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MlCROCOrVifRESOLUTIQN TBT CHAUT (ANSI and ISO JEST CHART No. 2) 1.0 1.1 14. 1^ Itt lis ■tttu 2.8 3.2 I IIM! 2.5 2.2 2.0 1.8 1.25 li 1.4 1.6 .» . ^ /APPLIED liS/MGE Inc 1653 East Main StrMt Rochester, New York 14609 USA (716) 482 ^0300 -Phone (716) 288 -5989 -Fax ' 9 '■^ . ■, ....... THE / J5>r AVA Y OF JL I FE FAMILIARL Y STA TED LETTERS TO AN ANXIOUS INQUIRER. vi^ !—' BY •■/ Rev. DUNCAN McRUER, ,.'.■.'■ «* MINISTER KNOX'S CHURCH, AYR. wRs TORONTO : ABOHiVES k ' J ■"*. AimM, STEVENSON A C4, BOOiSELLEIW^NMPORTERg "^ / --..,^._„.. ^ . . ^ ^ I III " i . I Hi ll '~T"V ii /ir m - sag V, >1 if ^- ^;a *Li-.^_. / .'A^;**-; y-fi .1 • f ■ ^ », I M- •X' ?, I:- I THE ^ WAY OF L IF E FAMILIARLY STATED M- V IN ■"■ o'^;.;- LETTERS TO AN ANXIOUS INQUIRER.' t ' ( . I V'/ BY Rev. DMNCAN McRUER, MINISTER KNOX's CHURCH, AYR, TORONTO : ADAM. STEVENSON & GO.» '^r-xS. BOOKSELLERF & IMPORTERi^j^jppQ Qj-|V^p^Q;^-f / 'V TORONTO : BELL, BARKER Jt CO., l»iUNTF,H8, 04 aiid 1)6 YonKt-fcStrecl . >t V .#■ PREFACE. Th(3ac LottufB, written for tho })(3norit of an AnxiouH Inquirer to whom tho Author w(ih sincerely uttached, are now pu})lishoa ; not because of their litc^rary ex- collonco; nor because; they are 8upi)0sed to teacli some- thing dillerent from what has been tauglit on the subjects of which they treat; nor because they arc regarded as i)resenting truth in a dress different from tl^|!li which it has already a^)i)oarod— they lay claim to neitJ^pr ; but with a view to the spiritual profiting of the pooT)le of his charge, and as a slight memorial of his ministry among them. It is the Author's prayer that tho Great Ilead of the Church may bless them to promote His, glory, and to advance His kingdom. ' ' Ayr Manse, January, ISTI- ^ ■, ■ . > — . ■ ■ y- - / y r)s.I' .1 .1 THE WAY OF LIFE FAMILIARLY STATLD. l^TUST LETTICR. John 14. 1. --" Kfi brllcve in- Ood, brlicvc also in mc." Acts 16. SI. — *'.Bdicvm)n the Lonl Jems Christ ti ml thmc sh'iU b<' saved . ^ . 1 Jolui Ji. 23.— •• This is Ilia Cmnimndment, that ye should believe On the nainc of Ifis Stm, Jems Christ." ■ My Dkau Kiuenu, \ I j)r()port(; in Uiia hitter to set })6fon! yon the great object of faith, orthutin which w« mu;4 l)oliovo if we would bo aavcil. * Now, lay it down aH ar first principle that the object of your faith is a Person, not a doctrine, not • creed, not an opinion, or a promise. I do not direct you to believe in this or that jjoctrinc, creed, opinion, or promise, but I wish distinctly to direct^ you to a Person. These things may be the grounds , oJf faith, they tell us what He is who is the object of our faith, but they are not the objects of faith. The blessings of salvation are not the objects of our faith^ Irtit He is the object of our faith who has purchased them by His obedience and death, and who now .III. ill / ■ .• •■ 'y e THE WAT OF LIFE bestows them upon us. The person who w the object of faith is spoken of in the. Scriptures und^r such appellations as *' The Son of God," " Our God," " Thy God," "The Christ the Son of the living God," "His Son Jesus Christ," and "The Lord Jesus Christ." Ho is the object of our faith :— 1. In His Person. Christ is truly and properly God and man in one person. When Hia person la spoken of reference is made to Him, not as God or as man, but to Him in His whole pei'don as God-man. He will continue to be God and man in one person for ever. The union of Divinity and Humanity in the one person of Christ is a leading article in our faith, and must bo believed by all who -expect salvation. Our faith does not takie hold simply of His Godhead or simply of his man- hood, but our faith is in Christ in His person— God-man. We can never apply to Christ without having a reference either directly or indirectly to His person. No part of our salvation can be accomplished by any mere creature. Divinity alone is equal to the task. Jfo mere creature could offer an atonement sufficient to expiate human guilt. We obtain deliverance from sin, not so much by a sacrifice offered, as by the quality of the sacrifice that is offered. No mere creature possesses the power adequate to quicken the dead soul, to overcome the stubborn- ness of the human will, to wash the soul from sin, to give power f6r every duty, and j finally, to cast down and destroy every foe* The number of ■| ■' i 1 1 id the ros uiid<3r »ur God," he living rhe Lord properly person ia t as God pei'don as I man in nity and a leading id by all not take his man- person— without rectly to can be Divinity ire could lan guilt, ich by k sacrifice ade(][Uate tubborn- >ul from QaUy, to ! FAMtUARLY STATED. 7- the redeomod is great, our .circumstances arc 83^- cecdingly diversified, every time with us is a time of need, and in no instance are a^o e«iual to our relief or supply. We need a Saviour who is Divine. We need a Saviour who is present with us continually, who is thoroughly acquainted with all that concerns us, and who is furnished with such stores as shall . aiford u^ continued and full supplyl But Ms involves a direct reference to His humanity. Christ is God ; but, as God, ho could ; not obey t^e law actively, nor coidd he sufier or die. The law must be obeyed in a life of obedience, and its curse must be removed by the sufterings arfd , death of our substitute in our nature, if anf member of our fallen race would at last reach s^vation. God mws^ be a just God. To meet Ws cas6 we are told in the Scriptures that « God sent fcrtli His Son made of a woman and made under the law," that "The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us," and that "He took not upon Him the nature of angels but the seed of Abraham." When He was on earth there were men who beheld His glory. Their eyes did look upon Him, and their hands did handle Him. He viras made man to do and to die for us. He is God to give value to his obedience, ^ sufferings, amd his deathinour room and for our i)Qnefit and to overcome death'. Were hs only man, his atonement would be finite in value, and would be insufficient to meet the demands of law and ^ justice preferred against ns, but as God-man his divinity casts an infinite value into aU that he has done as the surety of sinne r s, and proclaim s him aa lunber of 8 THE WAY OF LIFE 61, ' able to meet the most necessitous demands that are made upon all the guilty and polluted that apply to him through all the generations of .men ; and still as having worldfulls of merit over and above. ' This is He of whom Moses in the Law,fand the Prophets did write ; He is the seed of the woman who was to bruise the head of the serpent—the seed of Abraham of whom all tlic f.imilies of the earth should bo blessed — the child born of the tribe of Judah and family of David, an 1 at the same time the equal of Jehdvali whose goingsforth have becQ from old, from everlasting. Ho is "the Wonderful, the Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father and the Prince of Peace." • 2.