Chapter C: H. Woolston (2)

The teaching of this chapter is that faith alone in Christ can save. Prepare a large black card with the words "My Sins" painted upon it. Hold it up before the audience so all can see it, and remark: "My sins are dark and terrible. The Bible tells me they are like a thick cloud. (Isa. 44:22.) Note the first letter of sin is an S, which resembles a serpent in the act of striking its deadly blow. You cannot pronounce the letter S without hissing as a serpent. Sin is a deadly thing. It is poison for the heart and will. Sin is like a monster serpent coiled around our soul, and will at last crush out its life forever. I must get rid of my sins, They will not only ruin my own soul but will smite others also. Some years ago some scientific men made an investigation as to the cause of a contagious disease which had spread over a great city.

"It was discovered that a young man had been stealing goldfish which he put into a little tank in the floor of his room and covered it with boards to hide its secret place until he could sell them to another man.

"Soon after a great contagion sprang up in that vicinity, indeed in that very room, It began with him at first, and he was left crippled and blind and went limping along on crutches, a suffering permanent invalid. The contagion spread to others, and upon examination made by scientific men from Warsaw and Berlin they found out these fish had died in the tank, and were of such a nature as to spread at once a contagion which became of a most malignant type. A scourge overspread the land and carried away tens of thousands of innocent people. Sin acts just like that. Every act of evil deposited in a heart given over to disobedience to God breeds a miasma, the fumes of which go out on the silent air, poisoning the life of others as well as that of the sinner.

"I _must_ get rid of my sins for the sake of the other man as well as my own soul."

"How can this be done? What will take away my sins? Let me _show_ how my sins can be all taken away."

Prepare another card about an inch smaller all around it. Paint on it the word "Working." Shall I work? Shall I do penance? Shall I suffer bodily torture? Will these works obtain my deliverance? Now place this card over the black card "My Sins," and you notice it does not cover my sins. They still are visible. Working cannot save me. The "working"' card is not big enough to do it.

Now prepare a card with the word "Weeping" upon it, making that two inches shorter on all sides, and place it over the "My Sins" card, and you notice it does not cover the black card. It is too short. Weeping will not wipe away my sins. Weeping will not wash out my sins.

Weeping will not save me;
Though my face be bathed in tears,
That could not allay my fears,
Could not cleanse the sins of years;
Weeping will not save me.

After this prepare a card smaller still on which is painted the word "Praying." Place this against the black card "My Sins," and again this card does not cover the "Sin" card. Praying for deliverance from sin is essential, but we must act as well as pray. We realize our lost condition, and hear the voice of God say, "Come unto me." We must do something more than just cry, "Save, Save." We must _do_. The Prodigal Son would never have left the far country if he had merely cried out in fervent prayer, "I have sinned against thee." But he _arose_ and _went_. That was his way home. It is our way too.

Praying will not save me;
All the prayers that I could say
Could not wash my sins away,
The debt I owe could never pay;
Praying will not save me.

Prepare now a card only half as large as "My Sins" card, painting on it the word "Feeling." Try now to cover the black "Sin" card with this card and it will not half do its work, Waiting for "feeling" is useless delay. It would never save you if it should come. All the feeling that is needed is to "feel your need of him."

Feeling will not save me;
Though I may so happy be
As to think God's pardoned me,
Feelings change continually;
Feeling will not save me.

At last prepare a red card about an inch larger all around than the sin card on which you have painted the words "Faith in Christ." Now put this over the black "Sin" card, and you will perceive that it covers completely all your sins. It hides "My Sins" forever more. They are all taken away to stay, and as you say this remove the black "Sin" card and let it fall behind the desk, or cast it back of you, for this is what God does with our sins when he forgives them for Christ's sake. He casts them behind his back. Now lift up the red card, and the black has been taken away--and--taken away to stay. That is what faith in Christ will do. They are rolled away as a thick cloud forever.

Faith in Christ will save me!
Let me trust thy gracious Son,
Trust the work that he has done,
To his arms, Lord, let me run,
Faith in Christ will save me.

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WORDS OF ANGER

OBJECTS: A Large White Pasteboard Card with a Heart
in the Center; a Number of Black Pins; a Large Apple=

I once heard a story about a little boy whose bad temper troubled him, because when in anger he would speak words that would cut and stick in, So in order that he might know how bad were the bad words he uttered he made a large white heart, and in its center he put a cross. He hung this card in his own room and called it "The Heart of Jesus." Whenever he said an angry word, he would stick in the heart a black pin, just to remind him of the fact that every cross word he said hurt Jesus. This soon brought him to his senses, and the heart with the black pins hurt him so greatly that it was a check to his bad speaking. This teaches us the fact that our sins hurt Jesus. When he was among men he wept over the sinner. Perhaps he does now.

