with your best friend. If you did you would soon enough wake up to find there was no friendship there.

Now friendship takes time. As I have remarked before, it gains time for us; but first of all, it costs time. If I am too busy to spend a few moments with you from time to time, I cannot hope to find my friendship growing.

The danger with most of us in Christian life is that we are not willing to provide for the time element. Perhaps most who have followed these studies have again and again missed certain portions because time was wanting. I want to renew my plea for time, that three things may become a regular part of our lives. First, I want to plead that in our lives there shall be a few moments each day for the study of the Bible. There you will remember we said we live with men who have met God. This is a moral power in our life which we can ill afford to miss. Then I want to plead for a few moments each morning to be spent in prayer. Our study has helped us to see afresh that God is in his universe, that he is a fatherly person, that he is interested in men. Prayer does effect something, for all these elements are here given to make it effective. Lastly, I want to make a plea for time to be given to Christian work. This is essential, if we are to giow in fellowship with God. He that waiteth upon Jehovah shall surely renew his strength.

STUDY X. HELPING MEN SOLVE DIFFICULTIES ABOUT CHRIST.

"Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by?

Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is brought upon me,

Wherewith Jehovah hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger.

The Lord hath set at nought all my mighty men in the midst of me; He hath called a solemn assembly against me to crush my young men: The Lord hath trodden as in a winepress the virgin daughter of Judah." (Lam. i. 12, 15.)

PART 7. SUMMARY.

I TRUST We have seen in these studies that Christian life is not something abnormal, but completely normal. It is just our everyday powers and capacities reaching out toward God. It is friendship pure and simple, with one person in that friendship a perfect and complete personality. This at once makes religion the most natural of all our relationships, and at the same time dignifies it by putting it in the place of supremacy.

In the second place, I trust we have found that something actually does happen when a man becomes a Christian. It is not simply a name; it is a life. New forces have been set up within a man which make life new and wonderfully beautiful. For all of this I trust we have found adequate causes in Christ the Redeemer of men.

In the third place, I trust we have come a little more clearly to see the need of men for religion. If it makes such a difference, if men are lost, and Christ is able to bring them back to life, surely here is a call for heroic service.

In the fourth place, I hope we have seen that our simple

testimony is Christ's one way of spreading this kingdom. If men are in sin and in need, and only Jesus can help them, perhaps you are the one person able to bring Christ to the attention of some of those men. It is the chance an angel would greatly covet. Will you not this day covenant with yourself that in all your future days you will pass on this life-giving message?

The author of Lamentations stood looking out over the ruined city of Jerusalem. Her fair daughters had been taken away, and her strong sons had been slain. Men and women were coming and going, all unmindful of the broken walls and the dashed hope of the proud city of God. And as he saw the indifference he cried from a broken heart: "Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by?"

The young men and women of our land are going into sin. Character, the most sacred thing in the world, is being dashed to the ground. Souls are groping in misery and sorrow. I fancy Jesus Christ looking down on all this waste and suffering and sin and crying out to you and me: “Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by; behold and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow which is brought upon me?" Christ has given his life; will we pass that life on to lost men?

Worlds are changing, heaven beholding,

Thou hast but one hour to fight;
Now the blazoned cross unfolding,
On, right onward for the right.
O, let all the soul within you

For the truth's sake go abroad;

Strike, let every nerve and sinew

Tell on Ages, tell for God.

-Coxe.

BIBLIOGRAPHY.

Below will be found two sets of reference books which I have worked through with some care in order to give a brief word of comment which might guide the student in choosing. Those marked with an asterisk (*) are more or less technical and useful for advanced students, such as ministers, secretaries of Young Men's Christian Associations, etc.

BOOKS ON THE FACTS OF CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE.

Begbie, Harold.-"Twice-Born Men," a clinic in regeneration. (Revell.) The study of nine cases of regeneration of a most decided type, attempting to show that religion and religion alone has power to regenerate such lives. It is remarkably convincing, and will put new zeal into the reader.

Bowne, Borden P.-"Studies in Christianity." (Houghton-Mifflin.) A vital statement of the meaning of Revelation, the Incarnation, and the present growth of the Christian ideal.

Coe, George A.-"The Spiritual Life." (Eaton & Mains.) A very suggestive study of forces which make for moral and religious life. It is both scientific and inspirational.

"The Religion of a Mature Mind." (Revell.) A bold but constructive study of present-day religious problems, such as “Authority in Religion," "The Christ of Personal Experience," etc.

✓Clark, William Newton.-"Can I Believe in God the Father?"

(Scribner's.) The most convincing statement, in small compass, that I know. Every Christian worker should read it.

Clark, Henry W.-"The Philosophy of Christian Experience." (Revell.) His chapters on "Conversion," "Repentance," "Christ the Life-Giver," and "Faith" are exceedingly suggestive. They give a reasonable basis for religious life.

*Inge, William R.-"Faith and Its Psychology." (Scribner's.) Just what the title indicates-a most scholarly and careful investigation of the basis and the development of faith. Genuinely constructive and helpful to advanced students.

Jackson, George.-"The Fact of Conversion." (Revell.) Setting forth the present-day reality, the varieties of form, and the psychological working of conversion. Very readable and stimulating.

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*James, William.-"Varieties of Religious Experience." (Longmans.) Dealing with a vast amount of evidence on the reality but variety of religious experience. It throws much light on the psychological working of sin and the Spirit of God. It will repay careful study.

*Knox, George William.-"The Direct and Fundamental Proofs of the Christian Religion." (Scribner's.) Setting forth the finality of the Christian religion, with introducing chapters on the test of reality, etc. Very concise and satisfying.

Keedy, Edward Everett.-"The Naturalness of Christian Life." (Putnam's.) Simple, practical, suggestive.

*Rashdall, Rev. Hastings.-"Philosophy and Religion." (Scribner's.) "Aids to educated men desirous of thinking out for themselves a reasonable basis for personal religion." This sentence from the Preface finds adequate fulfillment in the book. *Starbuck, Edwin Diller.-"The Psychology of Religion." (Scribner's.) Better named "The Psychology of Conversion." A most painstaking investigation, but based on somewhat insufficient evidence. One feels amply repaid for its study, though one does not always accept its conclusions.

BOOKS ON PRACTICAL METHODS OF PERSONAL WORK.

Bosworth, Edward I.-"Studies in the Teachings of Jesus and His Apostles." (Y. M. C. A. Press.) The most thorough and fundamental study of Christ's method and message that I know. To it many students are indebted more than to any other one book outside the Bible for their conception of Christ's message. Arranged in daily studies. No Christian worker can afford to miss the study of this book. Price, 75 cents.

"Studies in the Life of Jesus Christ." (Y. M. C. A. Press.) An orderly arrangement of the life of Christ in daily studies. Scholarly, biblical, deeply spiritual, the best course of Bible study on the topic to be had.

Gordon, S. D.-"Quiet Talks on Personal Problems." (Revell.) "Quiet Talks on Service." (Y. M. C. A. Press.)

Hicks, Harry Wade.-"A Memorial, of Horace William Rose." (Y. M. C. A. Press.) A stimulating biography of a real personal worker.

Holden, Stuart.-"The Price of Power." (Revell.) Attempting to set forth the secret of power in service.