— In his oirjces. Christ is the object of faith in the offices he holds. This follows as a necessary- consequence from what has been said of Him as an object of faith in his person; If we regard Christ as God-man, and as the God-man of wfiom Moses and the Prophets wrote, we must regard Him in all His offices as His person is invested with them. God the Father, according to covenant stipulation with His Son in the economy of grace, and according to the promise made to our Fathers, sent forth His Son in the fulness of time as the Messiah. He appointed Him, commissioned Him, and by the peculiar consti- tution of his person and the endowment of the Spirit qualified Him and accredited Him as the Kedeemer of our fallen world. We are taught these truths even in the titles that are applied to our Redeemer. The word Christ as applied to Him who bears it is not strictly speaking a proper name. It is an official ti- FAMILIARLY STATED- 9 3 that are id 8till as f-and the woman -the seed the earth 1 tribe of me time ave been onderful, erlasting of faith lecessary im as an 2Ihrist as :)ses and 1 all His i. God on with :dirig to His Son ^pointed r consti- le Spirit edeemer ;hs even r. The t is not tie corresponding to the Hebrew word Messiah and . to the English word A'nointed. Under the Old Tes- t^ent the rite of Anointing seems to have been in^ tended as a public intimation of a Divine appoint- ment to the offices of Prophet, Priest and King. So when our Kedeomer is called the Messiah or. the "Christ,'' the tiUo is equivalent io the Anointed One and indicajies that Ho who bears it is God^nd man in one person, and is Divinely .appointed, commissioned, (luaUfied, and .accredited to assume and to execute the three great offices of Prophet, Priest; and King. Faith rests upon His person as appointed and commissioned. It receives. Him to the. full extent of His appointment and commission. There is no separation between His person and His offices in his appointment and commission as th^ Messiah ; nor are his offices separated from each other. An entire Christ is commissioned • and ap- pointed to save sinners, and faith should be' Ihe . echo of that commission and appolivtment. On this Divine appointmentjnuch .i;ests iit^ o^ ^ s^vation. Without it Ghrisfcould be of no avail toourguiltyand perishing world. The Scriptures . speak of Him as the great Teacher in whom dwelleth nodaricness at all, who is able to open the mind,^ that is full of darkness and cause^ it to see light m . His light, clearly— who can open the blind eye and cause those who sit in the/darkness and shadow of death to see a great light and come-forth and walk as children of the H^ht and of the day ; they speak of Him ^ the Great High Prjest whose I atoneinent reaches back to our apostacy in the tirst . ■ - ■■■■■> ■ ■ .- " ■ - ' Hcial ti- IMi ■ -■;■••.-■■ .' ■ i- • ■ ■ • , ,.■'•/ i-'f"'. "■■'.'■ ■ ■ ■• ^ <;.■•■■ ' ■ . ■' ■ '•':■; '■'■ . ' '■■' I-*-',- »'■'■'.' . :■ ■ ' .'"■■■ > ■ ■ ■ ■ . ■ ■. ;.-■ : TkE WAY OF LIFE • r ■ I: ^ r tranagressor, ajid goes down to the remotest age of our eventful history, washing away all the sins of all who look to Him, and preparing them for glory— they speak of Him as a King who can he foiled by no artifice, and can be overcome by no foe, who marches forth conquering and to conquer, and who rules in the heart of a blessed and willing people, but they are ever careful to remind us that He is of avail to our world, simply because of the express appointment and commission of the Father. " Him hath God the Father sealed." He received His appointment and commission to be the Saviour of sinners not from men, whom he represents and for whom he acts and who are benefitted by His media- tion, nor did He assume the work of hun^n salya- ti©n of ° his own choice, but he was ^^cpressly appointed to it by the Father, the &/ of the Godhead^the fountain of allf authority. "The Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world," and he had power to lay down hiS life and power to take it again because of the commandment he received of his Father. Christ points distinctly to his commission from the Father as he enters upon his last sufferings when he says, "As the Father , gave me com'niandmmt so' I do ; arise let us go hence; and the testimony of the apostles may be summed up in the words he was " delivered by the determin- ate counsel and foreknowledge of God," "Whom pod hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood." " The Lamb slam from the founda- tion of the world" — ^ — \ — — - '— i ■ ■ . ■ .1 I - i ifow, faith rests on Christ as its object as our 38t age of sins of all •r glory- foiled by foe, who and who J people, He is of e express : "Hun ived His aviour of 5 and for is media- ^n salya- pressly person uthority, ir of th« 1 life and imenthe inctly to ers upon 3 Father ;o hence; summed etennin- '^Whom gh faith founda- 4: 11 Divinely appointed and commissioned Phibst. We mention his officeof Priest first because of two tlungs; -^First, it lies at the foundation of his other offices. Christ would have no salvation to reveal as aProphet, or to apply as a King, if he tad not opened up the way as aPriest. Second, because of the position which this office holds in the economy of grace it is spoken of with peculiar solemnity. It alone is confirmed with an oath. ■ , , . - It is to this office we first turn when our heart is pinched and stung undet a clear -sight and ^true sense of our state and character before Ood. ^ In^Ous-of- fice we discover the grand remedy which th^ Gos- pel exliibits to us. How our case, however desper- ate, is, faUy met and our heart relieved. This is true of the sinner when for the first toe he is brought to the Lord Jesus, and is also true m that life that is a complic^ition of wonders, that lies be- tween the period of his conversion and the hour of his admission to glory. The soul troubled on ac- count of sin can find peace only by lookmg to Christ, asa Priest, and Christ too in the very act of expiat- ing sin by His atoning death. It is when faith takes hold of His person as rolling His garments in His own blood that it rises with life and power and . lerjoices as those rejoice who have fqui^eat^oi^^ Such is the experience of the people of God. Faith turns to and rests upon a. suHering Saviour. Jt ^as ■ so witlL Adam and his posterity for severed ages. They looked to the promised Deliverer as having his heel bruised as weU as bruising the head of the serpent It was so with the old Testament Israel. it as our 12 '■'I!-;- THE WAT OF LIFE Adam „w tho PromUed DeIiv»or in a eufformg condrtion. The House of Israel »w Him in theb aacnflcea m a saffering and dyi.,g posture. It »» ,0 m the l{ew Teatamom times. An apostle say. "l " ChwT"'!f ta" ''""'' "''"*^"« """""S you save J«,u. Chnat and H.m cruc.fied." The Scriptures are very luU in their statemento about Christ as a Priest Xhey ropn^nt Him as a public penion who appeared' before GchJ m the name and on the behalf of the guilty, and who satisBed divine justice for them and reconciled them to God by the sacrifice of Himself and who on the ground of thU sacrifice which ife offend, m^es continual and ever.p,«vailing interces- : .0" fo' 'hU m heaven. We cannot too cleariy see the necessity of an atonement, if any member of our faUen race should at last reach salvation. We are jmners andJiis law and justice must be satisfied be- fore we can be saved, Here nodoubt can be aUowed. nie^emand for an atonement r^sts on high grounds. It rests on the perfections of God, on the nature of- His moral gove^ont, and on the plain statements of the Scriptures. 