Both now sleep in Jesus. The first of these two long continued to preach to his countrymen the glad tidings of great joy. A few nights after his conversion he asked the writer how long these glad tidings had been known in England. He was told that we had had the Gospel for some hundreds of years. The man looked amazed. "What!" said he, "is it possible that for hundreds of years you have had the knowledge of these glad tidings in your possession and yet have only now come to preach them to us? My father sought after the truth for more than twenty years and died without finding it. Why did you not come sooner?" Ah! why indeed, did we not go sooner ? Christian brethren, think of the imperative command of our great Captain and Leader, "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." Shall not the low wail of helpless, hopeless misery, arising from one half of the heathen world, pierce our sluggish ear and rouse us spirit, soul, and body to one mighty, continued, unconquerable effort for China's salvation? We cannot but believe that the contemplation of these solemn facts has awakened in many the heartfelt prayer, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do that Thy name may be hallowed, Thy kingdom come, and Thy will be done in China ?" have to do with Him who is the Lord of all power and might, whose arm is not shortened, whose ear is not heavy; with Him whose unchanging Word directs us to ask and receive that our joy may be full, to open our mouths wide that He may fill them. And we do well to remember that this gracious God who has condescended to place His Almighty power at the command of believing prayer looks not lightly on the blood-guiltiness of those who neglect to avail themselves of it for the benefit of the perishing; for it is He who has said, "If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; if thou sayest, behold we knew it not, doth not He that pondereth the heart consider it? And He that keepeth thy soul, doth not He know it? And shall not He render to every man his works ?" What can we do? We can begin with prayer. A Women's Prayer Union to seek blessing upon the 150 millions of heathen women in China, is in existence. Can you not join it? The Secretary is Miss E. Boyd, 5, Aldridge Road Villas, London, W. She will gladly supply papers, telling what the members agree to unite for. Sixpence a year is all that is asked from each, to cover expenses of printing. Meanwhile, we trust that all our readers will note the Request for Prayer for this month. 228 THE MOTHER'S PORTION. M THE MOTHERS' PORTION. THE CHILD'S QUESTION. BY A. W. B. OTHER, why don't we speak to God ?" The question was asked by a dear little fellow, four years old, who ran into his mother's room one morning, astonishment and enquiry written on his eager little face. Shall we take a peep behind the scenes and see what prompted the question? "Auntie" had crossed the sea to pay a visit to her sister's distant home, and it was little Henry's delight to be the first to say "Good morning" to her. 66 This morning the child had gone as usual to her room but did not find her ready to give him her attention, for she was at prayer. Very quietly he stood till she rose from her knees, and then said : Auntie, what are you doing?" "Auntie has been speaking to God," she replied. Speaking to God!" exclaimed the child, "I don't speak to God!" and without waiting for another word ran away to seek an answer to this searching question. What a sad story the words told! 66 Never had his baby lips been taught to pray. Never had he seen "Mother" kneel down to "speak to God." Though God had crowned that home with many mercies (for He is kind to the unthankful) yet never was the voice of praise and thanksgiving heard from those who daily received His benefits. Is it any wonder that little Henry's question remained unanswered ? because that mother felt herself to be without excuse. Dear mothers, what does the question say to you? Could your little ones have to ask any of you the same question? Oh, re THE MOTHER'S PORTION. 229 member you are either helping or hindering your little ones eoming to Jesus. Are you obeying the Lord's command: "Suffer the little children to come unto Me," by bringing them to Jesus? And for yourselves, do you know the joy of speaking to God, so that you can say in the words of the hymn : A little talk with Jesus, How it smooths the rugged road; Like a little talk with Him. Not to speak to God implies that we do not feel we want Him. You remember when the prodigal was in the "far country" he was not on speaking terms with his father, but we know what broke the silence. It was just when he was made to feel he could not do without him. It was then he resolved to return. And the first word he uttered was a confession of sin. 'Father, I have sinned," etc. Until we have spoken to God about our sin and received His free and full forgiveness, we cannot have the happy confidence of a child that has a right to speak to Him about everything. It is very touching to notice how God yearns for intercourse with us. One of His complaints against Israel was: "But thou hast not called upon Me, O Jacob, but thou hast been weary of Me, O Israel." And again He pleads: "Let Me hear thy voice!" Will you not gladden His heart by letting Him hear your voice continually? and then you will find that "He will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry, when He shall hear it, He will answer thee!" SPANISH MISSION BUILDING.-Since my last acknowledgment appeared, I have had the cheering joy of receiving more help. Reader of L. W., Ashbrittle, 3s.; Member C.P.U., Twickenham, 2s. 6d.; Mrs. J., Paisley, 2s. 6d.; Miss S, £1; P. L., £1; S. E. C., 10s.; dropped into letter box, "from one who will try to remember the work in praise and prayer," £1. I should greatly like to know this unknown friend! The total now (up to Sept. 11) is £8 14s. S. M. NUGENT. THE REV. C. A. FOX. FATHER, holy Father of my soul, Who of frail Time hast builded for Thy Son And life inwoven with the meanest thing, W OUR BIBLE CLASS. OUR BIBLE CLASS. BY A. ST. G. C. NUGENT. 231 E have been thinking about "the glory of God." Let us take this solemn word as our starting point this month, "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." It is worth learning into our souls at any cost. If we do thus learn it, we shall better realise the fulness of God's grace which makes it possible for redeemed sinners to see the glory of God even now; to live to the glory of God; and to inherit His glory. As we go on let us keep in mind what is the glory of God-His presence, His goodness, His power (2 Chr. v. 13, 14; Ex. xxxiii. 18, 19; Jo. ii. 11; xi. 40, 44); and oh, how much besides ! There are many records of God's children seeing His glory both in Old and New Testaments. For instance, Israel, Moses, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, the Apostles, St. Stephen and St. Paul. The results of seeing His glory are no light matter. Humiliation and self-abasement must follow, as when Moses, Isaiah, Daniel, St. Paul beheld (Ex. xxxiv. 8; Isa. vi. 5; Dan. x. 8; Acts xxii. 11). "Set not out thy glory in the Presence of the King" (Prov. xxv. 6. marg.). Fuller belief in Him will follow (Jo. ii. 11; xi. 45). Increasing likeness to Him will be another result. "We all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same Image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord (2 Cor. iii. 18). Compare with Exod. xxxiv. 29. Entire consecration to His service, and bearing witness to Him, will be further fruit (Isa. vi. 8, 9; Ez. xi. 24, 25; Psa. xxix. 9). How may we see His glory? Ask! "A solitary child of God prayed 'I beseech thee, show me thy glory,' and God was so pleased that He answered" (Ex. xxxiii. 18, 19). "Believe to see!" "Said I not unto thee, that if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?" (Jo. xi. 40). Again, Behold! in the power of the Holy Ghost (Acts vii. 55; 2 Cor. iii. 18). God can manifest His glory anywhere. In His Word (2 Cor. iii. 18), on the mountain (Ex. xxiv. 17; Lu. ix. 32), in the may-be monotonous plain of every day life (Ez. iii. 23), in the sanctuary (2 Chr. v. 13, 14; Psa. lxiii. 2), in times of joy, or in times of sorrow (Jo. ii. 2, 11; xi. 31. 40). "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." But He has created and redeemed us that we might be "to the praise of the glory |