Page:Selection of religious anecdotes.pdf/22

22 SIN UNPROFITABLE.

A minister once went into a harn where he found a thresher at his work. " In all lahour there is profit,” said he. " No sir," replied the labourer with much energy, as he lean npon his flail, " that is the truth, certainly, but there is one exeeption to it ; I have long lahonred in the service of sin but I derived no profit by my lahour."

ASKING A BLESSING.

A minister went to dine at the house of one of his hearers whom he was in the habit of visiting. Dinner heing placed on the table, the master of the house requested the minister to ask a hlessing. It was no sooner done, than a prattling boy, about seven years old, asked the following appropriate question, " Papa, what is the reason we always have a hlessing asked when Mr.- dines with us, and never at any other time ?" We need not add that papa felt much difficulty in replying. Children and servants make their remarks when they see professors of religion act ineonsistently.

PHILIP HENRY

Gave these four rules to be observed in our converse with men :-

1. Have communion with few.

2. Be familiar with one.

3. Deal justly with all.

4. Speak evil of none.

He observed, that no condition of life will of itself make man content without the grace of God, for we find Haman discontented in a court ; Ahab discontented on a throne ; Adam discontented in Paradise ; and angels discontented in heaven itself.

There were four things which, he ohserved, he would not have against him for the world :-

The Word of God.

His own conscience.

The prayers of the poor.

The account of godly ministers.

He used also to say, that a man who hath a blind conscience which sees nothing ; a dead conscience which feels nothing ; and a dumb conscience which says nothing ; is in as miserable a condition as a man can he on this side hell.

CULTURE OF THE MIND.

The human mind is originally an unsown field, prepared