1 An atonement must bo offered sitr "" Z """ ^'"'™ "■■ *" ^^^P^"^"" «f »"' »ub- vam Our ife to the utmost extent is forfeited, and »t^action in our own person involves nothing less • than Jl h. woes of heU throughout eternity. Lm tto poiiU of vn.w w^ are undone forever. But to meet our cse Christ IS brought before us as a Priest. We cannot too clearly see that He, the God-man,as a public ' person,^assumed preciHrfy the leg a l place and oblie.. tionsofthose » whose name he appeared before Gml f •/ FAMILIARLY STATED. n a sufforing im in their ^^ It m ao ile sarys, "I save JesuB '08 are very s a Priest. appeared lalf of the them and )f Himself which ifer ginterces*: cleariy see ber of our We are iisfied be- J allowed. grounds, uaturo of ^ ;atements offered our sub- rsonitis ited, and bing less r From k to meet Jt. We / a public I obliga- >reGod, tot he p^ented him.elf in thoir room and .lead or - ,, ■ i,^Letit to do two things-to render porfec* sons. All V J ^^ ^Q J^jg -rVi^Vi (^hrifit rendered to Uou, xo ni» *» 7it t1 He obeyed the law. .nd thu» he d.od C^t for the unjuat. ThU atonement . o^ mfin- ; 1 . Tt must be 80 because of the dignity oi ite value. Itmusi u«« undefiled, and separate ftom — • . ^^ ,« at Hi. own d.sp^^^ H^ - to his good S:l'— h!Xglro^oyed.snireredand pleasure. +«^ ^^ appointment ol died, and because m all he Had tne pp -^.thereCore.rmt..a^ the vahxe of .his atonemen^ By * ^^ ^^^^ ; . tion for sinners of our gudty r^e ^ ^ ^ ^^^ obstacle, every barrier ^ ^'^'f^J^,^ and and every r.tuming sumor. A^so.ml ^^J^^^^ a true Chri^tUn^y -^ver tu^ to^a .^^^ ^^ M.NT ^°^ \^^^^^"nhe aneient temple, the like the Jochim and Boaz "^ •" , , j., ^ ,hae fabric wiUl>e built and upheld. All hfe^ . u ^^^ WAr oj: tjj,^ IMlt looks at tho atonomont whorh^l'"'""''' ^"' «od ^l^chore given him toie^ ." " •^'"^^ '"PPlios ^«rd to glozy. Hi« office rf ^ ■ °°*'^ ""^ sp- here. Christ as a pTZ " ^"™' ''»'« »ot stop ft- of hi, sacniiS l^he " ^-»' »»''-' POS8.U0 way in ^tich thrjflf T^""«« « oveiy H« aote can be pro^^t J ^^«" of thoae for whoZ 'oncoV God for thorn W "^P^"' » the pre- Hia atonement to God'ffthert''" """»°^o^ He«,to„edes,He intimaVelB, '-.^^ '"^'' Ho P"«y». ^fe^ings of ™dempt.rS^";'"^"''opurcL^e<^ "Hnn the Father LZ^JZ^^^^^-^^^r., and Heaven. His disj>ensing the hT!f """ '^'''''on in •^d the saivatioi ot7nn^ "'^ "^ ^is pn^hase I-oeiaim the Father rsaS "^^'^ P->S. ^ h His ^ork as a PriS „'" "^^ ^^^-Ple^ ^o>ghtofthesodandtrh, f'™'*'* "^t^ tho 'o«^i« satisfied. ' ^"^ ff ««, and finds inissioned by God to be h^gtr "' '^^'t - com- therefore «gards him in eX7« of Sinners, and thore u not a distinct commit ''""="^- ^"^ holdv His commission Si - '"* "^^ohe g^ ^^ediator between ^ rTT'"" °^ °'°°°» "^ r-'th views its object JZiw''. "'^ ""ve^ all. . «* 90^,onod,-8nd to the .«■ FAMILIARLY STATED. 15 Spirit descend ^er; but God Kiunicatos the »t same atone- 'O those with ail his confi. '^*fy supplies "ardand up- does not stop »ven,and in tesin every 36 for whom in the prer ^omoriaJs of ' -^^ prays, > purchased *hem, and >osition in ' purchase, 3d people, )U-pleased casts the and finds as com- ers, and r. Now >ffice ho Hers or QT8 all. to the i *5;- justification, Christ.s regarded J »J™f ^ «« „^ j, considered «8 a Prophet. As a propn . ^ fnr our salvation. in twu ^^ i ?;plt is fr«.„^tly used . indic^ ;-- ^- '^SSrpwI^oiUt^luoeGodton.n - Ztat^ S^^velation n>ay be. In this latter sonso t^M to ChrUt. As such a prophet ho reveals , iwm God to US outwanlly by his word. Dunng Ihatii of time that lies between the announC- tit' ft first promise in *« -XH^t rTnnn the serpent and the incarnation of Chnst, ho, as uponthe^serpe ^ sundry times and m S. Inthe'fulnesa of time ho 'appeared^- ^ earth and tabernacled among men, and m his ow^ ^^on taught the, will of God eoncemuig^Ba^^o^ Mter he was taken up into heaven he more fully re^ ^d t^e wiU of God by the New Testament ^ters by whom he completed the system of revda- rr In this way he has given ns a persp.cuou , Tm and authoritetive revelation of the Divine W.U, andamleof Mthto whichwe must ever app^J - Cr li^ of truth and guide in the^pa^ofdu^ 1 i.- ^« -«nat tftceive, not oecauso It can Thisrevelation we jJ|U8t receive, 1 -xr. ^,,^ ^d our criticism,^may be in harmony wi^ho^ SucoUssion^itorev^ilthewmofGod.^ dare not take from it, we dare not addto it. At th. 16 THE WAY OF LIFE ;■*■ present hour l,y the mding «nd pmchinH "f thi. word, and by tho dispo««ati«« of l,i« am.<,int.Hl o^ dmanc,«, ChriBt co,>tinu,« to „,ako known thi wiU of God for Uio «dv„tion of ,„„„. Ho wUl „„nlinu, to exocuto this ,mrt of his prophoticaJ office in thi. way untU h« con.o aKoin to judge tho quick ai.d tho Hpint. Ihm ho (loos inwardly. Without this in- wtel i^volation tho word of God though sW.rper than atWodgcdswonlwiU not profit for our mdvation in ffj natural atuto as aijnors wo aro blind and in- capable of discerning the thin™ of salvation in this Iru. hght. Our will and aflecW^ns a.« utterly op- posed to them, being engrossed with tho honour, tho profits, the pleasures and the sins of y,o world. Notbmg but Divino power can overcome and remove those nughty obstacles that lie in the way of our salvation. To moot our case tho Spirit conies. Ho addsnone^w matter to what we a,^ taught in the word, but he takes of the things of Christ and di.- cove« them in their reality, their glory, their adapta- tion^to us, and their constraining power, and by the w^tl*^ n"!*™"^'' *'"" "'"^ee over which is wntten old thing, are passed away, and behold all tJimgs are becohie now." _ The need of Christ as a Priest is felt attd always feR by the smnerwho believes unto thesaving of the »9ulj but it is not long before he fesls hjs need of km, as a prophet alto. Some time may lie between ^e sinner s conversion and hi s admisoioo to heaven. -r=— . ^ , , . " • ""■""oiofi I.O neaveii. The comfortable views and feelings of the firat period of his Christian life do not always abide with him I '■ iliii ::I ■ FAMIIJAfir.r STATED. 17 !..'