תמונות בעמוד
PDF
ePub
[ocr errors]

Son; that no previous good works, no self righteous labour, no personal merit, is required of any one who would be delivered from the fear of death. For vain, vain are the efforts of those who hope to get this triumph, to purchase it, so to speak, by meritorious good feelings, performances, qualifications! No; it is a free gift, which God would have every true believer enjoy now, even in perfect health. Hence, the beautiful language already quoted-"Thanks be unto God, who GIVETH US the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ." The most eminent saints, whose lives have been distinguished above their fellows for holiness and usefulness, had no other ground for confidence in their approaches to God, or in the prospect of eternity, than the infinite, the unchangeable love of Christ, and that precious Righteousness which he finished for us when he expired on Calvary. For whatever be the degrees of holiness or usefulness amongst the people of God on earth, they must all enter within the celestial gates on one perfect footing of equality; even as having been all plucked like brands out of the fire, as having been all saved by the unmerited sovereign grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. The apostles, martyrs, and reformers, with all their gifts, attainments, and holiness, had nothing more to plead for admission to glory, on the ground of personal merit, than the babe which was removed to heaven soon after its birth,—or the dying malefactor who exclaimed, "Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom!" One and all of the saved in heaven will unite through eternity in one anthem of praise-" Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever." Thus, though it is perfectly true, and never to be forgotten, that this faith in Jesus Christ, where it truly exists, worketh by love, and ever produceth fruits of righteousness, through the power of the Holy Spirit as an offering of gratitude for being delivered from the wrath to come; and while it is written above the portals of heaven, never to be effaced, "Without holiness no man shall see the Lord;" nevertheless, the holiness of the believer forms no part of the foundation on which we must rest for eternity; and must never, in whole or in part, be looked to, as the ground of our acceptance in the prospect of meeting God. For the same blood and righteousness, which enables the trembling sinner to arise and come to his forgiving God, is quite enough, when truly seen and realized, to banish every fear, and strengthen the believer to look forward to eternity with most exalting anticipations. And when a passing cloud of unbelief has for a moment darkened his mind, or a

temporary veil of sin oeen unhappily suffered to interpose between him and the enjoyment of peace-even then he has no right to remember his previous holiness to re-assure his mind, -but must return as a worthless sinner to the only foundation -Jesus Christ and Him crucified-exclaiming :

"Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to thee for dress,
Helpless, look to thee for grace.
Foul, I to thy fountain fly,
Wash me, Saviour, or I die.

When I draw this fleeting breath,
When my eye-lids close in death;
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See thee on thy judgment throne;
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,

Let me hide myself in thee."

Have you, then, dear reader, enlisted under the banner of the Redeemer? If so-you have the dying soldier's victory; and while rejoicing in the prospect of entering the world of spirits, are humbly resting on the merits of your mighty Captain. But if you are not a true soldier of Christ, how dreadful to meet the last enemy! But meet him we must. He is ever at hand; and nothing prevents his dread stroke at any moment, but the long-suffering goodness of God, who waits to be gracious. Whatever then tempts you to delay coming to the Saviour is a fearful delusion. For now is the accepted time. No preparation is demanded, but a simple surrender of will to the authority of Christ-a consciousness of guilt and a firm reliance on his love-his blood-his promises.

E. C.

J. F. SHAW, BOOKSELLER, SOUTHAMPTON ROW, AND
PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON;

AND W. INNES, BOOKSELLER, SOUTH HANOVER STREET, EDINBURGH.

London: J. & W. RIDER, Printers, 14, Bartholomew Close.

THE PRESENT CRISIS.

WE are living in remarkable times. The dark and the bright, the light and the shade of the Christian's anticipations for this world-appear to be now developing on a scale of unusual, if not extraordinary magnificence! Scarce a country can be named, or a class of society in general, but their present position and prospects contribute, more or less, to this conclusion. On every side God is speaking, either by the melodious sounds of the glorious Gospel, beseeching men to be reconciled to Him; or, through the trumpet voices of many most awakening providences, warning them to flee from the wrath to come.

