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Hart & Son, Printers and Publishers, 230 St. James Street. ».«i ;*«i <%■ mm a ^i tra ell thi Ci ar m XI £4 ■ I "Which Class ake You TRAVELIiING ? " h WHAT an oft- repeated question ! Let me put it to you, my reader ; for travelling you most certainly are — trav- elling from Time into Eterrdty, and who knows how very, very near you may be this moment to the great terminus? Let me ask you, then, in all kindness, " Which class are you travelling V\ There are but three. Let me describe them that you may put yourself to the test as in the presence of '' Him with whom you have to do." 1st Class. — Those who are savedj and who know it. 2nd Class. — Those who are not sure of salvation, but anxious to be so. n.cl SAFETT, CERrAlXTT, Sl3ig 3rd Class. — Those wlio are not only unsaved, but totally indifferent about it. Again I repeat my question — ** Which class are you travelling ?" Oh, the mad- news of indifference, >vhen eternal isBues ai*o at stake! A short time since, a man came rushing into the railway station at Leicester, and while scarcely able to gasp for breath he took his seat in one of the carriages just on the point of starting. ** You've run it fine," said a fellow- passenger. ** Yes,'* replied he, breathing heavily after every two or three words, '* but I've saved four hours, and that's well worth running for.'' *^ Saved four hours !" I conld't help repeating to myself — ^^four hours well worth that earnest struggle ! What of eternity ? What of eternity ?" Yet are there not thousands of shrewd, far-seeing men to-day, who look sharply enough after their own interests in this life, but r 4- V > 6 7 J > 7 AND ENJOYMENT. 3 who seem stone-blind to the etornity be- fore them ? Spite of the infinite love of God to helpless rebels told out at Cal- vary, spite of his pronounced hati*ed of sin, spite of the known brevity of man's history here, spite of the terrors of judgment after death, and of the sol- v^ 1 !) pi^btibility of waking up at last with the unbeajnbia remorse of being on helFs i^ideofa **fixei" gulf, man hurries on to tb*^ bitter^ bitter end, as careless cs if there we e no God, no death, no judg- ment, no heaven, no hell. If the reader of these pages be such an one, may God this very moment have mercy upon you, and while you read these lines open your eyes to your most perilous position, standing as you may be on the slippery brink of an endless woe. O friend, believe it or not, your case is truly desperate. Put off the thought of eternity no longer. Eemember that procrastination is like him who deceives 4 SAFETY, CERTAINTV, you by it — not only a ^^ thief but a ^^ murderer.'' Thoro is much truth in the Spanish proverb, which says, **Tho road of * Byand-By ' loads to the town of * Never' " I beseech j^ou, unknown read- er, travel that road no longer. ^^ NOW is the day of salvation." But, says one, I am not indifferent as to the welfare of my soul. My deep trouble lies wrapped up in another word — Uncertainty ; i.e., I am among the second class pas- sengers you speak of. Well, reader, both indifference and uncertainty are the oifspring of one par- ent — unbelief. The first results from unbelief as to the sin and ruin of man, the other from unbelief as to God's sovereign remedy /or man. It is especi- ally for souls desiring before God to be fully and unmistakably sure of their sal- ration that these pages are written. I can in a great measure understand your deep r "SS::^^^K™'-' '■' AND ENJOYMENT. 9 Boul-troublo, and am assured that the more you are in earnest about this all- important matter, the greater will be your thirst, until you know for certain that j'ou are really and eternally saved. "For what shall it profit a m^n if he should gain the whole world and lose his own soul." The only son of a devoted father is at sea. News comes that his ship has been wrecked on some foreign shore. Who can tell the anguish of suspense in that father's heart until, upon the most reliable authority, he is assured that his boy is safe and sound. Or, again, you are far from home. The night is dark and wintry, atid your way is totally un- known. Standing at a point where -^ vo roads diverge, you ask a by-passer the way to cho town you