SPARKLING UNDER WATER.—A jeweler gives as one of the surest tests for diamonds the water test. He says, "An imitation diamond is never so brilliant as a genuine stone. If your eye is not experienced enough to detect the difference, a simple test is to place the stone under water. The imitation diamond is practically extinguished, while a genuine diamond sparkles even under water, and is distinctly visible. If a genuine stone be placed beside an imitation under water, the contrast will be apparent to the least experienced eye."
There are some who seem confident of their faith so long as they have no trials, but when the waters of sorrow overflow them, their faith loses all its brilliancy. It is then that the true servants of God, like Job, shine forth as genuine jewels for the king.—Sunday School Digest.
JUST REWARD.—A certain man had been a faithful builder for an employer for many years. His employer decided to make a world cruise. Before leaving he left with his builder a plan for an ideal house.
"Build it according to specifications, spare no necessary expense. I want this house to be a good house for a special reason." But the builder, thinking how he had served many years without much reward, decided to make a profit for himself on the building. So he substituted cheap material for the best where it would not show. He omitted the steel reinforcements in the foundation. Only where it showed did he follow the specification.
On his return his employer viewed the house with satisfaction. He said, "You have served me well these many years. In reward I planned this house for you. It is yours to own and live in."—The Lutheran.
GETTING LIVE COALS.—It is said that upon the tableland of Asia Minor the women may be seen at dawn of day going outdoors and looking up at their neighbors' chimneys. They see the one out of which the smoke is coming, and thither they go to borrow live coals with which to kindle fires in their own home. Do men watch thus our lives ? If in our hearts the Holy Ghost has kindled a sacred fire, shall they not come to us for warmth and inspiration ?W. R. LAMBETH in Alliance Weekly.
CURE FOR LONELINESS.—Dr. F. B. Meyer once found himself in a streetcar with a charwoman who recognized the man of God and unburdened to him the story of her loneliness. As a widow, alone but for her crippled daughter, she. had toiled through the day supported by the anticipation of getting home in the evening to be with her daughter, who despite her affliction had been a joy to her mother. She knew her girl's glad face and cheery greeting awaited her at the end of the day; and at night, in the darkness, she could stretch out her hand and know she was there, and it had been a comfort. But the daughter had died. "I am alone, and I am miserable," she said. "I am going home, and it is scarcely home for she is not there."
Said Dr. Meyer : "When you get home and put the key in the door, say aloud, 'Jesus, I know You are here,' and be ready to greet Him directly you open the door. As you light your fire tell Him what has happened during the day, just as you would have told your daughter. At night stretch out your hand in the darkness and say, "Jesus, I know You are here !"
Months later the two met again, but Meyer did not recognize the woman. She greeted him and said, "You do not know me," and then reminded him of their conversation months before.
"But you are not the same woman!" said Meyer in astonishment.
"Oh, yes, I am," she said. "I did as you told me. I said as I got home, 'Jesus, I know You are here,' and I kept on saying it, and it has made all the difference in my life, and now I feel I know Him."—Religious Digest.
DEPENDS ON INDIVIDUAL.—We must not allow ourselves to think of permanent peace coming from anything that is done in Washington or any other world capital. Nations are made up of people. National ideals are the expressions of the sum total of the ideals of the people. If anyone raises the question: "Why doesn't the government do so and so?" the reply must always be "The government is made up of individuals. You and I are the government."
The same thing is true of churches. If someone says, "Why doesn't the church do this and that?" the reply is, "The church is made up of individuals. You and I are the church." So in our thinking and planning for a future in which there shall be peace, let us begin in our own hearts. Let us accept our individual responsibilities!—F. F. BROWN, Baptist Messenger.
