this is not the case. With your eyes you can see nothing in the dark;
even the cat and the owl must have some light, although they do not need
as much as we, before they can see. The rays of light carry the pictures
of the objects, and where there are no rays of light we can see
nothing.
Now, while your photograph is being taken from the few rays of light
which pass into a camera, you see that we might place hundreds of
cameras one above another, and if they were all pointed at you they
might each take a photograph of you at the same instant--the same as one
thousand different persons in an audience with their two thousand eyes
all look toward the speaker and see him at one and the same instant.
Now, if I have succeeded in making my thought plain, you will readily
understand that as we have great books with pictures upon every page, so
God might use these rays of light as the pages of the great book upon
which each act of our life instantly records itself, it matters not how
rapidly it is done or how many persons and objects there may be in
motion or action at the same instant. The fact that the different rays
of light carry the pictures of the objects from which they are
reflected, is illustrated in the wonderful cameras with which "moving
pictures" are taken.
To older persons I might add that if you recall the scientific fact that
these rays of light, bearing the images or photographs of persons and
objects from which they are reflected, dash out into space at the rate
of 192,000 miles in one second, and that they continue to move on
indefinitely, you see how the rays of light which were reflected and are
now carrying the image of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, of Noah
coming out of the ark, of the battle of Bunker Hill, and those carrying
the pictures of all other objects and actions since the Creation until
now, are still sweeping on through space, and if you and I could be
present where these rays of light are now sweeping onward, we could see
these things as actually and really as if they were even now taking
place in our presence upon the earth. And you will also understand how,
as God is everywhere present, He is also present in space where these
rays of light are at this moment, and so every scene in the entire
history of the world is perpetually visible to Him. And so, even with
our feeble understanding, you see how the past may always be present to
the Infinite and everywhere-present God.
Now, my dear young friends, remember as we see the acts of each other,
so God sees all that we do, even when no one else is present to see us.
Do not think that God sees and then forgets. All we do is being
constantly photographed, not in a camera like this, but upon the rays of
light as upon the pages of a great book, and in the great Judgment Day,
God will judge us out of the things recorded against us in these books.
Our acts record themselves, and in that great day we shall no more be
able to deny the correctness of the record than we would be able to deny
the personality or identity of our own photograph.
QUESTIONS.--What is meant by the great Judgment
Day? What will God do on that day? Of what does
God keep a record? Do we know exactly how He does
it? What two ways are there in which He might do
it? What brings the person's image upon the ground
glass of the camera? What have we that is like the
camera? Which part of the eye is like the ground
glass of the camera? Why can we not see in the
dark? Could God use the rays of light instead of
the pages of a book? Is the image of Adam and Eve
in the Garden of Eden still existing? Where? Are
the images of all other events also passing
through space? Can God see them all at once? Does
God see all of our acts?
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
THE PHONOGRAPH.
BOOKS THAT TALK.
SUGGESTION:--Object: A small tin box, with a cover
and bottom removed. Over one end draw and tie a
piece of parchment, or even of strong manilla
paper, in the center of the miniature drum-head
thus formed fasten a thin string, and you will
then have a rude but real telephone and a good
representation also of the phonograph.
LAST Sunday I talked to you about the great Judgment Day and tried to
illustrate to your minds what is said in Revelation, twentieth chapter,
twelfth verse, where it says, "The dead were judged out of those things
which were written in the books, according to their works." I tried then
to make plain how God pictures or photographs all our acts upon the rays
of light, and how we see the objects about us when the rays of light
fall upon the retina of the eye. I tried to show you how every ray of
light carries a photograph or picture, and that these rays of light are
sweeping out into space at the rate of 192,000 miles per second, and
that if you and I could be present where these rays, carrying the
picture of the battle of Bunker Hill are now hurrying through space, you
could see the battle, as if it were taking place at present. If you had
a camera with you, you could actually take a photograph of it, the same
as you could have done had you been on the hills outside of Boston on
the day when this great battle was being fought.