desire to reach, and he tells you he thinks that such and such a way is the right one, and hopes you will be all right if you take it. Would ''thinks'' and ''hopes'' and "may he's" * iAI'lTT, ClRTArWTT, aatisfy you ? Surely not. Ton must have certainty about it, or evory stop you taka will incroaao your anxiety. What won- der, then, that mon have eomotimos been able neither to eat nor sleep when the eternal safety of the soul hw beoa trem- bling in the balanco. To lose your wealih is muoli, To lote yuur health ii mora. To lote your mml it «Hoh a loss A» 00 ■ .an cm reitore. Now, doar rea(>er, there are thi-ee things I desire, by the Holy Spirit's help, to make clear to you ; and to put thorn in scripture language, they are these:— 1. " The way of salvation." (Acts xvi. 17.) 2. "The knowledge of salvation." (Luke i. 77.) 3. " The joy of salvation." (Psalm li. 12.) We shall, I think, see that, though intimately connected, they each staad upon a separate basis j so that it is quite ANT) KNJOYMENT. 7 posHiblo for a Roul to know tlio way of ealvation without having the certain knowledge that he hiimelf is ftaved, or, agairj, to know that ho in saved^ without poHHCssing at all tiinen tho joy tha', ought to accompany that kno'"ledge. Firnt, then, let mo t^f)oak briefly of THE WAY or SM.VAVION. Pleane to open your Bible and read carefully tho thirteenth ^^erso of thethir teenth chapter of Exodua; tuere you find thene words from the lips of Jeho- vah, — '* Every jlrstling of an ass thou shall redeem loitha lamb,'' and if thmi wilt NOT redeem it, then thou siialt break HIS NECK : and all the first-born of man among thy children shall thou redeem.'' Now, come back with me, in thought, to a supposed scene of three thousand years ago. Two men (a priest, of God and a poor Israelite) stand in earnest conversation. Let us stand by, w\th their permission, and listen. The gestures ¥i;4tlpj KM- 8 SAFETY, CERTAINTY, of each bes];;eak deep earnestness about some matter of importance, and it isn't difficult to see that the subject of conver- sation is a little ass that stands trembling beside them. I have come to know, says the jioor Israelite, if there cannot )>e a merciful exception made in my favour this once. This feeble little thing is the firstling of my ass, and though I know full well what the law of God says about it, I am hop- ing that mercy will be shown, and the ass's life spared. I am but a poor man in Israel, and can ill afford to lose the little colt. But answers the priest, firmly, the law of the Lord is plain and unmistak- able,—" Every firstling of an ass thou Shalt redeem with a lamb, and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thcu shalt break its neck:' Where is the lamb ? Ah, sir, no lamb do I possess. -Lhen i^O TMlvryhmaa n-nc^ mnrl ««i.„, ^_. ITlg :.m AND ENJOYMENT. the ass's neck must surely be broken. The lamb must die or the ass must die. Alas ! then all my hopes are crushed, he cries, for I am far too poor to buy a lamb. While this conversation proceeds, a third person joins them, and after hear- ing the poor man's tale of sorrow, he turns to him and says kindly, Be of good cheer, I can meet your need ; and thus ho proceeds: We have in our house on the hill-top yonder, one little lamb brouf'-ht up at our very hearth-stone, and is *^ without spot or blemish. '* It has never once strayed from home, and stands (and rightly so) in highest favour with all that are in the house. This lamb will I fetch. And away he hastens up the hill. Presently you see him gently lead the fair little creature down the slope, and very soon both lamb and ass are standing side by side. Then the lamb is bound to the altar, its b1 J Z^ ^l^^A r^-r^A -i-Vtrk -fii'iDi r» rvn u 11 m A G i+. ;iii 10 «AFETr, CEBTAINXr, The righteous priest now turns to the poor man, and says, You can freely take home your little colt in safety-ao broken neck for it now I m lamb has died in the ass s stead, and consequently the ass goes righteously free. Thanks to vonr friend. "^ Now, poor troubled soul, can't you see in this God's own picture of a sinner's salvation? His claims as to sin de- manded "broken neck," i.e., righteous judgment upon your guilty head, fie only alternative being the death of a divinely approved substitute. Now, you could not find the provision to meet your case; but, in the person of His beloved Son, God Himself provided the Lamb. " Eehold the Lamb of God " said John to his disciples, as his eyes 'I i,T"u *^'' ^^'"'"^ «P««««« One. -Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world." (John i. 29 ) Onwai-d to Calvarv Ha w,>.,f «„„ „ laml and just us tc i deliv agai 125.) . jot I sin? all c - who Bles a sa D God con( I ca The saci He had r -4 ■■;:?