THE Presbyterian Churches in Scotland are much exercised as to a suggestion to revise their “Church Hymnary,” and considerable controversy has been caused by the proposed elimination of certain well-known hymns. Interest has centered chiefly on the old favorites, reminiscent of stirring revival times, such as: ―
“There is a fountain filled with blood,
Drawn from Emmanuel’s veins,
And sinners plunged beneath that flood
Lose all their guilty stains.”
This is objected to by the revisers, not because of any scriptural defect, but because it is, considered highly objectionable that in this enlightened, cultured age, there should be any allusion to that which is considered a ―the Blood of Jesus.
Another hymn objected to has for its ref rain: ―
“Then, O my Lord, prepare
My soul for that great day;
O wash me in Thy precious blood,
And take my sins away.”
A well-known Scottish minister has said that it is proposed to give us a bloodless hymnary, and has hinted that that means a bloodless Gospel.
The question of the Hymnary does not concern us so far as this article is concerned. We desire, however, to ask a few questions, because the issue involved is by no means confined to Presbyterianism.
(1) Was it ever true that
“The blood of Jesus Christ, His [God’s’ Son, cleanseth as from all sin” (1 John 1:7)?
It was.
How do we know?
(a) Because the Word of God says so.
(b) Because it was personally experienced by true believers after that precious blood had been shed.
The apostle Peter wrote: ― “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold... but with THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST” (1 Peter 1:18, 19).
The apostle John wrote: ― “Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in HIS OWN BLOOD” (Rev. 1:5).
The apostle Paul wrote: ― “In whom [Christ] we have redemption THROUGH HIS BLOOD, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Eph. 1:77)
(c)Because we learn that the song of the mighty, numberless company in heaven shall he “Thou art worthy for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God BY THY BLOOD, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation” (Rev. 5:9).
(2) Is it true today, in this present year of grace, that “THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST, His [God’s] Son, cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7)?
It is.
How do we know?
Because there is a great cloud of witnesses in this land, in heathen lands, in all parts of the world, in every grade of society, ranging from those who were ultra-religious to those who were on the devil’s scrap-heap, and they all testify that when they believed this glorious message, then, and not till then; they had the divine assurance that their sins were forgiven, their consciences were purged, their souls were saved. Their hearts were made profoundly happy, because they were made right with God, and they had what the former beloved Editor of “The Gospel Messenger” called: ― “A title without a flaw, and a prospect without a cloud.” A title to the glory of God, and the prospect of soon entering it.
Then, and not till then, had they joy and peace, and they are not going to cease praising God for it, singing of it, and speaking of it, not for all the hymn book revisers on earth. Their forefathers died for the maintenance of this great fact, and they desire, by the grace of God, to live for the promulgation of it.
(3) We would ask a question of the revisers, and those who agree with them, and that is: What do you propose to substitute for God’s remedy?
If He has declared that: ―
“Without shedding of blood is no remission” (Heb. 9:22), and you object to that, what have you to offer in its place? After all, what does it matter what any man proposes? God is God. It is against Him that we have sinned. He might have banished us from His presence forever on that account. Instead of that, He has devised means whereby He might judge the sin, yet save the sinner. He alone could decide how that should be done. Obviously the plan must be in perfect consistency with His righteous character. How much all this meant for Him!
If, on the one hand, His love was to be satisfied, and if on the other hand, His righteousness was to be satisfied, a tremendous price must be paid.
Listen! “For 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).
Listen! “The blood of Jesus Christ, His [God’s] Son, cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7), spite of what the, hymn book revisers say. And yet men, who to-day are paid for preaching this, have cut it out of their sermons, and now wish to prevent their congregations singing about it.
(4) We have one more question to ask these gentlemen. What has your bloodless preaching produced? Has it reached the drunkard and the profligate, whether in the city slum or the luxurious mansion? Has it raised the fallen? Has it satisfied the craving of the heart for that indefinable something? Has it given to you, ye preachers, peace with God and a sure hope for eternity?
Reader, you may not be a church member, a chapel attender, a meeting goer, or you may be. Your concerns may be social, industrial, political, or otherwise, but―
You have God to meet.
You have a soul to be saved or lost.
You have an eternity to spend somewhere.
We call upon you to pause and consider. We also beg of you not to be deceived by the sophistries of men, whoever they may be, but take your direction from the Word of God.
The sin question you have got to face sooner or later. Till that is settled you can have no peace, and you must be a stranger to divine joy. If it is not settled in this life, yours will be a lost eternity.
Do you ask― “What shall I do?” Do what David did. Turn to God and say, “Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned.” Pray as David prayed, “Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow” (Psa. 51:4, 7), and the answer will come: “Your sins are forgiven you for His Name’s sake” (1 John 2:12), because “The blood of Jesus Christ, His [God’s] Son, cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).
Believe it now and sing: ―
“I do believe, I will believe,
That Jesus died for me,
That on the cross He shed His blood
From sin to set me free.”
W. BRAMWELL DICK.