Gospel Light: Volume 12 (1922)

IN traveling from Londonderry to Penzance during the war, a Christian sailor was sitting quietly in the train nearing Taunton, reading some notes on the seventeenth chapter of John.

On arriving at the platform, there entered three young men into the compartment, bound for the Navy. On finding seats for two of their number, the third stood in the corridor within sight of his two mates.

A conversation ensued between the three concerning life in the Navy, and their future occupations and enjoyments. The two seated within jocularly referred to their companion in the corridor as one who was fond of a pint of beer; and then, turning to the old sailor, inquired what he thought was the best thing for men in the Navy.

The Christian sailor replied: “The best thing you can take in the Navy is to have the Lord Jesus Christ with you there.”

Upon this, silence followed for awhile, and then the old sailor began to speak of his Lord and Saviour. There was sitting alongside of the sailor an Army officer, who then joined in the conversation. The old sailor perceived that he was a well-educated man.

This officer scouted the remark made by the sailor to the three young men as nonsense, and, addressing him, said, “Look here! I am an atheist, and my father was an atheist, and died an atheist.”

The old sailor rejoined: “If that be true, your father has gone to hell, where hope can never come.”

"That's all nonsense," said the officer sneeringly. "I was present at my father's deathbed.”

The old sailor then quoted several scriptures, proving that the Bible was the word of God, and remarked, “You say that you are an atheist.

May I ask you one question?—and give me an answer if you can.”

The officer inquired, "What is it?”

The sailor replied, “You freely admit that there are millions of books written, some good and some bad?”

The officer replied, "Yes, of course!”

“Now tell me the reason," said the Christian sailor, “why none of these many writers could write another Bible.”

The officer was speechless.

There was sitting on the opposite side of the carriage a dear old gentleman, who had been a silent listener to the conversation. He now raised his hand, and said to the so-called atheist, "Ah, my friend, give in! You are floored! You cannot answer that question!”

The old sailor then replied, "The answer is, Because all scripture is given by inspiration of God; and the word of God is complete, and will endure forever.”

Upon this the sailor invited the officer to read the notes on the seventeenth of John.

The officer took and read them, remarking that they were very appropriate!

By this time the train had reached Plymouth, which proved to be the destination of the officer. On leaving the carriage he turned to the old Christian sailor, saying, "Good-bye, old man; I shan't forget you!”

T. B. N.

Are You Saved?

"I HOPE I shall be.”

“Then am I to understand by that answer that you are not saved?”

“Well, I don't think anyone is justified in saying positively that which can only be known at the Day of Judgment.”

“Then what do you say to these scriptures written by the apostle John to the children of God, and indited by the Holy Ghost? These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life.' (1 John 5:13.) We know that we are of God. (1 John 5:19.) We know that we have passed from death unto life.'" (1 John 3:14.)

“I confess I am at a loss for an answer, and certainly if you make my salvation depend on my knowledge of the absolute possession of eternal life, then I am not saved.”

"I did not by any means intend that you should so understand it. Knowledge of a fact depends upon the previous existence of the fact, not the fact upon the knowledge. In other words, if you are saved, you may expect to know the certainty of it, but the most perfect knowledge would never save you: nothing but faith in the blood of Jesus can do that.”

"Then why did you quote those texts?”

“Because you implied that people could not know they were saved till the Day of Judgment, whereas the apostle affirmed it of people then living on the earth. As Scripture is written for us, as well as for them, it follows that every child of God is open to know now the certainty of his salvation.”

“I can see that this certainty is very desirable, and I am sure it would make me very happy to have it; but tell me, Why do you press me as to my having this certainty?”

“Because I know that until this point is settled, it is a proof that the precious work of Christ has neither been clearly understood nor appropriated by you.”

"But I believe in Christ.”

"Oh yes, so does everybody in Christendom, I suppose, except Unitarians.”

“Well, but I mean, I believe that Christ died for sinners.”

“Precisely; and does not Christendom keep Good Friday?”

“Yes; but of course the greater part of that is mere profession.”

"Well, and what is yours?”

"You pain me: I am really sincere. I know I am a sinner, and need saving; and I know that none but Christ can save me. If I am saved at all, it will be His work, not my own, I am quite sure of that.”

“I did but wound to heal. If I did not believe you were a child of God, I should talk in a very different strain.”

“Then do you think I am saved?”

“Would you believe me if I told you?”

“Well, you are so very strict, and pull people's religion to, pieces in such a way, and bring such unanswerable texts upon one, that I should attach some weight to what you said.”

“I thought so, and therefore I will be very careful that your faith does not rest on my word, but on the word of God. Now listen to the words of Jesus: “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 [judgment]; but is passed from death unto life.' (John 5:24.) Can anything be plainer than that? ".

“Well, it is so plain that I begin to be ashamed of myself.''

“That is a good sign; and since you have confessed thus much, I will tell you a secret about yourself that you have not yet mentioned to me.”

“What is that?”

"Just this, that you find in yourself much failure, imperfection, inconsistency, and the like, and if you were to say boldly, I am saved,' all this would stare you in the face and condemn you.”

“Really”

“And more, there is a mass of inconsistencies of greater or less degree that you do not quite see your way to get rid of.”

“But—”

“And if you did see your way to get rid of them, you would not mind keeping them a little longer for old acquaintance' sake. Now, what have you to say to this?”

“Simply that you have just laid bare what I have hardly dared to admit to myself, much less to you; but now the secret is out, tell me what I ought to do. I confess that it has been hanging over me for months like a dark cloud. Sometimes I think I am saved, but when I look at my 'ways, even in spite of my wish to act right, then I get all in a tangle; and I am ashamed to say I have sometimes argued with you hoping to find you waver in that certainty which you have, but which I lack; this was wicked, but I may as well confess all while I am about it.”

