in sharp rebellion against the 
 pressure of the limitations that shut us in and prescribe today's 
 duty. So is the locomotive, with its train of cars, in rebellion 
 against the narrow, sharply defined rails within which it is set, 
 and which curve and turn this way and that, compelling the 
 locomotive to follow; it rebels against every turn in the track, 
 and would, if it could, jump clear and go straight ahead on its 
 own spontaneous, unhindered way. And then it would be glad to 
 get back onto the smoother running, even narrowly limited and 
 sharply dictatorial track again. For that is the only way by which 
 it can reach its goal ; and it is also the way of least wear and tear, 
 strain and obstruction. Our own sweet wills, spontaneous and 
 uncontrolled, would not make a good substitute for the steel rails 
 of duty and environment in which God has set us. These God- 
 ordained, lovingly prescribed limitations hold us and insist that we 
 shall work by a better plan than our own. Let us be thankful for 
 the tracks that mean safety from a ditching. — S\ 5\ Times. 
 
 WHAT TO READ. 
 
 If you have the blues, read the twenty-seventh Psalm. 
 
 If your pocketbook is empty, read the thirty-seventh Psalm. 
 
 Hi you are losing confidence in man, read the thirteenth chapter 
 of First Corinthians. 
 
 If people seem unkind, read the fifteenth chapter of St. John. 
 
 If you are discouraged about your work, read the one hun- 
 dredth and twenty-sixth Psalm. 
 
 If you find the world growing small and yourself great, read 
 the nineteenth Psalm. 
 
 If you cannot have your way in everything, keep silent and 
 read the third chapter of St. James. 
 
 If you are all out of sorts, read the twelfth chapter of Hebrews. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 219 
 
 WORKERS. 
 
 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt 
 thou labor, and do all thy work. Ex. 6:8, 9. — But let every man 
 prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicings in himself 
 alone, and not in another. Gall 6 14. — For we are laborers togeth- 
 er with God. 1 Cor. 3 :g. — Seest thou how faith wrought with 
 his works, and by works was faith made perfect? Jas. 2:22. — 
 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his 
 good pleasure. Phil. 2:13. — And let us consider one another to 
 provoke unto love and to do good works. Heb.. 10:24. — But whoso 
 looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he 
 being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall 
 be blessed in his deed. Jas. 1 125. — I have glorified thee on earth: 
 
 I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. Jno. 17 14. — 
 For God is not unrighteous to forget your labor of love, which ye 
 have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the 
 saints, and do minister. Heb. 6:10. 
 
 The Christian, is set apart to work in union with God. Jesus 
 says, I am the vine and ye are the branches. Jno. 15 15. The vine 
 and the branches are really one and must necessarily work together. 
 God has commanded his people to work six days and to rest the 
 seventh day. It is a special day for meditation on things eternal. 
 Doing anything but good, or of real necessity on this day is a posi- 
 tive sin. Riotious pleasure is not even permissible. We are work- 
 ers together with God for all that makes for good, and for the sal- 
 vation of this world. The Japanese are drawing a load of sand up 
 the big bluff in Yokohama. In front a woman and a man are pul- 
 
220 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 ling. Two men are pushing behind the cart. As they toil, they 
 sing in their peculiar fashion, keeping step with the music. By so 
 doing they are able to accomplish their work easier and better. 
 That is the manner and spirit in which the people should work, 
 particularly the Christian. If there should be no room in front for 
 you to pull, do not complain, or be disturbed about it, but just slip 
 around to the year and put your shoulder to the wheel and push 
 God will see your good work, and will remember it, even if people 
 about you do not. It will lighten the burden for some one, and all 
 will feel better and happier over it. It would surely be unjust to 
 get on to ride, adding more burden. But a good many are 
 doing this very thing. The great Apostle admonishes us thus, And 
 whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as unto the Lord, and not unto 
 men. Col. 3 '.23. 
 
 "Is the world better or worse where I tread? 
 What have I done in the years that are dead? 
 What have I left in the way as I passed — 
 Foibles to perish, or blessings to last?" 
 
 ."Be strong ! We are not here to play, to dream, to drift, 
 We have hard work to do, and loads to lift. 
 Shun not the struggle, face it, 'tis God's gift. 
 Be strong, be strong!" — M. D.. Babcock. 
 
 Read Acts 19:13-21, special verse 19. 
 
 "HEARTS AT HAME." 
 
 I've kept the heart at hame, dear, 
 
 Though far afield I've been, 
 While seasons went and came, dear, 
 
 Through many a changing scene; 
 It had no wish to rove, dear, 
 
 Forevermore the same, 
 Bound fast within your love, dear, 
 
 I've kept the heart at hame. 
 
 Ah yes, the world I've seen, dear, 
 
 From zone to zone, but mind, 
 What does such seeing mean, dear, 
 
 When hearts are left behind? 
 So let the world go by, dear, 
 
 A fig for all its fame! 
 For love is best for aye, dear, 
 
 With hearts kept fast at hame. 
 
 — Rose Mills Powers 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 221 
 
 LOVE AND UNITY. 
 
 Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? 
 why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by 
 profaning the covenant of our fathers? Mai. 2:10. — But to us 
 there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we 
 in him : and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and 
 we by him). 1 Cor. 8 :6. — For he (Jesus) is our peace, who hath 
 made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition 
 between us. Eph. 2:14. — Be kindly afTectioned one to another 
 with brotherly love: in honour preferring one another. Rom. 12: 
 10. — A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one 
 another : as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. Jno. 
 
