THE rule of subtraction, or taking away, is an important one for the young arithmetician to master. It is no less important for those who would learn in God’s school. In Isaiah 6:6, 7,6Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: 7And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. (Isaiah 6:6‑7) we find this principle beautifully set forth in the following words: “Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar; and he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.”
The altar was the place of sacrifice, where the life of a guiltless victim was taken instead of the life of a guilty sinner. The live coal taken from the altar and applied to Isaiah’s lips signifies the application of the results of the sacrifice to the believing sinner. When the precious blood of Christ is applied to our souls it is as if God said to us, “Lo, this hath touched thy lips, and thine iniquity is taken away.”
Here comes a swindler. What a tale of falseness and craft the assistants in his business could tell, if only they dared! But that man, with all his baseness and deceit, kneels at the feet of Jesus a repentant sinner, and a holy calm falls upon his cleansed and renewed soul as he listens to the words, “Thine iniquity is taken away.” Oh, blessed subtraction sum!
Here is a man of immoral life. Lust and uncleanness have made his heart like a cage of foul and filthy birds. But he, too, seeks cleansing at the fountain that is open for sin, and over him, even him, the sweet words are breathed, “Thine iniquity is taken away.”
And who comes here? A man whose name is Hypocrite. His cheeks would flush crimson with indignation, and he would knit his brow in anger if you were to call him a sinner. He is as full of religiousness outwardly as an egg is full of meat. But in the secret of his soul he has never had to do with Christ. He is still a stranger to redeeming love. One day, however, an arrow of truth, sped by the hand of the Holy Ghost pierces his conscience. The scales fall from his eyes. Stripped of his religious pride, he views himself as he really is, a putrid, loathsome sinner. “O Lord,” he cries, “is there cleansing for such as me? Canst Thou, wilt Thou receive me as I am? Then I will trust Thee as only a sinner can. I will and do believe that Thy blood can make me whole.” And as the hush of the Saviour’s forgiving love falls upon his spirit, he hears the echo of the same sweet message from heaven, “Thine iniquity is taken away.”
Who is there that would not learn a rule of subtraction so blessed as this? Is there anything in the world that could make you happier than to have those words spoken to you? There is no reason why they should not be, and that before you lay your head upon your pillow tonight. The word of truth plainly declares that “whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins;” so that if you, foul with sin, and burdened with guilt, will but trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, and stake your soul upon the merits of His blood, you shall receive the remission of your sins, and of you it shall be said, “Thine iniquity is taken away.”
There are many who will be ready to exclaim that what I have said does not apply to their case at all. They do not consider themselves so very bad. They would acknowledge themselves to be sinners, but they feel that with their efforts to be good, their resolutions, their prayers, and their religious inclinations, they have not quite the same need for undergoing the process of subtraction as those whose sins are more glaring and flagrant.
Let me assure all such, however, that their need, instead of being less, is greater. There is more of the subtraction work to be done in their case than in the ease of those who have no fancied goodness of their own to boast in. For, before they obtain forgiveness not only must their sins be taken away, but their self-righteousness must go, and they must part with their false confidence. Oh, it is a vast subtraction sum that is necessary in the case of such.
Quite recently, a grand reception was given to the ladies of the Chinese court, by Mrs. Conger, wife of the American Minister at Pekin. It was the first event of its kind in the history of China, and special preparations were made to ensure its success. Thirteen princesses of the Imperial family were invited, and at the appointed hour they arrived. Much to the dismay of their good hostess, however, they came with a retinue of no less than four hundred and sixty-one attendants, all of whom had to be hospitably provided for. Just imagine four hundred and sixty-one unexpected guests arriving at your house!
Now I have met with plenty of people who seek to attend God’s feast of blessing accompanied by a numerous retinue of works, resolutions, vows, prayers, ordinances, and so forth. But it will not do. You are welcome to God’s heavenly feast, but you must dismiss your attendants. The rule of subtraction must be enforced. All confidence in such things as I have named must be taken away if you are to enjoy the favor of God. Both your sins and your self-righteousness must go.
The story goes that when Prince Albert Victor lay dying he took the hand of his royal mother (now Queen Alexandra) in his own, and looking up into her face, repeated the lines: ―
“Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling.”
Ah! it looks as if Prince Albert Victor had learned the secret of God’s subtraction sum. Prince though he were, he had nothing to cling to but Christ. Empty-handed and helpless he realized that Christ’s cross was the only ground upon which blessing could be his. All who from their inmost souls can say the words that the dying prince uttered lose their sins and gain a Saviour. The assuring words are theirs to rest on, “Thine iniquity is taken away.” Reader, do you know anything of Heaven’s blessed rule of subtraction? H. P. B.