Secure a pasteboard heart about one foot in diameter and pin it up on some background where the audience can see it, then tell the above story, and begin to put the black pins (or other pins) in the heart as you name the bad words the children say. Black pins are preferred as they will show more plainly by reason of the white background. After there are a number of pins in the heart call the attention to the fact that some of those piercing words were spoken about very small, simple things.

There is an old story that tells us about two brothers who were out walking together. One night, one of them looking up to the sky said, "I wish I had a field as large as the night heavens." The other boy also looking up, said, "I wish I had as many oxen as there are stars in the sky." "Well," said the first brother, "How would you feed so many oxen!" The other brother replied, "I would turn them out into your pasture." "What," said the first brother, "would you do that without my permission?" "Yes, whether you would give permission or not." And so they quarreled, and when the quarrel was ended one of them had been slain by the other. It began by playful talk, but ended in tragedy. I think that boy must have filled the heart of Jesus with black pins of temper.

Temper is a blemish, a black spot, and often happy little children that are called "sunshine," can in a moment turn about and show the black spot of temper and spoil all the sunshine. A good mother trying to teach this lesson to her little girl held up before her a beautiful apple and asked her what she thought of it. She said it was perfect and lovely. The mother turned it around, and there on the other side was a large black spot. "Oh, that spoils it all," cried the little girl. Then the mother said to her little girl, "I think that resembles my little daughter," and the little girl knew what it meant. Her temper was her black spot. So every black pin in this heart came out of the black spot in the heart of the one who spoke the angry words. A few days later the beautiful apple lost its glory, the black spot had spread, and the apple soon decayed. This was to teach the little girl that if the sin of temper was not thrown out, and persistently kept out, it would at last destroy the soul.

You can here introduce an apple fair and beautiful with a speck on the other side of it. This will help visualize the truth. Don't think that the black spot of temper will always remain on the hidden side, because it will find its way out sooner or later and will find you at last.

A schoolmaster one day missed several boys from school. He had a shrewd suspicion they were playing truant. In the afternoon the boys came to school and he asked one of them where he had been. The boy replied that his mother had kept him home that morning to mind the baby. "Let me look at your tongue," said the master, and he did so, and it was black. "It is just as I thought. You have spent the morning rambling in the woods, picking blackberries." He examined the tongues of the other boys and found them all black also. Their tongues had told on them. Black tongues of temper always tell out their black words. What shall I do with my angry words? My hot mouth so often shoots off evil words. You cannot slay them; when you think they are buried, they will walk out of their graves and fight again.

Bring your heart to Jesus, because your tongue only says what your heart whispers to it, Ask Jesus to give you daily good thoughts and let them speak out in good words.

Once I read a fairy tale about a good little boy. Every time he spoke there fell from his lips a piece of gold. He grew more beautiful every day, and at last married the daughter of a king. This is only a fairy tale, but it teaches us a real lesson. When we say kind words the angels treasure them in heaven as pure gold.

Now take the pins out from the heart, and cut out a number of blocks of gold paper, and as you recite the good words pin them on the heart of Jesus. Such people are precious in his sight. They are his priceless jewels.