 13 134. — Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to 
 dwell together in unity! Ps. 133 :i. 
 
 Christ's great work was to bring man into unity with God, and 
 to establish better relations of man with man. Outside of Christ 
 every man is for himself. The scene is in a large Japanese hotel 
 at Nikko. The room as you see it is about seventy feet long. It 
 was on a balmy September day, and the guests all consented to 
 remove the paper slide partitions, which divided their rooms, and 
 to have all things in common for that time. The first man is hav- 
 ing his tea. The next has just come in, and the rest are having 
 their breakfast. In the Japanese hotels there are no dining rooms 
 as we have them, but each one dines in his own room. The ser- 
 vants are sitting on the left side. It is blessed to dwell together in 
 unity. In the home and in the church the motto should be "love 
 and unity." How sublime the thought of Victor Hugo, when he 
 
222 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 said, "Life was a flower of which love is the honey." We may 
 hammer ice to pieces, but it is still ice ; place it in the sunshine and 
 it melts. Under the sunshine of God's love most any trial and 
 difficulty will melt away. Read Ephesians 5 — , special verse 6. 
 
 SAM JONES' SAYINGS. 
 
 Many a fellow is praying for rain with his tub wrong side up. 
 
 Repentance is the first conscious movement of the soul from sin 
 toward God. 
 
 Let me say to you : If you can't help but one family in town, 
 let that be the family which needs the help. I have a profound 
 contempt for folks who are always helping those who don't need 
 any help. 
 
 Religion is like the measles ; if it goes in on you it will kill you. 
 The. trouble with a great many Christians in this city is, religion 
 has gone in on them. Keep it broken out on the hands, feet, and 
 tongue. 
 
 'Everybody ought to keep good company. There is not an 
 angel in heaven that would not be corrupted by the company that 
 some of you keep. 
 
 You have no more right to flaunt your diamonds and your rich- 
 es in the face of the poor man than you have to shake bread in the 
 face of a hungry man and not give him any of it. 
 
 AN EXCELLENT PRESCRIPTION. 
 
 A rather eccentric yet eminent physician was called to attend a 
 middle-aged rich lady, who had imaginary ills. After many wise 
 inquiries about her symptoms and manner of life, he asked for a 
 piece of paper, and wrote down the following prescription : 
 
 '"Do something for somebody." 
 
 In the gravest manner he handed it to the patient and left. 
 The doctor heard nothing from the lady for a long time. On 
 Christmas morning he was hastily summoned to. the cottage of her 
 Irish washerwoman. 
 
 "It's not meself, doctor; it's me wrist that's ailing. Ye see I 
 was after going out into the black darkness for a few bits of wood, 
 when me foot struck this basket. It stood there like a big mercy 
 as it was, full of soft flannel, from Mrs. Walker. She towld me 
 that your medicine cured her, doctor. So, if you plaze, to put a 
 little of that same on me wrist, I'll be none the worse for me nice 
 present." "It's a powerful remedy," said the doctor, gravely. And 
 more than once in after years he wrote the prescription : 
 
 "Do something for somebody." 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 22$ 
 
 THE TEMPLE. 
 
 i 
 Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that 
 the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the Lord of 
 Israel. Ezra 4:1. — (These builders had enemies all about them. 
 See same chapter.) One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will 
 I seek after ; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days 
 of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in 
 his temple. Ps. 27 4. — We have thought of thy loving kindness, 
 O God, in the midst of thy temple. Ps. 48.9. — Two men went up 
 into the temple to pray : the one a pharisee, and the other a publi- 
 can. Luke 18:10. — Know ye not that ye are the temple of God 
 and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you. 1 Cor. 3:16. — And 
 
 what agreement hath the temple of God with idols ? for ye are the 
 temple of the living God : as God hath said, I will dwell in them, 
 and walk in them : and I will be their God, and they shall be my 
 people. 2 Cor. 6:16. — What? know ye not that your body is the 
 temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you" which ye have of God, 
 and that ye are not your own? 1 Cor. 6:17. 
 
 Asakusa Temple is one of the largest in Japan. It is located 
 in the suburb of Asakusa, (Asaksa,) Tokio. To this place the mul- 
 titudes go to worship Buddha every day, and every hour of the 
 day. The idols on page 65 are located outside the temple gate, 
 page 94. It is a superstitious worship indeed. It drew out one's 
 sympathy to see the people bowing before the big dumb bronze 
 idol inside the temple, having no eyes to see, no ears to hear, and 
 no heart to love. The holy doves flit about you, expecting some 
 
224 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 sort of entertainment in the way of food which is kept for sale by 
 women on either side of the pavement. God has truly established 
 his house of worship and prayer on earth. You remember that 
 Moses built the first tabernacle, and some centuries later Solomon 
 erected the first temple. To these places the people all went to 
 worship, and God's presence dwelt continually in the division of 
 these buildings called the Holy of Holies. No person was per- 
 mitted to enter this part, but the High-priest, who did so once a 
 year. ^ When Jesus came into the world, he brought in a new dis- 
 pensation, virtually a new life, and a better hope was given by him. 
 While God's presence dwells in his churches in a certain sense to- 
 day, yet in reality this has been changed, so that now the Believer 
 becomes the living temple of the living God. His Holy Spirit 
 dwells in them after conversion. Do you realize this? Read 
 Phillipians 3 — , special verse 10. 
 