And yet it is to be feared that comparatively few hear or understand either the one or the other; neither responding to the Gospel, proclaiming a free pardon and eternal life, nor awakened by the loud and reiterated voices of God, speaking to them personally through the varied events of mercy and judgment. How few have thus realized each awakening public event, and each providential blessing, as the messenger of God sent to knock at their doors, saying, "PREPARE TO MEET THY GOD"!

All eyes are now turned to the East. And why? Because the civilized world has come to a crisis in its history, and myriads are waiting in trembling suspense the awful result. But how many are most deeply interested in the issue of the present war, and are daily opening the public papers with eager haste, ready to be joyfully or painfully excited by the tidings, as they may indicate triumph or defeat; who yet, it may be, have never paused for one solemn hour in their career, to consider that every one who has not yielded himself up to the love and service of the Redeemer is, at this moment, at war with God; and is, even now, viewed from heaven, as having come personally to a crisis of his being, compared with which

the crisis of kingdoms in dread conflict-the crisis of a battle 'field, viewed in its mere relations to worldly interests-is absolutely nothing. To such persons God exclaims, with solemn warning, "Let the potsherds strive with the potsherds of the earth, but woe to the man who striveth with his Maker."

In these eventful times, we see especially the condition of Europe arresting every eye, and the gathering storm beginning almost to burst on every one of its kingdoms; while the simultaneous exclamation is heard on all hands, "What shall be the end of these things?" But without detracting in the smallest degree from the momentous importance of the events which are now rapidly transpiring; or lessening the estimate of their bearing on the weal or suffering of millions; and fully admitting that an over-ruling Providence will speedily cause the whole to develop ultimately His own glory and the best interests of the world; still, let it be earnestly demanded, What is our country, with all its prosperity-what the whole world, with all its interests, changes, and revolutions, to an immortal being unreconciled to God,-hastening every day with incalculable rapidity to His bar, where, prepared or unprepared, he will hear a sentence which cannot be reversed?

Is there, to an immortal being, any comparison between securing, through grace, the eternal salvation of his own soul and all the victories by our arms, all the prosperity for our enterprises, at home or abroad, which the noblest patriot, or the most enlightened statesman could desire? Surely none. And yet on every hand we see multitudes neglecting the salvation of their souls, deaf to the calls of redeeming mercy, while yet eagerly absorbed with great political events which cannot afford them one ray of consolation at a dying hour, in the prospect of eternity. How often do such require, in all affection, to be reminded of the Saviour's awful demand"What shall a man give in exchange for his soul ?" Thus it is the continued and but too successful aim of the Malignant Spirit to divert the minds of men away from the true causes of their misery-away from God-from the gospel-and from eternity to what is merely external and passing; or to cause the

claims of domestic life, of business,-of patriotism, and even of general benevolence, to eclipse or neutralize the higher claims of the Redeemer, and the deliverance of their souls from endless destruction.

Yet God willeth not that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. He waits to be gracious. Hence he frequently employs special providential means to awaken a man to the crisis of his life, besides causing the tidings of salvation through the blood of Christ to be freely proclaimed, even to the chief of sinners. From time to time he seeks to win them by the abundant blessings of His providence, or startle them from sleep by the trumpet blast of sudden and alarming dispensations!

Who, for example, can take a solemn retrospect of the public events of the past year, both in this and other countries, and dispassionately observe the present tremendous crisis in the history of vast empires and kingdoms, without considering how frequently and loudly the Lord is speaking by His providence, both in mercy and judgment ?—or perceiving that He has indeed risen up to accomplish some mighty design, which, in its rapid progress, shall shake all kingdoms to their centre, affect all communities, and eventually speak home personally to every human being?

-

On the one hand, we have been visited with the noisome pestilence which walketh in darkness, and have seen thousands of old and young, rich and poor, alike hurried to an unexpected grave. Surely the Lord has proclaimed to all survivors, through every departing spirit thus suddenly called into the eternal world, “Be ye also ready; for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh." Thus, again, have we been plunged into a deadly conflict with a powerful despot, whose insatiable ambition has already reanimated to an intense degree the warlike spirit in our own and neighbouring countries. And who can tell how many families have been already bereaved ?-how many of our countrymen are soon to be swept away by a sudden or agonizing death ?-or what may be the fearful extent or duration of these desola

« הקודםהמשך »