But that is only one book; God has other books also. But you know you
can not photograph what a person says. So I want to try and show you how
our words and all we say also go into a great book and write themselves
down, so as to become permanent for all time.
Now, I have here a baking-powder box, from which I have removed the
ends, and in place of the tin have covered it with a stout piece of
paper which I have tried to draw very smoothly. With two such boxes,
connected by a string, we could make a telephone so that we could talk
together a short distance. Or with only one box we could construct a
very rude but yet very suggestive phonograph.
Let me tell you how it is that you can hear over the telephone, whether
made of a simple box and string like this, or with a wire and electric
battery, for in one respect they are both alike.
If you will place your finger gently on your throat, against what is
sometimes called "Adam's Apple," but what is really the delicate little
instrument with which we speak, and then utter some words in a strong,
clear voice, you will doubtless feel a vibration or trembling in your
throat, just the same as I now feel in my throat while I am talking. My
effort to speak causes these little chords in my throat to vibrate, just
the same as when you pass your fingers over the chords of a harp or
violin, or when you strike the keys of a piano you make the wires
tremble and thus produce sound, so these chords in my throat tremble and
cause the air to tremble, producing what we call sound-waves. Just the
same as when you take a stone and drop it into the lake, you see the
little waves or ripples, as we call them, go out in small circles, wider
and wider, further and further, until they strike the distant shore. So
the air is made to vibrate by my effort to speak, and these little
sound-waves in the air strike against the drum of your ear, back of
which there are nerves, ever ready to convey to the brain the sensation
which we call sound,
[Illustration: "The Little Waves or Ripples."]
"Like clear circles widening round
Upon a clear blue river,
Orb after orb, the wondrous sound
Is echoed on forever."
Now, this small baking-powder box represents the ear, and the paper at
this end represents the drum of the ear, and this string represents the
nerves. This string may be prolonged for a considerable distance, and if
you were to connect the end of the string with another box of the same
sort you would then have a telephone with which you would be able to
hear quite plainly the words which are spoken by some other person at
the opposite end of the string. When I speak into this box it makes the
paper tremble, and that makes the string tremble, and if there were
another box at the far end of the line it would cause the paper on the
end of that box to tremble just the same, and that would cause the air
to tremble where that box is, and if you were to hold your ear to that
box you would be able to hear the words.
If I take this box, and instead of a string I should place the point of
a needle back of it, and a cylinder to revolve, so that the needle would
scratch the vibrations upon the cylinder, I would then have a
phonograph. I would then be able to record the words, and with another
smooth needle to go into the scratches which had been made by the sharp
needle, I would be able to reproduce the sound; or, in other words, to
make the cylinder talk back again to me the words which I had spoken
into the tin box and recorded upon the cylinder.
[Illustration: Phonograph Cylinder.]
Just as light carries the photograph or picture, so the air carries the
sound of our words and other vibrations of the atmosphere which we call
sound. Thus you see the light is one book and the air is another, and
God doubtless has many other forms of making and keeping the record of
our actions and words--yes, even of our thoughts, and in the great
Judgment Day these words which we utter will say themselves over again
in our ears. If you uttered any bad or wicked words yesterday or to-day,
or shall do so tomorrow, remember you will have to give an account of
them in the great Day of Judgment.
But there is another thing connected with our uttering of bad words, as
well as the fact that we must give an account of them. Bad words are
connected with bad thoughts, and so every bad word which we utter
indicates the character of our thoughts and has a bad influence upon our
minds and hearts.
Not only do these words record themselves upon the atmosphere, but they
also record themselves in a lasting--yes, in an eternal influence upon
the hearts and the minds and the lives of those who hear them. Just the
same as the words which are spoken into a phonograph are recorded and
can be repeated over and over many times, so the bad words and the
wicked thoughts which are expressed into the ears of others make an
indelible record upon their thoughts and hearts, and are oftentimes
repeated to others, thus multiplying the record, and at last all these
records will appear against us in the great Day of Judgment. How careful
you and I should be to speak only good words and to think only good
thoughts.