 GAVE WHAT SHE HAD. 
 
 Rev. G. Campbell Morgan tells this story : "Some years ago, 
 at home, a woman came to me at the close of the Sunday morning 
 service, and said : 'Oh, I would give anything to be in this work 
 actively and actually. I would give anything to have some living 
 part in the work that is going on here next week in winning men 
 and women to Christ, but I do not know what to do.' I said, 'My 
 sister, are you prepared to give the Master the five loaves and two 
 fishes you possess ?' She said, T do not know that I have five loaves 
 and two fishes.' I said, 'Have you anything you have used in any 
 way specially?' 'No, she did not think she had.' 'Well/ I said. 
 'Can you sing?' Her reply was, 'Yes, I sing at home, and I have 
 sung before now in an entertainment.' 'Well, now,' I said, 'let us 
 put our hand on that. Will you give the Lord your voice for the 
 next ten days?' She said, T will.' I shall never forget that Sun- 
 day evening. I asked her to sing, and she sang. .She sang the Gos- 
 pel message with the voice she had, feeling that it was a poor, worth- 
 less thing, and that night there came out of that meeting into the 
 inquiry room 1 one man. That man said to me afterwards that it 
 was the Gospel song that reached his heart; and from that day to 
 this — that is now eleven or twelve years ago — that man has been 
 one of the mightiest workers for God in that city and country I 
 have ever known. How was it done? A woman gave the Master 
 what she had." 
 
 Many doubts are so absurd that the only way to combat them 
 is by gentle ridicule. — Spurge on. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 225 
 
 TO MINISTER. 
 
 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but 
 to minister, and to* give his life a ransom for many. Matt. 20:28. 
 — And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's 
 mother laid, and sick of a fever. And he touched her hand, and 
 the fever left her : and she arose, and ministered unto them. Matt. 
 8:14, 15. — There was a certain man in Csesarea called Cornelius, 
 a centurion of the band called the Italian, a devout man, and 
 one that feared God with all his house, which gave alms to the 
 people, and prayed to God alway. And when he looked on him, he 
 was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, 
 Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before 
 
 God. Acts 10: 1, 2. 4. — Make you perfect in every good work to 
 do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, 
 through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Heb. 
 13 :2i. — Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should 
 do to you, do ye even to to them : for this is the law and the proph- 
 ets. Matt. 7:12. 
 
 There are many blind Japanese. They do not live on charity 
 as a rule, but generally provide for themselves when necessity com- 
 pels them so to do, without becoming* notorious beggars in the pub- 
 lic highway. In the evening, usually about six o'clock you will 
 hear a shrill whistle in the street. This is the signal that such one 
 is looking for work to gain the next day's rice, as well as doing 
 some good in return. The Japanese verily believe in the massage 
 
226 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 treatment, especially those who are troubled with rheumatism. They 
 are called in, to minister to the afflicted in the manner indicated 
 above. The primary work of Jesus was to save people from sin, 
 still he ever ministered to their temporal and physical necessities 
 also. He feeds the multitude, see Matt. 14:15, and 15:22. By 
 a word spoken or a tender touch with his hand he heals the sick. He 
 left his disciples an example how to work, and expects of them this 
 kindness to each other. The hospitals for the sick should be kept 
 up, and good homes for the homeless children, and also for the poor, 
 aged and infirm. This is what makes life worth living. Just help 
 some one who needs it. 
 
 "If you live for self, you live in vain. 
 If you live for Christ, you'll live again." 
 
 WHAT WON KIMURA. 
 
 In. The Missionary World, Kimura, the Japanese Evangelist, 
 tells the story of how he was won for Christ. 
 
 "A missionary teacher, a lady, came and got twenty-five Jap- 
 anese boys into a class to tell us about Jesus. We had great curios- 
 ity to see this foreign lady, and not caring about Jesus, we did care 
 to see how everything looked — her dress, her books, her furniture, 
 her pictures, but every time she would have us read the Bible. We 
 had the Gospel of Luke. Soon we read till we came to the cruci- 
 fixion. She could not speak Japanese ; she had the English Bible ; 
 we had the Bible in Japanese language. 
 
 "When we read the story of the cross, she got down on her 
 knees and prayed for us. We could not understand, but watched 
 her close; soon she began to cry; then she fell on her face, weeping 
 bitterly. Then twenty-five Japanese boys cried, too. 
 
 "Then inside of three weeks all us twenty-five boys gave our 
 hearts to Jesus. She did not reach us through our heads; she 
 reached our hearts; and when you have Jesus in your heart, it is 
 well. Many of these twenty-five boys_are evangelists and preachers. 
 My father kept a wine shop; soon I led him and mother to Jesus, 
 and the business was given up. Then I led many more Japanese to 
 Christ. It is not so necessary that the missionary have the language 
 if she have the love of God for souls in her heart ; that was what won 
 me; all because this woman who could not speak our language 
 loved our souls." 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 227 
 
 FAITHFUL. 
 
 My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. 
 Num. 12 \J. — O love the Lord, all ye his saints: for the Lord pre- 
 serveth the faithful. Ps. 31 123. — His lord said unto him, Well 
 done, good and faithful servant ; thou hast been faithful over a few 
 things, I will make thee ruler over many things : enter thou into 
 the joy of thy Lord. Matt. 25 123. — Moreover it is required in 
 stewards, that a man be found faithful. 1 Cor. 4:2. — And the 
 
 things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the 
 same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others 
 also. 2 Tim. 2 :22. — Fear none of these things which thou shalt 
 suffer : behold the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye 
 may be tried : and ye shall have tribulation ten days : be thou faith- 
 ful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. Rev. 2 :io. 
 