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THE COPPER-FACE GIRL

OBJECT: An Old Penny with a Indian Girl's Face on It=

We all love to have our names written in important places. When I was in the Tower of London, I found one of the walls so filled with names written there, that it seemed to me to be impossible for any one to write another name. They wanted to be remembered. I think we all do. I want to tell you a true story about a little girl that had her picture engraven upon copper. She did not plan to do this, she gained this publicity unsought, and yet her face was in more homes in this land than any other. Even the homes of the poorest were glad to get it. The rich also rejoiced to look into her sweet face. Now look sharp at your penny, and you will see an Indian face. Look again with both eyes, and let me ask you, Do you see Indian features there? I do not think you do, not even the slightest trace of them, because the girl on the penny was not an Indian at all. Look again, and you will see it is the face of a gracious American girl. This is the story of how this sweet little American girl got her face made over in copper and stamped on an American penny. Her name was Sarah Longacre Keen. She lived in Philadelphia and died there a few years ago. For thirty-five years she was the Secretary of the Philadelphia Branch of the Women's Foreign Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church. One day, when she was a child, five or six years old, a delegation of Indians from the Northwest visited Washington. They came to see the sights of the great capital and to hold a pow-wow, with the Great White Chief--the President. After they had spent some time in Washington they visited Philadelphia. While here, among other places they were shown the U.S. Mint. The little girl's father was a master engraver, and connected officially with the great money factory. He was a good, generous man, and invited the Indian delegation to some sort of an entertainment at his house. One of the Chiefs had his attention attracted to the little Miss. He was so pleased by her figure and face and maidenly bearing that in a mood of sportiveness, he took off his head-dress and put it on her head. This did not frighten the little girl and so she stood still for a moment and let the people look at her. Then they all laughed and greatly enjoyed the joke, Some one present had an eye for beauty, and also artistic skill, and he was so struck by the appearance that little Sarah made in her Indian hat that he sketched her on the spot.

The sketch was engraved by her father. Later on when the Government wanted a new face on the new one-cent pieces they chose this engraving, and so little Sarah Keen's features became the best known face in America. This is the story of the Little Copper-face, and this was the way a little Philadelphia girl was remembered.

There is a better way to be remembered than stamping your face upon copper. We could not do this if we wished, but we can all be remembered by God, if we do his will, and try to do our best to serve him. This is the way to engrave our names on his heart. There was once a Bible-woman by the name of Phoebe. We read about her in Romans 16:1. She is there called "Phoebe, our sister." She is mentioned only once in the New Testament. A small matter, you say, to make her remembered forever. She did one simple, little act; yet we are all rich today because she did it. She carried Paul's letter to the Roman church which is now called by that name. A great French writer has said that Phoebe carried the foundation stones of the great temple of Christian doctrine. This was all she did. We never hear anything about her after that act, but think what it has meant for the great Christian church, and think what it means to all Bible readers today! In that letter, more than all others, is God's grace revealed to us.

She worked for Jesus in a humble way, and in such a simple way that all children can follow her example. She just carried things for God. She was God's errand-girl, so her character is engraved on the bronze tablet of Biblical history. Paul says, "I commend unto you Phoebe." God will commend you if you do as Phoebe did.

In delivering this talk hold up the penny as you describe it. This particular penny is a bit rare these days, but the banks will supply them, and some of the older people who have "savings" from other days, will gladly make an exchange for it. If you found it possible, you would make a great impression on the little hearts if you should give each an old penny with the Indian head.

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MAKING A CHURCH FLAG

OBJECTS: The Word "Come" Made by Flag Signals=

One of the best church flags is the flag of invitation.

Let me tell you how you can make one to hang from your steeple point, and decorate your meeting-room. You can also carry it in your church parade, and hang it over the pulpit when you give your lesson.

It is a set of signal flags which spell out "Come." Here are the flags arranged as a streamer. They can be made of bunting or silk and fastened on a cord in the following order.

These flags say "Come" to the outside world. It is your invitation in the air.

The colors can be made to mean "White--Purity". Here is the church to which you are invited. You will be taught that purity is a gift from God, through Jesus Christ. It is given away in the church at the meeting. Come, and receive it.

The Red stands for the blood of Jesus, which makes black white, and takes away sin.

The Yellow stands for Glory. Yellow is the dominating color in the sunset which shows forth the glory of God. The glory of life is produced by the forgiveness of sin. The glory we can take with us to the City of Glory. The life all-glorious is the life offered by the church. The salvation of the soul makes the soul shine forth like the sun.

Note that the last flag of the word "Come" contains the three colors of our flag, the red, white, and blue; so in the church the best citizens are made and stay made. The flag calls you to the ascending life.