“Well, there is nothing like confession for lightening the conscience; only it should be to God rather than to man. He says, ‘If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.'”

“I feel sure all you are saying is right, because you keep throwing me back on God. I feel that He must care for me, or He would not have given His Son for me; but it is my wretched ways that hinder me. I feel as if I should be acting the hypocrite if I were to go on my knees just after I had lost my temper, for instance.”

“I should have thought that was just the time that you needed to go on your knees.”

“Well, so it is, in one sense; but then, if I go on my knees and ask for forgiveness for my temper when I am conscious of having broken my last promise of amendment, and having, moreover, the consciousness that the promise I am making will probably be broken before the day is out (much as I may strive), does it not look like mocking if I do go? and yet, on the other hand, if I do note can I say, with anything like honesty, I am saved?”

“My dear friend, I could even weep for you, because I know, only too well, what a bitter position it used to be; but, thank God, I can tell you the way of deliverance; not for a mere temporal relief, but for complete emancipation. Listen with a subject heart, and I will show you from God's word what a wrong view you have had of Christ's work, and your position; and then I will set forth the truth about, Christ, His work, and the effect of His work.

“First, as to the wrong thoughts you have had of Christ's work, and your consequent position.

You, a sinner, dead in trespasses and sins, have supposed that Christ came and died upon the cross, and became a Saviour, that He might enable you, a sinner, to improve your condition, and to produce righteous acts instead of unrighteous ones. You have supposed that a corrupt tree was to be operated upon in such a way as to produce good fruits. Hence, you have overlooked the fact of the utter ruin of man as a child of the first Adam. You have forgotten that God has declared you must be born again. A new birth necessarily implies something quite distinct from that which is old. In, effect, you have thought, as Nicodemus thought, How can a man be born when he is old? ‘but if God says there must be new birth, it is manifest that improvement of old birth is not contemplated by Him. That which is born of the flesh is flesh.'

It may be improved, cultivated, refined; it may be religious, moral, devoted; it may have adopted Christianity, been baptized, taken the sacrament; each or all of these it may have believed in and supposed, according to its own view of things; but after all it has not advanced a step beyond the flesh; and God says, They that are in the flesh cannot please God.'”

“You alarm me. If this be true (and it really seems to be true), who then can be saved?”

“Why, those who are born again.”

“But I thought I had been born again. I have believed on Jesus, the lifted-up Son of Man, and He says He was lifted up that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Now I believe in Him; indeed I do; I have no other refuge, no other hope: may I not then say I am born again?”

“Indeed you may, and I bless God that this conversation is bringing out your faith so distinctly. I rejoice that I have divine ground in your soul to work upon; and if you will only lay aside your old thoughts, and just listen obediently to the word of God, you will soon get a clear view of your true position before God, and then everything else becomes plain and simple.”

“I am all attention; what point will you start from?”

“From the Throne of God.”

“Dear I thought you would have said from the Cross.”

“So I would, if Jesus were still hanging there; but Jesus has done with the cross, blessed as are the effects which spring from it. He settled the question of sin there, a question that can never be re-opened to the believer. He there vindicated the holiness of God's character (which might have appeared to have been sullied) by the fact that none less than the Son of God must become a victim to clear His creation from the loathsome pollution of sin. He there removed the barrier that stemmed the pent-up torrent of God's love and grace, always ready to flow, but kept back because God, perfectly holy, could not thus display Himself without appearing to wink at sin, the exact opposite of all that God is. On the cross Jesus not only undid that which Satan had done, but He did that by which God positively acquired glory, and a glory too that can only be measured by the worth of the illustrious One by whom it was acquired. Throughout eternity the work of the cross will stand prominently forth as the marvel of all created intelligences—the crowning glory of Him who is the God of glory. But my purpose now more especially is to press the resurrection, a truth the lack of the knowledge of which has obscured the glory of the cross, as a cloud obscures the blazing sun. It is in resurrection that all the precious efficacy of the work of Christ becomes available. ‘If Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.' (1 Cor. 15:17.) The dying cry of Jesus on the cross (John 19:30) was, It is finished.' Precious for us; still more precious to God. But in resurrection we see Him as the First-born, the Head of the New Creation. (Eph. 1:22.) Having passed through death, and completely settled forever the question of sin, He took His place on the throne of God, and that is now the starting-place of every believer. Does this ignore the cross?”

“Oh dear no! I never saw it put in its true place before. This is all new to me.”

“Of course it is; everything is new in the new creation. You have been accustomed to the old creation, and never got beyond the cross. The cross was the last transaction (if I may except the sepulcher) in the old creation; the end of volume one, if I may use a figurative expression.”

“I am getting light already—go on.”

“God be praised. Volume two begins with Jesus risen from the dead on the first day of the week, and saying, Go to my brethren, and say to them, I ascend to my Father and your Father, and to my God and your God.'”

“Where is sin?”

“Gone; canceled; only found in volume one.”

“Where is flesh?”

“In volume one.”

“Where is death?”

“In volume one.”

“Where am I?”

“In volume two.”

“Oh, this is precious! it is quite new to me!

How is it that this is not generally known?”

“The adoption of human thoughts, instead of God's plain word, has led to false, imperfect, and inadequate teaching. At the beginning it was not so.”

“Why, did not the apostles preach the cross?”

“They did more. The cross being an accomplished fact, the resurrection was now their theme.

‘They preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.' (Acts 4:2.) With great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.' (Acts 4:33.) ‘Paul seemed to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus and the resurrection.' (Acts 17:18.) ‘And when they heard of the resurrection, Some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again.' (Acts 17:32.) So you see resurrection was the prominent truth they set forth, and so in many other passages.”