 The statue is that of the first Methodist Preacher to the Black 
 Hills. He was killed near Deadwood by the Indians, while on his 
 way to an out-station to preach the gospel. If we could say with 
 Saint Paul, "Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the 
 
228 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord : for whom 
 I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but refuse, 
 that I may win Christ." Phil. 3 :8. — God places his seal of love 
 upon the faithful one, standing for his truth in this evil world. 
 Sometimes it is difficult to be faithful. Paul exhorts us very time- 
 ly, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made 
 you free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. 
 Gal. 5:1. — Bishop Home once said, "When men cease to be faith- 
 ful to their God, he who expects to find them so to each other will 
 be disappointed." Read Philippians 1 — , special verse 20. 
 
 INSPIRATION 
 
 And God spake all these words. Ex. 20:1. — And the Lord 
 said unto Moses. Write thou these words. Ex. 34:27. — There- 
 fore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, 
 and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as 
 frontlets between your eyes. Duet. 11 :i8. — All scripture is given 
 by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, 
 for correction, for instruction in righteousness. 2 Tim. 3:16. — 
 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man : but holy 
 men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (Spirit) 
 2 Pet. 1 :2i. — God who at sundry times and in divers manners 
 spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these 
 last days spoken unto us by his Son (Jesus). Heb. 1 :i, 2. — But 
 he (Elijah) himself went -a days journey into the wilderness, and 
 sat down under a juniper tree : and he requested for himself that 
 he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord take away my 
 life; for I am no better than the fathers. And the angel of the 
 Lord came again 'the second time, and touched him, and said, 
 Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. And he 
 said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. 1 
 Kings 19:4, 7, 11. — Job, said, Let the day perish wherein I was 
 born. Job. 3 :2, 3. — As I was with Moses, so I will be with thee : 
 I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Be strong and of good cour- 
 age. Josh. 1:5, 6. — Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not 
 dismayed ; for I am thy God : I will strengthen thee : yea, I will 
 help thee ; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my right- 
 eousness. Isa. 41 :io. 
 
 'On the west side of the Grand Canon, Yellowstone Park, 
 there are three principal points of view, going north from the 
 Lower Falls. The first is Point Lookout, (see pages 181 and 207) 
 the second, Grand View and the third, Inspiration Point, which is 
 higher than the others. It is about 1500 feet above the river and 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 229 
 
 the others about 1200 feet. These places or points which extend 
 out into the Canon, appear to have been designed by Providence 
 and left standing there for the visitor to drink in the magnificent 
 and almost enchanting spectacle of nature. Here is where one 
 may, as the poet Pope said, "Look through nature up to nature's 
 God." If you want to get a spiritual uplift, just stand on Point 
 Lookout or Grand View. If you want to know and feel how little 
 you really are and at the same time be inspired with the goodness, 
 mercy and wonders of a mighty God, stand on this Inspiration 
 Point. Here you will almost forget, whether you are in the body 
 or out of the body. This Point is very applicable to the Scriptures, 
 the Old and New Testaments. Here we see the dividing line of 
 the Old Canon and New Canon. Looking down the stream, we 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 ■* 
 
 
 •ft," - 
 
 w 
 
 
 
 
 . 1 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 see the massive and majestic walls of the Old, and looking up the 
 river, the eye gleans the wonders and beauties of the New. The 
 Scriptures are inspired of God — that is God given. God cannot 
 trust man with his Word until he comes to stand on Inspiration 
 Point, where he may receive and believe them with all his heart. 
 Job became very much discouraged over the loss of almost every 
 earthly thing he had, and wished he had never been born. He was 
 afflicted in body, too. God was testing his faith. He could not un- 
 derstand thy ''Why' of all this. He was even told to curse God 
 and die, but in all his misery said, Though he slay me, yet will I 
 trust in him. Job. 13:15- — He was blessed abundantly afterward 
 for being faithful to God. See Job. Ch. 42. — Even Elijah wanted 
 to die. He got discouraged beyond measure, and tried to run 
 away from his troubles, his work and his God. The Lord follow- 
 
230 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS. 
 
 ed him, and treated him very kindly. He thought the world was 
 against him, and it was. His best friend was God. He was told 
 to get out of the cave, and go, stand upon the Mount before the 
 Lord. God spoke to him there, and inspired him to a higher life. 
 I presume most of us get into the same fix that good Elijah was 
 in, and wish to get away from all the disturbing things of life. 
 The Lord will probably find us in a cave sometimes, and will say, 
 "What doest thou here?" i Kings 19:13. — "Come, let us reason 
 together." Isa. 1 :i8. — He wants to speak to us. He can speak 
 away the things that hurt, as the father or mother by a loving, 
 word can stop the tears of the child. 
 
 "Speak to my soul dear Jesus, 
 
 Speak in tenderest tones of love." 
 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are pos- 
 sible to him that believe. And straightway the father of the child 
 cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe ; help thou mine un- 
 belief. Mark 9 123, 24.— This is how we need to pray, too. 
 
 I am glad there is a depth in the Bible I know nothing about, 
 said Mr. Moody; that there is a height there I can not climb to if 
 I should live to be as old as Methuselah ; I venture to say if I should 
 live for ages on the earth I would only have touched its surface. 
 
