HERE is a story so old that it is new. That is, it is new to this
generation. It is about a post that may be a pulpit or a lesson desk,
and from it they may hear a loud message proclaimed. This is the
story.--Many years ago when Grandpa was young, just like you, his
mother told him a story about a boy that did wrong things, told
falsehoods, and used bad words. His mother, in order to cause him to
see how ugly sin was, and what a bad scar it left in the heart, drove
a nail into a post for every evil word he spoke. By and by there were
a large number of nails in the post and it looked very ugly and he
felt just a little ashamed of his deeds being shown up this way. So he
went to his mother and said he was very sorry, and promised he would
try not to say bad words any more if she would pull all the nails out.
This she agreed to do on the following terms: For every good word or
deed, he would say or do, she would pull out one nail. After trying
real hard he saw the nails come out one by one, at last they were all
out, but he noticed the holes left by the nails, and wanted his mother
to pull them out also, which, of course she could not do. This taught
the boy a lesson, that even good deeds could not erase the scars evil
deeds left behind them. His father said, however, if he continued to
be good, he would fill all the holes up with a paint filler, and
recoat the post with fresh paint, and it would like quite like new,
and right again. After his father had given the post a number of coats
of fresh paint, the scars all disappeared, and the little boy never
forgot the lesson when he looked at the bright, fresh post.
Now, secure a fair sized post or board. Have it nicely planed and
painted, if possible, polished, so it will present a finished
appearance. Take now a hammer and nail and drive one in, at short
distances, at every evil deed mentioned. He told a lie--drive in a
nail. He said a swear word--drive in a nail. He stole a book--drive in
a nail, and so continue this operation until there are fifteen or
twenty nails driven in. "How shall I get rid of my sins?" Let us see.
For every good word said, pull out a nail and continue in this fashion
until the nails are extracted. But good works will not blot out our
evil deeds, for you notice that the nail holes are there. We cannot
pull the nail holes out, the scar of sin is left, The only way the
scar can be blotted out is by the planing off of the board, or filling
up the nail holes, or better still, get a new piece of board. So God
must give us a new heart, and this He will do if we pray "Create in me
a new heart, O God."
=CHAPTER XXIX
"THE BURIED BIBLE"=
_Objects: A Large Bible; a Daily Newspaper; a Sunday Newspaper; a Cash
Book; Entertainment Program; a Theatrical Window Poster; a Book of
Fashions; a Book of Personal Engagements; a Popular Work of Fiction;
School Books; a Phonograph Catalogue_