“But they did also set forth the crucifixion.”

“Yes, of course; and mark the contrast. Man had slain Him on earth, but God had exalted Him to His right hand in heaven, to be a Prince and a Saviour.”

“Pardon me if I appear too tenacious about the cross. I think you said it closed up the old creation?”

“You cannot possibly be too tenacious about the cross. But for the unspeakably precious work accomplished there, you and I were still dead in trespasses and sins; still under the righteous wrath of God; still awaiting the damnation of hell. But for the cross God had remained dishonored in His creation, but now is immeasurably glorified thereby, a thing of infinitely greater importance than our salvation, although, thanks to His wisdom and His grace, both go together, He having accomplished the one with the other. But when I say the cross closed up the old creation I speak of it as the place where man crucified his Saviour; but you must also bear in mind that the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God had provided against this wickedness; and while man, as man, sealed his own ruin, when he nailed Jesus on the cross, God made the cross the basis on which He could set up the new creation; and the resurrection is the manifest proof and token of all this. A man cannot be risen, except he have first been dead.”

“Oh, I see! Then I was dead?”

"Surely; and by faith in Him whom God raised from the dead you are now risen, as it says, Ye are risen with Him through the faith (or belief) of the operation of God, who hath raised Him from the dead." (Col. 2:12.)

“Is not this Scripture spoken of in connection with baptism”

“Yes; baptism is a material symbol or picture of an act which is unseen, but quite as real as that which is seen; yea, much more so. The process of sight illustrates the process of faith. The Lord Himself appointed this symbol, therefore it must, of course, be perfect.”

“Say a little more about this; I think I understand it.”

“It is very simple; there is no mystery about it. Suppose I meet with a soul oppressed with a sense of its sins, and desiring deliverance, I say, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Where is He? ‘says the enquirer.

At the right hand of God,' I rejoin. ‘But what about my sins? "Himself bare our sins in His own body on the tree," ' I reply. 'And because He was an adequate sacrifice, God has raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand, and offers Him there as the object of your faith.' I believe,' replies he, in my heart, and I confess with my mouth, that God raised Him from the dead.' Then I take him to the water, and as I plunge him under, I remind him that thus he is buried with Christ; thus he takes leave of the Old Creation; thus are his sins washed away; and as he rises from the water do I remind him that thus he is risen with Christ; thus he is in the New Creation; thus he is alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.'”

“How beautiful the figure becomes when one understands that which it figures!”

“Yes; and how the Lord has, in His tender, gracious care, remembered how feeble is our apprehension of divine things in thus giving us this shadow, that by it we might comprehend the substance!”

“Truly. But how I wish I could stand forever in that resurrection moment!”

“And so you do. God looks at you in Christ, and never sees you otherwise than in that resurrection moment. Once there, you are there for ever. You are passed from death unto life.”

“But what about sins committed after this?”

“They belong to the Old Creation, and become as hateful to you as they are to God.”

“But will not God call me to account for them?”

“Certainly; but it makes all the difference whether He calls you to account as a saint or saved one, or whether He calls you to account as a sinner or lost one.”

“Oh, I see! Then I never come before God again in the character of a sinner?”

“Never. He that is born of God sinneth not.

You are always before God in the character of a saint, a member of Christ, a child of the New Creation; pure, spotless, sinless, holy.”

“Then I appear to have two existences; one that was born of the flesh, impure, defiled, sinful, and that belonged to earth; and one that is born of God, pure, spotless, holy, and that belongs to heaven.”

“Yes; the first belongs to the Old Creation, the last to the New. The first was spoiled by the devil, the last was the result of the work of Christ. The first was marred by disobedience; the last came about through perfect obedience.”

“But how is the New Creation nature sustained?”

“By the Holy Ghost, sent down for the express purpose, consequent upon the resurrection of Christ. He is the living link of connection between Christ at God's right hand, and our new or risen nature down here. Every individual act that we undertake as spiritual people is guided and controlled by the Holy Ghost, who links us with Christ.”

“But is not the old nature a great hindrance? I suppose. Satan influences the old nature as the Holy Ghost does the new!”

“Precisely; I see you are understanding it all now.”

“Yes, and I am so thankful; but please answer one or two questions more, and then I shall go on my way rejoicing. Tell me; when my new nature is disgusted with the acts of my old nature, and which (though I hear some people call it failure) I must call by its right name, sin; tell me what I must do with this hateful sin?”

“Confess it to God. Hide nothing from Him. The blood of Christ, that made you clean at first, has eternal efficacy to keep you clean in your walk and ways. Not that the first work has to be repeated, that was done once and forever on the cross; but upon the ground of that perfect work you shall be kept clean. ‘He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit.' Confession keeps the soul in its proper dependent condition before God, and justifies God, as to the failure or sin committed, instead of self. What God looks for from you is your judgment of the sin as sin, and that according to His own judgment of what sin is, He having given you a nature to hate it as He hates it.”

“Once more, and I have done. What you said about volume one and volume two has fixed itself on my mind. I am 'afraid I have hardly read more than the first page of volume two.”

“To him that hath shall be given. Ponder the truths here laid before you, and act upon them fearlessly. Never mind what Satan or Satan's instruments may say about presumption, self-sufficiency, and the like; but press on, forgetting that which is behind (volume one), and reaching forth to that which is before (volume two), press toward the mark (Christ Jesus the Lord) for the prize (Christ Jesus the Lord) of the high (or heavenly) calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

“Thank you very much; you have made me so happy.”

“Thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." W. R. H.

