Goodness

Genuine Piety.- — When a great Grecian artist was fashioning an image for the temple he was diligently carving the back part of the goddess, and one said to him, “You need not finish that part of the statue, because it is to be built into the wall.” He replied, “The gods can see in the wall.” He had a right idea of what is due to God. That part of my religion which no man can see should be as perfect as if it were to be observed by all. The day shall declare it. When Christ shall come everything shall be made known, and published be fore the universe. Therefore see to it that it be fit to be thus made known.

Good but Good for Nothing. — T heard the other day of a Sunday-school address in America which pleased me much. The teacher, speaking to the boys, said, “Boys, here’s a watch, what is it for?” The children answered, “To tell the time.” “Well,” he said, “suppose my watch does not tell the time, what is it good for?” “Good-for-nothing, sir.” Then he took out a pencil. “What is this pencil for?” “It is to write with, sir.” “Suppose this pencil won’t make a mark, what is it good for?” “Good-for-nothing, sir.” Then he took out his pocket-knife. “Boys, what is this for?” They were American boys, and so they shouted, — “to whittle with,” — that is to experiment on any substance that came in their way by cutting a notch in it. “But,” said he, “suppose it will not cut, what is the knife good for?” “Good-for-nothing, sir.” Then the teacher asked, “What is the chief end of man?” and they replied, “To glorify God.” “But suppose a man does not glorify God, what is he good for?” “Good-for-nothing, sir.” That brings out my point most clearly; there are many professors of whom I will not say that they are good-for-nothing, but methinks if they do not soon stir themselves up to glorify God by proclaiming the sweetness of God’s love it will go hard with them. Remember how Jesus said of the savourless salt “henceforth it is good for nothing.” What were you converted for? What were you forgiven for? What were you renewed for? What have you been preserved on earth for but to tell to others the glad tidings of salvation and so to glorify God? Do, then, go out with your hands full of the honey of divine love and hold it out to otherr