These flags are like the bells around the high priest's garments--the bells of invitation. When the Jews heard the clang of those bells in the hem of the high priest's garment they knew it was a call to worship. The bells said, "Come, worship!" The word "come" occurs six hundred and forty-two times in the Bible. It is "Come to the supper"; "Come to the waters"; "The Spirit and the Bride say, Come"; "Come," "Come _now_"; "Come to Jesus." The call is for all. Hang this signal on the top of the world, the highest mountaintop, it tells the same story to all people, "Come." A minister of the gospel hastening to the train with only a moment to spare, was stopped by a gentleman, who ran after him, and asked him this question, "O, sir, stop a moment, I am anxious about my soul, and I want to know what to do." "Well," said the pastor, "my train is just here, and I can only say turn to Isaiah 53:6. Go in at the first 'all,' and go out at the last 'all.'" "What does he mean," said the stranger. He went to the Bible and read the text: "All we, like sheep, have gone astray. We have turned every one to his own way, and Jehovah hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." So he repeated to himself the minister's message "Go in at the first 'all,' come out at the last 'all.'" So he read the text again, "All." "All _we_ like sheep have gone astray." That was the first "all." "Yes, that is where I am to 'go in,' I'll go." He believed it. "Hath laid on him the iniquity of us _all_." The second "all." "Jesus bore the sins of 'all,' so he bore my sins. That is where I go out, through the last 'all.' I go in as a sinner on the first 'all,' I come out through the last 'all' because my sins were all laid on him"; and in so doing he rejoiced in Christ, his Saviour. That is what the signal "Come" says. Hear it singing, "Come." Listen to the call of the signals which, interpreted by Isaiah 53:6, rings out, "Come in at the first 'all,' go out at the last 'all.'" And so make your church flag, and as you read its meaning, go and tell it to all the people.

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AN IMMORTALITY LESSON

OBJECTS: A Collection of Colored Eggs=

The Indian, years before he was told by the white missionary that when a man dies he shall live again, believed in the life beyond. When the chieftain was buried they placed his weapons of stone and bronze in the grave with his body, in order that he might pursue his life in the Happy Hunting-grounds. He lived on and was a hunter still.

Our tombstones were first placed on our graves that the departed spirit, if he should return, might find his body and learn also that he had not been forgotten. The egg was used to tell the story in the earliest ages. In fact, the egg has found a place in the earliest traditions. A fable tells us the earth was hatched from a monstrous golden goose egg. Tradition tells us how the egg broke in two, and one-half became the firmament, and the other, half, the earth. This is the way the earliest people explained the making of this old world. To their minds the golden egg seemed to be the prison from which this world was released. Here exhibit a gilded egg. This is the strangest story ever told in which the egg played so important a part, containing the great world which was released as a living chick from the dead egg.

Here in remote history the egg taught that life sprang from the egg prison. The practise of giving eggs to friends is a very old one. It commenced way back with the Persians. It was also a custom among the Egyptians, Jews, and Hindus. When it was first used among Christians it symbolized the resurrection, or life from the tomb. It was always colored red to remind the people of the blood of Christ shed for sinners.

The red egg stood for the blood of Calvary, and the grave in Joseph's Garden. This egg contains a germ of life; under proper conditions the life of the chicken will break the shell and come forth. At this point hold up the red-colored egg. The people of long ago often placed eggs on the graves of their friends which told forth the fact that they believed in immortality. They just _thought_ so. Now we know so, for Jesus said, "I shall be raised the third day." That is the reason that on Easter Day the people rejoice because Christ came up from the grave, and so shall we. This the ancients only thought, but now we know it as a fact. That makes Easter such a glad day.

We call the place where we bury the dead "cemeteries," which means "sleeping-places." It is a beautiful thought to think of the little graves as little cradles where rest the bodies of little children, but only our bodies sleep there, for the soul has gone to the God who made it. So the egg at Eastertime is a symbol of immortality, and we should all be glad we have seen the red egg which stands for the resurrection of Christ because he has told us the story of heaven and how to get there. The origin of the old English word "heaven" is a curious one. It means "to cast up"': so the sky is a place "cast up" or "heaved up" or "heaven" as we speak of it today.

Martin Luther used to tell his children that heaven was a beautiful garden full of merry children in little golden coats gathering apples under the trees and shouting in great glee. Luther was just trying as best he could to describe heaven as a happy place for little boys and girls. Jesus lives, says the broken egg, and because he lives we shall live also, and so we all want to go to heaven at last.

Once upon a time a minister took his son to learn mountain-climbing. Being a stout lad he grew tired and stopped for a little rest. The father went on alone, and when he arrived at the top of the mountain, he found a splendid seat for the boy and marked his name on it, so he might easily find it when he arrived at the top. Then he called down to the boy: "James, my son, come up here. There is a seat up here on the top of the mountain, and your name is written on it."

This gave new strength to the boy, and he rose to his feet once more, and climbed to the top, and at last found his seat with his name upon it. His father had gone on before him and prepared a place for him. So God calls today: "My son, up, up to the top. There is a mansion prepared for you. Your name is graven on the door. Turn this way and keep on climbing, and at last you will find heaven, the top of the universe."