It is the fact of God having provided a Saviour for sinners that so richly manifests divine love; and when received into the heart by faith, the ruined and lost become attracted to the bosom of sod. No one ever could have conceived that God had such love for sinful man as. Jesus revealed. To condemn sin in His only begotten Son, that He might bring us to glory, instead of eternally condemning us, as we so justly deserved, was such a deep thought of unutterable love as the cross of Christ alone could fully set forth.

Christ Is All

THE following incidents connected with a week-evening preaching of the gospel, occurred more than twenty years ago, and are recounted in the hope that the Lord will be pleased to make them of use to some poor stranger to that peace which is the privilege of all those that rest alone and securely on the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work.

Amongst the regular hearers at the preaching was a young wood-engraver, poor in the world's things, but rich in faith toward God, and on the evening referred to he came accompanied by his brother, a sailor boy, who had recently returned from the sea, and expected in a day or two to join another ship.

The Lord's servant who was speaking was enabled to be very faithful and earnest in presenting the gospel, and the blessing of him that receives it (Mark 16:16; Acts 16:31), as well as the fearful consequence, to such as “neglect so great salvation" (Heb. 2:3). While his brother was occupied in secret prayer to God that He would bless the word to him, the young sailor listened with deep interest and fixed attention.

After the service, the preacher spoke to two or three of the strangers more particularly and individually about their souls, to the young sailor amongst the rest. The Lord had been working conviction of sin in his conscience during the preaching, and now (if we may so speak of His ways) appeared to deal with the lad as one whose case in a special way admitted of no delay.

While he was engaged in this personal intercourse, the light shone into his soul, and he was able to confess with the mouth the Lord Jesus (Rona. 10:9), believing in Him With the heart as the One who was delivered for his -offenses, and wad raised again for his justification (Rom. 25.) Tears of, joy flowed from his eyes as he rook leave of the preacher and accompanied his brother to his humble, lodging.

I felt drawn to follow these two dear lads, and soon overtaking them, heard from the sailor boy a little about his worldly occupation and its hardships, along with a further expression of his newly found joy in the Lord.

I said to him, “Well! for the voyage on which you are now entering, there is no danger that you will have a good captain and a careless pilot, or a careful pilot but a bad captain.”

“No!” he said, instantly catching the thought, and enlarging on it with unmistakable delight, “For Christ is my Captain and Mate, Bo'sun Bo'sim's Mate, Doctor, Pilot, and all.”

Thus had this sailor lad learned by the teaching of the same Spirit, the truth in which the apostle Paul rejoiced, when he wrote to the Christians in Colosse: "Christ is all" (Col. 3:11.)

A few more words, and we parted. In a day or two he sailed, and we have not net again.

May you, dear reader, learn as the apostle Paul and this sailor boy learned, that “Christ is all.”

Every desire of the heart towards Christ is of the Holy. Spirit, and in due time shall be fully satisfied. The soul that has got a glimpse of Christ' will ever after desire to know 'More of Him. Nothing will ever satisfy it but Himself.,

Christ Is Coming Again

Do not fail to read every word of this paper, as it is an Appeal regarding your safety at that terrible day.

WILL YOU BE READY?

"IT Thou at My right hand until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool" (Psa. 110:1.) Thus spake the Father, as the Son entered heaven with the marks of the world's hatred upon His blessed person. (Rev. 5:6.) Nigh two thousand years have come and gone since then, and time, with lightning wing, is speeding us toward that awful moment when the Son will rise up in resistless might to fulfill the Father's decree. Christ is coming to make His enemies His footstool. Art thou washed in His blood? If so, thou art His friend. If not, thou art Christ's enemy, and when He comes in power and great glory it will be to crush thee, as His enemy, beneath His feet (Matt. 25:31-46; Rev. 19:11-21.)

Oh, the terrors of the Christless at that coming! The coming of the Man whom the world once crucified, whose love it has not ceased to scorn, and whose blood it has even treated with proud indifference. Men who never prayed before will then, in their soul's deep terror, cry to the rocks and to the mountains, "Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: for the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?" (Rev. 6:16, 17.)

Vain prayer! The Lamb's arm of judgment shall then reach all who would not take salvation from His hand of love.

Then will forever cease the gay song, the careless laugh and the mad whirl of gaiety, in which the poor victims of the devil are indulging, and an eternity of weeping and wailing will take their place.

Then will forever be suspended the world's pleasures and business, with the allurements of the one, and the wear, hurry and bustle of the other, which so often shut out God, and leave men no time to think of their soul's deep need.

Then will forever be arrested the world's boasted progress, and man in his mad career of proud indifference to the claims of God brought face to face with Him whom God has constituted Judge of quick and dead. (Acts 10:42.)

Reader, before that terrible Day of Judgment comes, Christ is coming to take to His bosom His blood-purchased Bride, that is, every believer in Him. If Christ were to come this moment, would you rise to meet Him? (1 Thess. 4:15-17.) Are you ready? Are you saved?

Christ is coming, and one of two things will happen to you when He comes: you will either be caught up to be forever with Him, or else left behind for judgment. Think of it, left behind for judgment!

Jesus said, "As it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of Man." (Luke 17:26.)

How was it in the days of Noah? A world of sinners, heedless of God's warnings, and unprepared for His judgment, was in a moment swept away to eternal destruction by the terrible waters of wrath.

So shall it be when Christ comes. Multitudes will be unprepared, because unwashed in His blood, and hence will be damned throughout eternity.

Will you be one of them?

There will be terrible crying and waiting in that day, reader; men and women crying out for mercy, and wailing because no mercy can be can be found. Will your voice thus be heard?

The myriads who have listened to the gospel of God's grace, and turned carelessly away, will realize then that the day of grace is past, and that their doom is forever fixed.