QUESTIONS.--Has God other record books beside the
one of deeds? What does one of the other books
record? What is a telephone? What is a phonograph?
What happens to the air when our words strike it?
What are these air-vibrations called? What does
the air do with sound? What two things may be used
as God's recording books? Must all bad words be
accounted for? What do bad words indicate? Upon
what instrument can words also be recorded? Are
all words like those which are recorded by a
phonograph? Why? (Permanent). Will God hold these
records against us on the Judgment Day?
MAGNET AND NEEDLE.
GOD'S GUIDING HAND.
SUGGESTION:--Objects used: A magnet, a piece of
paper and an ordinary sewing needle. In the
illustration lay the needle flat against the paper
directly under the magnet. The ordinary magnet,
purchased for a few cents in a toy store, will
answer the purpose.
MY DEAR LITTLE MEN AND WOMEN: The Bible everywhere teaches us that God
is the Supreme Ruler of the universe. Not only has He created the vast
system of worlds about us, but He directs each in its orbit. He rules
over the destinies of nations, and although wicked men plot and plan,
yet over and above them all God is ruling, and He makes even the wrath
of men to praise Him.
When you are older and can make a careful study of the Book of Daniel,
which is in the Old Testament, and then read the history of the world in
the light of the teachings of that Book, you will see how God used the
five great empires of the earth to prepare the world for the coming of
the Messiah, and how since the time of Christ He has used the other
nations to prepare the world for the full acceptance of the truth and
the final triumph of righteousness.
But God not only governs in the affairs of nations, He also governs and
directs in the life of each individual. He not only gives us being and
preserves our lives and health, but He has redeemed us from sin and
death by the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ; and if we are willing, He
will guide us in all the affairs of life. Nothing is too minute nor too
insignificant to receive His thought and attention, and not even the
sorrow of a child over a broken toy escapes His notice or fails to touch
His loving heart.
But many people are not able to understand, and seem also unwilling to
accept anything that they cannot see, or comprehend with one of their
five senses. I have therefore brought this magnet, this piece of paper,
and this needle, such as women use when they sew, in order to show you
how God can guide us by His unseen hand.
[Illustration: Magnet and Needle.]
When I lift this needle with my fingers and then let go of it you will
notice how it drops immediately to the floor. Now, when I lift this
magnet in the same way, and then let go of it, it will also drop in the
same manner. But now I am going to hold this magnet up, and bring the
needle close to the magnet. Now when I let loose of the needle with my
fingers you see how it is held by the magnet. The gravity, or, as we
would say, the weight of the needle, which would cause it to fall to the
floor, is overcome by some greater or stronger power which is in the
magnet. Now, you cannot perceive that power with any of your senses; you
can neither hear it, smell it, taste it nor feel it. You can see the
effect of that power, but the power itself you cannot see. In like
manner, also, there are powers and influences all about us which we
cannot perceive with any of our senses, but which are constantly
exercising their influence upon us and upon things about us.
But now, by the use of this paper, I desire to show you something
additional. I am going to place the magnet above the paper, and the
needle below the paper, and show you that even through the paper this
influence or power which holds the needle exerts itself. You will see
now that when I lay the needle lengthwise against the paper, with the
magnet upon the opposite side, that the needle is held up against this
paper and does not fall, as it would if the magnet were removed. You
will notice also that, as I move this magnet from place to place, the
needle on the lower side of the paper follows the magnet. In this simple
little experiment you are able to see the magnet, but suppose for a
moment that this paper were increased in size until it was as large as
the ceiling of this entire room. You will understand that then the
magnet and any person moving the magnet might be entirely out of sight,
and as the magnet would be moved from place to place on the upper side
of the paper, entirely out of view, the needle on the lower side, which
could be easily seen, would move from place to place, following the
magnet.
[Illustration: Paper no Hindrance.]
