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“Another indication of the conscious weakness and apprehension of danger in the nominal church, is seen in the effort of the High Church section of the Established Church of England to ingratiate itself with the leading disciples of British Socialism—doubtless desiring to hold the guiding reins of what it astutely imagines to be the force of the future. To this end a series of meetings has been organized in London, under the auspices of the “English Church Union,” for the purpose of public discussion and advocacy of what it terms “Christian Socialism.” The term is misleading, for the only true Christian Socialism is that union of Christian Believers in love and good works, and natural help and sympathy, taught and enforced by the Word of God, upon the basis of union with Christ. This, however, is very different from what is meant by the two parties it seeks to bring into alliance.”—Bible Standard.

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“BIGNESS is not greatness; and he who judges of value by bulk will find himself seriously mistaken. A boulder is larger than a diamond, but is it as valuable? The passion for bigness is found in connection with public assemblies for divine worship. Meetings are held, and a great effort is made to increase their size. Men go for the “big meeting.” They publish accounts of crowds which attend, until at last religious interest deteriorates, being overwhelmed by the tide of worldliness. A man who prefers to drink out of a big horse-pond rather than a little spring, might be pleased with such results, but spiritual and discerning Christians have very different thoughts.”—Selected.

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AN EXCHANGE says: A man crossed the Mississippi river on the ice, and fearing it was too thin, began to crawl over on his hands and knees in great terror, but just as he gained the opposite shore, all tired out, another man drove past him gayly sitting upon a sled loaded with pig-iron. And for all the world that is just the way most of Christians go to the heavenly Canaan, trembling at every step, lest the promises shall break under our feet, when really they are secure enough for us to hold up our heads and sing with confidence as we march to the better land.

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THE STOUTEST TIMBER stands on Norwegian rocks, where tempests rage, and long hard winters reign. The muscles are seen most fully developed in the brawny arm that plies the blacksmith’s hammer. Even so the most vigorous and healthy piety is that which is the busiest, which has difficulties to battle with, which has its hands full of good works, which has neither time nor room for evil, but, aiming at great things both for God and man, promptly and summarily dismisses temptations with Nehemiah’s answer, “I have a great work to do, therefore I cannot come down.”—Selected.

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— June, 1884 —