sinner who is coming to God for the first time must restore and make right the wrongs he has done others; and then, by baptism, he publicly declares that he is going to live a new life.

But there is a certain class of sins that under no condition does God wish confessed publicly, nor should they be confessed to any man, unless they are publicly known, and committed after one has become a church member. When a sinful but penitent woman dragged into the presence of Jesus, He forgave her, and said, "Go, and sin no more."

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Regarding sins of this nature, I quote from one who has had a very wide experience in the things of God: "Many confessions should never be spoken in the hearing of mortals; for the result is that which the limited judgment of finite beings does not anticipate. Seeds of evil are scattered in the minds and hearts of those who hear, and when they are under temptation, these seeds will spring up and bear fruit, and the same sad experience will be repeated. God will be better glorified if we confess the secret, inbred corruption of the heart to Jesus alone, than if we open its recesses to finite, erring man, who can not judge righteously, unless his heart is constantly imbued with the Spirit of God."

"There are confessions of a nature that should be brought before a select few, and acknowledged by the sinner in deepest humility. The matter must not be conducted in such a way that vice shall be construed into virtue, and the sinner made proud of his evildoings. If there are things of a disgraceful nature that should come before the church, let them be brought before a few proper persons, selected to hear them, and do not put the cause of Christ to open shame by publishing abroad the hypocrisy that has existed in the church. We should inquire whether to confess publicly the sins of which we have been guilty will do good or harm. Will it show forth the praises of Him who hath

no more."

called us out of darkness into His marvelous light? Will it help to purify the minds of the people, or will the open relation of the deceptions practiced in denying the truth have an after, influence to contaminate other minds and destroy confidence in us? Say nothing that would cast a reproach upon our faith. Confess your secret sins alone before God."

Noah Webster, who made the dictionary which bears his name, said that the three words hardest to pronounce are, "I am wrong." One of the hardest things we have to do here in China is to get the believers to confess their faults one to another. They are afraid of "losing face." Better "lose face" with man, and keep it with God! While it is hard to confess our wrongs to those we have injured, it is the only way to find peace. To this I could testify from personal experience, as could thousands of others. Well do I remember the nights spent in prayer before victory was mine. And well do I remember the joy and peace that filled my heart when confession was made, wrongs righted, and the books "up yonder" balanced! As a rule, no one really does "lose face" by a humble confession of his faults. We all honor the man or woman who can say, "I was wrong," or, "I did you wrong; forgive me.'

I fear that the reason there are so many "stillborn" spiritual children is because they have not cleared their past record. When a sinner is struggling for salvation, and it is made plain what God would have him do, it is sad to see him draw back, refuse to pay the price, and be lost forever.

Gypsy Smith tells this experience, which happened during one of his South African missions: After one of his meetings, a man walked into the home of a leading Dutchman, handed him a gold watch, and said: "This watch is yours. I am the man who stole it from you eight years ago. I have been attending Gypsy

Smith's meetings, and I have taken the new life, and I must first give you back your watch and make right your loss." I could write pages of just such confessions that I know of. Ingersoll was right when he said, “If I owe Jones ten dollars, and get converted, that doesn't pay Jones." Listen to the voice of the Spirit of God. He will guide you. That is a part of His work.

We read that the jailer at Philippi took Paul and Silas the same hour of the night the hour of his conversion and washed their stripes. He could not wait till morning. When morning came, he was rejoicing in God. If you have injured your fellow man in any way, make it right; wash his stripes. You will find joy and peace by so doing.

For your encouragement, let me tell you a true experience. As you read it, may you catch a picture of your heavenly Father's love, determine to let Him have your sins, and find rest and peace in Jesus.

A young girl was led away from home by a villain's promises, and was betrayed into a life of sin. Later she escaped, but she was too much ashamed to go home. Still, she said to herself, "I must steal home and see the old place once more." She felt that her mother would never receive her, yet she was hungry for a look at her old home. She walked all day, and it was dark when, footsore and faint, she reached her home village. As she came in sight of the house, she saw a light glimmering in the window. She thought: "Mother must be in bed long ago. What does this mean?" She went on, and found the gate set wide open the gate that was usually so carefully shut. Noiselessly she walked up the path to the door. It was on the latch the door that was always bolted and barred at night.

Something caused her to step in, and she faintly whispered, "Mother!" In an instant, mother's arms were about her neck. Their tears mingled, and love welcomed her home and loved her into goodness.

Every night since she had left, the door had been on the latch, the gate had been left wide open, and a light had been placed in the window.

When you know that your sins are forgiven and you know they are if you have rightly confessed them. -you will delight to confess your Saviour before men. The poor, sick woman who touched the Master in the crowd and found instant healing, thought to steal away quietly and enjoy her blessing; but Jesus would not permit her to do so. Before that vast multitude, He had her confess and thank Him for the blessing. This confession of Christ is a part of Christian experience. "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Romans 10:9.

God's door is on the latch to-night; the gate is open; the light is shining. You are welcome. Come!