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"OFF FOR HAPPY LAND"

OBJECTS: A Piece of Plain Note-paper Containing a
Sentence Written in Invisible Ink=

Do you want a free ticket for Happy Land? If you do, stop and listen, and I will tell you how to get one. All the world seem to fix their eyes on the golden country, but the road is so narrow that few there be that find it. All people are pilgrims seeking that fair land, but at the end of their trail they meet the wreckage of the failures of the ages. Harken, and I will tell you how to find the trail that leads to the Land of Happiness. Once upon a time a lad called upon a wise man and asked him if he would direct him to this land of joy. The wise man in reply said to him, "I will not only direct you to the country of smiles but will give you a free ticket that will take you there." He handed him a little slip of paper upon which the lad could see nothing. To him it was a blank. He told the wise man so, but the wise man replied, "Hold the paper close to a lighted lamp so the heat thereof may strike the paper with full force, and then will appear the lines which will answer your question, and this will be your sure passport to your destination." This the lad did. When the heat struck the blank paper, there appeared in distinct letters the sentence, "If you would find the land of happiness become a Christian and then do some good thing for Jesus every day." This the lad tried with all his heart to do, and did do it, and the smiles he planted on the face of the other man, reflected a beautiful light on his own face, and his heart was bounding in joy. This is the secret trail, walk in it.

But all this depends on the fact that your own heart is right with God, and that Jesus has come to live with you. Then every good thing you do is done as unto him, and his "thank you" sets all the joy-bells ringing. That is the Happy Land, and this is the way to find it. A woman came to her pastor one day and said she was very miserable and unhappy, she could not find that contentment of heart which she declared she heard others say they possessed. He told her the secret of being happy in the Lord, and said: "There is a poor old lady living at the foot of the street. Go and see her, and take with you a basket full of good things; give them to her, and you will take away with you a heart filled with joy. The door of her house is the open gate to Happy Land." This was the wise man's secret, "Do some good today for Jesus."

Jesus went about doing good, and in so doing he was revealing the open way to the land of heart happiness.

The French people have a story about a wonderful Happy Land called Colaigne. It is full of men and women always happy. In this land there are no storms of rain or snow. It is never too cold or too hot. There is no lightning or whirlwind, no war, no sickness, no death.

White monks and gray nuns live in a fair abbey built of gems and spices. The ladies are all fair and every month the people all have new clothes. In this wonderful land there is a bubbling fountain. Whoever drinks of its waters never grows old, and if those who are old drink of it they become young and vigorous again, be they ever so old or ugly. Now I suppose all of the little folks are saying they would like to live in that land, but I am sure you would find when you reached there it was not a land of pure happiness. Happiness does not come from having everything done for you. The wise man was speaking the real truth when he gave as his secret message that doing things for others in the name of Jesus was passing through the gates to the City of Real Happiness.

In preparing for this lesson use a piece of plain writing-paper, with a match sharpened to a point write in lemon juice "Be a Christian," and "Do some good thing for Jesus every day." When it is dry it will be invisible. When held up to the heat of a lamp it will become visible so all can read it. In doing this before the class first hold up the paper before them, showing both sides to be blank. At that time tell the story of the wise man and blank paper given to the lad, then hold it before the flame of lamp until the heat has had sufficient time to bring out the writing. Experiment with this while preparing the lesson so you can regulate your talking according to the time it takes to develop the hidden words. There are many other lessons you can give, using invisible ink, that will teach a strong lesson. "What Is in the Heart," can be the title of another lesson. In this case cut out a paper heart, and write the word "Sin" on it. Call the lamp the Holy Spirit, and show that he brings out just what is in the heart.

You can also teach the lesson "The Secrets of the Lord Revealed." Present a piece of paper that seems to be a blank, but it holds a secret hidden from our human eyes. Call the lamp the Word of God. Take the paper to the lamp of God's Word. Through that word he reveals his will to us, so we can read and understand. Lessons will multiply in your mind, as you think it through, which will be of great interest to your listeners.

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FORGOTTEN HOLY NAMES

OBJECTS: A Number of Cards Contain the Names of
Forgotten Bible Characters Written on Them=

"Lest we forget" sang the old English poet. Well, we do forget oftentimes some of the worthies of the Old Testament. Perhaps we have never heard of them, then this lesson will introduce us to them and help us not to forget them in the days to come.

