Зображення сторінки
PDF
ePub
[graphic][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

once precipitated into, and is lost in the mighty waters.

Many false systems of religion are extant, each of which claims to be sufficient to conduct one in safety from time to a happy eternity. When the day of trial arrives, they will all be found unavailing, and as unsafe as a bridge founded upon a bank of sand.

A person not knowing the nature of the soil on which the main timbers of such a structure rests, will be apt to believe that the bank is sufficiently durable to resist the action of the stream, and the bridge itself strong enough to bear him to a place of safety. It is true, he may have had some intimations of its insecurity, but as these warnings came from persons whom he considers as rather weak-minded, and disposed to look on the dark side of things, he does not feel disposed to take their advice. He has been informed that there is another bridge which is indeed safe, but as it is some distance off, and the road which leads to it difficult, he determines to venture himself on the one near at hand, especially as he sees the great mass of travelers are going the same

way.

The great Lord of the country has ordained that all travelers shall leave this part of his dominions at a fixed time, whether they go willingly or not. He wishes them all to go to a better land, prepared for all those who love and obey him. He has erected, at an immense expense, a safe bridge, and sent out his servants to invite and intreat all travelers to come, and pass over without money and without price! He has also prepared delightful mansions for all who will accept his kind invitations, and instructed his servants to warn all against attempting to cross the unsafe bridge, telling them that they will be lost if they venture on such a frail structure.

An evil prince, the enemy of the Lord of the country, has laid the foundations for the unsafe bridge, and has had the

direction in furnishing the materials. He also has servants under him, whom he sends abroad to induce travelers to pass over his bridge, which he represents as entirely safe, and even contradicts the assertion that all will be lost who attempt to pass over.

This arch-enemy of God and man has thus far deceived the greater part of the human family. All who come on to the bridge he considers as his subjects, and when they fall into the depths below, they sink into the regions of darkness and despair. They then find indeed that they are lost, that they are forever excluded from the abodes of the blessed above, there being between them and that happy place a great gulf, over which no one can pass.

It is sometimes the case that those who venture on this unsafe structure become convinced of its frail nature, and of its utter insufficiency to bear up a person from the gulf of perdition. Considering the many warnings they have slighted, the proffered mercies they have rejected, they feel that they are justly condemned, and have forfeited all claims on the divine compassion. Knowing, by melancholy experience, that they possess no power of themselves to help themselves, and having no expectation that God will help them, thinking that the day of their calamity has come, despair seizes them, and they at once cast themselves into the depths below.

Presumption is one of the main supports which give a specious strength to the unsafe bridge. Many are ruined by so presuming on the mercy of God as utterly to forget his justice. Although he has expressly declared, "Without holiness no man shall see the Lord," yet they flatter themselves that, live as they may, they shall in the end come out right. They feel that they love their sins, and that, after all, they are not so bad as the Bible represents; that they are of little importance; that

God will overlook them, or if he does not, they will be let off with some slight punishment. It is true, the Bible, in its literal sense,, seems to denounce awful punishments against the wicked, but they persuade themselves that God is too merciful to punish in this manner; these threatenings may mean something else. Others, perhaps, persuade themselves that if they have faith merely, it is suf ficient to save them; that Christ has done all things for them, they are complete in him, etc. No matter what sins they commit they can not be lost, for faith will save them, evidently forget

ting what the Apostle says, that "Faith without works is dead, being alone. Some have gone so far as to renounce the outward forms of religion, treating them with contempt, esteeming them as "carnal ordinances," which persons of their knowledge and discernment are not bound to observe. Others have even advocated the direct violation of God's law, (strange as it may appear,) under the profession of superior sanctity; of being "all one in Christ Jesus," while indulging their beastly appetites; prating about liberty, while they are the servants of corruption."

[graphic][merged small][merged small][subsumed][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][subsumed][subsumed][merged small][subsumed][merged small][merged small]

Thou wilt show me the path of life. Ps. XVI: 11.—They go
from strength to strength. Ps. LXXXIV: 7.-The path of the just
shineth.. more and more unto the perfect day. Prov. IV: 18.

