From our Exchanges

with contributions from James M. Campbell

The faith of a child is a tender shoot and is not fitted to endure the frost and chill of unbelief, but in itself it is of the purest quality and sweetest spirit. It has freshness and loveliness. The period of childhood in the seclusion of the Christian home and entirely protected from the doubts and denials of the great complex world is a vantage-ground for fixing and forming faith. There is often a want of confidence in the real faith of a child on the part of parents and teachers. They question and hinder its faith and put off the little believer until some time when it may understand these things better. Parents are often the greatest sinners against their children by their unsympathetic and severe criticism of the religious activity of mind.—The Watchman.

Christianity—the Christianity of the first century—not that of the creeds of later centuries, but the Christianity of Christ, the anointed, if we discern rightly the signs of the times, is to be the dominant religion of the world. That comes not only to princes, but to peasants; not only to the rich, but to the poor; to all classes and conditions of men. It clasps the white hand of the innocent child, tenderly, reverently; it clasps just as tenderly, reverently, the hand of the returning sin-stained wanderer. To one it says, Of such is the kingdom of heaven; to the other, Though thy sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow. It sees in the pure-hearted little one, and in the repentant prodigal, children of the same Father, of the Father from whose love nothing can separate those whom He has created.

The Universalist Leader.

A man's sermons begin in his soul, not in his study, and his influence is determined by what he is in the rectory or the parsonage, much more than by what he is in the pulpit or the chancel. Conscientiousness is the quality of all honest men, but a minister may be eminently conscientious, and almost as eminently unfruitful in his work. It is not fundamentally a matter of duty; it is a matter of devotion to one's work, and passion for one's people. The real preacher is the man whose soul is on fire, not with wrath, but with love.—The Outlook.

There is nothing regarding which we require to admonish one another more earnestly than the necessity of serving the Lord in natural ways, accepting with grace and gratitude the humblest task which he assigns. The size of our work is a thing of no moment whatever. Not the work we do, but the way in which we do it determines our character. Rev. James M. Campbell.

The Homiletic Review.

Ecclesiastical usage has narrowed down the meaning of the term "holiness" into a synonym of purity or innocence, or of devotion to what is believed to be divine. The expression always leads the thought in the direction of religious or churchly sanctity. But by nature and derivation it has a robust and suggestive significance. It means wholeness, haleness, health.—New Church Messenger.

Nothing so stimulates the man or woman who practises the gospel of hard work as honest expressions of gratitude. They indicate far more than appreciation, as this word is generally understood. They show refreshing receptiveness of mind, and gladness to give credit where credit is due.

American Agriculturist.

The Christian religion is practical. It regulates our conduct and directs our steps. Let no one be deceived by the error which teaches that it makes no difference about our conduct so our hearts are right. If the heart is right the life will be right also. "A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit."—The Christian Advocate.

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