 I pity the man who knows all the Bible, for it is a pretty good 
 sign he doesn't know himself. A man came to me with what he 
 thought was a very difficult passage, and he said : 
 
 "Mr. Moody, how do you explain it?' ' 
 
 I said, "I don't explain it." 
 
 "But how do you interpret it?" 
 
 "I don't interpret it." 
 
 "Well, how do you understand it?" 
 
 "I don't understand it." 
 
 "But what do you do with it?" 
 
 "I don't do anything with it." 
 
 "You don't believe it?" 
 
 "Yes, I believe it. There are lots of things that I believe that 
 I do not understand. In the third chapter of John, Christ says to 
 Nicodemus, "If you do not understand earthly things, how can you 
 understand heavenly things ?' There are a great many things about 
 my own body I do not understand; I don't understand nature; it is 
 filled with wonderful things I don't comprehend. Then why should 
 I expect to know everything spiritually ?" But men ask, "How can 
 you prove the Book is inspired?" I answer, "Because it inspires me." 
 That is one of the best proofs. It does inspire us. 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 231 
 
 WARFARE. 
 
 And the Lord said unto me, Say unto them, Go not up, 
 neither fight ; for I am not among you : lest ye be smitten before 
 your enemies. Deut. 1 142. — This charge I commit unto thee, son 
 Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, 
 that thou by them mightest war a eood warfare. 1 Tim. 1 :i8. — 
 Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that 
 contendeth with thee: they that war against thee shall be as noth- 
 ing, and as a thing of nought. Isa. 41 :i2. — No man that warreth 
 entangleth himself with the affairs of this life : that he may please 
 him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. 2 Tim. 2 14. — But if 
 it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it, lest haply ye be found even 
 
 to fight against God. Acts 5 139. — I therefore so run, not as un- 
 certainly, so fight I, not as one that beateth the air. 1 Cor. 9 :26. 
 ■ — Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto 
 thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before 
 many witnesses. 1 Tim. 6:12. 
 
 )The Christian life is a real warfare. Warfare means 
 soldiers. Soldiers are always disciplined, and live under certain 
 rules and regulations, and obey the commands of their officers. 
 The Philippine soldiers at the St. Louis Fair are on duty, protect- 
 ing and guarding the government officials from being trampled up- 
 on by the multitude, so they were formed into line. Every soldier 
 of Jesus Christ must be disciplined, obedient and ever ready to 
 serve his Master, not with earthly weapons, but with a life of love 
 and good will. Sin is the common enemy. (Over.) 
 
2^2 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 "My soul, be on thy guard, 
 Ten thousand foes arise; 
 
 The hosts of sin are pressing hard, 
 To draw thee from the skies. 
 
 Fight on. my soul, till death 
 
 Shall bring thee to thy God! 
 He'll take thee at thy parting breath, 
 Up to His blest abode." 
 Read Psalms 15 and 16 — , special verse 1 1. 
 
 NOBLEST OF GOD. 
 
 Honor thy father and thy mother : that thy days may be long 
 upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. Ex. 20:12. 
 A little boy hearing a party of gentlemen applauding the remark 1 , 
 "An honest man is the noblest work of God,"- boldly said that 
 it was not true. Being asked, "What do you think is the noblest 
 work of God?" he replied, "My mother." Who could doubt 
 that such a boy would make a good man and true? 
 
 Rev. Sam. P. Jones once said : "An angel was sent down 
 from heaven one day to bring back the most beautiful thing on 
 earth. He hunted long and carefully, saw a bed of full blown 
 American beauty roses, lovely beyond compare, and he gathered an 
 armful and started to return to his home above. As he soared 
 into the air he saw a bady's smile, and filled with the rapturous ad- 
 miration at the sight, returned to take it, too. By its side he 
 discovered a mother's love, and with all three in his arm, he mounted 
 to the place beyond the skies. Just outside the pearly gates the 
 Spirit paused for a moment and lo ! the roses had withered and 
 were dead, the baby's smile had vanished, but, strong as ever 
 the mother's love remained : and he cast the others aside and took 
 this and laid it at the Master's feet as the most lovely and lasting 
 thing on earth." 
 
 HUMILITY. 
 
 "Humility is perfect quietness of heart. It is to have no 
 trouble. It is never to be fretted or vexed or irritated or sore or 
 disappointed. It is to expect nothing, to wonder at nothing that 
 is done to me, to feel nothing done against me. It is to be at rest 
 when nobody praises me, and when I am blamed or despised. It 
 is to have a blessed home in the Lord, where I can go in and shut 
 the door, and kneel to my Father in secret, and am at peace as in a 
 deep sea of calmness when all around and above is trouble." 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 233 
 
 THE RESURRECTION. 
 
 I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at 
 the latter day upon the earth : And though after my skin worms 
 destroy this body, yet in my flesh I shall see God. Job. 19:25, 26. 
 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness : I shall be satis- 
 fied, when I awake, with thy likeness. Ps. 17:15. — And thou shalt 
 be blessed: for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be 
 recompensed at the resurrection of the just. Luke 14:14. — Mar- 
 vel not at this : for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in 
 the graves shall hear his voice (God's) and shall come forth; they 
 that have done good unto the resurrection of life; and they that 
 have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. Jno. 5 '.28, 29. 
 Behold, I show you a mystery: we shall not all sleep, but we (the 
 
 Christians) shall all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkle of 
 an eye, at the last trump : for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead 
 shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. .1 Cor. 15 : 
 51, 52. — For our conversation (citizenship) is in heaven ; from 
 whence also we look for the Savior Jesus Christ : Who shall change 
 our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his (Christ's) 
 glorious body. Phil. 3:29, 21 — Blessed and holy is he that hath 
 part in the first resurrection : on such the second death hath no 
 power. Rev. 20:6. — For second death, see Rev. 21:8, 22:11, and 
 Matt. 25 146. — These verses refer to the unchristian. 
 
