"For God se loved the world as to gie His Son, the only begotten ane, that like ane wha
lippen till him sudna dee, but has life for aye.”
An exact English equivalent for the word "lip-pen" is not easy to find. It expresses the condition of one who is entirely unable to support or protect himself, but trusts implicitly to the safe-keeping of some other person or object.
For instance, a man walking across a rushing stream on a wooden plank "lippens" to the plank. If it breaks, he can do nothing to save himself.
The word "lippen" implies entire dependence when there is risk and helplessness.
Years ago a Scottish Christian doctor was visiting in a country district. The scene was a low dirty hovel, over whose damp and uneven floor it was difficult to walk without stumbling. The small grimy window admitted scarcely enough light to see a single thing clearly.
The object of the doctor's visit was a poor old woman, bedridden and almost blind. She lay in a miserable bed opposite the fireplace. Seating himself beside her, and after a few general inquiries, the doctor entered into a solemn conversation with her about her soul.
But the heart which he strove to enlighten had been closed so long, and was so dark that it seemed impossible that a single ray of light could ever penetrate it.
Still on the part of the woman there was evidently an anxiety to lay hold on what the doctor was telling her. Encouraged by this he persevered, "plying her," to use his own expression, "with the efforts of the gospel," and urging her to trust in Christ. At length, with a sigh of despair, the old woman said:
“Ah! sir," I would fain do as you bid me, but I dinna ken how. How can I trust in Christ?"
“Oh, woman," was his expressive answer in the dialect of the district, "just lippen to Him."
“Eh! sir," was her reply, "and is that a'?"
“Yes, yes," was his gratified repsonse, "just lippen to Jesus, and lean on Him, and you will never perish.”
“Oh, is it just to lippen to Him? Why surely I will lippen to Jesus. He will never let me doon, will He?" They bowed together, and she settled it. And that, dear reader, is all that God asks you do to be saved. Jesus said,