Write the names of the people that you mention on a visiting-card, and hide these cards somewhere on the pulpit, and say: "I am about to introduce some strangers to you. A few good people that some of us have forgotten." Look behind the pulpit chair and on the floor pick up a visiting-card and say: "Here is a forgotten friend I want to introduce to you. The Dog."

Did I ever hear of him before? Well his name is among the greatest names in the Bible. He lived in a camp of travelers. He was known as The Dog. Some of us would be insulted to be called _a dog_. Often we speak of people as being "As mean as a dog," but any one who really understands dogs loves them. The dog is the first to greet you and the first to defend you, he is quick to forgive you, and will be faithful to you to the last.

This "dog" was faithful, courageous, and loving. He was made the leader of a small group of people that went forth to discover something about a people who lived beyond the bushes in an enemy's land. They pressed their way under the guidance of "the dog" into the strange land. There they found the rich and fruitful vineyards, grapes, pomegranates and figs so large they did not know how to bring the fruits of the vine back to show the people in the camp. "The Dog" thought it out, and calling his fellow laborers to him, he put a stout stick across their shoulders to which he fastened the precious load. When the people saw "The Dog" returning with this wealth of good things they greeted them with shouts of joy. The friends of "The Dog" said, "These are the fruits of the enemy's country, but we will never be able to conquer the land because the soldiers protecting the land are very many and very strong."

Then the people cried out in despair and said, "Let us get another leader." Then "The Dog" stepped forward, and with a confident look in his face and a determined ring in his voice stretched forth his hand to command silence. There was a great hush among the people, and all was quiet in their ranks. Then "The Dog" said: "The land is splendid and rich and fruitful. God is on our side--we have no need to be afraid of the giants. The Lord is with us, fear them not." At last "The Dog" and his companions marched into the land, and found it flowing with milk and honey. Who was "The Dog"? His name was "Caleb" which is the Hebrew name for dog, and Captain Joshua was his companion. Read the full story if you wish. Its record is found in Numbers 13 and 14.

In closing remark we have giants to fight today--Pride, Anger, Sloth, Untruthfulness--but never forget the words of "The Dog," "The Lord is with us, fear them not."

Here is the story of another forgotten character.

This story can be used for a second address under the title of "Forgotten Names" or it can be used with this lesson also.

You now bring out from under the pulpit, a bundle of old papers which you remark are to be thrown into the waste-basket as worthless, but in the act of throwing them into the basket which you have put on the platform previously you find another visiting-card with another forgotten name upon it, which you now state you have rescued from the papers doomed for the fire. On the card you have written the words "The Mountaineer." This man was born in a wild mountain home. His parents passed away in his early days, and he could never remember them. As he wandered on the hillsides he talked with God, and the hills seemed to speak to him. He grew to manhood and became strong in body, and fleet of foot. He was a magnificent runner, and was so strong he once went forty days without food. The King of the land was a weak man with a wicked wife, and the King hated him because he was so good. One day this weak King and the young man met, and the King hissed out, "You are the man who is bringing ruin upon the land." He answered: "I have not brought ruin upon the land, but you and your father's house have forsaken the commandments of God, and worship idols. I challenge you, therefore, bring all your people to the mountain, bring your idols and their prophets, and let us see who is right." The King agreed to this, and at the appointed time they were all present on the mountain.

The tall Mountaineer, with bronzed face, hair streaming down his shoulders, wearing a rough coat of camel's hair, stepped forward and said: "Why halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow him, but if the idols be God, follow them. Let us each build an altar, and put a bullock on it, but put no fire under it; then each of us in turn will call upon his God, and the God that answers by fire let him be God." Then he said to the false prophets, "It is your turn first." The heathen danced around their altar all the morning, and when noon came they were still dancing, but no fire came down. Then the Mountaineer called out to them and said, "Cry a little louder, perhaps your God is asleep or gone on a journey." Maddened by these words, they renewed their shouting, cutting themselves with knives and lancets until their blood splashed on them, but no fire came down. When the time for the evening sacrifice came they ceased their crying, and the Mountaineer called the people to come to him, and he told his men to throw barrels of water over his altar: after this was done, he prayed, and scarcely had he finished his prayer when there came out of the heavens a vivid flash of light which consumed the offering on the altar, and the people fell on their faces, and a great cry went up: "The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God." Who was this "Mountaineer"? He was the Tishbite, Elijah. The full story you will find in First Kings 18. This story teaches us the great fact that "If God be for us, who can be against us?"

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