 There will be the resurrection of the believers (the just) in 
 Jesus Christ to receive their reward for the things done while on 
 the earth. And also of the unbelievers (the unjust) those 
 who have wilfully and deliberately by words and deeds rejected, 
 or neglected Jesus to appear personally before God to be judged, 
 
234 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 and cast from his presence forever. All of them that sleep in the 
 dust of the earth shall awake at the resurrection time, some to ever- 
 lasting life, and some to shame and everlasting abhorrence — con- 
 tempt. [See Dan. 12:2. — Rev. 20:12-15. — The tomb is that of a 
 shogun, a great Japanese general, whose grave is said to be over 
 twenty feet deep, but all shall come forth from their graves when 
 God shall call for them. The casting from) God's presence etern- 
 ally is called the second death. The Christian, like Saint Paul 
 says, We ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the re- 
 demption of the body. Rom. 8 132. — He shall be like Christ then. 
 Jno .3 :i-2. — What a glorious hope! Read Thes. 1 — /special verse 
 2. 
 
 JUST LIKE GOD. 
 
 Little Mary was one morning reading with her mother in the 
 New Testament, and this was one of the verses of the chapter : 
 
 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten 
 Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have 
 everlasting life." Jno. 3:16. 
 
 Stopping for a moment in the- reading, the mother asked, 
 "Don't you think it is very wonderful?" The child, looking sur- 
 prised, replied in the negative. The mother, somewhat astonished, 
 repeated the question, to which the little daughter replied, "Why, 
 no, mamma. It would be wonderful if it were anybody else; but 
 it's just like God." 
 
 REMEMBERED. 
 
 And the Lord said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in 
 a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua : for I will utterly blot 
 out the remembrance of Amelek from under heaven. Ex. 17:14. 
 And these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Is- 
 rael for ever. Josh. 4:7. — Verily I (Jesus) say unto you, Where- 
 soever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall 
 also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her. 
 Matt. 26:13. — And he — the angel — said unto him — Cornelius — 
 Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before 
 God. Acts 8 '.4.. — By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, 
 yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. Ps. 137:1. — The right- 
 eous shall be an everlasting remembrance. Ps. 112:6. — A book of 
 remembrance was written before him for them that feared the 
 Lord, and thought upon his name. Mai. 3 :i6. See also Rev. 13 : 
 8; 20:12; 21 :27; 20:15. 
 
 (Memorial, remembrance and remembered are words which 
 carry sweet fragrance with them when placed on the right side of 
 life. We keep in memorial the Fourth of July and Decoration 
 
RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 Day, for they mean much to us. One day Jesus was in Bethany 
 and a woman came and anointed him. It may seem like a very 
 little thing, but Jesus said it would be for a memorial of her where- 
 ever his gospel should be preached. It has been so kept. It was 
 done out of true devotion to her Savior and Lord. The good deeds 
 done and the kind words spoken by our loved ones and friends are 
 ever before us. We cannot get away from them. This splendid 
 scene I found in Milwaukee, and it brings to our mind so much. 
 It is a statue of George Washington given by a woman to the city.. 
 "To be remembered by what he has done." The woman is direct- 
 ing the thought of her little boy to his name. There is much to 
 think about. To think of his noble boyhood ; to think of his splen- 
 did young manhood; to think of his rugged honesty; to think of 
 his bravery as a soldier; and at the same time his kindness and 
 
 gentleness as a man. To think of his solid Christian character, 
 and his confidence in the eternal Father when everything seemed 
 to be going against him; to think of his love and patriotic spirit for 
 his country — to which he would give eight long years of his life 
 without asking one penny of pay. He was true to his ideal. He 
 stood for liberty in its true sense ; for the home ; for all that was 
 good and noble for. the people. He was a great man. As we go 
 along through life, and even after we lay down this earthlv life 
 down will some one be able to point to our names, remembering a 
 kindness shown in some way ? There are a plenty of sham bouquets 
 thrown at us you know ; but to have some sincere heart to place a 
 little flower upon the grave, saying, "In remembrance of a kindly 
 deed." While she points to this great name, yet I would direct 
 your thought to a greater NAME — a perfect NAME — JESUS. 
 
236 RUBIES AND DIAMONDS 
 
 For there is none other name under heaven given among men, 
 whereby we must be saved. Acts 4:12. — To him (Jesus) bear all 
 the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in 
 him shall receive remission of sins. Acts 10:43. — That at the 
 name of Jesus every knee should bow, and every tongue should 
 confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 
 Phil. 2:10, 11. Lest we forget: REMEMBER that NAME. 
 
 LAST WORDS OF SOME DISTINGUISHED 
 PERSONS. 
 
 Emperor Severus : I have seen all things, and all things are 
 of little value. 
 
 Emperor Julian the Apostate : O Galilean ! thou hast con- 
 quered. 
 
 Horace Mann : When you wish to know what to do, ask 
 yourself what Christ would have done in the same circumstances. 
 Caesar Borgia : I had provided in the course of my life for 
 everything except death, and now, alas ! I am to die, though entire- 
 ly unprepared. 
 