■■ Cloudy tlayrt and «t<.rniy hcavmi-wanljouriuiy rhtR ovcrifiUo him on hi» \»clB thai bo greatly netMlfl iho ri^^bt way, ,;;;,rbota^tvay.a, Umt U. m (lay and t'Vi )r to brinK d« in- ry hour, ibat bo iumhU '(M .tructio,. ..wry .my "»•'•'' " , ,,„ ,^„ Uu.,v» v to tcftcli by 1>'3 Sl""*- £rt„^ Faith bchoWs it* ..bkcl H» our Km- economy of Kracc,'.d, ^ ,,„kina of th., «amo "^^^; iFathor lovctu'tlu, Son, «n.l hath truth said the raww t ho aactod penmen given aU «>;"««-*«;- ^.o J ul as'"Bulcr '" ^"'"S oiv^l -• " Prince of Peace," « King of 2r^?:"rW»ranathey»si^t^ LLigniaof.ya.2-;-P-:i^^,i„. Faith views ham as that ^ «. „„ u„ ^iUina in „e.tohimself. "Thy .P^T^^^^f a s^ng -n the day of Thy jower. When ^ ^^ ■ anned Ueepeth l^^/^-^l^^'r^rl: npon'him. Wt when a Btroncer ton^e ha J ^ ^^^ :i:ririrtLidi.ideth w^' ■¥i !te la thp: way of fit m H-.nli l.V Luke 11: 2J-~22. Um', ChriHt souIb arn by natiirotho pulaco of 8at4iKH|D||yi(. intti Bocuro, through KnartUnl i)()HHO|»i<)ijj^' tfi^R-that thoro is II willing subjoctioii 4^l^xx~~ nit\ timt when ho, ChriHt, "the KtMgnr than tlirstrong man," takes tho chho in hnfi«, this rulor of thi^ daik- 11088 of this world must bow belbru him ami quit hiB palace. Whonco this jxjwJf 'of Satan, and . Whcu^o this power of Christ 1 ( )ur sins cast us into th^ands of our enemy and gave him power over iis ; oapnie power of Christ to graj.ple with and over- pOmtf^his strt)ng man Hows from lus saerificial work as Priest— it Hows from the cross. He by that sacri- fice did bear away our sin, and in virtue of it Ho now sits on a throne and sends forth His Holy Spirit into the souls of men, by whom ho comes to this inhabited palaco for an encounter with tho strong :«';: trf.J|r. ^ai » mtonsoly ongagodWWre^l.ong man ! To what ' rofuges does the sinner in his madness under tho power of Satan fleo to keep .from an immediato set- Wemont of the question between him and Christ / Under the direction of the strong man he will trust ^ »to the general mercy of God. Drive him from this and he will tidco refuge in the thought that there are maiiy worse than he and that if he perish they will go down to heairier w^be. Drive him from this a^o, and he will take refuge in his deep convictions Of S in, his mortification of sin and his sighing after liohness. Drive him from this and he wiU flee to the progress he has made, and to the hope that aU ' I !l iiir ■ 'S^- ■: 11 that iiffi timt no strong /ho (hirk- ftiul (juit tan, and it us into ' owr 118 ; md over- nal work ^lut sacri- >r it IIo •ly S])irit to this . strong inploin itor how 'o what ider tho iatp set- '■ Christ, ill trust )m this at there sh they )ni this, notions FAMJUAnir STATKll !• # - y,m nll.v-1 U riKl.t. Driv. l.im fto« thi. »nd h. Will t«ke rofugo i„ t1.n i.l.« llml 1>« !..« »««.. l.,n« ^ do it. n,,l«r to hl« -ulvutloH, Ko.,mth.nK m «^ , enable ChviHl to b,iv« hiin, oi- »om«tlu»t? th.it mU nualify l.i,„ for l.iuK -av..! t.y Chvi-t I>r.vo hfc L.U thi», alHo, un,l iH, will UU« «&«« i" H'" tl-"Bl't tlmllhero U no u.>;«nt h,«fe>, i»t then, m t.mo . euouuliyct. Diivo l.i.n from ttiis nnd, m a«ep anguth, ho will take rofUK« in tl.» l»>liet tl.at h., .. too .'«t a »inn..r t., lu-po f..r more.y, an.l ll.«l 1"» 'lay otKracois gono f.m,vor-om. pioo. of the .tr.mg man'B armour altor another i« taken from hm, a>«l at last the Hinncr i»>l to turn '';« "r, 'T^ .^7" d„.«y to what iB ..IrrHl -'""«. ■'"-> ^ f""' ."'^" "^^ arms of Christ. Tho strong man .il»it« his palaeo and the stronger than ho takes possessi<» as tho right- ful owner, no more to go out from it forever Ho rives everlasting salvation to tho soul, and takes idl the glory to himself. Helms l.egott«. a sold unto himself by the word of God; which livoth and ^ SfoLer. It is the work of Christ to open i the sinner's eyes, and to turn him from darkness to liKht, and from tho powor of Satan unt. God. fhia He al^complishes under a dispensation^of his own ^ord. Thus we are told that when a^^''^/'" preached at PhUippi, "11.0 Lord opened the heart . of Lydia, so that she attended to things which were spoken hy Paul." ,,; , ,,„ Again Faith beholds Christ as a TCing who n«?e. ag after flee to that aU us. ■!■: ■" The Lord is our Judge, the Lord is our Law- give,, the Lord is our Ki^g, he wiU save us. ^ 20 THE WAY OF LIFE When Christ as the Lawgiver comes to his people, ^ tow tenderly does he speak to them ! Hesays to /each of them, "my son, bind them continually upon /thy heart, tie them about thy neck. AVhen thou . goest it shall lead ; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou " wakest, it shall talk with thee." This law Christ gives them, not that they may be justified by it, for they are already 'justified by the righteousness of Christ being imputed to them and by their reception of that righteousness by faith, nor is it given them for their condemnation by it, for being in Christ they are free from condemnation ; but it is given them as a rule of life and is bindi% on them because of the natural relation in which they stand to him who gives it-^he being theij- Creator and they being the work of his hands ; and because of the relation which they bear to him in grace- he being their Redeemer, and they being Ihe subjects of his redemption by purchase and by power. The authority of Christ is thus sweetened by his love to fhem and their love to him, and they are constrained to walk with him in all the ways of new obedience. Each of them says, " how love I thy law, it is my study all the day." He has put his fear in their ' heart, so that they may not depart from him and tfeey no longer fashion themselves according to thd former lusts in their ignorance, but as he who has called them is holy, so they study to be holy in a!l manner of conversation. Christ as King, erects his throne in the heart of a willing people' and the fruits of his reign are '^righteousness and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.*' He gives them ■'. JfAMILIARLY ST A TED. n t a will and power to obey his laws, and as the cap- tain of their salvation he directs, inspires and encourages them in every conflict with every spiritual foe, until he has brought forth judgment to victory. Christ rules his people, also, by correcting them when they stray from him. Faith sees in all our troubleaj^lhrist dealing with us on account of sin. Belio4rs sin— often sin grievously. Christ deals with th^ on accou^li of their sin. Is the conscience Rubied undef a sense of sin, so that it burns with 4 smouldering glare, while there is no clear appre- hension of the grounds on which it may 'find accept- .^l^ce before God ? It is fearful;-to wander in this *fy^lley of horrible distress, where no ray of divine favour lights, the gloom. The heart, bleeding, Crushed and weary, seeks for rest. With great self-loathing the cry is heard, my own hand wrought this work, mine— mine. If I held in my hand this poor broken heart of mine and offered it a living, burning sacri- fice on the altar of my remorse, it were fruitless-- fruitkss all to atone for my unnatural, unreasonable andtSnbly aggravated sin. Faith says these are arrows from the quiver Of Christ, because of sin he ^ has broken and he must heal. Is the soul troubled because of losses: sustained in our worldly estate, or the loss ot those who have beep^the light of our eyes and the joy of our hearts, or the sickness and pain which we endure! Faith sees Christ in all and leads the believer with the sacred poet to sin^. ^ . "Though trouble springs not from the dustj — ' — No r go rr ow from the ground ; . — -— Yet illaon ills, by Heaven's decree, ' • ' ^ In man's estate are foundl'- • 22 THE W^Y OF LIFE Is the soul