^3^a^«5^'r- AND ENJOYMENT. 11 J to thf ly take broken died in the ass > J^our ou see nner's in de- iteous i, the of a nsion 50n of vided (}od;' eyes One. iketh , 29.) ^lamb led to the slaughter," and there land then ^^ He once suifered for sins, the Ijust for the unjust that he might bring »U8 to God." (1 Pet. iii. 18.) '' He was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification." (Rom. iv. 25.) So that God does not abate one ! jot of His righteous, holy claims against I sin, when He justifies (^.e., clears from all charge of guilt) the ungodly sinner who believes in Jesus. (Eom. iii. 26.) Blessed be God for such a Saviour, such a salvation ! Dost thou Believe on the Son of God? Well, you reply, I have, as a poor condemned sinner, found in Him one that I can safely trust. I no believe on Him. Then, I tell you, the full valae of His sacrifice and death, as God estimates it. He makes as good to yc. as though you had accomplished it all yourself. Oh w^hat a wondrous wav of salvation ,5,"., „S|?|S^. = 12 SAFETY, CERTAINTY, salvation of a emn« > ^nd S^. I.,. J»« »n. w o^h- - oi-dceil it that HiB own ,h„„ld do all the -.vork aad 8^" p.aise, and that you and I, p^. g J hi„g», believing on H™' f^ . ft,, o„,y get all the "»-|j^::;l/„,e- Wf "' ~-"C4ti y^he I.M with ;t a:;'i;tnrU^Hi.Ue together." . Christ and Christ's work I ^^^^ X...11 novtnintv of my salvation r x that ] sure 1 I am cut a Ah ever an eh the s It that SAFE [feel, wish I B shal whi( KJS quo ima [feel |lie\ say, If my feelings war ^Hl AND ENJOYxMENT. 13 Ary may r distrust, ■ely upon e not the n? You le sayins tnat I am saved one day, they are pretty Bure to blight every hope the next, and I am left like a ship storm-tossed with- out any anchorage whatever. Ah, there lies j'our mistake. Did you ever hear of a captain trying to find anchorage by fastening his anchor inside the ship? Never. Always outside. It may be that you are quite clear that it is Christ's death alone that gives SAFETY, but you think that it is what you feel, that gives certainty. Now again take your Bible, for I now wish to say a little about how a man gets THE KNOWLEDGE OF SALVATION. Before you turn to the verse which I Bhall ask you very carefully to look at, which speaks of how a believer is to KNOW that he has eternal life, let me quote it in the distorted way that man's imagination often put^ it.— These happy Jeelings have I given unto you that be- lieve on the name of the Son of God; u SAFETY, CERTAINTY, I that yo may know that ye have eternal life. Now, open your Bible, and while you compare this with God's blessed and unchanging Woi'd,may He give you from your very heart to say with David, '*/ hate vain thoughts ; but Thy law do I love.^^ (Ps. cxix. 113.) The verse just misquoted is the thirteenth verse of the fifth chapter of the first epistle of John, and reads thus in our version . *' These things have 1 WRITTEN unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God ; that ye may know that ye have eternal life. '^ How did the first-born sons of the thousands of Israel know for certain that they were safe the night of the Pass- over and Egypt's judgment ? Let us take a visit to two of their houses and hear what they have to say. We find in the first house we enter that they are all shivering with fear and suspense. AND ENJOYMENT. 