John 3:8. Mat. 28:9. Isa. 50:10. to make his calling and election sure, in his own faith. His devotion and his usefulness will be greatly affected by the degree in which he feels himself to be a disciple "by the will of God." The stronger his sense of having been chosen of God the more fervid will be his consecration. Satan is ever on the alert to trouble him with doubts. The Spirit cannot always gain unhindered access to his spirit. "The wind bloweth where it listeth," but is ever ready to come in at the open window. We are, therefore, to watch unto prayer, to be ever ready for special visitations, to resist and to pray against misgivings, to rejoice when our assurance is clear and firm, and in times of comparative darkness to "hold him by the feet," and to wait in the patience of hope. Sometimes it is our sin which veils from us the face of God. At other times God is testing our faith. In any case we are to heed His loving admonition. "Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord and stay upon his God." CHAPTER VI. CONVERSION. You can't manufacture man any more than you can manufacture gold. You can find him, and refine him; you dig him out as he is, nugget fashion, in the mountain stream; you bring him home, and you make him into current coin or household plate, but not one grain of him can you originally produce. -Ruskin. There are those in whom the life of God has begun so early, so sweetly, and so gradually, that they can no more tell when they began to know the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior than they can tell when they first saw their mother's smile. -Monod. God draws, but he draws the compliant one. -Melancthon. Every day from my window I see the gulls making circuits and beating against the north wind. Now they mount high above the masts of the vessels in the stream, and then suddenly drop to the water's edge, seeking to find some eddy unobstructed by the steady blowing blast; till at length abandoning their efforts they turn and fly with the wind; and how like a gleam of light do their white wings flash down the bay faster than the eye can follow. So when we cease to resist God's divine influences and, turning toward Him, our thoughts and feelings are upborne by the breath of His Spirit, how do they make such swift heavenward flights as no words can overtake. -Beecher. Because I seek Thee not, oh seek Thou me. Because content I perish, far from Thee, If I were pouring at Thy feet my tears, I would not need Thee, Lord, as now I need, Nor dreads the outer darkness of this place- We may think of a father intent upon the Illustration happiness and success of a beloved son. In his own mind he has already of how God's choice be comes man's choice. He fixed upon a plan for the life of the lad. He desires him to enter upon a certain vocation. To secure this result he brings to bear all possible influences upon his son's mind and heart. He directs his education with the cherished object in view. He speaks favorably of the proposed trade or profession. watches the boy's aptitudes and tendencies, and strives to guide them in the desired direction. His own wish and effort is to mould the young life into that form which satisfies his own ideal. In due time the son comes of age. He must enter upon his life's work. To his father's great joy he chooses that vocation upon which the father had set his heart. In thus choosing, |