[7] [In 1842 Mr. and Mrs. Groves adopted a child of eight as daughter, "an orphan who was commended to their care by her father on his death-bed. This charge was a source of great comfort to them: they undertook it as unto the Lord, who truly gave them their hire. The child, being early converted to God, grew up to be a very efficient help in their mission work, when other labourers were withdrawn; and she became to them, in every way, as a beloved daughter" (400).] [8] "I see here Parents who are toiling night and day. 'What are you doing?' 'I have a large family of children; and I am endeavouring to lay up a portion for them.' 'Why then do you not in truth lay up a portion for them! What! will you lay up a little dust, and call that a portion? Is that a portion for an immortal soul? You are rather hanging a millstone about the necks of your children which may sink them deeper into ruin. You may thereby tempt them to plunge into the world: and there they may scatter what you have treasured up, and called a portion! 'The Lord is my portion, saith my soul,'--is the declaration of David; and till you lead your children to this portion, you are making no real provision for them'" (Cecil). [9] "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world's good, and teeth his brother have need, and shutters up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?" (1 John 3. 16, 17). And "how dwelleth the love of God in him" who can behold his fellows, by millions, perishing with ignorance--that hunger of the soul--, without putting forth every effort, and making every sacrifice, that they may receive the bread of life. [10] The Christian Motto should be--Labour hard, consume little, give much, and all to Christ.