XLIV. THE BRITISH BAYONET.

A great deal has been said in the newspapers lately on the subject of Faulty Bayonets. It seems that from some cause or other these arms have been found out to be faulty and unworthy of trust. Some of them are brittle, and break, others are soft, and bend, so there are a large number of those in use which will have to be discarded on account of unfitness. Where the blame lies we don't know, but doubtless some one has been unfaithful to their trust, or the thing could not have been done.

It set us a thinking the other day--Here is something that no one doubted, has proved unreliable; and the thought flashed across our mind: Is there not something like it in the Church of G.o.d to-day?

IT IS THE WEAPON OF THE RANK AND FILE THAT IS FAULTY!

It is not the General's brain, or the Officer's weapon that is unworthy, but the private's! Does this apply to us? Is not PRAYER to the Church what the bayonet is to the soldier--that which the private member has to use? Those who cannot preach or write books, or even teach in the Sunday School, can pray. We ask the question--Are there as many praying-people in proportion to our numbers as there used to be? What is the testimony to those who attend our prayer-meetings? Is not this the weak place in our army to-day?

The bayonet has won the battle many a time over for England, and if we are weak here, we are weak where we used to be strong. In the war with the Arabs in Egypt, the squares were sometimes broken. Was that the fault of the bayonet? England cannot afford to be weak here; nor can Methodism bear defeat where she has won so many fights. We have many a time

WON THE BATTLE OF THE LORD UPON OUR KNEES,

and if we are to be soft there, we may as well retire from the conflict at once. Many a time, when holding Missions, we have felt that if we could but get the members of society to be often in secret but earnest prayer, we should carry the battle to the gate, and more than once we have felt the tide turn, as we have noticed the people get more and more in an agony of supplication.

Now that the authorities at the War Office have found out the failing, we shall soon have the faulty bayonets cast out and perfect ones provided.

We don't want weak-kneed Christians cast out of the church, we want them improved. And this may be done. Let every one of our readers ask the question

AM I AS STRONG IN PRAYER AS EVER I WAS?

If not, why not? Or am I one of those who cannot point to direct answers to pleading prayer, because I never did plead? Is there not a cause?

Look at what James has said in his epistle, iv. 2-4. Is not this "friendship with the world" the cause of this feebleness in prayer? We want all that we can get in pleasure and self-indulgence, and to see our church become a power also. The two things cannot be. This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting, and if we wish to see England won to Christ we must become reliable in prayer.

We shall be glad to know that what we have said leads to

AN INSPECTION OF ARMS.

Let our Cla.s.s-leaders ask the question of their members--Do you pray in secret? Do you wrestle with G.o.d? How long is it since you had a direct answer to prayer? This is our weak place. May we soon be strong where we are now weak, that the prophecy may be fulfilled, "HE THAT IS FEEBLE AMONG YOU AT THAT DAY SHALL BE AS DAVID, AND THE HOUSE OF DAVID SHALL BE AS G.o.d."

A TEACHER OF SIN.

Few men have covered themselves with infamy as did Jeroboam, of whom it is said often he "made Israel to sin." And yet what a chance he had to have led the people, over whom G.o.d had made him king, in the path of righteousness? Instead of teaching evil, he might have led his people into the ways of the Lord. Influence is a talent which brings with it enormous responsibility. Perhaps to none is this more applicable than to parents. Let those of us to whom G.o.d has given children, use our influence to

TEACH THEM HOLINESS.

We teach them every day by example, if not by precept, and example is the teacher whose lessons are followed easiest. What can be worse for a child than to have a parent who teaches his children to sin? Perhaps at the Day of Judgment, the most terrible sights will be where children will reproach father or mother or both, for shewing them the way to the left hand of G.o.d!

XLV. A SERVICE IN THE OLDEN TIME.

NEHEMIAH viii.

I.--The Congregation.

All who could understand were present (verses 2-3). None should absent themselves from public worship and the preaching of G.o.d's word, except infants and idiots.

II.--The Behaviour of the Hearers.

We are told (verse 3) "All the people were attentive." There are some who go to G.o.d's house, and make such poor use of their ears, that they will wish at the Judgment Day they had been born deaf. We read also of the reverence of the people. They "stood up" to listen, and joined in the prayer with a great "Amen!" What a scene we have depicted in verses 5-6.

III.--The Preachers.

There was a PULPIT, but not the tub-like thing that we see in some places--it held more than a dozen. It would be high enough for all the people to hear and see. But Ezra had more sense than to have it so high that he and his helpers were separated from their hearers. Pulpits should help, not hinder the preacher.

THE PREACHER SPOKE PLAINLY,

verse 8. They read "distinctly." We sometimes listen to a man whom we cannot hear, and it is a pain and grief to us to see his lips move, but because he drops his voice when he has anything extra good to say, we lose the best. Such Preachers forget that "faith comes by hearing."

THE PREACHERS MADE THE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND, verse 8.

This is one of the duties of Preachers, to make their hearers understand the Bible, so that the man who does not teach as well as preach has not done all that he has been called to do. That is the best kind of Preacher, who not only stirs up the people like a poker, but puts fuel on at the same time.

IV.--The Effects of the Service.

First, there was sorrow of heart. No one can understand the Bible and not be moved. The Levites, however, showed their people that G.o.d would like them to be happy. Those who weep over the Bible may well be comforted. Let those weep who have not listened to G.o.d's word.

One blessed result of the sacred joy which followed the weeping, was the

HELP RENDERED TO THE POOR, "SEND PORTIONS."

(verses 10-12). It would be well if, after every good time we had at chapel, we made the poor to rejoice. If G.o.d feeds you with the Bread of Life, send a loaf of bread or a bit of meat to some who are likely to go hungry!

LET THE G.o.dLY BE GLAD.

XLVI. KEEP THE FIRE BURNING WHILE THE FROST LASTS!