in distress because of the cause of Christ 1 Faith sees Christ in the state of His own church. Because of his sin he removes the candle- stick. Because of sin, in displeasure he gives Jacob to the spoU and Israel to the robbers. Faith sees in all this^ Christ correcting on account of sin and ttims to Him for relief. It jBnds sup^' and reHefin Him and only in Him. • ^iBt* ' ; - Faith beholds Christ as a KI^%, Zion, defend- ing his people against aU inwfud^and outward foes; ^ and as restraining and conquering all His and oUr ene- mies. It sees Him ^s reigning until 'he has put ^ his enemies under His footstool. David shall Ww^/ among the nations, and BavidJ^s Lord "shaU endure for ever sun." His name shall bo continued as long as the Thus I have endeavoured to present to you, briefly and clearly, the great object of Faith. The scriptural doctrine concerning the work of Christ as Mediator, which He wrought for the saltation of sinners, may be classed under the three offices which Ee executes —those of a Prophet, a Priest, and a King. The study of Christ as He executes these offices for the salvation of men, is the iigh'est and Jfcjie best that ,can engage the attention df man. The theme majP be despised and rejected /by ungodly men, but it is ever fruitful and pleasant heart can conceivcj no to those who believe. JS'o language can express the beauty or the worth of 4im, who is ever presented ^ to us mthe^C^l as the object of our faith. Wecan not arrive at a perfect knowledge of His excellency ,and glo^, yet it is our duty ind our privilege to r FAMILIABL7 STATED. 23 fltudy all things pertaining to Him with the greatest application of mind. Our happiness depends on' Him, and yfQ may under the teaching of the good Spirit of truth so far understand him as to influence our hearts with a tender, supreme and undying love , to him. The full discovery which we' in time desire and seek after shall be obtained in eternity, . by the presence and light of our Redeemer. ' : In my next letter I propose to indicate the man- ner in which Christ is exhibited in the Gospel, as a ground of Faith to sinners of our guilty race. May Divine blessings rest with you. I am, my Very Dear Friend, Yours truly.w ( It <*■ " . Second leitee. 'Isaiah 42. 6.—"/, the-Lora^hme called thee in rightemmefSf and will hold thine hand^ and will keep thee^ and give thee f«T a covenant of the people^ for q. light of the Gmtiles." • ; John 3. 16.—" For God so loved the world that He gave ffis only begotten Son, that whosoever helievethin Him should / ■ not perish, hit have everlasting life." / Johp 6. Z%—''Iil[y Faiher giveth you the true bread from ■ -r- Heaven.*^ '* ' '.-■■■.' -j' IJohn 5. 11.—" And this is the record, that Gqd hath given to its eternal life, arid this life is in His Son. " My .I)ear FRiEiJD, ' According to promise, at the close of my former letter, I will noW indicate the manner m which Christ is exhibited in the - Gospel , to sinners that they may believe on Him to salva- ; lion. The vast importance of the subject of which I traat requires that it be well understood. Many things tend to lead us astray when we study it.' We are very a.^^ to be imposed upon by the deceitfulness of our own hearts Through sdlf-love or self- righteousness, or a total want of-all spiritual lifo and light, we are- reluctant to acknowledge that we have, sunk by sin into such ter rible depths of g uilt 1! Ml i\ and pollution as those in which we by nature lie, /*^^ ^ ^°* P^^P^'5Jnd^«d . in our heart. The Gospel exhibition o^^^ , proceeds- upon the supposition that Chnst is^he lay Saviour of sinners, and that^He w an «^ . Li« Saviour of sinners. As these wo thin^ are of great importance, let me dweU on hem for a little We are told that Christ is the only Saviour of sinners when wo are taught that He is the «»hy .appointed Saviour. Neither is there salvation m any other; for there is none other "amo given among men whereby we mu^ be saved, ^ Other foundation can no man lay than that « laid, which is Jesus Christ." "He was called ^^.God, as was Airon" "Behold mine .EJcc<, in wKom my soul deliRht^th." The Scriptures, are very clc^r in their teacliing that, He who "o^^-i-^^! ^f'^'? ^™"^ receive his commis.sion from the latter t^ic first person of the Godhea.!, who acts for the Tm\ty m redemption. They are also very plear in decl^lng that the Father, acting on the part of ^,^^ authorized, commissimed, and legally qu^ified a^ accredited Christ as the 'Oa^four of ^f^ Him alone. There is but mw Medtai^r between I: i ''J ill id if III ^^.il U THE WAY OF LIFE God and man, the man Christ Jesus. We are told that Christ is the only Saviour of sinners when wo . are taught that He is the m M FAMILIARLY STATED. 27 shaU yc have at my hand, ye shaU lie down a sorrow." , \x. The Gospel exhibition of Christ proceeds upon the supposition that Christ is the aW-«#ciert^ Saviour of sinners. , ^ The redemption of countless millions of out guilty race is an undertaking in the contemplation- of which all thought is lost and all expression is • swallowed up. It is a vast undertaking. Large though the undertaking is, Christ is equal to it, phis is the constant testimony of the Scripture "concerning Him--" That I should preach am<)ng^ the ^ Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ." " He is able to save them to iho uttermost that come unto Him I God by Him." "He is mighty to save." "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from alV sin." "Ho is the Saviour of sinners." "He came to seek and tosave that which was lost." "Jehovah our Righteousness." " Jehovah our Peace." "Jehovah, oux Healer." " Hini that cometh unto mo, I will in no wise cast out." / An apostte draws up an inventory of the unsearch- able riches of Christ Which hfe arranges uuder four particulars, when he tells the Corinthian converts that they were " in Chiist Jesus who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption." These blessings are adapted to the sinfulness and wretchedness of our race. "The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of Cod; for they are foolishness, urito him; neither c^ he know them because they are spiritu- aUy discerned." - To meet our case Christ is of " God 1 .-J ' ; ■■ ,' -': ■ : '■I 4h* ■ 28 THE WAY OF LIFE made unto us wisdom.