While being conveyed by a dear brother, wheels fell into the ruts and crushed a weak harmless tortoise. Seeing the poor creature about to be injured I gave warning, but of no avail. The careless victim being in the dangerous ruts was soon crushed by the wheels.

From this little incident I am made to reflect, that we, my beloved brethren, as Christian men and women, should keep out of the evil ruts of untruth; and help others out. We are liable to fall into the dangerous ruts of wrong doctrine and bad practice, and continue here until we wound and even crush those for whom Christ died. O, beloved, let us not fall into the evil ruts of Arminianism, nor of Two-seedism; for they are alike dangerous. But let us take heed to ourselves and avoid the dangerous extremes. Let us not recognize their work, nor have fellowship for any therein; for if we should do this we would wound, those for whom Christ died and prove disloyal to our Lord. So let us not wound anyone unless loyalty to Christ makes the wound. And loyal obedience to Christ does not demand that we fall into nor continue in either of the unscriptural doctrines mentioned above. But loyalty to Christ does demand that we mark these errors "and avoid them" and those entangled therein. By so doing, we shall save ourselves and them that hear us from the evil way.

Blessed Lord, lead us by thy love to be kind to all and to ever prove loyal to thee for Jesus sake.

M.D. DENMAN