give them; they _know not_ what they do!" And must vain, erring man
be more harsh towards his fellow-man than his Maker? "Blessed are the
merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." "I came," says Jesus, "to seek
and to save _the lost_!" therefore, who so lost but in Jesus shall find
a friend? And shall it not be so with his followers, when they remember
his words, "_I have given you an example_, that ye should do as I have
done to you"?

In this day of the multiplicity of good works, and of trusting to them
for salvation, it may seem strange for us to urge their necessity. But
in speaking of those who lack the beautiful oneness in character and
conduct which distinguished Jesus, we would not omit many who, having
been educated in the full belief of the doctrine of "justification by
faith," carry it to such an extent as to despise good works, and almost
to look upon them as heretical. They set them down in their religious
calendar as _savoring of ostentation_, and thus run into the opposite
extreme, neglecting entirely the command of our Lord, to "Let your light
so shine before men, that they _may see your good works_." They take a
one-sided view of truth and duty, forgetting that "he who shall break
one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so" (even by
practice), shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. Could
they but know, by sweet experience, the luxury of giving "even a cup of
cold water in His name," they would never again refrain from the blessed
work. Could they fully understand the words to be pronounced on the
final day, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these
my brethren, _ye have done it unto me_," no earthly inducement would be
able to deter them from obtaining a part in that commendation and
reward. Did they but read with divine enlightening the parable of the
good Samaritan, and hear the Master saying, "Go and do thou likewise,"
what possible excuse would remain for them for not obeying his command?
They little realize that they may read and meditate and _believe_, and
still remain very selfish and un-Christ-like; for if Christ had been
possessed of their supineness, he would still have remained in heaven,
and we and ours yet been in the bonds of wickedness. Christian mothers
have greatly erred in not _training_ their children to a life of
Christian self-denial and usefulness. In their visits to the poor and
perishing, they should early accustom their little ones to ac