*^ All tho troasures of wis- dom and knowlodgo are hid in him." Ho gives us a revelation of the Divine will regarding our salvation, he opens our hearts to understand the Scriptures, and conducts us safely in the right way to everlasting glory. We are guilty before God. We can not, we dare not say we are not guilty before Qod. We have sinned against every claim whieh God has upon us for the entire surrender of our all to him. We can olTer no excuse for our sin, and can make no atones mcfnt to satisfy divine justice or the requirements of the' divine law. Because of our guilt we are in a state- of condemnation to death, And can urge no plea in arrest of the sentence recorded against us. To meet pur. case Christ is "of God made unto ua riffJitenumess.'' He hath made him to be sin for us ^ho knew no sin, that we might be made the right- eousness of God in him." Our guilt was imputed to him, and he did bear our sins in his own body pn the tree, and now his righteousness is imputed to us, counted as ours in the judgment of God. A real transference is made, our sins were imputed to him, and his righteousness is really imputed to us, in which we hav^ a plea as prevalent for our justifica- tion and admission to glory' as if we had stood in our innocence in our federal head under the cov- enant of works. In this way we come to hav« a judicial title to heaven and ail its glory. We are ^polluted by sin and have no moral fitness for the employment, the joys and the society of heaven. The whole head is sick and the whole heart is faint. In our character as well as M our state, 1 •:rr'!?n 1 ■we ■ aw m w© (j^l thi ■ wc t^H N( 1 he .i CI CO ©r ri| H ' »■[ et 1 EC '1 S 1 i< i T I i a < f I 1 f .■■■■■■ -./' ■■'«■.* FAMttlARLT STATED. 29 w aw like OUT father the devil. We can not waaK away this pollution. But it mu«t be romov..!, and wemust m^r without spot or wrinkle or any BUch Lnginj^iginent, if we would enter tho hoav^Y world "Without holinc^as no man can see tlie Lora. No man can enter heaven, no man expectn fo enter heaven while polluted by sin. To -od, -[ ^ Christ is " of God made unto us sandificatvm. no , comes to us by his Spirit and creates us anew He enables us to think right, to feel right, and to act right about all ihings pertaining to our salvation. He makes us " Holiness to the D)rd." We are safe, eternally safe m salvation if when we stand mjud^g- mont we have a judicial title to. heaven, on the jrrounds of Christ's righteousness, and a moral iitness for heaven by the application to us by the Spint of the redemption purchased by Christ. On the other hand we are undone, eternally undone if when we appear before the judgment seat of Christ we are found to have m, judicial title to heaven, and no ^ moral fitness for heaven. He who can bring us into possession of these two unspeakable blessings I suV mit may well be denoniinated an aU-sufficient Saviour, the very Saviour which we poor sinners need. Per- haps believers err in looking so much, as they are apt to dp, to the benefits that accompany or flow from these blessings rather ttian to the Hessings themselv*^ When wa get the blessings of a title to heaven aiid a moral fitness for heaven we may rest assured that all the benefits of Christ's purchase wiU grow out of them to us, and at last rest upon us in actual possei^- . Bien. As amatter of fact, however, youmay not see m THE WA Y OF ilFB tho full force of the position I oaauino, and may think that Christ miwt. moot the case of the Hiiiner more fully^ ontitlq hirn to tho ai)i)oUation of an ull- auincient Saviour. Touioct your state of mind tho apostlo doclarea that (;h48t in of God made unto us not only wisdom to m()g||)ur ignoranoo, rij^hteouanos^ to meet our^ilt, sancfciii^Stion to moot our pollution, -but also redcmjMoniomf^ei avert/ other act, matter, and thhKj about < salvation.- in time and eternity. There is with him a plontooua redumption that ho may bo sought unto. . > 1^0 is an ."^sutficient Saviour. Many sinners of our'tace from-'tfit} time of tbc first tranagrossion to the present hour have tasted of His goodness, have felt His power, and kave been supported and supplied put of His bounty; and still He has world- fuls of grace and mercy over and above. Many at the present hour in the Church visible are living on Him, and ever out of His fulness receiving a supply foraU their wants. Many •hall in every future age until the last hour of our eventtul history dra\v upon Him for all they need. Innumerable millions of rodeemed from among men sliall be sustained and supplied by Him as their Redeemer in glory throughout eternity. The period will come when the redeemed from among men shall stand in tho Heavenly world, after incalculable miUions of ages shall have rolled away since the time they saw the great white throne erected, and witnessed and acted in the transactions of the general judgment. At such a period they will still look to the sai^e Eedeemor and draw out of the same fulness, and see that He who : i ...A. FAMIUARLY STATED. Vt not aU U.oir do.nandH in tin.o \m «ati»ft«l them mi i Iho rivorB of Hi. l.U>«Huro -lurint! Ihcr a ,odo ith Him inKlory.and that Ho h.«, »t.l v,orl. fuls ,f sumciocy to »p«ro-that there iH no -hm.nutton ,f hi« " unmircluvhlo richoa." The natuml »»n 008 not po««»« 1««B li8l>' ^"'<'-»"»" " "«';•" "'' """ barth and the »tar«. 'n.o Snn of Ri«ht«ouane«. La not po»8e» Icbb light hocaiise Ho linhta hoavon L„d oarlh,and will go on through- otomal agos to llicht up tlio hoaToidy world. / Tho Gospol, as distinguished from tho law, pro- supposes, as I have alromly intimato.l, that Chmt is as I have described liim to hi^tho e exhibited, liftecl 'up " that whosoever believeth |in Him should not' perish but have everlasting life. 'V. It is also expressed in John 6, .32, "My Father giveth you, the true bread frqn^ Hft aven ' Our Lord addressed this language 'to a. promiscuous FAMtLIARLY STAtED, :^^. -^^ «f ■ ■ miultitude. Maiiy of theni mnTinurod agairist Christ, [were offended at Itim and did not believe* in Him: Their true nature and real sentiments rx^garding Christ came out in the- enquiry, "what sign sliowcst Thou , ^ then, that we may see aaid holWiti Tluiel" Tosuch a ^^ Multitude Christ tuttis aii^l 'in ellbctVsays^ " ^^^ Father giveth you— you wHo arc mine enemies, and . who do not beUevc on Me, Sly Katlier j^i^:eth you , the true broAd ^rom Heaven.*' How does the Father ^, give ungodly, luAelieifing men, thi.s true bread from Heaveni To teach ua the tme iutswi^r to liiis en- quiry, Christ compares Himself to the mainui which ; MUfu-ound the tents-'bf Israel , in. the" wilderness; " Sm fathers did eat %ianna in the desx>rt ;, as it is , ., written; He gav^ them ^reaxl ^froui Hcsiven to eat." Tl^e falling of th^ manna- around the camp is the .way God' gave them bread in' the wilderness. Many israeli&^inight murmur against God, and desire Hesh to eat, and neglect togatlier the fallen manna, or in- dignantly tramplfi it, but their contluct xii^ not des- troy the fact that it was given ihem ami %; around . their tents. 