Watchwords for September. First Week.-"Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be." REV. xxii. 12. Second Week.-"There shall be no more curse; but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him: and they shall see His face, and His name shall be in their foreheads."-REV. xxii. 3, 4. Third Week.-"Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them."-REV. xix. 13. Fourth Week.-"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour."-TITUS iii. 5, 6. Good and Bad Books. FROM AN ADDRESS BY THE REV. SAMUEL MANNING, LL.D. THOSE who have ever visited the castle of the Wartburg have been shown a great black blotch upon the wall, which they tell you was made in this fashion: It is said that when Martin Luther was in this retired spot, he was so much haunted and hindered by the devil, that at last, in a fit of righteous indignation, he took up his ink-pot and threw it where he supposed his adversary to be standing; and the devil, frightened at the ink-pot, vanished at once, and interrupted him no more. If the story is not literally correct, it is true in thought and in idea; for, depend upon it, there is nothing more likely to make the devil flee than a good, well-administered pot of printers' ink. This is precisely what Colportage is doing all the year round-throwing pots of printers' ink which have been put upon paper, at the person of the archenemy; casting him out right and left by printing and disseminating good books. God forbid that I should say one word against the preaching of the gospel by the living voice. If I were tempted to undervalue and disparage God's ordinance of preaching anywhere, it would not be in Mr. Spurgeon's Tabernacle, where the ordinance has been owned and honoured and blessed of God as it has been nowhere else in the world, as far as I can discover, in the whole records of history. But whilst God has a preached gospel, He also has a written and printed gospel, and Mr. Spurgeon's sermons illustrate its power. He preaches, we will say, to five or six thousand people at each service on the Lord's Day, and that is indeed a very great thing for him to do. But the crowds assembled to hear his living voice are as a drop in the ocean compared with the millions upon millions of mankind whom his voice can never reach; but then his sermons can reach them, and by their means he preaches in all sorts of languages, among all kinds of people. I know of some twenty languages in which he does so. In France, where a great revival has commenced-a work such as has not been witnessed since the days of the Reformation-Mr. Spurgeon's sermons are being distributed by the hands of the colporteurs all over the country. In Spain, in Italy, in Portugal, in Brazil, in Mexico, in every vernacular of India, Mr. Spurgeon is preaching. When the countries of eastern Europe were being released from the tyranny of Turkey-in Servia, and Bulgaria, and Roumania, and all that districtMr. Spurgeon went and preached to them by his printed sermons. We are having letters about them from bishops and archbishops, and the Finance Minister of Servia is engaged in translating Mr. Spurgeon's sermons into the language of the Servian people. But the dark side of the matter, the old Latin proverb warns us, that the better a thing is, the worse it may become if it is turned to wrong uses. The power of a good press is rivalled by the influence of an evil press; if you cannot estimate the value of a good book, neither can you calculate the injury which is done by a bad book. Here is a young man just waking up to a sense of the powers entrusted to him; an infidel book is put before him; by the grace of God he is able to overcome the argument, such as it is; but all his life long he may be haunted with doubts and questions and perplexities which will paralyse his arm and weaken his usefulness as a servant of Jesus Christ, Here is a youth with his passions all on fire, and there falls into his hand a filthy volume; a licentious, immoral book; of which there are many abroad. He may be enabled to conquer the worst forms of this attack; but evil thoughts of God, impure desires, vile imaginations will be aroused; his very heart and conscience will be defiled; and that young man will grow up the worse for that hour's reading, and even to hoary hairs will never quite escape the defilement, and the impurity, and the damage which that book has caused him. There is a strange fact which we cannot forget, that man is more retentive of evil than of good.. Bad books are therefore dangerous things to be encountered by unregenerate hearts. There are multitudes of bad books, and we have to displace them. How is this to be done? How will you keep weeds out of the field? Will you try to root them up? You will find that the task is "never-ending, still beginning," wearisome, tedious, disappointing; for as fast as you pull up some of the weeds others begin to grow, and ill-weeds grow apace, while the wind carries the seeds and drops them far and wide, and you find that you have to do your work over again and again without ceasing. The best way to keep weeds out of the field is to sow it thickly with good, sound, wholesome wheat, and to let the corn grow so plentifully that there is no room for the tares. Depend upon it, if you want to keep bad books out, the best way is to put good books in. Therefore, send out your Colporteurs to supply the population of this country, and of all countries, with all sorts of good books, and so the bad books will be kept out, or turned out. Last year I went over to Ireland to look at various works of Christ. In the most bigoted part of that country, where the priest holds absolute sway, I found the Colporteur effecting large sales, and heartily welcomed by the people. In America I found the students of certain of the colleges in the States spending their vacations in going about selling books. Many of them are poor, and have no other means of completing their college course, and so they go out with a bag of books and I do not know about the effect of such work upon the students sell them, and the profit helps them to pay for their education. theologically; but one of them said