 Jean Paul Richter : My beautiful flowers, my lovely flowers. 
 
 Thomas Paine (infidel) : Taking a leap in the dark, oh, 
 mystery ! 
 
 Captain Lawrence. Don't give up the ship. 
 
 Franklin : A dying man can do nothing easy. 
 
 Hervey : How thankful I am for death. It is the passage 
 to the Lord and Giver of eternal life ! O welcome, ' welcome, 
 death! Thou mayest well be reckoned among the treasures of a 
 Christian : to live is Christ, to die is gain ! Lord now lettest thou 
 thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation! 
 
 Stonewall Jackson : Let us cross over the river and rest 
 under the shade of the trees. : 
 
 Martin Luther : Into thy hands I commend my spirit. Thou 
 hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth. 
 
 Alexander Hamilton : Grace. Rich grace. 
 
 Washington : It is well. 
 
 Daniel Webster : I still live. 
 
 Cardinal Beaufort : What ! is there no bribing death ? 
 
 General Braddock : We shall know better how to deal with 
 them (Indians) another time. 
 
 Sir Philip Sidney : I would not change my joy for the em- 
 pire of the world. 
 
 Thomas Jefferson : I resign my soul to God, and my daugh- 
 ter to my country. 
 
 John Wesley : The best of all is, God is with us. 
 
 Frances Willard : How beautiful it is to be with God! 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Abundance 57 
 
 Act, Result of a kind 70 
 
 Additions 117 
 
 Afflictions 197 
 
 Afraid, Not S6 
 
 Animal, A Noble 109 
 
 Apology. A Handsome 106 
 
 Associates 32 
 
 Attitude, Improper 27 
 
 Backward and Forward 205 
 
 Banners, The . 209 
 
 Barren Place, A 97 
 
 Best. Do Your 42 
 
 Bibles Depth, The 230 
 
 Blessing, A Chance for A 9S 
 
 Blessing, For A S7 
 
 Brakes. The 144 
 
 Bray, Billy 26 
 
 Bridge of Time, The 33 
 
 Burdens 122 
 
 Busy, He Was So US 
 
 Captive and in Prison 129 
 
 Careless 163 
 
 Cares for Tou, He 110 
 
 Cares, Many 167 
 
 Cares, Little 54 
 
 Cave, A 69 
 
 Cure. Simple 16S 
 
 Chair, The Empty 104 
 
 Channel 40 
 
 Cheerful View, A 34 
 
 Children, The 85 
 
 Christ 30 
 
 Christ, Following 30 
 
 Christ is the Clue 10 
 
 Church The 131 
 
 Clothed and Unclothed 127 
 
 Common Ground 214 
 
 Conscience, Hardening 62 
 
 Content. The Philosophy of 166 
 
 Contrast 136 
 
 Courage 170 
 
 Conversion, Sam Jones' 212 
 
 Convicted Him, What 24 
 
 Daily Spin, The 157 
 
 Danger. The 132 
 
 Darkness to Light 139 
 
 Devil, Where Was The 109 
 
 Devil's Slide, The 63 
 
 Difference, A 99 
 
 Division, The 195 
 
 Doorways, The Three 16 
 
 Double Going 34 
 
 Duty, A Neglected S2 
 
 Duty, Your 136 
 
 Enter In 94 
 
 Entrance, The Only 17 
 
 Face, Windows in the 66 
 
 Faces, Two 46 
 
 Failure. Cause of 59 
 
 Faith so 
 
 Faith. Sure 142 
 
 Faithful 227 
 
 Farmers, The Two is 
 
 Father, A Proud ; 150 
 
 Feeling Came Later 114 
 
 Fell, He i 52 
 
 Filled 61 
 
 Fishers 71 
 
 Flag, The 2 1-0 
 
 Followers * 121 
 
 Forgotten, Jack not 96 
 
 Fortress 120 
 
 Foundation, on Strong 132 
 
 Foundation, Sure n 
 
 Free to All 7 
 
 Fruit 133 
 
 Gates, The 53 
 
 Gave Up 98 
 
 Gave What She Had. 224 
 
 Gifts S 3 
 
 Girl That Shone 200 
 
 Give Up, Don't 152 
 
 Giver, The 196 
 
 God, Faithfulness of 96 
 
 God, Justice of 54 
 
 God, The Love of 14 
 
 God, The Mercy of 16 
 
 God, Works of 207 
 
 God. Word of 122 
 
 God's Wife ISO 
 
 Gospel, The 135 
 
 Gospel, The Fifth 196 
 
 Gratitude 19s 
 
 Grace and Character 215 
 
 Grinding 165 
 
 Guide, The 204 
 
 Guide, The Sure 5S 
 
 Half Way Business 47 
 
 Happiness 101 
 
 Heart at Home 220 
 
 Heaven, Where is 9S 
 
 Heavens, The 37 
 
(INDEX— Continued. ) 
 
