ave greater fear for you if I heard you talk in a
self-confident and boasting spirit. Trusting in ourselves we are not
safe, but trusting in Jesus we are. We are safe only while we cling to
our sure foundation, the Rock Christ Jesus; but our greatest security is
in the joyful fact that he holds us fast and will never let us go; if we
have indeed given ourselves to him.

"He says, 'My sheep hear my voice and I know them, and they follow me;
and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither
shall any man pluck them out of my hand.'"

"Such sweet words, papa, aren't they?" Lulu said softly.

"Yes, words that have been an untold comfort and support to many of
God's dear children on their way Zionward. The sword of the Spirit with
which they have fought Satan's lying assertion that they might yet be
lost in spite of having fled for refuge to Him who died on Calvary."

"Is it those words the Bible means when it speaks of the sword of the
Spirit, papa?" asked Max.

"Not those alone, but _all_ the word of God. And in order to be prepared
to wield that sword we must store our memories with the word, we must
hide it in our hearts. David says, 'Thy word have I hid in mine heart,
that I might not sin against thee.'

"Christ is our pattern; we must strive to follow his example in all
things; and it was with the sword of the Spirit he repelled every
temptation of the devil there in the wilderness--beginning each reply to
the evil suggestions with 'It is written.'"

"That is why you have us learn so many Bible verses, papa?"

"Yes; open the Bible lying on the table there, Max, and turn to the
sixth chapter of Deuteronomy."

Max did so, then read, by his father's direction, the sixth and seventh
verses.

"And these words which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart;
and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk
of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the
way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up."

"I think you obey that command, papa," said Lulu; "indeed I think you
try to obey every command in God's word."

"I do," he replied, "and I want my children to follow my example in
that. In the eleventh chapter of the same book the command is repeated
and these words are added, 'That your days may be multiplied, and the
days of your children, in the land which the Lord sware unto your
fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon