IN the early spring of last year we met with a very striking exemplification of the truth of Simeon's words, that by the introduction of Christ “the thoughts of many hearts should be revealed." We were on our way in the train to lecture at the suburban town of E—. Scarcely had we taken our seat when a lady offered us a leaflet, as also to the five or six others who were in the same compartment. The leaflet was very simple, containing the very words of Scripture, such as “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)). While we were reading it, a gentleman, in the corner by the door, turning to the lady who had given it, said,—
“I hate such bigotry!" and, in language which it would not be for the profit of our readers to reproduce, commenced to denounce the giver of the leaflet. Seeing that it was now a question of Christ and His truth, and remembering His words, “He that is not with me is against me," we interposed and said,—
“It is not bigotry to distribute the word of God.”
This remark called forth a torrent of abuse, revealing only too plainly, by the language employed, that the speaker was an avowed atheist. Seeing that it was useless to argue with one in such a state of mind, we contented ourselves with warning him of his danger, and of the awful position he was taking in refusing the word of God; adding, "When God speaks, it is for man to hear.”
Thereupon the train drew up at our first stopping place, and the atheist leaped out of the carriage. As soon as he was gone, another gentleman spoke, and said,—
“I am glad you defended the Bible; I have no sympathy with such remarks as were made. Still,” he added, "I have my difficulties.”
“Indeed; and what are they?
“Well, I cannot understand the justice of dooming any to everlasting destruction.”
“Who has done this?”
“Why, "he said," it says somewhere that God has chosen some to salvation and doomed others to destruction.”
“Where have you read this?”
“Somewhere in the Romans.”
“No," we replied," you have not read it there, nor indeed anywhere in the Scriptures; and this is only a sample of the way in which the Bible is often treated.”
We then pointed out what was exactly said, and explained, that while the salvation of any was of pure and sovereign grace, God had in His mercy offered grace to all; and that the last message to sinners in the word of God was, " Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely " (Rev. 22:1717And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. (Revelation 22:17)). All therefore would be without excuse, for the precious blood of Christ would avail for every one that believed in Him. And together with this, we pressed upon him a present and eternal salvation through faith in Christ.
Almost before we had ended, a third gentleman, a young man, spoke, and said, “I am a Christian, but I cannot go with all you have said.”
“To what do you object?”
“Well," he replied," I believe in Christ; but I think it is presumption to say that you know that you are saved. I hope I shall be saved, but I cannot know this now.”
“But," we answered, "is not the word of God the ground of our faith and the warranty of our assurance? Nov this is what we read, 'These things have I written unto you ... that ye may know that ye have eternal life (1 John 5:1313These 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, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (1 John 5:13)). It is plain, therefore, that God desires us to know that we are saved, and it cannot be presumption to rest with implicit confidence in His own word.”
As soon as these words had escaped our lips, the lady who had given us the leaflets interposed, and said, to our great surprise, —
“I cannot agree with you in that; I feel that I need the cleansing of the blood every day of my life.”
In answer to this, we expounded the truth of Heb. 10., where we have a threefold testimony to the everlasting putting away of the sins of believers by the sacrifice of Christ. “By one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified." We also explained the gracious provision that God has made, through the washing of water by the word— in connection with the advocacy of Christ—for the sins of believers (1 John 2:11My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: (1 John 2:1)); showing, at the same time, that when the Lord Jesus died upon the cross He bore all our sins,— past, present, and future, —and that therefore all His people could rejoice in the knowledge that they were gone forever; and that the proof of this, was found in the place which the Lord Jesus now occupied at the right hand of God. For if He had our sins upon Him on the cross, it is clear that they must be forever gone if He is now in the glory of God.
Thereon the last occupant of the carriage remarked,—
“I am so thankful you have spoken in this way, “and together with this, the train arrived at our destination.
So far as we know no effect followed our conversation; but the remarkable thing was, as pointed out at the outset, that every heart in that carriage was brought into the light by the simple action of the word of God. Surely this was no mean foreshadowing of that time when all must be manifested before the judgment-seat of Christ. Let us then ask our readers, —with all solemnity, and yet with all tenderness, — Are you prepared for this? Meet Him you must, sooner or later. Now, you may meet Him as your Saviour; for Him hath God set forth a propitiation, through faith in His blood. Coming, then, on the ground of the efficacy of His death and sacrifice, you will be saved eternally. Refusing, or neglecting, thus to come, there remains the great white throne before which you must appear, —but, alas only for eternal judgment. With what force and power, then, are these words proclaimed to-day, "Now is the accepted time, and now is the day of salvation." E. D.
FAITH requires no external evidence of the truth of Scripture, and unbelief will not be convinced by it. "It is written" is a sure foundation, human evidence mere shifting sand. W. T. P. W.