ANSWER TO ENIGMA IN THE "LITTLE GLEANER," JAN. 1867. JOB we read of in holy writ; Onych, a spice for perfume fit (Exod. xxx. 34); Isles are countries on the sea (Jer. ii. 10.-Ezek. xxvi. 15); A bijaH trusted in the Lord (2 Chron. xiii. 1); Now finals and initials take, Now doubtless gleaners, young and old, Josiah's and not Baasha's life, -880 LILIAN E. CHRISTIANS can never want a praying time, if they do not want a praying frame.—Dyer. LITTLE GLEANERS,-the other evening I was sitting with some "little gleaners"-I mean readers of the LITTLE GLEANER when the subject of "Kindness to Animals," instanced in a piece which appeared in (I think) the LITTLE GLEANER for October, 1865, was mentioned: a little account L 66 illustrated with a woodcut. One young lady was very certain that I wrote it, and nothing should turn her unless I could deny it, and as I could not, and the volume containing the piece alluded to being produced, they returned a verdict accordingly, and the sentence was that I forthwith, "write something else." "Oyes! Odo!" shouted two or three juvenile tongues, with an assurance that when they returned home to Brighton they should be eager to get the GLEANER to “look out " for " something else," Now, unless I do write " something else," the next sentence against me will be more severe perhaps. Thinking to-day of my partial promise to write "something else," I thought, what can I write suited to please, instruct, or edify? I felt willing to do my best, knowing your kind Editor, whom I love in and for the truth, is ever anxious to place before you those things which are most likely, under Divine power, to be blessed to his readers, and feeling, too, that it is likely that sometimes he is in some perplexity to find good matter. I say "good matter," because, if you leave out the adjective, matter is easy to find, but "good matter" can only be obtained by Divine direction. It might be said of a gracious editor as of a godly minister, Eccles. xii. 10, "the Preacher," or editor, 66 sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written was upright, even words of truth." By "acceptable words," I understand not simply words that are acceptable to those who hear them or read them; for to a mind wholly depraved, nothing can be acceptable that is "upright;" to some vain words, to others proud words, to others unclean words, to others wicked words, and to others lying words only are acceptable; therefore the preacher or editor seeks to find out words acceptable to God and to gracious souls, even 66 words of truth, solemn warnings to old and young and words of comfort to seeking souls are alike acceptable, and the very fact of this being the object of the Editor is the secret of his success. Some may think it an easy matter to edit a child's magazine, and “anything will do for them;" but nothing can be a greater mistake; no task has, to my mind, greater difficulties; and this is how it is that so many juvenile works abound with the errors of free will and creature goodness. May the LITTLE GLEANER ever go forth, as it has done ever since its commencement, with the pure unadulterated corn of the field of Boaz, and blessings will, I am sure, follow and attend it. But as I am to "write something else," what is it to be? some deep plot? some tragedy? some wild romance? no! no! "Little gleaners," shun the idle tales, the lying romances, the London Journals, and the whole host of poisoned literature of the day. But shall I write something "founded on fact"? Oh no, for I think when I see such a heading, this may mean partly true and partly untrue, a real foundation but a mere sham building. When I see a work or piece headed "a narrative of facts," I feel a respect for the honesty of the thing if I disapprove even of the facts narrated. Not only so, but when we are reading of something we are certain is true, we feel that we are not being misled. Then as I have to write "something else" to please "little gleaners," I shall head it with the words DIVINE WATCHFULNESS, AND GRACIOUS CARE. Now, do not expect anything sensational, for the Lord watches over the meanest of his creatures, and giveth the "beast his fool, and the young 66 ravens which cry," and as He is so watchful over the brute creation, how much more so over His people, those whom He loves so much, so very much, that He gave His only begotten Son for, and loves them so much that unseen angels are their invisible attendants from their birth to their grave. "Angels elect," said the beloved Toplady, are sent down to guard the elect of mankind." (Read his "Chamber Hymn)." "He shall give His angels charge concerning thee," said the Psalmist. Thus angels, in their loving obedience, watch with intense interest and delight the objects of their solicitude, and how much we are indebted to them as instruments in the Lord's hands, we never shall be able to say here below; "are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them which shall be heirs of salvation ?" "the chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof;" and who can tell how many deliverances have already been wrought for many of the readers of this little magazine. What hairsbreadth escapes! how near death once! how many tears were shed by anxious friends! what earnest supplications have doubtless been presented for many! But while the Lord's dear ones are providentially delivered, yet providential deliverance is no absolute token of salvation. "Ye must be born again" is the great and solemn word of Jesus; but, those who are born again will often have to look back upon the way the Lord has led them, and admire His watchful care, who never sleeps nor slumbers, and see how wonderfully they were 'preserved" till they were "called." The first two escapes from death I had (for this is the something else" I am going to write) were when I was very young, too young to remember (I therefore write upon information). In each case I was nearly drowned, in the second instance it appears 66 66 |