Will you be one of them?

Oh! mad lingerer on the brink of that lake wherein dash and roar the flaming waves of eternal judgment, I warn you that Christ's coming is no mere fancy of a disordered mind. (Rev. 20:15.) Already there are to be heard the muttering-s of the approaching tempest. How Barest thou, then, trifle with the solemn question of thy soul's salvation! I adjure thee by Christ's

dread appearing, by the love that thou hast for thy soul, by the fear of hell's eternal torment, to fly this moment for refuge to that Saviour who still cries, "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." (John 6:37.)

Yes, Christ is coming again, coming as Judge, and yet there reaches us His voice of grace, borne along the centuries from the distant past, still pleading with the sinner in the tones of the tenderest love "Come unto Me,.. and I will give you rest." "He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life." (Matt. 11:28; John 6:47.) But even as we listen the voice changes to a voice of sorrow, and we hear Him sadly say, "And ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life." (John 5:40.)

Reader, are those words of grief prophetic of the doom of thy Christless soul? Or wilt thou this instant hasten through the shadows of impending judgment that even now gather round thy path, to the feet of Him who died that thou mightest live, and who, in patient grace, still lingers to receive thee and forgive thee through the virtue of His blood?

The Conversion of Simon Peter

IT is a brief notice which we have of Simon Peter in John 1, though doubtless there is much wrapped up in it. "Andrew first findeth his own brother, Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, He said, Thou art Simon, the son of Jonas: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation a stone.”

In these statements nothing is said of any deep spiritual work in the soul of Simon. We are told his name in the old creation (Simon), and in the new (Cephas); but there is no allusion whatever to those deep exercises of soul of which we know he was the subject. For these we must ask the reader to turn for a few moments to Luke 5, where we have the record of a marvelous piece of divine workmanship.

“And it came to pass, that as the people pressed upon Him to hear the word of God, He stood by the lake of Gennesaret, and saw two ships standing by the lake; but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. And He entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And He sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.”

Mark especially they moral grace that shines here. "He prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land.”

Though Lord of all creation, Possessor of heaven and earth, Jesus nevertheless, as the lowly, gracious 'Man, courteously owns Simon's proprietorship, and asks as a favor that he would thrust out," a little" froth the shore. This was morally lovely, and we may rest assured it produced its own effect upon the heart of Simon.

"Now when He had left speaking, He said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draft.”

Simon was about to be well paid for the loan of his boat.

“And Simon, answering, said 'unto Him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing, nevertheless, at Thy word, I will let down the net."

There was, power as well as grace, in that word!

“And when they had this done, they enclosed' a great multitude of fishes; and their net brake. And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.”

Neither their nets nor their ships were able to sustain the marvelous fruit of divine power and goodness.

“When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”

Here, then, we have the great practical effect produced in Peter's soul by the combined action of grace and power. He is brought to see himself in the light of the divine presence, where alone self can be truly seen and judged.

Simon had heard the word of Jesus addressed to the multitude on the shore. He had felt the sweet grace and moral beauty of His way toward himself. He had marked the display of divine power in the astonishing draft of fish. All told powerfully upon his heart and conscience, and brought him on his face before the Lord.

Now this is what we may call a genuine work of conviction. Simon is in the place of true self-judgment; a very blessed place indeed; a place from which all must start if they are to be much used in the Lord's work, or if, indeed, they are ever to exhibit much depth or stability in the divine life.

We need never look for any real power or progress unless there is a deep and solid work of the Spirit of God in the conscience. Persons who pass rapidly into what they call peace, are apt to pass as rapidly out of it again. It is a very serious thing indeed to be brought to see ourselves in the light of God's presence, to have our eyes opened to the truth of our past history, our present condition, and our future destiny.

Simon Peter found it so in his day, and so have all those who 'have been brought to a saving knowledge of Christ. Hearken to Isaiah's words, when he saw himself in the powerful light of the divine glory. "Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts." (Isa. 6) So also in the case of the patriarch, Job. "I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear; but now mine eye seeth Thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." (Job 42:5, 6.)

These glowing utterances reveal a deep and genuine work in both the patriarch and the prophet. And surely our apostle occupied the same moral ground when he exclaimed, from the very depths of a broken heart, "Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”

If Simon is to be called Cephas ("rock man"), he must be thoroughly broken up, and brought to the end of himself. If he is to be used to catch men, he must learn, in a divine way, man's true condition. If he is to teach others that "all flesh is as grass," he must learn the application of this great truth to his own heart.

Thus it is in every case. Look at Saul of Tarsus. What mean those three days of blindness, during which he neither did eat nor drink? May we not confidently affirm that they were serious days, perhaps the most serious in the entire history of that remarkable man? They were doubtless days in the which he was brought down in the most profound depths of his moral being, the deepest roots of his history, his nature, his character, his conduct, his religion. He was led to see that his whole life had been a terrible mistake, an awful lie; that his very career as a religious man had been one of mad rebellion against the Christ of God. All this, we may feel assured, passed in solemn and soul-subduing review before the soul of this deeply, because divinely, convicted man. His repentance was no superficial work; it was deep and thorough; it left its impress upon the whole of his after course, character and ministry. He, too, like Simon, was brought to the end of himself, and there he found an object that not only met his deepest need, but also perfectly satisfied all the cravings and aspirations of his renewed being.

