I have an idea that the Lord Jesus saw how men were going to stumble over this doctrine of election, so after He had been thirty or forty years in heaven He came down and spoke to John. One Lord's day in Patmos, He said to him:

"Write these things to the churches."

John kept on writing. His pen flew very fast. And then the Lord, when it was nearly finished, said,

"John, before you close the book, put in one more invitation. 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.'"

DECEMBER 5th.

The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.-Romans vi. 23.

F an angel came straight from the throne of

IF

God, and proclaimed that God has sent him to offer us any one thing we might ask-that each one should have his own petition grantedwhat would be your cry? There would be but one response, and the cry would make heaven ring: "Eternal life! eternal life!" Everything else would float away into nothingness.

It is life men want, and value most.

Let a

man worth a million dollars be on a wrecked vessel, and if he could save his life for six months by giving that million, he would give it in an instant. But the gospel is a six months' gift; "The gift of God is eternal life." And is it not one of the greatest marvels that men have to stand and plead and pray and beseech their fellow-men to take this precious gift of God?

DECEMBER 6th.

Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? for ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.5.-1 Corinthians vi. 19, 20.

I

THINK it is clearly taught in the Scripture

that every believer has the Holy Ghost dweiling in him, that there is a divine resident in every child of God. He may be quenching the Spirit of God, and he may not glorify God as he should, but if he is a believer on the Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost dwells in him. But I want to call attention to another fact. I believe to-day that though Christian men and women have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them, He is not dwelling within them in power; in other words, God has a great many sons and daughters without power.

DECEMBER 7th.

And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.-Matthew XXV. 25.

I

READ of a man who had a thousand dollars.

He hid it away, thinking he would in that way take care of it, and that when he was an old man he would have something to fall back upon. After keeping the deposit receipt for twenty years he took it to a bank and got just one thousand dollars for it. If he had put the money at interest in the usual way, he might have had three times the amount.

He made the mistake that a great many people are making to-day throughout Christendom, of not trading with his talents. My experience has been as I have gone about in the world and mingled with professing Christians, that those who find most fault with others are those who themselves do nothing. If a person is busy improving the talents that God has given him he will have too much to do to find fault and complain about others.

DECEMBER 8th.

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 Timothy i. 12.

NOTICE the confidence that breathes through Paul's last words to Timothy. It is not a matter of doubt, but of knowledge: "I know," "I am persuaded."

The word "Hope" is not used in the Scripture to express doubt. It is used in regard to the second coming of Christ, or to the resurrection of the body. We should not say that we

hope" we are Christians. I do not say that I "hope" I am an American, or that I "hope These are settled "hope" to go

a

married

man.

I am
things. I may say that I "hope"

back to my home, or that I hope to attend such a meeting. If we are born of God we know it; He will not leave us in darkness if we search the Scriptures.

DECEMBER 9th.

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.-John xv. 13.

WHEN we wish to know the love of God

we should go to Calvary. Can we look upon that scene, and say God did not love us? That cross speaks of the love of God. Greater love never has been taught than that which the cross teaches. What prompted God to give up Christ-what prompted Christ to die-if it were not love? "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Christ laid down His life for His enemies; Christ laid down His life for His murderers; Christ laid down His life for them that hated Him; and the spirit of the cross, the spirit of Calvary,

is love. When they were mocking Him and deriding Him, what did He say? "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." That is love. He did not call down fire from heaven to consume them; there was nothing but love in His heart.

DECEMBER 10th.

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me. -John xiv. 6.

PEOPLE say: "I want to know what is the

truth."

Listen: "I AM THE TRUTH," says Christ. (John xiv. 5.) If you want to know what the truth is, get acquainted with Christ.

People also complain that they have not life. Many are trying to give themselves spiritual life. You may galvanize yourselves and put electricity into yourselves, so to speak; but the effect will not last very long. Christ alone is the author of life. If you would have real spiritual life, get to know Christ. Many try to stir up spiritual life by going to meetings. These may be well enough; but it will be of no use, unless they get into contact with the living Christ. Then spiritual life will not be a spasmodic thing, but will be perpetual; flowing on and on, and bringing forth fruit to God.