During the late and present revivals, many truths, of great and vital importance, have been brought prominently before the professing Church. For the acknowledgment and maintenance of these, the Church is now responsible. If the light which God has powerfully and practically brought in, be rejected, judgment must follow! Light always brings responsibility. This is the solemn position in which the Church is now placed. The revival has greatly increased her responsibilities. And not only as to truth, but also as to the increase of “lambs” and “sheep,” which need constant pastoral care. While we have much to be truly thankful for, we have much, very much to be accountable for. The Church is God’s witness on the earth; “the pillar and ground of the truth,” and the channel of grace and truth to souls. It is also spoken of as a “candlestick,”— a light-bearer. Hence, it is always a solemn thing to trifle with, or reject, the light which God vouchsafes to give, either in the case of an individual, or in
the case of the professing Church at large. “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” (Rev. 2; 3)
The following truths appear to us to have been graciously revived, in many quarters of late. What may have been formerly held and taught doctrinally, have been lately manifested amongst us, in living power and blessed reality. Glory be to God!
I. The truth as to the presence and power of the Holy Ghost on the earth, has been convincingly displayed, in numberless cases of happy conversion, without the intervention of human instrumentality. Who could fail to be convinced that the Holy Ghost Himself is present and acting in divine power? Souls have been brought, in spirit to Christ in heaven, by the working of the Holy Ghost on the earth. Oh! that His presence, hereafter, may be duly acknowledged, and His sovereign rule and authority fully submitted to. See John 14; 15; 16; Acts 2.
2. The blessed Lord Jesus, as the risen Man in glory, has been seen and enjoyed, as the one object of the soul’s confidence and delight. He has been revealed by the Holy Ghost as such, to many hearts. Hence, we do not now hear, as we once did, merely of such an one having made a profession of religion, but of such an one having been brought to Jesus, made happy in Him, and bearing the first fruits of the Spirit, which are “love, joy, and peace.” This is a glorious truth! occupation with a heavenly Object is the only way of making us heavenly in our thoughts, affections, and practical ways. Phil. 3.
3. The knowledge of a present salvation, to all who believe in Jesus. Not merely a hope that all may end well, if the best endeavors are put forth, but the happy assurance that all is now well, and shall be well forever, by the pure grace of God.
4. The power and various uses of prayer, and prayer-meetings. These have been multiplied in some quarters, nearly a hundred-fold. What a reviving! May we never witness a falling away! “Pray without ceasing.’’ (1 Thess. 5:1717Pray without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17).)
5. Many who had lost sight of the solemn, yet cheering truth of the Lord’s coming, are now, “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” (Titus 2) How often have we heard of late, such expressions as, “Surely the time is short. The coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Is not the Lord rapidly gathering out His own? Surely, He will, ere long, be here Himself.” May this blessed truth be maintained in living power, in our hearts, until we are wrapt in clouds to meet the Lord in the air. (1 Thess. 4:14, 1814For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. (1 Thessalonians 4:14)
18Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:18). 1 Cor. 15:51, 5851Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, (1 Corinthians 15:51)
58Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 15:58).)
Surely the revival of such deeply precious truths, is a rich blessing to the Church, from its exalted Head in glory. It is like a fresh trust committed unto her. And we have not been called to learn them from the lips of some great teachers whom the Lord might have sent, as He has done in former times; but from the practical exhibition of His living grace in thousands of precious souls. Our lesson is to be learned, in their present and eternal blessing. And they remain before us, as the Epistle of Christ, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart. (2 Cor. 3:33Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. (2 Corinthians 3:3).) May the epistle never become blotted and difficult to read, and may the Church be true and faithful to her new, and increased responsibilities.
But we must also bear in mind, that those truths which have been most graciously revived in many quarters; and which have come home to many hearts with all the freshness and power of something quite new, are, nevertheless? abundantly taught in the Holy Scriptures. There they are to be met with, richly strewed on every page. If they were not previously seen and enjoyed, the fault is not in Scripture. Take, for example, the everywhere needed, yet much overlooked truth, of a present salvation to the believer in Jesus. No truth is less enjoyed by a large majority of christians, and yet, no truth is more plainly, or frequently taught in Scripture. We will conclude these reflections, by referring to one or two passages on this point.
Turn with me, in the first place, to John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24). “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life.” This is the Lord’s own declaration as to the present condition of those who believe the gospel-the truth here presented. Nothing could be more pointed and solemn. He begins with a, “Verily, verily, I say unto you.” It is only the voice of Jesus that can speak peace to a troubled soul, and give the full assurance of a present salvation. Only let the weary and heavy-laden listen unto Him, and it shall be so. “I say unto you.” This is the voice of Jesus. “He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me.” This is the truth to be believed— the gospel of the grace of God. It has its source in God, and “God is love.” It flows from the heart of God, the fountain of redeeming love, and Jesus is the channel of that love to us. It is elsewhere called, “the gospel of God.... concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Rom. 1:1-31Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 2(Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) 3Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; (Romans 1:1‑3).)
Now, my dear reader, this is what Jesus would have you and me firmly to believe. Namely, that every blessing to the sinner, flows from the heart of God as its source, and comes to us, in the Person, and through the work, of the Lord Jesus Christ. When we truly believe this, we are drawn to God in Christ, as to the One who loves us, and sent His only begotten Son to die for us, that we might not only be saved, but brought back to Himself, and made happy in His love forever. (See John 3:14-1814And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:14‑18). 1 John 4:8, 198He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. (1 John 4:8)
19We love him, because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19). 1 Pet. 3:1818For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: (1 Peter 3:18).) This truth, when believed, wins the confidence of our hearts, and we trust in Jesus, as our Saviour, knowing that God is glorified, and has His own joy in our salvation.
