The Bible Investigator from Atchison, Kansas • 3

43 thought just now How faithfully that little shining object, whatever it may be, represents the besetments in the patli of the one who i3 running for the prize of our high calling. How insignificant compared with the prize and the honor at the end of the course. But unless watchful we shall hesitate; one moment may cost all, and may make delay sufficient to reach the judge's stand too late. What's that in your path? A little worldly praise? Disdain to notice it, it is of no value whatever; you are worse off with it than without it. At another point do you see an avenue to wealth? Never mind; it would not be abiding if you had it.

Press on. Again; do you begin to think of some of the "weights" of value left behind, fearing you will never see them again Don't think of them only to hope you will never be encumbered with them more. Do you say or think: "I fear this race will be the ruination of all my worldly prospects?" Of cuorse it will so far as having any pleasure in them is concerned. You will be a very foolish man to divide your energies now, or thoughts either. Press on.

But do you say: "Why, there's my reputation right there in the dusty Poor fellow how sorry I am you noticed it; but it's only the reputation ycu once had. Don't you know that nsne of those who are noted racers on this course have any reputation The greatest racer who ever stepped no- it "made himself of no But do you say: "This awful run will be the death of me?" Yes; of course it will but you are a poor culprit under sentence of death any way, and if you undertake to save your life you will lose it, but run yourself to death and you'll have a life that is life everlasting, and mere immortal. Don't be foolish now. Press on. "A heavenly race demands thy zeal And an Immortal crown." J.

C. SUNDERLIN. London, England. NATIONAL PROGRESS. A nation's intellectual progress has always followed not preceeded some moral impulse.

The history of the fine arts show that some form of religion gave them their earliest impulse. There has never been a great genius but has been inspired in some way by religion thoughts of the intellect are lofty in proportion as the sentiments of the heart are profound. If we begin the attempt to improve-, men with the intellect we end where we begun. Education will not remove corruption it may guide vice as-ancient Rome and Anthens, but will, not uproot it a godless education has. no fpower to purify instruction in moralityalso has failed to regenerate No man does his duty simply because he knows it, unless he loves it; nor are political and social changes effective.

Social evil has its root in the individu al heart, and cannot be removed, except by influences operating within it This fountain of man's' corruption must be purified to correct social Prof. Seelye. money. No one ought to spend their means for that that will not do them, or any one else any good. Do not take or read those foolish novels, they only waste your time, and do you no good.

Life is too important, time is too precious, to spend it on fiction. Read and study important matters of fact. The Press can furnish you with it, it is the lever that is moving the world. For one dollar you can procure a Bible, and for fifty cents you can procure "The Bible Investigator," which intends to help all who read it, to a more perfect knowledge of the Bible, and a more holy life in Jesus Christ. A SERMON ON BEARS.

Uncle Fred was sitting under a tree in the orchard, reading his paper. The children caught sight of him, and then there was a rush and a hurry to see who could get to him first. Will and Tom were the fastest runners, and didn't mind the fence any more than a log they were up to it and over it in a minute. But poor little Bobby and Sue, though they went as fast as their little legs could carry them, were far behind and besides the fence was. too high for them to climb.

So they set up a pitiful cry, begging the boys to wait and help them. Will and Tom were in too much of a hurry for that, and the poor little things would have cried in vain, had not Uncle Fred left his tree and newspaper, and lifted them over the fence. Will and Tom were resting under the tree when he came back, looking rather ashamed. 'Why, you are not as kind as the bears," Uncle. Fred said.

"I am going to punish you by making you listen to a sermon." The boys looked doleful enough at the idea. They had hoped Uncle Fred would tell them one of his nice stories. "The permon will be preached by-bears!" said Uncle Fred, with a sudden spring at Sue and Boby at the last word. Of course they all jumbed and screamed, and the boys began to brighten up again. ''Do you know how they catch bears in Russia?" No, the children didn't and they settled themselves with a delighted air, for they knew a story was coming.

"kIt is easy enough, as they do it Why, you children could catch half a dozen at once if you choose." "Could we, really, Uncle Fred?" the boys asked eagerly. "Could we, too echoed Bobby and Sue, with wide open eyes. "Yes, if you were strong enough to dig a pit several feet deep. Will and Tom could do that if I helped a little, and Bobbv and Sue could cover the top with turf, leaves, and sticks, so as to hide the hole. 'Then all we would have to do would be to put some food on the top, hide behind a tree, and watch." "And then what next?" cried the children in a breath.

