I was returning from Rochdale the other day, when I found one of my fellow-travelers was from York. He had been deeply impressed with the statements of Mr. Spurgeon, as to the unsound teaching of the present ministers of the Baptist Union, and he was afraid it was true. He said he had sat under the ministry of Mr. Parsons, of York. He asked me, “Do you not think there is a great difference between the preaching of that day and this?” I replied, “Can you find one who answers to Mr. Parsons now, amongst all the popular preachers amongst the Congregationalists of this day—to his earnest preaching of Christ, and His atoning death as the only foundation of the salvation of God?” After serious thought he said, “I do not know of one.”
I was telling him of my first preaching in the city of York, more than forty years ago, and how the Lord gave me an immense congregation in a few minutes. I was a stranger in the city, and had a few hours to wait for a train. After preaching, a man asked me a question, and as this man (Mr. L.) was well known to my fellow-traveler, he became greatly interested in what took place. Mr. L. said, “Do you mean to say that a man may know in this world that he is saved—that his sins are forgiven, and that he has eternal life?”
This question aroused intense interest in the large company listening at York. (Just at this point in our conversation, three or four very interesting men entered our carriage.) I then went on to explain how I had answered Mr. L., at York. God, in pure love to us lost sinners, gave His Son to be offered the sacrifice for sins. He having glorified God by the death of the cross, God has raised Him from the dead. And God now says, “Be it known unto you.... that through this man is preached unto you forgiveness of sins.” God means what He says; so that, if we believe what He says, then surely we do know that our sins are forgiven.
Then more, He also says, “And by him, [or in him] all that believe [or every one that believes] is justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.” This is a plain absolute fact. Then further, as to eternal life. Jesus says, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath eternal life, and shall not come into judgment; but is passed from death unto life.” (Words of Jesus, John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24))
These and other scriptures enabled me to show that the believer knows with divine certainty that he is pardoned, justified, has eternal life, will never come into judgment for his sins, is saved, has passed from death unto life; is a new creature in Christ Jesus, justified from all things.
God only knows how many souls found blessing that day in York.
All my fellow-travelers had now become greatly interested; indeed, I really think the Spirit of God was working in their souls. At this point I said, before we go further, I should like to ask a question, and for each to give an answer to the best of his ability, and no one to be influenced by the others’ answer; but each to answer deliberately for himself. All agreed to this. The question was this—what is eternal life?
No. 1, my friend of York replied, “I think that is one of those things we cannot tell, we cannot say what it is.”
No. 2, a highly intellectual, well-educated young man, said after much reflection, “I should say it is the highest faculties of man fully developed.”
No. 3, a middle-aged sober Christian man I judged, said, “I think it is the enjoyment of God.”
No. 4, a man ignorant of the grace of God, scarcely able to apprehend the question, said, “I cannot make your doctrine out; you seem to think God is as willing to pardon the greatest criminals, as better men; and that they have as good a chance to be saved as good men. How long do you make it out it would take to save a right bad man?”
I replied to No. 4, “How long do you think it took to save the dying thief?”
No. 5 declined. He could not say what eternal life was. And he was the only one who seemed not so much interested.
Last of all it was now my turn, in going round the carriage, I said, “First we must notice the difference between existing forever, and eternal life. Satan, fallen angels, demons, every unconverted man will exist forever. But they have not eternal life. Eternal life is the life of the Eternal One.” In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God..... In him WAS life...., he was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.” This is that eternal, self-subsisting Son, whom God hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds, or universe. (John 1; Heb. 1)
Here is the foundation of all truth. The Eternal Son is the eternal life, is the truth.
To No. 1. This eternal life is now fully revealed, and declared in the Son.
To No. 2. The eternal life then is not the evolution of the higher faculties of man. Satan would set before us evolution, so as by it to become God. Not so the word of God. “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son, hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God, hath not life. These 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.” (1 John 5:11-1311And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13These 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 5:11‑13).)
This young man was an Agnostic, had been leavened with infidelity by ministers and teachers! I said to him, “Young man, you are young and I am old, or getting old, old at least in the word of God. It has been my study and delight for forty-five years, and, indeed, longer than that, and I can assure you every day it becomes more dear and blest to my soul. Let me beg of you to take that word as it truly is, the word of God—God speaking to your soul.” He turned pale with emotion, and said, “Oh that I could believe as I did when a child!” God grant that the word may be blest to that young man.
To No. 3, I said, “Your answer came nearer. But eternal life is not the enjoyment of God, but that which enables us to know, and joy in God.” “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:33And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. (John 17:3).)
To No. 4, I said, “It is not the greatness of man’s sins but the infinite value of the atoning death of the Son of God (oh think of the infinite Creator becoming man to die for the finite creature, man). Yes, it is God’s estimate of that devoted love unto death that is the ground of forgiveness of sins unto all alike.”
All now left the carriage with hearty thanks for the conversation, except No. 5. There could what is Eternal life?
not have been a more striking contrast than there was between No. 2 The Agnostic, and No. 5.
I said then to No. 5, “I suppose you are not interested in these matters, or how a man may know that he has eternal life?” “Indeed, sir, I am greatly interested; but I felt I could not enter into the conversation.” I trust I found an open ear and open heart, to hear and believe the salvation of God.
And now, dear reader, will you go down into the dark cellar with the Agnostic, shut out every ray of light, and then say you will not believe anything you do not see? You will see neither sun, nor moon, nor stars—will your disbelieving in their existence alter the fact of their existence? No, if you shut yourself up in darkness, and unbelief, refusing every ray of inspired light in the word of God, will that alter the awful fact that, “He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him?” (John 3:3636He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36).) Oh, ye infidel ministers and professors in colleges, will your Agnostic blindness avail you in the lake of fire forever and ever? Dark and cruel is your unbelief, in leading the young to doubt, and everlasting woe. “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him.” (John 4:99Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. (John 4:9).) G.S.