READER—The New Year found Lis awestruck by the Tay Bridge calamity. Dundee and district, aye, and the nation at large, have been saddened by it. From the Queen to the peasant sympathy has been expressed, and those living near the scene of the disaster, who have gazed, as I did, to-day; upon the shattered edifice, have, if at all thoughtful, done so with feelings of profound consternation and sorrow— "their thoughts too deep for words." Many a home circle is overwhelmed with grief; the tears of bereaved ones flow. Becoming sympathy is shown them, but welcome and soothing as it is, it does not bring back those so suddenly called from time into eternity, “carried away as with a flood." Ah! no.
Does this paper meet the eye of a mourner?
To Jesus would I point you. Behold the Lamb of God. He came to heal the broken-hearted.
He invites those who labor and are heavy laden to come to Him and get rest. Do turn to Him in faith. You need a friend like Jesus.
See Him weeping at the grave of Lazarus.
See His heart unfolded in the little narrative in Luke 10 (30th verse to 36th). How sweetly the binding up of the wounds and the in-pouring of oil and wine suits your case. Oh stay not a moment if thou art yet a stranger “to grace and to God." To Jesus come, with thy sins and thy sorrows. He will “pardon, cleanse, relieve," and never, no never, forsake thee.
He sticketh closer than a brother.
Does a Christian mourner read this? Then I would add a word of comfort. “All things work together for good to those that love God,”
Draw near, and say, “Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Thy sight," and you shall have perfect rest. This is taking the yoke of Jesus upon you. See in the trial a Father's hand, and remember that He never causes a needless tear. Firmly trust Him, come what may.
"Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.”
Put my reader may simply be one of the tens of thousands of curiously interested visitors and onlookers up and down the land. If so, let me put a question. If the accident had befallen you, how would it have been with your soul? Let the inquiry, I affectionately pray you, rest in your mind. It is written, “Boast not thyself of to-morrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth." Say, then, would it have found you ready to depart and to be with Christ? or, would you have been found unprepared, unsaved, unpardoned?
If the latter, dear friend, take warning. “THE LORD'S VOICE CRIETH UNTO THE CITY. HEAR YE THE ROD AND WHO HATH APPOINTED IT. BEWARE LEST HE TAKE THEE AWAY WITH HIS STROKE, THEN A. GREAT RANSOM CANNOT DELIVER THEE.”
DEATH may seize upon you any day; and another event of supreme, yea eternal, importance is approaching: not a thing of personal or local interest only, but of world-wide bearing.
Do you inquire what it is? I answer “THE BRIDEGROOM'S RETURN!” The midnight cry of Matt. 25 is going forth—" Behold the Bridegroom cometh." Soon, soon, He will return, and they that are ready (and, blessed be God, many are ready) shall go in with Him to the marriage—the marriage of the Lamb— and the door will be shut! Shut upon multitudes of lifeless professors with oil-less lamps (if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of His) and careless scoffers. Yes, the door will be shut.
But to-day, through the longsuffering of the Lord, it stands open, and you may enter, and, believing, know the blessedness of the man whose sins are forgiven; and receive the Holy Ghost, the true, the only oil for your lamp. (Eph. 1:13, 1413In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:13‑14).) Repentance and remission of sins is preached. Judge yourself then, and turn to God. He is rich in mercy, and says, “Turn ye, turn ye, why will ye die?" Christ has once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, to bring us to God. The atoning work is therefore DONE, and the believer sees now the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, as He sits on the right hand of the majesty on high. “The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into His hand. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life, and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.”
Delay not, but by faith appropriate the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, and you, too, shall be ready, but not till then. TODAY if ye will hear His voice harden not your heart. Now is the accepted time, NOW is the day of salvation Christian Reader, the night is far spent and the day is at hand: let us watch and be sober, and see that with well-trimmed lamps we go out to meet the Bridegroom and then shall we not be ashamed before Him at His coming. A. R.