"Why then we would see a big black bear shuffling along. As he comes near the pit, he would begin to sniff, aud look around to see where the food was. In a minute he would see it, but the moment he would put his paw on the turf he would go to the bottom of the pit." "Would it kill him no but he couldn't get out possibly, and then the hunters would come and shoot him. But if four or five bears happen to tumble into the same hole they all get out again." "Tell us, tell us!" Bobby said, as Uncle Fred stopped at just the most interesting part of the story, to knock down an apple. "Well, they make a ladder, by stepping on each other's shoulders, and so they reach the top of the pit all but the bottom one, and he, poor fellow, would never get out if bears were not kinder than boys." Will and Tom were too much ashamed to ask how, so Uncle Fred went on "The first thing they do when they get out themselves, is to get a branch of a tree, which they let down to their poor brother bear.

In a minute more he is out, and away they all scamper to the woods. If the bears were like some boys they would haye left the poor, helpless bear to cry in the pit, while they ran off to have a good time." Uncle Fred had told them a story, but the boys found they had been listening to a sermon all the time. It was one they could not help remembering either, for whenever they started to run and leave their little brother and sister to help themselves, the bears' sermon would come into their minds, and they would be so ashamed to have bears kinder than boys, that they would stop and be kind too. Christian Observer. WORDS FROM BRO.

SUNDER-LIN. I was lately passing along the streets of a large city, when my attention was attracted to a fine large engraving hanging in one of the shop windows. (It was in Fleet street, London.) It represented a scene in one of the ancient Isthmian games. Two persons nearly divested of apparel, with distended muscles, occupied the course, stretching every nerve, while around, evidently excited with deep interest, was the "great cloud of witnesses." They were well along in the course, but the attention of the one somewhat in advance of the other is diverted for a moment by a flower or some shining object that has been thrown into the arena by some one of the many witnesses, by which they are "compassed about." An effort is made to grasp it, evidently the prize for which they are running is lost by this one, and no trace of sympathy is noticable on the countenances of the spectators, but great rejoicing is apparant among the multitude, at the persistency with which the victor has reached the goal, ignoring every thing else, keeping the prize only in view, and finally won it. I thought, that is a true picture of the Christian race which Paul has so faithfully and vividly painted in words, and which we see acted upon the stage of life.

But how appropriately and timely the emphasizing of the Jesus, when their minds are dark and their hearts entirely uninfluenced, by Gospel truth. Then again, there are many preachers whose minds are enlightened by Gospel truth, and whose hearts are imbued with its influence, yet, when as preachers, they undertake to present it to an audience, on account of the want of preaching talent, to favorably communicate even what they know and feel, the truth loses its own natural force, that it would have had, had it not been encumbered by the weakness, and lack of ability of the preacher. How many people go away from preaching unfavorably impressed, not by Gospel truth as such, but on account of the way some unqualified presented it. So very many are led to profess religion under the impulse of eloquent preaching, and soon fall away; and so many are disgusted by unqualified preachers. Hence preaching has its evil, as well as its good results.

But by means of the press, both of these evils may be avoided. It presents the simple truth apart from the undue influence of oratorical or magnetic power, and apart from the infirmaties of the unqualified preacher; so that a person learning the truth of the Gospel by means of the press, receive it on its own intrinsic worth, apart from human influence or prejudice. We say to our readers, study the Bible more thoroughly for yourselves, endeavor to become self-reliant, on the simple principles of truth; we are not now as dependent on preaching, and preachers, as were our forefathers of centuries ago. We do not, as professors of religion, need so much of these large expensive houses of worship, and popular preachers, in order to learn Gospel truth. The most of our costly public religion, with its worldly glitter and display, is not necessary to teach the simple truth and move the heart toward Jesus, but to indulge and gratify the carnal mind.

Adopt in the family the constant reading and study of the Bible. Bibles cost but little, secure carefully the best help. A weekly or monthly paper, one that you know to be of real worth to yourselves as parents, and to your children these can be procured very cheap; be sure their influence will be practically good, for we are what we are in real character, moulded by the influences we invite, or bring to bear upon ourselves. Every family ought to have in it a good, solid, substantial, religious paper, as their weekly or monthly helps to assist them in the study of the Bible, and to prompt and influence them to higher, more useful and perfect Christian life, and be sure when you have paid out your money for a paper, that it is well worth beiig read, and that you read and gpt the worth of your.