to me, "I believe I get more and better training for my ministerial life in this way than I could do in my classes in college," Trying to please Him. Trying to please Him-O blessed employ ! Correspondence. Dr. Comandi's Work in Italy. As far as I know very little is heard in this country about an orphanage which Dr. Comandi has instituted at Florence, and which is maintained in the same way as the excellent George Müller keeps up his orphanages at Bristol, that way being by believing prayer. Dr. Comandi, like George Müller, does not ask now for money from this or that person, he simply speaks about his wants in the ear of the everlasting Father, and from day to day, and from week to week, the orphans are fed. He has innumerable answers to his prayers to tell of. Dr. Comandi was born at Florence, and was considered one of the first lawyers in all Italy when quite a young man. He married a lovely young girl to whom he was devotedly attached, and who was indeed the idol of his heart. She was a thorough Protestant, and an earnest follower of the blessed Saviour; whereas her husband had been brought up a Roman Catholic. Many an earnest word did this fair young wife speak to her husband about his soul and about eternity; which, at the time they were spoken, were quite unheeded by him, for he was a man full of ambition and of the vanities of this life, and careless of the tremendous realities of the world to come. But ere long a terrible trial was sent him from Him who had "chosen him before the foundation of the world,” and who loved him with an everlasting love. The joy of his home and the idol of his heart was torn by death from his side, and he was left on earth a lonely man amid the busy haunts of men, comfortless among the crowd, brokenhearted in the midst of a multitude of pleasure-seekers. His worldly friends tried to lead him into the world to drown his grief in the pleasures of earth; but how could he care any longer for such follies, when his heart was buried in the grave of that fair young thing whom he had loved with such an idolatrous love? In his despair he caught up the little well-worn Bible that so often he had seen in her dear hands, and he searched for consolation in its blessed pages. And there he found it; who ever searched that sacred Book in vain ? He told one of his friends that the first time he read it, he read on and on during the whole Notices. Literary Communications, Books for Review, &c., to be addressed to the Rev. W. TAYLOR, M.A Business Letters and Orders for the Publications, with Money Orders, to be addressed to JOHN MACFARLANE, Manager, Drummond's Tract Depot, Stirling, N.B., from whom specimens of the Publications, with Catalogue, may be had, post free. We have received several small legacies bequeathed to the Enterprise, and have had intimation besides of others on their way. We append a form of bequest, for the guidance of other triends who may think of following so good an example : I, A. B., do hereby give and bequeath to the "Stirling Tract Enterprise," established by the late Peter Drummond, seedsman, Stirling, the sum of free of legacy duty and all expenses; and I hereby direct and appoint my executors to pay the same to the Trustees acting under a Trust Disposition and Codicils relating to said Enterprise, granted by the saia Peter Drummond, or to their Manager for the time being, for behoof of said Enterprise. Beautifully printed in Blue and Gold, on Card. Price 2s. 6d. per 100, or 18 for Sixpence, post free. No. 1. Six Short Rules for Young Christians. By Brownlow North, Esq. 2. Rules for Daily Life (in verse). 3. The Christian's Entrance into Glory. 4. Oh for a Perfect Trust! (in verse). 5. Which? 6. My Prayer. night. Henceforward he became a Protestant, and a most earnest devoted follower of Jesus Christ, the once crucified but now exalted Saviour; he found in Him all his salvation and all his desire," and a light came into his soul, straight from that glorious City in the skies whose streets are of purest gold. One day, having gone out to walk, he found some poor boys starving on the road (for that was a terrible winter at Florence), and he took them to his home and fed them. At that time he had no idea of having an orphanage. However, on going out another day and finding more boys starving-literally dying of starvation, the thought occurred to him to have an orphanage; because, though he was full of compassion, he had not the means of supporting them without help from others. He began by asking some of his friends to assist him; which they did. But soon he ceased to make personal applications; for his work becoming known, he now simply prayed for his orphanage, and still money came ! Dr. Comandi tries to become personally acquainted with each little fellow, and to speak personally to each one about his soul and about the great Saviour. No wonder they are devoted to him. A Waldensian student, whom he knew, has said that he believes a great many of the poor little fellows have been truly converted through Dr. Comandi's efforts blessed by God. O Christians, whose eyes may fall on these pages, will you, from this time, begin to give something to help on this good work of God's earnest, humble follower at Florence? This orphanage of Dr. Comandi's is the only orphanage in all Italy. Let us consider that of the boys brought to know and love the Saviour there, many may go forth into that land, where the Gospel truth is so little known, as missionaries with God's blessing to bring countless numbers more into the good Shepherd's fold! [Any one wishing to help forward this good work may send contributions of money or jewels to Mrs. Barbour, 11 George's Square, Edinburgh, and they will be most gratefully acknowledged by her, and sent out to Dr. Comandi at Florence.] F. M. MACRAE. TO CORRESPONDENTS. We have lately received several anonymous requests for prayer. Cannot the persons give their names in confidence to the Editor; or at least send their requests through some friend who can assure him of the genuineness of the cases? COURT LEAFLET 8. No. 1. A Good Confession. 2. Am I in Christ? 