And now, mark the three grand consequences of faith in the word of Jesus. First, the possession of everlasting life. It is a present reality. “Hath everlasting life.” Not, observe, may, at some future period, have it, but “hath” it now, at this present time. Secondly, “And shall not come into condemnation.” The believer is now, completely, and forever justified. He can never again, even stand in judgment. He stands in Christ, and with Christ. And he is just as safe as Christ Himself, being, by faith, one with Him. Thirdly, “But is passed from death unto life.” The state of the believer is entirely and forever changed. He has passed from a condition of death of trespasses and sins, into one of life, forgiveness, and complete justification. This is the present condition of every believer in Christ Jesus, without one exception. Surely this is a present salvation, and an everlasting salvation. The life, standing, and condition of the soul, are all completely changed. Christ Himself is the life, standing, and condition of the believer in the sight of God. To know this, is light to the eyes, peace to the conscience, and joy to the heart. But oh! my dear reader, hear it, learn it, believe it, from the lips of Christ Himself.
Turn now, to Luke 7:36-5036And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat. 37And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, 38And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. 39Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. 40And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. 41There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. 42And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? 43Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. 44And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. 45Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. 46My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. 47Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. 48And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. 49And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? 50And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace. (Luke 7:36‑50). Here, we find a poor, distressed soul at the feet of Jesus. The only right place for such. But Jesus is much engaged with Simon and his friends. Will He attend to this poor, disreputable sinner at once, and before them all? Oh, yes! He will; He does. And His loving, gracious, tender heart is so filled with her case, that He seems to pay no more attention either to Simon or his friends, save to show them, how much he values her weeping love, above all that self-righteousness can do. The poor woman’s tears and kisses, were a richer feast, and more refreshing to His heart, than anything Simon had set before Him.
But mark, especially, the three blessings, which he said were now hers. First, “And he said unto her, thy sins are forgiven.” It was not something, you perceive, yet to be done, but something already done. It was an accomplished, a present reality. “Thy sins are forgiven.” Secondly, “Thy faith hath saved thee,” she was already saved. It was done. Thy faith-thy confidence in me as thy Saviour, “hath saved thee.” Not, observe, her tears, her kisses, or her ointment, precious as these were to the heart of Jesus.; but her “faith.” This is encouraging; for such humility is often wanting. Few come up to the measure of this poor woman. But, blessed be God, wherever there is simple faith, there is a present salvation. Thirdly, “Go in peace.” All is now peace to the soul, and peace with God. The voice of Jesus speaks peace to herself. Everything that was against her has been put away, on the ground of the sacrifice of Christ. Such are God’s ways of wondrous grace, with every sinner that falls at the feet of Jesus for mercy.
But someone who reads this paper may say, “This is just where I am, I know. And none but the Lord Himself knows the depths of distress I have passed through in my soul, and the tears I have shed. But I cannot feel that the heavy burden of my sins is removed, and I am still an utter stranger to peace. Why is this?” Only one reason, beloved reader, can be given for the continuance of such a state of soul. And that is, you are not listening to, and believing what Jesus is saying to you. You are listening to the suggestions of your own mind, and guided by the feelings of your own heart. Shut your ears against every voice but that of Jesus, and you will soon be happy. You have yet to learn this all-important principle, namely, that you must believe a thing, before you can feel it. You must believe that your sins are forgiven before you can feel it—you must believe that you are saved before you can feel it—you must believe that you have peace, before you can feel it. If, as you say, you are at the feet of Jesus, in earnest about your soul, and looking to Him alone for salvation, then, believe, oh, believe His word. He is saying to you, as plainly as words can say anything, “thy sins are forgiven, thy faith hath saved thee, go in peace.” “Only believe,” and you will be quite happy, and rejoicing. How could you be otherwise, if you believed His word? But how can you expect to find rest to your soul, before you believe the truth that declares you have peace? And let there be no half work, believe it fully, allow no doubt or question to arise in your mind. Hear Christ Himself saying these precious words to you. What would you have thought, if, when Jesus, in such love and tenderness, said to this poor woman at His feet, “thy sins are forgiven,” she had said to Him, ‘Well, I hope they are.’ Could anything have been more wounding to the heart of Jesus? Well, and what have you been doing all this time? And what are thousands of His dear ones doing? Though it may be in ignorance, and in much tenderness of soul, still, they are wounding His patient, loving heart, with their unworthy doubts and fears. Surely when He says, thy sins are forgiven, you ought implicitly, and with all your heart, to believe it, and doubt no more forever. His word never changes, and your condition never can, in His sight. You may experience many changes of mind and feeling within yourself, but your life, standing, and condition in Christ are like Himself, unchangeable.
May your soul get a firm hold of the precious words of Jesus, in all their divine fullness and simplicity, and rejoice before Him in the happy assurance of your own perfect and present salvation.
Who trust unto the Lamb,
Whom we in heaven see,
Are cleans’d by blood from guilt and shame.
From condemnation free.
This union ne’er shall break,
Though earth’s strong columns bow,
The strong, the tempted, and the weak,
Are one in Jesus now.