15 eternal while D(i and a from id, " / ? do I ?e just of the John, These 3 you Son of HAVE of the certain Pass- What is the secret of all this palenosw and trembling? we inquired ; and the tirst- horn son informs us that the angel of death is coming round the land, and that he is not quite certain how matters will stand with him at that solemn moment. When the destroying angel has passed our house, says he, and the night of judg- ment is over, I shall then know that I am safe, but I can't see how I can be quite sure of it until then. They say they are sure of salvation next door, but we think it very presumptuous. All I can do is to spend the long dreary night hop- ing for the best. Well, we inquire, but has the God of Israel not provided a way of safety for His people ? True, he replies, and we have availed ourselves of that way of escape. The blood of the spotless and unblemished first-year lamb has been duly sprinkled with the bunch of hyssop on the lintel le SAFETY, CERTAINXr, Pi and two nide-posts, but Ktill wo arc not fullv afiHured of Hhelter. Let u« now leave these doubting troul)- lud ones and enter next door. What a strikinij^ contrast meets our eye at once ! Joy beams on every coun tenance. There they stand, with girded loins and stutt* in hand, enjoying the roasted lamb. TV hat can be the meaning of all this joy on such a solemn night as this ? Ah, say ^hey all, wo are only waiting for Jehovah's marching orders, and then we shall bid a last farewell to the task mas- ter's cruel lash and all the drudgery of Egypt. But hold. Do you forget that this is the night of Egypt's judgment ? Eight well we know it; but our first- born son is safe. The blood has been sprinkled according to the wish of our God. But so it has been the next door, we I'O not troul)- :8 our coun- firdod ^ the 1 this Ah, g fox* 311 we : inas- ny of his is first- been ►f our ►r, we AND F.X.TOYMENT. 17 rc^ply, but (licy Jii*e nil unhappy because all uncertain of safety. Ah, responds the first-born, firmly, hut we haoe moue than the sprinkled BLOOD, we have the unerring word of (loD about it. God has said, "When T SEE THE BLOOD I wiU passovcr you," Gou rests satisfied with the blood outside, and we rest satisfied with His icord inside. The sprinkled blood makes us safe. The spoken word makes us sure. Could anything make us more safe than the si)rinkled blood, or more sure than His spoken word? Nothing, nothing. Now, reader, let mo ask you a (jues- tion. Which of those two houses think you was the safer f Do you say No. 2, where all were so happy? Nay, then, you are wrong. Both are safe alike. Their safety der.ends upon what 'God thinks about the blood outside, and not ttpO J._X- _Z» xl_ . K -W .^\ .^^ / •* /%-% ^"v i-» * AA C. 1 n liie siaie ui iiR:ir^cxte/t.f^'o e/co 1 ti dt 18 SAFETY, CKRTAI.VTV, If you would 1,0 Hure of j-oni- ow„ blessing, then, dear reader, listen not to the unstable testimony of inward emo- tions, but to the infallible witness of the Word of God. " VeHly, .^vily, ] .say unto you, IFo that beliovcth on Me hath everlaslin.' life." (John vi. 47.) Let me give you a simple illustration from every day lite. A cei-tain farmer in the country, not having Hufficientgra.^ for lus cattle, applies for a nice piece of pasture-land which he heai^s is to be lot near his own house. For some time ho .gets no answer from the landlord. One day a neighbour comes in, and says, I feci quite sure you will get that field. Don't you recollect how that last Christmas ho Hont you a special present of game, and that he gave you a kind nod of recogni- tion the other day when he drove past m the carriage? An.l with such like ^■vords Ihe farmer's mind is filled with groun One d of per Pre farine the & tlie I Squir chari^ (liBgii that 1 his ' ANT» FN.TnVMRNT. 19 own lot to cnio- )f (lie I, JIo stin/;- iition rnier n-a.ss Je of e let e lio One feel >on't S 1)0 and gni- past like nth uin.j^uino lioju's. Nextday anollier neighbor meotsliim, mcl in courHO of (ronvcrHUtion, ho Hays, 'm afi-aid vou will stand no ehanco udnitover of gottinir that grai^h-iield. \[^.