But we must return to the lake of Gennesaret, and dwell for a moment on the lovely grace that shines forth in our Lord's dealing with Simon Peter. The work of conviction was deep and real. There could be no mistaking it. The arrow had entered the heart, and gone right into its very center. Peter felt and owned that he was a man full of sin. He felt he had no right to be near such a one as Jesus; and yet we may truly say he would not for worlds have been anywhere else. He was perfectly sincere in saying, “Depart from me," but we cannot but believe he had an inward conviction that the blessed One would do nothing of the kind. And if he had, he was right. Jesus could never depart from a poor broken-hearted sinner; no, never. It was His richest, deepest joy to pour the healing balm of His love and grace into a wounded soul. It was His delight to heal the broken heart. He was anointed for that work, and it was His Meat and His drink to do it, blessed forever be His holy name!

“And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.”

Here was the divine response to the cry of a contrite heart. The wound was deep, but the grace was deeper still. The soothing hand of a Saviour-God applied the precious balm. Simon was not only convicted but converted. He saw himself to be a man full of sin, but he saw the Saviour full of grace; nor was it possible that his sin could be beyond the reach of that grace.

Oh, no! there is grace in the heart of Jesus, as there is virtue in His blood, to meet the need of the very chief of sinners. “Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed Him.”

This was real work. It was a bona fide case, as to which there could be no question; a case of conviction, conversion, and consecration.

Readers have you, "a sinful man," woman, or child, resorted to Jesus for the enjoyment of His precious and pardoning grace?

No heart ever really desired to know the Person of the Lord Jesus to which He did not reveal Himself. And no soul ever really desired to know the atoning work of the Lord Jesus, that will not stand in the full credit of that finished work, before the throne of God, forever.

The Divine Anathema

(1 Cor. 16:22.)

IT is difficult to speak or write without deep 1 feeling when dwelling on that awful word, and with so many on every side who are utterly careless as to its dread reality. "If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha," that is, accursed of the Lord at His coming.

But is this, some may ask, its plain and true meaning? Most assuredly it is. Nothing could be plainer, more definite or absolute. The curse of God is the eternal doom of all who love not the Saviour of mankind, His well-beloved Son.

“If any man," is surely most comprehensive.

Any man," no matter who he is, what he is, where he is how he reasons, what excuses he may offer; the word of God is positive; it has gone forth from His throne; it is unalterable; it is fixed as the foundation of that throne; changeless as His own being:" If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha " (anathematized when the Lord shall come).

Do you, dear reader, think this judgment severe? It may appear so at first sight, or to a thoughtless reader; but a moment's reflection will convince you that it is not only just but necessary in the righteous government of God. He loves His Son, knows what He has done and suffered for mankind, and fairly estimates His claims on their grateful love.

All this He has revealed to us in the Holy Scriptures. We know His mind. And how sweetly He has pressed His love upon us, with every blessing that love can give; and the bearer to us of all these blessings is the Son of His own bosom whom He spared not, “but delivered Him up for us all." (Rom. 8:31.) But, surely, if we are careless about all these things, and despise the bearer of heaven's richest favors, what will the throne of judgment say? Is there no crime in despising both the love and the authority of God; in disregarding His demands for the honor of His Son? Are His rights not to be vindicated, or the claims of His Son maintained?

Rest assured, my fellow-sinner, that so just, so holy, so righteous, will the judgment of God be, that the vast universe will resound with a solemn "Amen," as the curse of God is pronounced on those who have hated in place of loved the Lord Jesus. Heaven will willingly own it; the faithful on earth will re-echo heaven's universal "Amen"; the condemned must own it; and hell too must groan out reluctantly its "Amen," and acknowledge that God is holy and just and good, and that the man who is accursed has only lost what he despised, and is, now in the place which he chose for himself.

But let us examine more closely the claims of Him wham God would have thee love. Is He fairly entitled to the homage of thy heart, and the willing, happy obedience of thy life? Surely, oh.! most surely He is, and He only!

To love the Lord is to believe in Him; and the more we meditate on His love to us, and what He has gone through for us, the more will our faith expand, and rise into the most admiring, adoring, grateful love. But we must know Him to believe in Him, and know Him in the fullest expression of His love to us. Blessed Lord! He invites us to come to Him, to be drawn to Him by the attractions of His cross, and the glory of His Person: "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. This He said, signifying what death he should die." (John 12:32, 33.)

Never was God's love to thee, a sinner, and God's hatred of thy sins, so fully manifested as in the cross of His beloved Son; and never did His love to the lost and helpless soul shine so brightly. Here thou wilt do well to pause for a moment, and dwell on this wondrous sight, this twofold aspect of the cross. When, or how, could God's hatred of sin be so manifested as when He judged it in the Person of His own beloved Son?

The thought is overwhelming But it must forever justify God in judging sin in the person of the impenitent sinner himself. The cross of Christ will stand forever as the declaration of God's righteousness in the judgment of sin, and in pardoning the: chief of sinners who believes in Jesus. But look also at the greatness of God's love to the sinner in the sufferings and death of Jesus. Every drop of that precious blood which was shed at Calvary, proclaims to heaven, earth, and hell, God's love to the lost and ruined sinner.

But sin must be put away according to the claims of God's glory, that His love may flow forth freely, and the full blessing come to us. "Without shedding of blood is no' remission." (Heb. 9:22.) Jesus, in the greatness of His love, bore the punishment in our stead. He was nailed to the accursed tree, that the anathemas of God might never fall on us, and sink our souls in hell forever. In love He endured the cross, and there was nothing that His love did not devotedly endure that God might be glorified and the sinner saved.

But who can speak adequately of the judgment of God against sin; that which man is disposed to make light of; that which thou hast made light of these many years. The waves and billows of divine wrath rolled over His sinless, spotless soul; His brow was wreathed with a crown of thorns, emblem of the curse of sin; He was forsaken of God; He tasted the bitterness of death. God hid His face from Him when bearing our sins; but at length the cup was drained, and the shout of victory was heard, "It is finished.”