 "Hold Fast 26 
 
 Holy Spirit, The 188 
 
 Home 189 
 
 Home, The Real 190 
 
 Honor, An 164 
 
 Hope For Such 46 
 
 Humility and Contentment 173 
 
 Humility 232 
 
 Impossible Effort, An 164 
 
 Idols 65 
 
 Important Step. The 29 
 
 Insincerity 22 
 
 Inspection Day, The 36 
 
 Inspection 228 
 
 Intended, For Whom 70 
 
 Introdutcion, The 39 
 
 Jesus, Love To 156 
 
 Kimura, What Won 226 
 
 Kingdoms, The 91 
 
 Knows, He 74 
 
 Xabor 81 
 
 Leadeth Me, He 103 
 
 Lesson, Impressing A 170 
 
 Xetters • }69 
 
 Liberty Cap 134 
 
 Life, Battles of 115 
 
 Life, Some Turns in 95 
 
 Life, The Christian 179 
 
 Life. The Mission of 42 
 
 Life, The Overcoming 93 
 
 Life, The Transforming Power of . . 50 
 
 Life. A Telling 56 
 
 -Light, The 22 
 
 Light in, Let the 172 
 
 Lightning Bolt, The Why of 90 
 
 Lights, Ye Are 1S7 
 
 Limpy a Chance, Give S8 
 
 Links, The Three 40 
 
 Little But Mighty 105 
 
 Living, Two Kinds of 72 
 
 Looks. Woman's 160 
 
 Love, A Great 150 
 
 Love, Christ's 8 
 
 Love, Wondrous 114 
 
 Love and Unity 221 
 
 Made Clear 10S 
 
 Marked and Sealed 149 
 
 Marvel, A 171 
 
 Material and Spiritual 76 
 
 Minister, To 225 
 
 Monotonous 102 
 
 Moralist, The 124 
 
 Mottoes, Good 178 
 
 Mound, A Little 75 
 
 Nations, All 175 
 
 Noblest of God 232 
 
 Never Mind 154 
 
 New, The 45 
 
 Obedience 113 
 
 Old, The 43 
 
 Out 25 
 
 Opportunities, Blind to 58 
 
 Out of the Little Comes the Greater 145 
 
 Patience 202 
 
 Peace m 
 
 People, Ordinary 102 
 
 People, Peculiar 7S 
 
 Persecution ss 
 
 Pick up as You Go 124 
 
 Pillows, The Three 109 
 
 Philosopher, The 125 
 
 Planted for Others 48 
 
 Pleasures 203 
 
 Potatoes l-jo 
 
 Power, The Motive 177 
 
 Power, Will be Given 176 
 
 Praise 19 
 
 Praised by Dewey, Boy 164 
 
 Prayer 49 
 
 Prayer, Answer to 56 
 
 Prayer, A Pause in 50 
 
 Prayer, A Heart 184 
 
 Prayer in the Pillow 202 
 
 Prescription, An Excellent 222 
 
 Precious 73 
 
 Pride and Vanity 51 
 
 Prepared 107 
 
 Preservation 79 
 
 Promise. Four Wheels of Divine... 106 
 
 Race, Why He Eost The ISO 
 
 Read, What to 21S 
 
 Ready 28 
 
 Reaping 161 
 
 Reconciliation 162 
 
 Religion, Everyday 22 
 
 Remedy, Had Tested The 192 
 
 Remembered 234 
 
 Removed 77 
 
 Resurrection 233 
 
 Resting Place, The 199 
 
 Riches 119 
 
 Right Direction, The 12 
 
 Risk, Run No 212 
 
 Ruler, A Crooked 76 
 
 Sacred Place, A 1S5 
 
 Sam Jones Sayings 222 
 
 Saved 23 
 
 Savior, Her 176 
 
 Scriptures, The 19 
 
 Secret of it, The 38 
 
 Secret Things 6S 
 
 Seek One to Come 138 
 
 Service 133 
 
 Ships 147 
 
 Side, Which 1SS 
 
 Sin, One 44 
 
 Sin, The Toil Of 130 
 
 Sinner, A 126 
 
 Soldiers 217 
 
 Sold Out . ..' 204 
 
 Sowing 159 
 
 Spin, Daily " ! >-f 
 
 Spirit, The Holy 174 
 
 Streams, Two 211 
 
(INDEX— Continued.) 
 
 Strength 12 
 
 Stronger, The 3 
 
 Suffering, Silent 14 
 
 Sufficient, All 15 
 
 Temple, The 
 
 Thankfulness 9 
 
 Things, Little 15 
 
 Things, Necessary 10 
 
 Throne, The 11 
 
 Time to Think 6 
 
 Time, Improve The . . . . 6 
 
 Time, No 8 
 
 Touch Not 19 
 
 Treasure, His 7 
 
 Trouble, The Cure of 6 
 
 Trust 14 
 
 Truth, The 7 
 
 Tune-up 4 
 
 Unhappiness, The Cause Of IS 
 
 Unknown 1 
 
 Understand, He'll 20 
 
 Wait 19 
 
 2 2 3 
 
 Wait, Not Safe to 24 
 
 Warfare 231 
 
 Warnings, "Unheeded 6 
 
 Wasted 1.1 G 
 
 Water, Living 55 
 
 Way, The 153 
 
 Weapons First 14 
 
 Wheels, Four 10 6 
 
 Wicked, The 143 
 
 Will, Not My 13 
 
 Woman in New York 186 
 
 Woman's Work for Christ 72 
 
 Won't Stay 10 
 
 Words, Last 236 
 
 Word to Parents = . . . . 130 
 
 World, The 151 
 
 World, The Way of the 89 
 
 World vs. The Christian . 31 
 
 Working and Rusting 60 
 
 Workers 219 
 
 Worship 21 
 
 Wouldn't Do ISO 
 
A&VQGtiLeVtib.6o. 
 
 X MILWAUKEE tt 
 
JUN 13 1908 
 
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