ible not for distant
paths of investigation; it is not so much to tell us concerning
creation and existence--we shall know these things by and by. It is
for the path at your feet and it will light you home a space at a
time." The skeptical man saw it in an instant, he took God's word and
came back again to the faith of his childhood.

So I offer it to you with its promises as of lanterns, if its commands
are carefully received and followed out. You, too, may pass from
darkness into light and you may claim from God this text of mine which
says, "I even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine
own sake, and will not remember thy sins."

CONVERSION

TEXT: "_And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and
become as little children, ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of
Heaven._"--Matt. 18:3.

Jesus Christ was the world's greatest teacher and preacher. Multitudes
followed him because he taught them, not as the scribes, but as one
having authority. He came to them with the deepest truth of God, but
couched in such familiar expressions, and told in such a fascinating
way, that all men heard him and went their way rejoicing that so great
a teacher had come into the world as the messenger of God. He desired
to speak to them concerning the kingdom, and seeing on the distant
hillside a farmer sowing his seed, he gave them the parable of the
sower; and every farmer in his company began to understand his message.
He told them the story of a woman baking bread, and in the spreading of
the leaven every housekeeper had a vision of one of the deepest
principles of the coming kingdom. He gave them the account of the boy
who went away from his home, breaking his mother's heart, and,
according to tradition, putting her in her grave; causing his old
father to bow his head in shame again and again, and yet in spite of it
all, his father loving him; and every listener learned from the story a
lesson concerning the love of God which could have been given to him in
no other way. He was acknowledged as the world's greatest teacher and
preacher.

The text is introduced by the word "verily," and this is peculiar to
Jesus. The word calls especial attention to the coming message. It
was as if he had sounded a bell and said, "Stop and listen"; and
wherever the word "verily" occurs the Bible reader would do well to
give heed to the message of Jesus.

What hope is there for the moralist when Jesus sai