^ has a])])lierl aoxfc^^ ii ■*f AND EN.IuV.MEN'r. 23 "This iH My beloved Sou; in whom lam well pleased," You may, Ho says with Hll confidence trust Bis heart, though you cannot with impunity trust your own. ]}lesse(J, thrice blessed Lord Jesus, .vho would not trust Thee and praise Thy name ! , . » • i . "I do really believe on him, said a Hud-looking soul to mo one day, " but vet when asked if I am saved, I don t iike to say Yes for fear I should be tell- ima lie:' This young woman was a butcher-s daughter, in a small town i.i the Midlands. It happened to be markct- dav and her father had not then returned from market. So I said, " Now, sup- pose when your father comes home you usk hinvhow many sheep he bought to- .lay, and he answers, Ten. After awhile a man comes to the shop, and says, How many sheep did your father buy to-day ? and you reply, I don't like to .sav. for fear I should be telling a lie. 24 SAFETY, CEHTAIM'r, *^But," said the mother (who was stand- ing by at the time), with j'ighteous in- dignation, ^'thrt would be making her father the liar." Now, dear reader, don't you see that this well-meaning young woman was vir- tually making Christ a liar, saying, ''I do believe on the Son of God, but I don't like to say I am saved lest 1 mould be telling a lie,'' when Christ Himself has said, ^^he that believeth on Me hath everlasting life." (John vi. 47.) But, says another. How may I he sure that I really do believe. 1 have tried often to believe, and looked within to see if I had got it ; but the more I look at my faith the less I seem to have. Ah, my friend, you are looking in the wrong direction to find that out, and your trying to believe but plainly shows that you are on the wrong track. Let me give you another illustration to explain w^hat I w^ant to convey to you. AND ENJUVMENT. 25 You are sitting at your quico tii-esidc one evening', when a man comes in and tells you that the station-master has been killed that night at the railway. Now it so happens that this man has long borne the character in the place for being a very dishonest man, and the most daring, notorious liar in the neigh- bourhood, m Do you believe, or even try to believe that man? Of course not, you exclaim. Pray, why? Oh, I knov: liim too well for that. Eut tell me how you knoio that you don't believe him? Is it by looking within at your fiiith or feelings? No, you reply I think of the man that brings me the message. Presently, a neighbour drops in and says, The station-master has been run over by a freight-train to-night, and killed on the spot. After he has left I i 1 1 2i\ SAFKTY, CKlir-UNTV, hear you cautiously say, Well, I 7>(//'^/// believe it now, for to my recollection this man only once in his life dcceived'mc, though I have known him from boyhood. But again,! ask, is it by looking at your faith this time that you know you pai'tly believe it ? No, 3'ou repeat ; 1 am thinking ol the charac^pr of my informant. WeU, this man has scarcely left your room before a third person enters and brings j'ou the same sad news as the first. But t is time you say, Now, John, since you tell me, I believe it. Again, I press my question (which is, remember, but the re-echo of your own). How do you know that you so confidently believe your friend John ? Because of tvho and ivhat John is you reply. He never has deceived me, and I don't think he ^^^er will. Well, then, just in the same \tay I know i\ he (joq .^7 V ILt, bee of ANJ> E.NJoy.UKNT. •Jt Ihc Uiio who brings mo tlu- news. " If Avc receive the witiiessi of mentlic witness u; (iod 18 greater; for this i« the witness of God that He hath witnesml of His ^on He that uelievetunotGod iiATii MADE Him a Liau, because ho be- licveth not the witness that God gave of His Son." (1 John v. 9, 1(T.) " Abraham believed God, and it was acconnted to him for rightcoiisnosii." (Kom. iv. 3.) An anxious soul once said to a servant of Christ, " Oh, sir, I can't believe /" to which the preacher wisely and quietly replied, " Indeed, who is it that you can't believe ?" This broke the spell. He had been looking at faith as an indescribable something that he must feel within him- self in order to be sure that he was all right for heaven ; whereas faith ever looks outside to a living Person and His finish- ed work, and quietly listens to the testi- mony of a faithful God about both. It is the outside look that brings the 28 SAFETV, CERTAINTY I mslde peace. When ii man turns his face towai'ds the sun, his own shadow is behind him. You cannot look at self and a glori- fied Christ in heaven at the same moment. Thus we have seen that the blessed Person oi' God's Son wins my confi- dence; Ills FINISHED wouK makes me eternally safe", God's word about those who belici'e on llim makes me unalter- jibly sure. 1 find in Christ and His work the way of salvation, and in the Word of God the knowledge of salvation. But if saved, my reader may say, How is it that I have such a fluctuating expe- rience—so often losing all my joy and comfort, and getting as wretched and dow^ncast as I was before my conversion. Welljthis brings us to our third point,viz., THE JOY OF SALVATION. You will find in the teaching of Scrip- ture, that while you are saved by Christ's work and assured by God^s word, you are maintaiaed in comfort and joy by the ANT) ENJOYMENT. 