All was now done; every claim of heaven, and every need of the sinner, fully met; sin and guilt were put away; the word of God maintained inviolate, and His name glorified. But again we say; again we press, upon thy attention the awful thought; it was the judgment due to sin. And as the Lord Himself says, "If they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?" (Luke 23:31.)

But tell me, O my friend, tell me, before I close, hast thou been in any measure drawn to Jesus by His wondrous love in dying on the cross, in dying for thee; in dying that thou mightest be drawn to Him in faith and love, and delivered from the awful judgment due to thy sins?

Is His love less to-day than it was the day on which He died? Surely not! His love is the same; "the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever." (Heb. 13:8.) He waits to be gracious now; He loves to bless now; He delights to save now; He rejoices over every returning sinner now; He is ready to receive every repenting, returning prodigal now.

Flee, then, my friend, oh! flee to His open, His outstretched arms. No anathemas are there. Ali is love! and such love! The enfolding arms, the fond embrace, the robe, the ring, the fatted calf, the joyous welcome of heaven's myriad hosts; all await thy coming. (Luke 15) Thou knowest the invitation and the promise, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matt. 11:78.) "Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." (John 6:37.) Believe His word, His loving word to worn and weary hearts. Come! Believe His promise true. Come! The love that suffered for sinners ready to perish, bids thee come!

What so fitted to melt thy heart, to win thy confidence, as a Saviour's love! Despise not this love, I entreat thee, or what must the end be? Thou wilt surely find that thou halt not been frightened with vain fears. The anathemas of indignant justice will far exceed in their terrible thunders the most vivid descriptions of either preacher or writer. And thou shalt also find, in that awful clay of retribution, that this sore judgment is not for thy common sins merely, but for the great, the aggravated sin, of rejecting a Saviour's love. "If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha," are the just and unalterable words of heaven.

Once more, my friend, for I tremble to leave thee, lest thou art still preferring the favor of the world to the love of Christ. Pharaoh hardened his heart against the judgment of God; but what must be the guilt of him who hardens his heart against the love of Jesus? Bow, then, O lost one, bow, bow at Jesus' feet. Salvation, full, free, and everlasting is there; peace with God is there, the eternal glories of heaven are there: delay not, then, I beseech thee. Years roll on; the end draws near; divine love has sent forth another and another messenger of peace to thee; but the last will soon be here; the dreadful day of recompense lingers not; the gathering storm of divine wrath can only be averted by the sheltering blood of the slain Lamb. Flee, then, to that refuge; flee; it is thy only covert from the storm, thy only hiding place from the sweeping tempest of coming wrath. But flee now, just now, lest thou shouldst be overtaken suddenly, and swept into the lake of fire. (Rev. 20:15.) Before turning thy thoughts to anything else, turn to the Lord; speak to Him; confess thy sins to Him; have faith in His love, and in His precious blood which cleanseth from all sin. "Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him." (Psa. 2:12.)

May the Lord give to thee, my dear reader, and to every unsaved reader, thus to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

He comes! He comes! the Son of Man,

The second Adam now;

The King of kings, the Lord of lords;

All knees before Him bow.

He comes! His Israel in the land

Of promise to instal;

He comes! He comes! to clear away

The ruins of the Fall.

He comes! He comes! The Bridegroom comes

Oh! sinners, hear the sound!

Accept Him now, if you among

His chosen would be found.

Still mercy's offered; costless, free;

No longer turn away;

He comes! He comes! oh! linger not;

Come "while 'tis called to-day”

Does It Sound to Sense?

HE was seventy-four years of age, and the brother of the one whose testimony to the Name of Jesus was given in a previous issue of "Gospel Light.”

Through poverty, and having no one to care for him, he was brought to the Union Infirmary, where he many times heard the gospel of the love of God.

1. THE MEASURE OF GOD'S LOVE in the gift. "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son"; a world that was at enmity with Him, and hated God and His Son without a cause.

On one Lord's Day after he had heard this gospel, I went to him, and asked him what he thought of this wonderful love, which brought from his lips the above-quoted words.

He said, "Now, does it sound to sense that anyone would give His only begotten Son for His enemies?”

This dear man was a thorough radical in politics, and a reasoner as to things of God. He would talk about politics for hours, but he still sat and heard the gospel of God's love.

2. THE MANIFESTATION OF GOD'S LOVE.

“God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." (1 John 4:8-10.)

It was put before the hearers that God's Son took upon Himself the penalty of sin, and the sentence on Adam's race, that is, death. That He took the sinner's place on the cross; the sinner's sins, and the sinner's judgment. That He then by the shedding of His own life-blood in atonement for sins, fulfilled the Scriptures as to the claims of God, and gave God infinite satisfaction in respect of the sinner's guilt: "For it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul." “I have given it to you upon the altar,” said the Lord, “to make an atonement for your souls." “And without shedding of blood is no remission," no forgiveness. (Lev. 17:11; Heb. 9:22.)

3. Behold, what MANNER OF LOVE the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons (children) of God. (1 John 3:1.) Yes, we are children of God, because when He sent and gave His Son we believed on His Name.

(John 1:12.) And, being children, He loves us as a Father, and purposes that, having a title as children, we shall dwell in the Father's house and be with and like His Son forever.

4. The GREAT LOVE of God. "God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ," and hath raised us up tog-ether, and made us sit together in heavenly places, in Christ Jesus "; accepted in His beloved, us who were by nature the children or wrath even as others. (Eph. 2:3-7.)

5. PERFECT love. "Herein is love made perfect with us, that we may have boldness in the Day of Judgment." “Perfect love casteth out fear." “He that feareth is not made perfect in love." (1 John 4:17-19.)

