Twilight And Dawn | Page 5

to you, what must you
do?
You must listen, not only with your eyes, when you read the words, or
with your ears, when someone reads to you, but with your heart.
Do you remember what we are told in the Bible about a child to whom
God once spoke? It was in the night that this boy heard God's voice
calling him by his own name--the name which his mother had given
him when he was a baby. Samuel had never heard the voice of God
before, and he did not know who was speaking to him in the quiet

night.
But he did what he was told to do by one who knew that God was
calling him, and the next time the voice came he answered, "Speak, for
Thy servant heareth."
Then, when God spoke again, he listened to the message which God
gave him to give for Him.
How near God was to this child!
Yes, He was very near to Samuel as he slept; but He is as near to you,
as you lie in your own bed at home. He keeps you safely all through the
dark night: when you cannot even think about yourself He thinks about
you and cares for you; and He speaks to you by His Holy Word just as
much as if He called you by your own name.
Do not forget that it is really true that when you take God's Book into
your hands, and open it, and listen with your heart, God is near you and
speaks to you, your own self. For this reason, when we read the Bible,
as the children said, "We must attend, or we shall not know what God
has said."
And for another reason, too, we must attend: that is, because it is God
who is speaking.
God's Word is the only thing in this world that is quite sure; but it is,
because it has come straight from Him, and He is the God of truth.
God's Word can never pass away; for He has said that it endures for
ever.
God's Word can speak, even to a child, and can make that child "wise
unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus."
For it is of Jesus, the Son of God, that God has spoken to us in His
book.
I think you will like this poem, which speaks of a time when the Bible
was not only a rare, but in most countries a forbidden book, bought in
secret, and read in fear by those to whom it became all the more
precious because it cost them so dear. We are told that at this time the
actual cost of a Bible was £30, and that the wages of a labouring man
were only 1-1/2d. a day; so that he would have to work fifteen years to
pay for one copy of the Word of God!
"THE VAUDOIS TEACHER.
"'Oh, lady fair, these silks of mine Are beautiful and rare; The richest
web of the Indian loom, Which beauty's queen might wear. And my

pearls are pure as thine own fair neck, With whose radiant light they
vie; I have brought them with me a weary way-- Will my gentle lady
buy?'
"And the lady smiled on the worn old man Through the dark and
clustering curls Which veiled her brow, as she bent to view His silks
and glittering pearls; And she placed their price in the old man's hand,
And lightly turned away; But she paused at the wanderer's earnest call--
'My gentle lady, stay!'
"'Oh, lady fair, I have yet a gem Which a purer lustre flings Than the
diamond flash of the jewelled crown On the lofty brow of kings: A
wonderful pearl of exceeding price, Whose virtue shall not decay;
Whose light shall be as a spell to thee, And a blessing on thy way!'
"The lady glanced at the mirroring steel, Where her form of grace was
seen, Where her eye shone clear and her dark locks waved Their
clasping pearls between-- 'Bring forth thy pearl of exceeding worth,
Thou traveller grey and old; Then name the price of thy precious gem,
And my page shall count the gold.'
"The cloud went off from the pilgrim's brow, As a small and meagre
book, Unchased with gold or gem of cost, Prom his folding robe he
took; 'Here, lady fair, is the pearl of price: May it prove as such to thee;
Nay, keep thy gold; I ask it not, For the Word of God is free.'
"The hoary traveller went his way, But the gift he left behind Hath had
its pure and perfect work On that high-born maiden's mind; And she
hath turned from the pride of sin To the lowliness