with bitter brine. The other was a vigorous, joyful, brimming
mountain-river, fed from unfailing springs among the hills; and all the
time it swept the salt water back before it and kept itself pure and
sweet; and when the tide came in, it only made the fresh water rise
higher and gather new strength by the delay; and ever the living stream
poured forth into the ocean its tribute of living water,--the symbol of
that influence which keeps the ocean of life from turning into a Dead
Sea of wickedness.

My brother-men, will you take that living stream as a type of your life
in the world? The question for you is not what you are going to get out
of the world, but what you are going to give to the world. The only way
to meet and overcome the inflowing tide of evil is to roll against it
the outflowing river of good.

My prayer for you is that you may receive from Christ not only the
watchword of this nobler life, but also the power to fulfil it.




THE GOOD OLD WAY

Jeremiah vi. 16. Stand ye in the ways and see; and ask
for the old paths, where is the good way; and walk
therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.

This advice was given to people who were in peril and perplexity. The
kingdom of Judah was threatened with destruction, which could be averted
only by wise and prompt action. But the trouble was to decide in which