We pointed out that God does not see His children now as in Adam, but He sees us in His Son, and therefore says, "As He is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4:9, 10, 17.)

The subject of our narrative heard these news with delight, and getting much better in health, he was put in the convalescent ward, where we ministered these precious things every Lord's Day afternoon.

He was a great talker and delighted to get in argument on politics, or any matter.

The following Lord's day, when we arrived in the ward, we saw him sitting in a corner of the room with his face in the corner, and his back to the others in the room.

After greeting the men there, I said, "What is the matter with Oscroft?”

One answered, "We do not know, Mr. F.; but he has been like that for days and hours.

He won't speak to us, or answer us when we speak to him.”

I went to this dear one, and putting my hand on his shoulder, said, "Well, Mr. Oscroft, what are you sitting like that for?”

He waved his hand towards the men in the room, and said, "Because I don't want to talk to them, nor want them to interfere with my thoughts.”

Why, "I said," what are your thoughts?" "Oh" he said, "I am thinking constantly of God so loving His enemies and the world which hated Him. It is too wonderful.”

Several in that company were children of God, and we sang together with thankful hearts and loosed tongues:—

Have you heard the story of the love of God,

Have you seen it displayed at the Cross,

When from Jesus' side flowed the precious blood

Which eternally saves from loss?

Do you know that Jesus is in glory now,

And has taken His seat on the throne,

And that every knee at His blest Name must bow,

And His greatness and worthiness own?

Would you like His glory to be your bright home,

And your heart to be filled with His love?

Then confess your guilt, and to the Saviour come,

And His mercy you'll instantly prove.

Can you say, ' He is mine,

He's the love gift of God unto me '?

Have you heard Him saying,

Thou art ever mine,

For I bought thee with blood on the Tree '?

Dear reader, this gift of God was for the world. What are you going to do with it?

Those who receive Him are the children of God, and as children have a right and title to go into their Father's house, to the place which His Son has gone to prepare. (John 14:2, 3.)

Those who reject Him, and are duped by the devil, will go to the place prepared for the devil and his angels. (Matt. 25:41.)

Accept Him now, and sing,

"I can sing, He is mine,

He's the love gift of God unto me.'”

C. H. F.

Facts Versus Fancies

HOW monstrous are the reasonings or rather the ravings of infidelity! Infidel teachers begin by throwing overboard the word of God, that peerless and perfect revelation; and having thus deprived us of our divine guide, they with singular audacity present themselves before us, and undertake to point out to us a more excellent way; and when we inquire what that way is, we are met by a thousand and one fine-spun theories, no two of which agree in anything but in shutting out God and His word.

True, they talk plausibly about a God; but it is a God of their own imagination; one who will connive at sin; who will allow them to indulge in their lusts, and passions, and pleasures, and then take them to a heaven of, which they really know nothing.

They talk of mercy, and kindness, and goodness; but they reject the only channel through which these can flow, namely, the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. They speak not of righteousness, holiness, truth and "judgment to come.”

They would fain have us believe that God put Himself to needless cost in delivering up His Son.

They would ignore that marvelous transaction

which stands alone in the entire history of the ways of God; namely, the atoning death of His Son. In one word, the grand object of the devil,

in all the skeptical, rationalistic, and infidel theories that have ever been propounded in this world, is to completely shut out the word of God, the Christ of God, and God Himself.

'We solemnly call upon all our readers, especially our young friends, to ponder this warning. It is our deep and abiding Conviction that the harboring of a single infidel suggestion is the first step on that inclined plane which leads straight down to the dark and terrible abyss of atheism, down to "the blackness of darkness forever." (Jude 13.) “The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with the angels of His power, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God', and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power." (2 Thess. 1:7-9.)

From Darkness to Light

AMAN who used to take the place of being a Christian fell into sin, and even ceased to believe the Bible. After a time he became ill, and felt that he was going to die. He thought of his sins, and was greatly alarmed.

His distress of mind was such that it was fearful to see him. He so trembled that the bed on which he lay shook under him.

They tried to get a preacher of the gospel to go and see him; but there was not one in the neighborhood where he lived. It happened that a young man who was a true Christian was on a visit to a family living near. He was asked to go and see the sick man. He went, and entering the room, he sat down by the bedside. But when he saw the great agony the sick man was in, he knew not what to say.

He asked him what caused him so much distress.

“My sins! my sins!" was his despairing cry.

The young man was afraid to speak any words of his own; so he repeated a number of verses of Scripture which came into his mind, and which he thought would suit the sick man's case.

One of these verses was as follows: “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." (1 Tim. 1:15.)

The man caught at this text in a moment. It seemed to take right hold of his mind. “Repeat that text," he said to the young man.

It was repeated.

“Is that true?" he asked.

“It is," was the answer;” it is God's own truth; the word of Him who cannot lie." (Titus 1:2.)

“Then I am safe," said the sick man. The look of horror passed away from his face, and the smile of peace took its place.

The change was brought about in a moment.

It was wonderful. It was like the voice of Jesus when He rebuked the stormy sea: “And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm." (Mark 4:39.) Or like a sudden burst of sunshine coming into a dark room and filling it with brightness. Or like God saying, "Let there be light” when "darkness was upon the face of the deep.”

“And there was light." (Gen. 1:2, 3.) Thus the sinner who believes the word of God is brought “out of darkness into His marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9.)

Does the reader know what it is to be in the light of God?

Gospel Light. God Is Light. God Is Love.

“In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.”

1 John 1:3. 1 John 4:8, 16. 1 John 4:9.

Gospel Light. God Is Light. God Is Love.

"In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.”