be foolish for us to go about finding flaws in
God's creatures, like this? Ah, yes. But it is just this way that some
of us study our own lives. Just because we don't find perfection
there, we are disheartened and discouraged, forgetting that God's Word
is the authority for the assertion, that 'there is not a righteous man
upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.' But we must not forget
that other assertion which is equally true, namely, that they are
blessed 'who hunger and thirst after righteousness,' and nothing short
of this desire for godliness is pleasing to the Father.

"We have before us the inspiring, the ennobling example of the Pilgrim
Fathers, who, denied the right to worship God after their own manner
in their home across the seas, made the perilous journey to the new
world to establish here the beginning of a mighty church and a mighty
pattern for all who were to come after them. They were men and women
who hungered and thirsted after righteousness. But were they perfect?
No. It would be impossible to find, in the world's history a life in
which some imperfection did not lurk? Should the discovery of faults
and imperfections in ourselves or in others discourage us from trying
to follow in the footsteps of the Perfect One? Surely not. We should
see in the shortcomings of others an inspiration to live our own lives
more closely to the measure which we know to be right and true. The
knowledge of our own faults and imperfections should make us more
sympathetic, more helpful to others and induce a spirit of comradeship
with those who need a strengthening band on the pathway of life.

"We know, too, where to take these faults and imperfections of
ours. How often has He answered the prayer, 'Create in me a clean
heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.' To become wearied,
to lie idle and despair because we have not attained to the ideal is
to commit a grievous error. Get busy! In true work for Him is the
surest cure for the trouble. Faulty? Yes. But let us not forget the
truth in Dr. Van Dyke's words, 'the best rosebush, after all, is not
that which has the fewest thorns but that which has the finest roses."

"Let us not lose heart because of our shortcomings, but give thanks
that we may attain to the highest if we but do His will."

BRING FORTH FRUIT
--Children's Day
--Fruitfulness

A Children's Day Thought for the Entire School--The Live
Branch.

THE LESSON--That as the fruit