February 14

How long halt ye between two opinions? — 1 KINGS xviii. 21

He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. — MATT. xii. 30.

CHRIST had come to an issue with the leaders of the Jewish people. He claimed to be their Messiah. To disregard that claim was to reject him. This they did, and called his power satanic. The common people looked to these leaders for guidance, and followed their indifference.

We all influence each other. Influence is like force. It always acts in some direction; and the direction is not affected by its strength. A west wind is a west wind, whether it is a cyclone or a zephyr. A great man and a child may both work for Jesus, and the child just as truly as the man.

Some railroad men are on a hand-car. Whoever does not work at the lever adds to the load. A poor family are struggling for a living. Such of the children as earn ever so little are doing a share, but those who earn nothing eat up the earnings of the rest. The policeman that so far befriends a thief as not to arrest him is the thief's ally. The army officer who tolerates mutiny is guilty of helping it on.

No man can sit on the edge of a sword-blade; his attempt would be his destruction. There is no half-way place there; so God calls for open, active friendship. As you cannot stop breathing and not die, so you cannot neglect Christ and not perish.

Geo. P. Hays

Lord, I am thine, — entirely thine, Purchased and saved by blood divine; With full consent I thine would be, And own thy sovereign right in me.

SAMUEL DAVIES.