2f> IToAj Ghost, wlio indwells every saved one 8 bod 3^ Now, you must boar in mind that every saved one bas ntill within bini "the flesh," i.e., the evil nature be was born with as a natural man, and which perhaps shows itself while still a help- less infant on his mother's lap. The Holy Ghost in the believer resists the flesh, and is grieved by eveiy activity of it, in motive, word, or deed. When be is walking " worthy of the Lord," the Holy Ghost will be producini^ in his soul His blessed fruits — '' love, jo}', peace," etc. (See Gal. v. 22.) When he is walk- ing in a carnal, woi-ldly way, the Spirit is grieved, and these fruits ai-e wanting in greater or less measure. Let me put it thus for you who do be- lieve on God's Son : — - Christ's ivork "^ and >• stand or fall together. Your salvation. ) • > SAFETY, rEUTATNTV Your If a Ik ^ and y stand or fall togclher. Your enjoyment ) TfChrisfs work could breakdown (and blessed be God it iirrcr, nercr will,) your salvation would In'oalc down witb it. When your walk bi'eaks down (and be watchful, for it ma}'), J^^^^^' enjoyment will break down with it. Thus it is said of the early discijjles (Acts ix. 81), that they valked in the fear of the Lord, and in the conifort of the J My Ghostr And ag-ain in Acts xiii. 52, — *'The disciples wei'C tilled with joy anfl with the Holy Ghost." xMy spiritual joy will be in proportion to the spiritual character of my w^alk after I am saved. Now, do you see your mistake ? You liave been mixin^i^ up enjoymenT with your safety — two widely different thin2;s. When tliroiie;li solf-iiidnlgence, loss <>r til AND KXJOYMENT. • > 10 temper, worldliness, etc., you grieved (I Holy Spirit and lost your Joy, you Ihoui^Iit your safety was undermined. But, a^^iin, I repeat it, — Your safety hangs ui)on Christ''; work FOR yov. Your assurance, upon (iod's word to you. our cnjoymnit, upon not (jrieving the Y Holy Ghost in you. When us u child of God you do any tiling to grieve the Holy Spirit of (lod, your eonimuniorv with the Father and the ft' >n is, for the time, practically sus- pended ; audit is only when you judge yourself and confess your sins that the joy of communion is restored. Your child has been guiltj^ of some misdemeanor. He shows upon his coun- tenance the evident mark that some- thing is wrono- with him. Half an hour before this he was enjo34ng a walk with you round the garden, admiring what you admii'cd, enjoying what you enjoyed ) f 'J 32 ^AFKTV, ( EIITAINTV, in otlioi- words, ho was in communion with Ijoa, his feelings and hynipathios were in common with yoiu-s. But now all this is chani^cd, and as a muighty, disobedient child, he stands in the cornei, the very pictui-e of misery. Upon ])enitent confession of his wrong- doing you have assured him of foro'ive- uess. but his pride and self- wall keep liini Bobbing there. Where is now tlie joy of half an hour ago? All gone. Why? Because com- munion between you and him has been interrupted. What has become of the relationship that existed between you and your son half an hour ago? Has that gone too? Is that severed or interrupted? Surely not. His relationship depends upon his birth; his communion, upon his behaviov^\ But presently he comes out of the cor- ner with broken will and broken heart, confessing the wdiole thing from first to AN!