SEVEN upward steps in Christian life we see,
First Faith sincere, and then Humility;
Then the Repentance shown to God and man,
And Hope that eager grasps salvation's plan;
Then Expectation of the joys to come,
Promised the Christian in his heavenly home.

In the engraving a person is seen ascending the steps from Faith to Glory. He bears the consecreated cross, encouraged by the presence and ministry of a guardian angel to press upward to the heavenly regions. The first step represented is Faith, showing that every one who commences a religious life must, in the first place, have faith

Sanctification, next within the soul,
And blest Adoption, surety of the whole;
While Glory over all sheds luster down,
And Angels point him to the starry crown;
As hopes like these the Christian's life employ
The Cross seems light, he presses on with joy.

in the being and attributes of God, be lieving that he is, and that he is a rewarder of all them that diligently seek him. In many places in Sripture, faith is represented as the Fincipal grace, and without it no one a. please God. The apostle, in his epist'e to the Hebrews, gives a long catalogue of worthies who exercised living faith,

is courageous, (Rom. v: 5; 1 Thess. v: 8,) because it exercises fortitude in all the troubles of life, and yields support in the hour of death, (Prov. xiv: 32;) fifth, sure, (Heb. vi: 19,) because it will not disappoint us, and is fixed on a sure foundation; sixth, joyful, (Rom. v: 2,) as it produces the greatest felicity in the anticipation of the complete deliver

from righteous Abel down to the Chris- | spiritual life, and renders one active tian era, many of whom performed and lively in good works; fourth, it wonders by its power; and it is recorded of them that they all died in faith. When a man has faith in God, and begins to understand something of his nature, and of his obligations to him, he feels a spirit of Humility, on account of his short-comings, his violation of the divine law, and the spirit of depravity within. He sees that he has broken the law of his Creator and Ben-ance from all evil." efactor, and rendered himself liable to the infliction of its penalties. He is humbled in the dust before God, and feels himself undone, unless God has mercy on him. He has now taken the second upward step toward salvation.

an

Expectation, the fifth step, is nearly allied, and may be considered as advanced step upward from Hope. We may, indeed, hope for some things which we may have but little prospect of receiving, and it may be so deferred. as even to make "the heart sick." But the Christian having had some experience of the mercy and goodness of God, now expects to receive still greater blessings in accordance with his promises.

Sanctification, the sixth upward step

In view of his transgressions against so great and so good a Being, the convicted sinner has a view of his corrupt and vile nature, and of his exceeding depravity, and loathes himself on account of his sins. He, therefore, feels a deep sorrow for his transgressions, and makes a firm resolution and de-in the Christian life, is defined by Archtermination to forsake them. He thus bishop Usher to be "nothing less than exercises evangelical Repentance, and so for a man to be brought to an entire has taken the third upward step rep- resignation of his will to the will of resented in the engraving. God, and to live in the offering up of his soul continually in the flames of love, and as a whole burnt offering to Christ." It is also defined as the work of God's grace, whereby we are enabled to die unto sin and live unto righteousness.

Encouraged by the divine promise, he next takes the fourth step upward. He exercises Hope that God will deliver him from all his sins, and save him with an eternal salvation. "The hope of a Christian," says one, "is an expectation of all necessary good, both in time and in eternity, founded on the promises, relations, and perfections of God, and on the offices, righteousness, and intercession of Christ. It is a compound of desire, expectation, patience, and joy. Rom. viii: 24, 25. It may be considered, first, as pure, (1 John iii: 2, 3,) as it is resident in that heart which is cleansed from sin; second, as good, (2 Thess. ii: 16-in distinction from the hope of a hypocrite,) as deriving its origin from God, centering in him; third, it is called lively, (1 Pet. i: 3,) as it proceeds from

Sanctification is distinguished from justification thus: Justification changeth our state in law before God as a Judge; sanctification changeth our heart before him as a Father. Justification precedes and sanctification follows as the fruit and evidence of it. Justification removes the guilt of sin; sanctification the power of it. Justification delivers us from the avenging wrath of God; sanctification from the power of it. It is a work of God, and shows itself by a holy reverence of the Divine Beingpatient, submission to his will, com

« НазадПродовжити »