'So, wherever the Gospel is preached thWghoutvthe visible'lsrael of Goil, this true bread from Ileaven' falls. Man may neglect tins salvation, or t% may trample upon the blood of the covenant v by which the. people of God are sanctified, and con- sider it an unclean thing, but no action of theirs can destroy the fact that, this bread is given them by ' God for their acceptance. - ^--v-^^^^---^^^ - These are a few specimens of the way in \^hiGh the ? ^prip^nrf>s present the grantof Christ inafon^ixL promiscuous : M manner, By the Father, to our ftdlen world. To this .1 . w 36 THE WAY OF LIFE grant of Christ, we as Binners, must turn, and on it proceed ag we receive him, if we would at last re^ch salvation. It is not such a grant as puts sinners in possession of him, hut it is such a gift of the only- begotten Son of GQd, that each sinner, who liears it has aright to take it to himsfelf in particular, other- wise he makes God a liar. It is such a giving that eveiry hearer of the Gospel has a righi to say Chnst and salvation are mine, nSt by way of actual interest ior/poss§^sion,but by a full right to receive and enjoy \b(j^^they are given. It is not such a giving as enables any sinner' to say " Christ died for me," -as that indicates a knowledge of the secret purposes of God, but it is such a giving as entitle^ sinners without distinction and ^c^tion,#who hear of this grant, to apply it particularly, so %t^h'i)ne has a right to say, " Christ is dead for mej^'—lfchat is, He is given in the (gospel as crucified and slain for my '"loenefit— for metobeKeve on for salvation— for me to look to as the woundecl Israelite looked for heal- ing to the brazen serpent^ All mine in gifito receive and ei^oy. , • / * ■■■'■■..■2.--^-promises. ■; • .' ■■■ ■■^"- .■ : ■/''/':' -■'']] . Beware lest you confound thje ediibition o| salva- tion in the promises which encourages sinnett tl^ come to the exercise of faith, and gives a warrant l^r their * iaith with the fuffilment of the ppmise to^th. In tiie^omises^ of the Gospel, salvation is exMbitedto : aU jiie^. indefinitely, but the promises do i§t im^y that God is pledged to besto^ salvation on every one ■ • ' — : — —:;;;; -: ^ — i—. — 1 : : ^ A>:4-V; ^ho h&m thena. They kre giveii to encourage faith, vand be a warrant for faith, and t6 teachthat God is FAMILIARLY STATED. V 1 ■ . ^ 89 I ieady^o accept and save a«j/ sinne, .vhotece.yes aAd 'Xn » aa h-^M upiu the promUes or tende^ Tl Gospel- The sun. of those P«s .s oft a expressed in the words 'i I wiB he y'" «<^- J** Tof each sinner, however, is V-^'-^'^ Z Teet individ«l cases the great promise of hfe .s F« ^Ited in many aspects, so that no man ->^^^ Ms condition and c'-acter are so smgu^rj a^h L no promise left him' of entering into God 8 rest. ^ __ Sea f^ promises as a specimen of whaVl mean_ St'fU-of your case that you ^^ ^-^ with, a loa.1 of guilt, having sinned against jK.e , !kims which God has upon you, arising out of Uis SI excellency, and also agai^st aU the.. oHi^ . Lsunderwhich/ouUetoHim,^™ingout^^ -£;:£^f^S:srinto^e ;^S, Thenthe^omiseis^^to.^.^0. have a ri-'ht to lay hold upon it and live. l, eve f ^ He^bat hlotLh out thy transgres-n^, for mi^^^^ own^nam^sake; and wiU not — ^-^J^^X^ LpoUutionafeatur^ofyour case so *at you ttMB. eo£wn " My whole head is sick and. my whole s^*-^-^^>^^"^SiS^':^^ there is no soundness in me-nothing »»* J' _ and hruiBcs and putrifying sores, my ^^^^^j^ ful above aU things, and desperately ^^ throat is an open sepulchre ™y tongue ^ fuU| deceit the poison of asps is under my l.ps my SSisfulTof cursing -and ^>^*^^^^ aud misery are i n al l m-. W^. ^ ^^ ^ S :^,^^7^?!.^cff-^.,?- 40 THE WAT OF LIFE / whoso works I have dono!"' Thoh to you is the promise luadu ; youhavcu rij^ tcrttikb ittoyours61f and live. -M will sprinkle cleaiKwatcr upon you and' ye shall be clean : from all your filthiness, and 1 roni all your idols will I cleanse y}ni" Is it a feature of your . case that you feel your heart hard as adamant and your neck unbending as the iron sine w^» that you can- not feel yonr state ancl (tliaracter are as they are described in Ww. Hcripturos to be, and that you cannot feel your sin anil nioMrn over, it ? , Then to you is the promise made.; you have a right to appropriate V it to yourself and live. '*' A )iew heart will 1 give you, and a new sjiirit wjl"! I put within you : I will take away tlie stony heart out of your flesh and I will give .you a heart of flosh." Is unbelief a feature of your case, fire yoij broken down under a. sense of your inability .to :rem6vo your blindness, to Oppose the enmity-, carnality and legal tendencies^ of your nature, and to lay hold on the promises as addressed to you i To you is' the promise made, you have a right to apply it to yourself and liVe,, "In- His, name shalL the Gentiles trust." Such are some of the promisor that are made ^in the Gospel to excite faith and to give a^ warranJfc to faith. AH these pro- mises are freehand unoonditional. There is nothing - to be done o;j the part of the sinner to which salya- tion is promised as the reward. Sometimes con- ditional promises are spoken of when the order, or '/the connection, or the succession, or the depen4ence of one part of salvation on another is taught*; but the expression conditional promises is not allowable when y. it is employed to t^ach that something is to be dono FAMILIARLY STATED. 41 to l^hich salvation i8 promised as the reward. The surety-righteousness of Christ is the only condition of all the promises. Salvation is the reward of tha.t rig#O0UsncHS, and of it «?<>//>^. The promif^es are idl made on the ground of that righteousness, and teach that all doing is doiie, and that the way to life is by faith talking hoW of Him who is hold up in the promise ?s addressed to those who are dostitutb ot eyery good qualification. Here God promises accept- ance, pallon, salvation— hut all in Christ. As our King ho issues a solemn proelamatioti and pvomise of pardon in Christ to every on^ of his apostate, rehel-^ lious suhjects. ; - -; , ^„ _ . • As our Father, he promises a rich' legacy m Ohrist to every one of His apostate cl^Ulven. Those prom^ , , ises arie prior to faith. He promises pardon in Christ ^ that we ^ay accept it. He promisc»s*us a rich legacy in Christ.that we may claim it. He promises us ^ salvation in Christ that we may, lay hold upon it. We sinners had n6 right to those blessings originally, bur'right lies in the promise. It Goiiies from without ui^^ We must take them as they are promised. , See- ing the promise is made to you, to me, to all who hei the Gospel—a promise of entering into God^s rest,'may i ndt say with the apostle, ^' Let us fear, lest a promise being left us of entering his rest, any of you should seem to come shortof it." ' I have already made the' remark and now must ' repeat^it^ ttiat there is nothing in all the world so humbling to the sinner asUho Gospel exhibition of "^Christ. The Gospel strips the firmer of every good quaiificationl^nd casts dovyn every lofty imagination. 42 THE WAY OF LIFE . It prosonts Christ m tlio gift of tho Fatljor to flintieris " .us sinners, but a gift that miust bo' received by.Hhd gi-eatcst Hinnor ami also by tlio hsast in the sftin'q iii'^ay, '* without money and without price"; each must lako Hitn as tlio Father'^ gift — claim Ilim on tliat groiind, . and on tliat (ilomi. If wo do not understand tho exhibition of Cliriat in the formal statements of the Father as he prochiims' Jlim as His gift to a perishing world, 3,nother 1 ine is |,Kven us. The Father presents His Son as His gift to our guilty race under tlie form of promises. As ho does so tho same humbling truths immediately appear. Thp sinner appears poor, wretched, miserable^ blind and naked— having no right in himself to anything in tho universe of God but sin and hell. He comes while in%his state to havo a right to Christ, but it comes from wlthovt him. It comes in tho promise. Viewed from this point he has a right to. appropriate Christ to himself, but only because of tho promise. ' Each must take Him «^ promised. . ! If wo can not see Chtist as tho gift of the Father .fi-om either of the two point^ I have already illus- trated, so that wo may bo led to faith or left without" excuse, He is exhibited to us in another form. We have given us. line upon line on this subject. He is I)resented to us as the gift of tho Father: 3.