This little experiment illustrates to us _not how_ God guides us, but it
will show us that there are powers unknown and unseen by us which can
hold and guide even insensible metal. How much more easily, then, can
God sustain and guide our thoughts, our purposes, our steps and our
lives.
We are free moral agents. God has left us free to resist His power and
His grace, and to live in defiance of all that He has commanded us, and
of all that He desires us to do. But if we are willing to be led by His
Spirit, and to walk in His way, God is willing to guide us, if we will
come to Him and ask Him for the Holy Spirit to lead us in the way in
which He would have us to walk.
There are many who do resist God's will and purpose, and live in open
defiance of all His teachings, and of all that God would have them to
do. I take it for granted, however, that there are no such people here,
but that you all desire to live in such a way as to secure your greatest
happiness and your greatest good upon this earth, and your eternal
happiness and blessedness in the world to come.
In closing this little sermon, I therefore desire to impress upon your
minds the fact that you and I are without experience in many of the most
trying and most important events which come to us in life. We are
constantly liable to be mistaken. We cannot see ahead of us, and do not
always know what is for our own good. God knows all things, the future
as well as the past. He cannot be mistaken and must therefore know
beyond the possibility of error what will be for our good. God not only
knows what will be for our good but He desires our good, therefore we
should let Him guide us.
Now, the question might arise in your minds, how does God guide us? He
guides us by the teachings of His Word. He has told us in the Bible how
we ought to live, what is for our present and eternal good. If we desire
financial prosperity, or physical blessings, or mental quickness, or
spiritual peace, we will find in the teachings of God's Word how to
obtain them.
God also guides us by the exercise of our consciences, and therefore it
is always important that you and I should do what conscience tells us to
be right. First of all we should study God's Word, in order that we may
have an enlightened conscience, and then we should always follow
conscience.
God also guides us by the Holy Spirit, and it is our duty to come to
Him daily and ask Him for the presence and power of the Holy Ghost to
guide us through each day, and to bring us at last to Heaven above.
Now, I trust you will all be able to enter heartily into the prayer
which we are going to sing, for when we sing thoughtfully we will find
that many hymns contain petitions as well as praise, and this is one of
the kind which partakes largely of the nature of petition. Let us all
sing the hymn,
"Guide me, O, Thou great Jehovah."
QUESTIONS.--Who is the Supreme Ruler of the
Universe? Who governs the life of every person?
Does any little thing escape His notice? Are some
people unwilling to believe what they cannot see?
Can we see, hear, smell, or feel the power in the
magnet? Why do we believe it is there? Are there
influences around us like the power in the magnet?
Can they all be seen? Will the paper between the
magnet and the needle destroy the attracting power
of the magnet? Who are like the needle? Like whom
is the magnet? Does He guide us? Can we see Him?
Are we free to do as we choose? When will God lead
us? Do some people defy God? Do we always know
what is best for us, or what to do when in
trouble? Who does know? By what three means does
God guide us?
[Illustration]
FISH IN AQUARIUM.
THE ALL-SEEING EYE OF GOD.
SUGGESTION:--Object: A small aquarium with a few
small fishes.
MY DEAR YOUNG FRIENDS: I have here an aquarium with a few very pretty
goldfishes in it. As they swim from side to side they look very
beautiful. When they see me coming nearer to the aquarium, or moving my
hand upon this side or the other, they dart very quickly to the opposite
side of the aquarium. They try to get out of sight, but it makes no
difference whether they are upon this side or upon the other side of the
aquarium, I can see them just as well. I can look right through the
aquarium; I can see through the glass, and I can see through the water.
And wherever the fishes are in this aquarium, I can see them. It is
impossible for them to hide away, or to get out of my sight.
[Illustration: Fishes in Aquarium.]