3. One that had Lost all Hope. 9. Whose is the Blame? It is intended to publish a COURT LEAFLET every month, and it is believed they will supply a felt want. A New Series of Two-Page TRACTS, one to be published Every Week. The Writers secured for the Series comprise the most eminent Ministers and Laymen of all denominations. It is hoped the issue of these Tracts will give a new impetus to Home Mission and Evangelistic Work. 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HERE is a volume more precious than gold or silver-more to be prized than the writings of the greatest sage or poet that ever lived. It is a volume whose mines of thought no student, however earnest and untiring, can exhaust; which is adapted to all men, all countries, and all circumstances; which not only teaches us how to live, but tells us of a Guide who can conduct us through life, and who, when this mortal existence is ended, will lead His own to mansions of glory which He has prepared for them beyond the grave. It was fitting, that a title of pre-eminence should be given to this transcendent volume to distinguish it from all others and to place it above and beyond the grandest efforts of human genius--"The Bible," that is "THE Book;" or as some love to call it "The Word;" others, "The Book of Life." Indeed, many titles have been made use of to honour it, since David sang the praises of God's word; since it was "a lamp to his feet, and a light to his path." nothing to do with their daily lives, except when they went to law with each other; which they frequently did for very trivial provocations or grievances, and in a spirit very unlike that of the Book which declares that "Love worketh no ill to his neighbours, and, therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law." Many of us are familiar with the inimesa, or sensitive plant, whose delicate leaves shrink and fold themselves together, when they are touched, however tenderly. Even so does a pure and holy nature recoil from contact with hatred and untruthfulness. If the sacred that little court-house, had been endowed with convolume, that often was pressed to perjured lips within sciousness, it, too, must have shrunk when wrathful For God is not mocked; and that Book says, "Wheremen swore by it "to speak nothing but the truth." fore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour." It says also, "Grieve not the holy Spirit of God," "Be ye angry and sin not; let not the sun go down upon your wrath.” ended, and the Bible laid aside until next "Coort Day"One day, after the business of the Sessions was its pages unread, a girl, who had access to the place where it was kept, began, through curiosity, to examine the sacred volume. As she read on, the old, old story that has touched so many human hearts spoke to her's. For the first time, she learned to know the infinite love and fulness of Jesus, and her own need of Him as a Saviour able and willing to save: moreover, she read of a life above and beyond her present sordid one with its cares and anxieties-and whose blessed But notwithstanding that we have this blessed Book, there are many now, even as there were then, who walk in darkness. Such was the case with the inhabitants of a very poor and remote district in Ireland some years ago. Rude and unlettered, the majority of the peasantry could not read even the ballads they were occasionally beguiled into buying from someness would shed a new light even upon things here pedlar. In his pack or basket there were usually yards below, making them all to "work together for good to of doggerel verse as well as of calico; but a real book was an unfamiliar object, seen by them for the most Surrounded by those who were ignorant of, or part only in the priest's hands on Sundays, or when hostile to, the Bible, the solitary reader had neither they had to appear and give evidence at an unpretend-instruction nor sympathy. But she continued to resort ing Session-House, known to them as the "Coort." A from day to day to the Court-House, to read the volume was kept there to be placed in the hands of "Swearing Book;" until, under the teaching of the those to whom an oath was administered.* This them that love God." long this was observed; and she was assailed by the volume was popularly styled, "The Swearing Book," not in any spirit of intentional irreverence towards the Word of God, but simply in recognition of the only use the volume was put to. Once the property of a peer, its cover was ornamented with the armorial bearings of an ancient titled family; and there had been a time in the past, as we may believe, when its pages were studied by some scion of the lordly house, who, like the young ruler, inquired, "What shall I do to inherit eternal life?" or by some Mary, sitting at the Redeemer's feet to hear the gracious words falling from His lips, that have soothed many an aching heart among the rich and great as well as among the poor and lowly. Oh! if those, into whose hands that Book was put in the Session-House could have read the precepts and the history of the loving One of whom We live in days when the old paths are by many forit spoke of Him who blessed them that cursed Him, saken, and old landmarks are being swept away. But and did good to them that hated Him, and prayed for there is an anchor of the soul, which is unmoved amid them that persecuted Him; might not even their rough all the changes and chances of life; an anchor to which natures have been touched by His surpassing love-the weakest as well as the strongest may cling, when love manifested in all the deeds and words of His the dark river of Death has to be crossed at last. wondrous life, and culminating in His death for His enemies on the Cross ? But, as we have said before, to these poor peasants the Bible was only "The Swearing Book." It had The writer is best acquainted with the Irish practice; but is informed that in Scotland the mode of administering oaths is much more solemn, no book being used. "Annihilation," says the sceptic, "will be our portion then." "I know that my Redeemer liveth," says the Bible saint; "and that He will stand in the latter days upon the earth; and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God." E. M. |