— In the offer and invitatix)ns of the Gospel, Are the offers and invitations of the Gospel not ejCclusively addressed to those who possess certain pro-requisites, as faith, love, and repentance, that render them suitable objects of mercy or qualify them for being saved by Christ 1 ]N^o, certainly not. FAMILIARLY STATED. 43 to fiintieris '0(1 t)y HM saiiio iii^oy, must iako I at ground, rstand tho iiits of tho I porishing 31 prcsontg ir tlio form humbling pears poor, laving no 'SO of God is state to rn without from this to himself, must take ihe Father eady illus- ft without; 3rm. We ct. He is irospel, rospel not !ss certain ance, that )r qualify ainly not. If tho offers and invitations of tho Oolpol required any qualificatiW, in those to whom tlv^ eonie, they • would nut answdi* our condition as sinners ami thuro- tore would be of Jlo avail to us — we would all perish for over, f We urej^'uiliyaudcondi'mned sinners, and if the Gospel does n^t oiler us and i)romiseus pardon - while we are guilty dnd condemnes spirit. How Tory different is such a, way of coming to Christ from that way that ia stated in the Gospel and well-expressed in our admirable subordinate standards. The Spirit oomea to convince us of our sin and misery, and to enlighten "our minds in the knowledge of Christ. Tfhe discovery of the misery is" accompanied with a revelation of the remedy, the fiinner jpy fully raceives the knowledge of both. Any Law-work, apart from^he discovery of the free, full, and immediate salvation that is in Chriist, instead of being the struggles of the new birlh or any quaMcation to come to Christ, is rather the agony of the second death. ■■"/- W ^ must be done w ith w orks and dtities and ■'. / qualifications to give us a claim to Christ, however gpeei oi M or f air they appear. All our feelings and ■■■( FAMILIARLY STATED. 45 , .*' otivos to urent in givtttbe ^oy may form or Christ. L)ro what d before! roirk fills thoughts 10 sinnei ffors and in ignor- jalvation , or in 9k n a ceu- (lifferent way that L in our :it oomea nlighten liscovery )n of the vledge of jovory of at is in the new is rather ties and actions, or any feeling or action al)ont ouWcItos or about ChriHt, never eitn give uh a title to him or to ^ the oilers iiiul invitatio'ns of tlie Oospel. (()ur right, our title to aeeept Christ comes, nut from ivithln us, but from trUhont us. In the gift of C'liri^t by the Father, in the oilers and invitations of thj) (Jospol, we have a title or warnmt to beliove on Ghrist. It is thtj only warrant given us. U is the oBtly one we need. It is perfect in itself, and is indej-)endent of ftny work within us or by us. Any otlior way of coming to Clirist is a delusion, a snare, a Jio, the end v of which inevitably is Hell with all its ^^|oc. All who hear the Gospel have an offjbr of Christ and eternal life in Him made them, an<| are encour- aged to accept the oiler and live. The case of every sinner,' whatever its fQaturos may be, is met by an offer or invitation^ in the Gospel, so that each one is • without excuse. Take a few offers alnd invitations . as a specimen of what I mean. Is yoiir heart bleed- ing, crushed and weary ttnder a 861^80 of giiilt— of unpardoned sin, and do you labour /as in the very fire to come to freedom,? Then yoii are invited to look to Christ and live. ''Gome unio me all ye that labour and are heavy-laden, and I Will give/you rest." Are you conscious that your case/is desperate— that you have greedily pursued the c/iurses ybf sin— that you have corrupted many an^^sociate with yoiir iniquityJi^tHat you have lived ai if it were yourgreat_ ; designifnd businese to provoke God to anger—that you have ajted thus in defiai/ce of every means em- 'ii^- I A;. ■ l51 however ingsaud .ployed for your amendment-/that you are bad beyond correction---an incomgible/siimerr Then you are ■C^- 16 rilK WAY OF LTF invilocl to como and live. ".Come now amV let reason t.^KothuT, «aith the Lord ; though your «.n« he OB scarlet, thny nhall he whit, as huow; and though> tlmy ho ml like crimnoii, they nhall he an wool. Are you ignorant, and nany, and cn.o be an honest and a sincere FAMIUARLY UTATED. ^ •^ \ let Uiough\, I wool." art^ you ': you in le out of rtiU^on, , of God you are ])lo ones filigbt in rurnypu ly Spirit ito you." ig to 1)6 e invited m take, of it let him ho public nediuinal lin whoso- 18 would heard of xffled the le it, sent ion under oever ^yill jrs of hia n)an>iU8tly connider the waters aa \m own for imme- diate u^ ifi virtue of the invitation, HiH-cuUy when he rcnioiiHierod that no conditionn were either pro- pt the wftl^f lifb freely." H we look upon GodaH^honest and sincere, why does not eaeh membeV of ouij tamdy consider the proviHion as his own.for immediate use, , . ill virtue of the invitation, no previous tern|8 being proponed or renuiied] In the ease of the prj^pnetor of the fountain of healing waters, he is esteimed to be honest and sincere on the ^o€nd of his invitation; the diseased take their position ,' go and/aryiealed. In the case of the (iospel i)rovision, a few regltd God . as honest and sincere on the ground of his invitation i^ they take their posi^tion, go and arig hmi to desis Christ, or esteem him or his ordingn^a^r His tk- N • 48 THJE WAY OF LIFE salvation, or evpu from faith Jn him, but ftom the free grant of Christ by the Father, made to sinners of mankind indefinifeely— and thafcs sinners we must restiipon Christ in the Gospel grant as our justifying righteousness,— and on the same, ground rest upon him for that purity without which no man shall see the Lord,— and s6 take him as our full and everlasting portion. This griant of Christ and 'eternal life in Him, is made to sinners of mankind— it is made, it is written, it is sworn to, it is sealed, it is made over to us by the Father. . ' In my next letter I propose to consider the response we should give to this exhibition of Christ in the Gospel. May the Gift of the Father be with you. ' I am, my dear Friend, , ' Yours truly. 4'-^- :■+ 4^ ,\%^^ If •'.'). '■/: 'torn tho inners of we must astifying eat upon shall s«e 'erlasting al life in made, it lade over ! response 5t in the « THIRD LETTER. John 1. 12.—*' Bid as many as received him, to them gave he 2iower to bemne the sons of God, e ven to them that believe . 071 his name." • " John 3. U-l5.^''And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Smi of man be lifted up : that whosoever bclicveth in him should not parish, hut ' have eternal life." / John 6. 47.— " F