a human heart
that is insensible like a stone be conscious of
God's love? Who offers to give us a heart that
will be conscious of God's love? Who wrote the
book picturing the human heart like a city? Who is
trying to capture this city? Through what gates
does Satan try to enter? How does he try to get
into Eye-Gate? How does he try to get into
Ear-Gate? How does he try to get into Mouth-Gate?
Can you tell any other methods that he tries? To
whom had we better surrender the city of our soul?
If we commit the city of our soul to God, will He
protect and defend it? Is there any other way of
safety?

THE POLISHED STONE.

PERFECTION THROUGH SUFFERING.

SUGGESTIONS:--A piece of polished stone, or a
polished jewel, or piece of polished metal will
answer for the object to be used.

MY LITTLE MEN AND WOMEN: I trust you are all trying to be good, and
perhaps while you have been trying to be a follower of Jesus you have
desired many things and hoped that God would give them to you, because
you were trying to do right, and yet, perhaps, you have been
disappointed because God did not grant your wish. You have been seeking
to be faithful, and yet, perhaps, sickness has come to you, or
disappointment and sorrow. Perhaps sickness and death have come into
your family. Your papa or your mamma has been taken away by death, and
you have been left very sad and lonely, and you have come to wonder how
it is, if God loves you, that He does not grant you just what you wish,
and that He permits sickness and sorrow and bereavement to come to you
and to your home.

[Illustration: Stones Being Prepared for a Great Building

Copyrighted 1911 by Sylvanus Stall.]

When you have looked about you, you have seen many good people who have
been in much distress, oftentimes in poverty, afflicted with sickness,
bereaved of their loved ones, and left in great sorrow and
disappointment. When you have taken up your Bible you have found that
the same was true many hundreds of years ago. David was greatly
afflicted. Paul had his thorn in the flesh. The disciples were often
cast into prison, and it is very likely that all of them were put to
death, as their Master had been before them.

Now I want to illustrate to you to-day why God permits sorrow and
affliction to come to us. I have h