* ENJoYMtNi'. yy lasi, so tliiiiyou SCO ho I'ltes tlio dis- olKxIioneo and naughtirieas m much as you do, and you take him in your arms Jiri< I cover him witii i SAFETY, CERTAINTY, His own self bear our siiis in His own body on the tree." (1 Pet. il. 24.) The CI rist-rejecter must hoav hU own sins in his own person in the hike of fire forever. Now, when a saved one fails, the *^ cmninal question'' of sin cannot be raised against him, the Judge Himself having settled that once for all on the cross : but the comynuniort, question is raised within him by the Holy Ghost as often as he grieves the Spirit. Allow me, in conclusion, to give you another illustration. It is a beautiful moonlight night. The moon is at full, and shining with more ihan ordinary silvery brightness. A man is gazing in- tently down a deep, still well, where he sees the moon reflected, and thus remarks to a friendly bystander : How beautiful- ly fair and round she is to-night ! how quietly and majestically she rides along ! Ho has just finished speaking whe!i suddenly his friend drops a small pebble AND EXJOYx\IB:\T. :37 ; own ^ own f fire fails, ot be tnsclf I the II is )8t as you itiful full, nary iX in- •e ho larks tiful- liow ong! ihblo into the well, and ho now exclaims, Why the moon is ail brolcen to shivers, and the fragments are shalcing togetlioi- in the greatest disorder. What gi-oss absurdity! is the astonish- ed rejoinder of his companion. Look up, man! the moon hasn't changed one jot or tittle ; it is the condition of the well that reflects her that has changed. Now, believer, apply the simple figure. Your heart is the well. When there is no allowance of evil, the blessed Spirit of God^takes of the glories and preciousness of Christ, and reveals them to yon for your comfort and joy; but the moment a wrong motive is cherished in the heart, 01' an idle word escapes the lips unjudg- ed, the Holy Ghost begins to disturb the well, your happy experiences are smash- ed to pieces and you are all restless and disturbed within, until, in brokenness of spirit befoi-e God, you confess your sin (the dislurbing thing), and thus iret re- ^r?^ 38 SAFETY, CERTAINXr, i ! stored once more to the calm, sweet joy of communion. But when your heart is thus all unrest need I aak, hai Christ's work chaiiQQd ? No, no. Then your salvation has not al- tered. Has God's word changed 7 Surely not. Then the certainty of your salvation has received no shock. Then, what has changed ? Why, the action of the Holy Ghost in you has changed, and instead of taking of the glories of Christ and filling your heart with the sense of His worthiness. He is grieved at having to turn aside from this delightful office to fill you with the sense of your sin and unworthiness. He takes from you your present com- fort and joy until you judge and resist the evil thing that He judges a»d resists. When this is done, communion with God has again been restored. The Lord make us to be increasingly \ AND ENJOYMENT. 39 grieve \ 7: 'US jealous over ourselves lest we the Holy Spirit of God whereby we are sealed unto the day of redemption." (Eph. iv. 30.) Dear reader, however weak your faith may be, rest assured of this, that the blessed One who has won your confidence will never change. '* Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and to-day and foreter." (Heb. xiii. 8.) The work He has accomplished will never change. '' Whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for- ever, nothing can be put to it nor any- thing taken from it." (Eccles. xii. 14.) The word He has spoken will never change.. " The grass withereth and the flower thereor falleth away, but the word of the Lord endureth forever." (1 Pet.i.24,25.) Thus the object of my trust, the founda- tion of my safety, the ground of my certain- ty, are alike ETEaNALLY unalterable. ■^ms^:-?w-^^-^^mM^::^!!mi^i^^^.'--r^^r~'-- --■m-^^'^ 40 SAFETY, CEHTAINTY, "My love is ofttimes low, ! My joy still ebbs and flows, But peace with Him remains the same — No change Jehovah knows. • "I change, He changes not My Christ can never die ; ' His love, not mine, th© resting-phncc ; Hit truth, not mine, the tie." | Once more let me ask, Which class^ ARE YOU TKAVBLLING ? Tarn vour heai*t| to God, I pray you, and answer thatf question to Him, ^^ Let God be true^ hwt eveiy man a liar." (Rom. iii. 4.) '' He that hath received Iliis testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.'' (John iii. 33.) May the joyful assurance of possess- ing this ^' great salvation" be j^ours, dear reader, now, and '^till He comes." Geo. C. Hart & Sox, Prixtfrs, Moxtkeal. •-Y ' '■ •g^-lT*-;!^-. ^X^ ne — : CLASS^ ir hearts 31* that] niaii a| timon3''j posrsess- : yoLir*s,| )mes. o. C. )j ;al.