And then look at yonder ocean.  The waves of that ocean are so powerful that they can break in pieces the strongest ships that men have ever built.  And yet, when God wishes to keep that mighty ocean in its place, he makes use of little grains of sand for this purpose.  Here again we see how God employs little things, and does a great work with them.  And we find God working in this way continually.  Let us look at one or two illustrations.

“What a Plant Did.”  A little plant was given to a sick girl.  In trying to take care of it, the family made changes in their way of living, which added greatly to their comfort and happiness.  First, they cleaned the window, that more light might come in to the leaves of the plant.  Then, when not too cold, they opened the window, that fresh air might help the plant to grow; and this did the family good, as well as the plant.  Next the clean window made the rest of the room look so untidy that they washed the floor, and cleaned the walls, and arranged the furniture more neatly.  This led the father of the family to mend a broken chair or two, which kept him at home several evenings.  After this, he took to staying at home with his family in the evenings, instead of spending his time at the tavern; and the money thus saved went to buy comforts for them all.  And then, as their home grew more pleasant, the whole family loved it better than ever before, and they grew healthier and happier with their flowers.  What a little thing that plant was, and yet it was God’s apostle to that family!  It did a great work for them in blessing them and making them happy.  And that was work that an angel would have been glad to do.

“Brought In by a Smile.”  A London minister said to a friend one day; “Seven persons were received into my church last Sunday, and they were all brought in by a smile.”

“Brought in by a smile!  Pray what do you mean?”

“Let me explain.  Several months ago, as I passed a certain house on my way to church, I saw, held in the arms of its nurse, a beautiful infant; and as it fixed its bright black eyes on me, I smiled, and the dear child returned the smile.  The next Sabbath the babe was again before the window.  Again I smiled, and the smile was returned, as before.  The third Sabbath, as I passed by the window, I threw the little one a kiss.  Instantly its hand was extended and a kiss thrown back to me.  And so it came to pass that I learned to watch for the baby on my way to church; and as the weeks went by, I noticed that the nurse and the baby were not alone.  Other members of the family pressed to the window to see the gentleman who always had a smile for the dear baby—­the household pet.

“One Sunday morning, as I passed, two children, a boy and a girl, stood at the window beside the baby.  That morning the father and mother had said to those children:  ’Get ready for church, for we think that the gentleman who always smiles to the baby is a minister.  When he passes you may follow him, and see where he preaches.’