Now, the Bible tells us that "the eyes of the Lord are in every place,
beholding the evil and the good." (Prov. xv: 3.) We are very clearly
taught in the Bible, that it makes no difference where we are, God can
see us just as well in one place as in another. He can see us in the
night just as well as in the daytime, for "the darkness and the light
are alike unto Him." David said, "He that keepeth Israel shall neither
slumber nor sleep." (Psalm cxxi: 4.) So it makes no difference whether
you are in the house or out of doors, whether it is day or whether it is
night, God can see right through the house, just as you and I can look
through this aquarium and through the water, so God can see right
through the thick walls of a house, or even through a great mountain. If
you were in the valley beyond the mountain, God could see right through
the mountain; that would make no difference. He can even see way through
the earth, from this side through to China. It makes no difference to
God, for He can see just as well through material substances, through
which you and I cannot look, as we can see through the air; indeed much
better, for distance limits the possibility of our seeing distinctly and
clearly, while God's power to see is not limited or circumscribed.
[Illustration: "There is One Direction That You Have not Looked."]
Once there was a very excellent, good woman, who had a very nice and
conscientious little boy, but the mother was poor and had to go out from
day to day to earn her living. Each night when she returned home the
little boy was very lonely, and would watch very patiently for his
mother, and when he saw her coming, he would always run to the door to
meet her, and throw his arms about her neck. But one evening when she
returned, she noticed that little Willie was not at the door to meet
her. She could not understand why, when she came into the house he
seemed to be afraid of her. He tried to avoid her. After a time the
mother called Willie to her and threw her arms around his neck and
kissed him very tenderly. This was too much for the little boy's heart.
He looked up into his mother's face, and said, "Mamma, can God see
through a crack in the door?" His mother said, "Yes, God can see
everywhere." He said, "Mamma, can God see in the cupboard if it is dark
in the cupboard?" "Yes, Willie, God can see in the dark as well as in
the light." Willie looked up into his mother's face and said, "Then I
might as well tell you. To-day I was very hungry, and although you told
me that I should not take the cake which you had put in the closet, yet
I went to the closet, and when I had closed the door, and it was all
dark, I felt around till I got a piece of the cake, and I ate it. I did
not know that God could see in the dark. I am very sorry that I have
been so wicked and so naughty." And so little Willie threw his arms
around his mamma's neck and laid his head upon her shoulder and wept
very bitterly.
[Illustration: Eye in the Pulpit.]
Once a man went to steal corn out of his neighbor's field. He took his
little boy with him to hold the bag open, while he should pull the corn
and put it in the bag. After they had reached the cornfield the father
looked this way and that way, and looked about him in every direction,
and when he had given the little boy the bag to hold open, the little
boy looked at his father and said, "Father, there is one direction that
you have not looked yet." The father was quite frightened and supposed
that his son had seen some one coming in some direction. But the son
said, "You have not looked up. There is some one in that direction I am
sure who sees us." The father was so much impressed that he turned away
from his sinful purpose, and returned home, never again to steal from
anyone.
Many years ago, among some of the denominations when they built a
church, they used to build the pulpit very high. It was built almost as
high as the gallery. And when the people sat in the pews and desired to
see the minister, they had to bend their heads back, and look up very
high toward the pulpit. At Reading, Pennsylvania, there is still one of
these old pulpits which was formerly in use. On the under side of the
shelf upon which the Bible rested in that pulpit, there was painted a
large eye. And when the people would look up from the pews to see the
minister, or towards the Bible, underneath this lid upon which the Bible
rested they would always see this large eye. This eye would seem to look
right down upon each one individually, and thus they would constantly be
reminded of the text, "Thou God seest me," and the text which I repeated
at the opening of this sermon, "The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
beholding the evil and the good." And so Sunday after Sunday, and year
after year, from childhood to manhood, this object sermon was constantly
being preached to them.
Whenever Satan tempts you to do wrong, remember that you cannot escape
from the eyes of One who sees you constantly, and although no human
being might know of your wickedness, yet God sees you, and God knows it
all, for "His eyes behold, His eyelids try the children of men." (Psalm
xi: 4.)