1. (a) Which of the evangelists records the saying of Christ to Peter, "Upon this rock I will build My church"? (b) What is the rock? (Give the answer from the gospel, and also from a verse in 1 Cor. 3.)—2. Does Peter anywhere in his Epistles allude to the Rock foundation, and the church being built upon it? — 3. (a) How do we know that, though His servants may preach His word, Christ Himself is the Builder of His church? (b) With what does He build? —4. Had the Lord began to build His church when He spoke these words about it to Peter? (b) When did He begin, and where have we an account of the beginning?— 6. Christ said unto Peter (Matt. 16:1919And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (Matthew 16:19)), "I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Can you find an account of the fulfillment of this promise with respect (a) to the Jews; (b) to the Gentiles?—6. What saying of the Lord to Peter concerning His death does he allude to in his second epistle? —7. (a) Can you mention any occasion upon which Peter, who had once been afraid of the consequences of confessing that he belonged to Christ, showed great courage and boldness in testifying for Him? (b) What caused the great difference?-8. Peter was one of those who looked after the Lord as" He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight." (Acts 1:99And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. (Acts 1:9).) Does he say anything in his writings as to where the Lord is now?
THE following striking incident was related to the writer by a relative of the Mr. R., of whom the story speaks. The event happened in Australia, some years ago.
A notorious criminal, of a base, hardened nature, had, after a long course of lawlessness, been captured, tried, and sentenced to death. Learning that the wretched man paid no heed to the ministrations of those who sought to bring the truths of God's word before his soul, Mr. R. determined to seek permission to spend the last night with him in his cell, earnestly desiring to be made instrumental, in God's hands, in leading him to Christ ere his life was cut off. Having obtained the necessary order from the authorities, he was admitted and locked up in the, same cell with the convict.
For hours Mr. R. remained seated, vainly trying to catch the eye of his unhappy companion, and to engage him in conversation. The prisoner, although he was evidently in a most agitated and fearful state of mind, yet maintained a sullen, defiant reserve, pacing the stones of his" cell backwards and forwards like a restless lion, clanking his chains, and uttering loud groans. Hour after hour did he perform this self-imposed task, never halting, save occasionally to heave a heavy sigh, apparently ignoring the presence of a second person.
At last, whilst Mr. R. was looking entreatingly at him, he suddenly stopped, shook his chains, and fell flat upon the floor with a crash, and an awful groan which seemed to proceed from his inmost soul. Then rising and turning to Mr. R., he said, with fearful emphasis, and a look of deep earnestness, "Mr. R., don't you think I am afraid to die!”
Seizing the opportunity, Mr. R. quickly asked, " What, not afraid to die? Then why these hours of restless pacing to and fro, why those repeated groans, that look of terror?"
"No," replied the convict, "I'm not afraid to die!" then snapping his fingers, he added, “I’m no more afraid of death than that, but oh, Mr. R., the awful thought tormenting me is that to-morrow morning, at eight o'clock, I've got to meet God! got to meet God!!" Eternity alone will reveal the result of Mr. R.'s visit.
Dear reader, pause here. You have also to meet God; yes, to stand face to face with Him. How will you meet those eyes? Do you think that your case is not so desperate as the Australian convict's, that because you have not outraged the law and order of your country, because you are not condemned to die by the hands of the executioner your life is more secure, and therefore that there is no need for you to be under such deep and immediate concern about the future? Scripture says, “there is no difference." Remember one sin makes a sinner, and such is the holiness of God that when sin was imputed to His own Son, the Lord Jesus, on Calvary, He turned away His face, being of "purer eyes than to behold iniquity" even there. Think not that God asks everything from or of you in order to fit you for His presence.
“All the fitness He requireth
Is to feel your need of Him."
Then "prepare to meet thy God”! How? By coming at once, as a lost, ruined sinner, and accepting the pardon, peace, and eternal life offered to all who receive Christ for themselves, believing on Him. This is the only ground upon which God sees a sinner ready. Resting on the finished work of Christ, you can truthfully say I am ready to meet Him.
Let me entreat you, my friend, at once to let this most important matter between your soul and God be settled. Do you require to be convinced that the subject does not admit of even one day's delay? Then listen while I tell you solemn facts. “Gentlemen, to-morrow morning, at ten o'clock, precisely, if you please."
These were Sergeant C.'s words to the solicitors and officers of the Court of justice over which he presided, when, after a heavy day's work, he rose to leave. Being a man of precision, and desiring to finish off certain cases, if possible, the next day, he gave those around him a gentle reminder to be in good time.
But, long before ten o'clock the next morning Sergeant C. had been summoned into eternity. Death suddenly overtook him, shortly after his arrival at home, the same evening. The sad event was altogether unexpected, and we know, from the sergeant’s own words, “Gentlemen, to-morrow morning, at ten o'clock," that his speedy death was the thing farthest from his own thoughts. Friend, this page has fallen into your hand, not by chance. Think! “to-morrow morning, at ten o'clock," where may you be ? Are you ready?
The late Lord F., with his Lady and servants, was burnt in the train travelling from London to Holy head, August 20th, 1868. His motto was, “Je suis prêt" (I am ready). It was true; his lordship was ready. Why? Because he had come as a sinner to Christ, and rested for salvation alone in Him. Is it so with you? Had Lord F. “hoped to be ready," how utterly hopeless would have been his case—overtaken in a moment, and, before help could be afforded, burnt to a cinder! What an unspeakable mercy that he could truthfully adopt as his motto, “I am ready." You may think it presumption for a person to be sure that he is ready to meet God. It is no presumption to believe what Christ has said: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life." And the Apostle John could write: “We know we have passed from death unto life." Do not rest, short of the like assurance. If you have received Christ as your own Saviour, you have life, eternal life, and are ready ; if not, you are dead in trespasses and sins, in the fearful position of having "the wrath of God abiding on you," which may descend before "ten o'clock to-morrow morning," then, how and where will you spend eternity ? C. G. D.