alone is spontaneous in action. "Who hath been His counsellor, or who hath taught Him, either in Creation, Providence, or Redemption? This fact (1) takes away all ground for human pride. The realization of it will ever be the death of self-trust. The highest archangel has to say, "By the grace of God I am what I am." This fact (2) should inspire us with adoring gratitude. "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy hath He saved us;" or, "Not unto us, O Lord, but to Thy name be glory;" or,— 66 II. The true redemption of man SERVES TO REVEAL THE GLORY OF GOD'S CHARACTER TO THE WORLD. The heathen know that I am Jehovah, when I sanctify Myself in you before your eyes." The moral redemption of man, which involves the marvellous history and work of Christ, reveals more of the glory of God than all the material universe in its vastness and variety. And Paul says, "Now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the Church (that is, by redeemed humanity) the manifold wisdom of God." 66 III. The true redemption of man INVOLVES SEPARATION FROM ALL UNHOLY ASSOCIATIONS. “I will take you from among the heathen," etc. Every truly redeemed man breaks away from all unholy relationships, not only by his new desires and instincts, but in obedience to Divine command, "Come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord: touch not the unclean thing." (1) "Come out" as a protest against iniquity. (2) "Come out" as an example to others. (3) "Come out" to qualify yourself for usefulness. Every man must morally be like Christ "separate from sinners," to be able to save them. IV. The true redemption of man COMPRISES A THOROUGH RENOVATION OF HUMAN LIFE. Observe, First: The nature of this renovation. This is here set forth under two figures. (1) Cleansing. Sin is everywhere represented as a defilement, a pollution; and its removal therefore is spoken of as a cleansing. Water is the cleansing element. Water is a symbol of the purifying influences of grace and truth. (2) Exchange of hearts. Heart and spirit are words that stand for the same thing namely the governing disposition of the soul; that out of which are the issues of life. That disposition is in its sinful state (a) hard-a stone; that which the redeemed has is susceptible-flesh. That disposition in its sinful state is (b) earthly. God makes it divine-"put My Spirit in you." What a change! and how necessary! "Marvel not that I 66 say unto you, Ye must be born again." Second: The consequences of this renovation. What are the consequences? (1) A new mode of life. "Walk in My statutes." With a change of the governing disposition comes, of course, a change in daily conduct. Turn the rudder, and you turn the ship. (2) A new relationship. "Ye shall be to Me a people, and I will be to you a God." The real meaning of this promise is, You shall be mine-my loyal subjects, my willing servants, my loving children. And I will be yours. You shall have Me for your King, Father, Everlasting Portion. Another consequence is (3) New circumstances. "Ye shall dwell in the land," etc.; will call to the corn, and increase it;" "will multiply the fruit of the tree." Man's moral character greatly influences his external surroundings. "Godliness is profitable to all things.” He that seeks first the kingdom of God, will have all necessary things added to him. This is fulfilled in the temperance, industry, and economy of truly redeemed lives. Another consequence is (4) A new view of past life. "Ye shall remember your ways that are evil, and your doings that are not good; and abhor yourselves on account of your iniquities, and on account of your abominations." Whilst men are in their unredeemed state, their life may not look evil to them: they may be often fascinated by "the deceitfulness of sin." They rejoiced, perhaps exulted in it. But with this moral change, with this new heart and spirit, it rises up as a huge and a hideous enormity, before which they quail and tremble; and ever after are humble in themselves, lowly before God, charitable towards men. Bristol. URIJAH R. THOMAS. The Preacher's Finger-Post. HOURS WITH THE LONELY. (No. 3.) Subject: MOSES ON THE MOUNTAIN: LONELINESS IN DEATH. "Moses went up into the mountain of Nebo: and Moses died there, according to the word of the Lord and no man knoweth of his sepulchre."-DEUT. xxxiv. 1, 5, 6. HERE we have Moses alone. He had often been alone before, and alone with God; so that he was prepared for this loneliness in facing eternity. He had, for instance, been alone with God when he heard God in the burning bush; alone with God when he had received the law from God on Sinai; alone with God when He called him to a place by Him, and hid him in the cleft of the rock. Now on the mountain he is alone. And surely a mountain is at once a natural scene and fit emblem of solitude. He is alone on Nebo to die. We notice I. HIS ABSOLUTE SOLITUDE IN DEATH. He left the multitudes whom he had long been leading, and on whom he had just pronounced the farewell blessing, down in the plains of Moab, and now he ascends the highest ridge of Nebo, and, far above all sounds, and probably all sights, of the human life below, he dies. He dies in the very midst of robustness and vigour, and so consciously feels the ties of life all breaking; and, with the sense of separation from all that was seen and familiar, steps consciously into the unseen and the unknown. Many have, on the sea, by some sudden accident, or in the midst of adventurous travel, died alone; but none in more utter aloneness than this hero of the ancient world, whose very burial-place is unknown. II. His absolute solitude in death is but AN ILLUSTRA TION OF THE REAL SOLITARINESS IN EVERY DEATH. In death, men are, and ever must be, alone. This is so because (1) Of the senses that are lost. The dim eye, the dull ear, the benumbed touch, the inarticulate tongue, distance the dying from all around, however faithful and loving they, in their agonizing watchfulness, may be. And every death is marked by solitariness (2) Because of the faculties gained. It is evident that often the dying have a keenness of intuition of the unseen and eternal, that virtually raises them to a lofty Pisgah whence are scenes of which the watchers around have no knowledge. There is an ele vation in the death of many a Christly one that as much separates them from the living, as does the dimming and deadening of the senses by which they were wont to commune with them. There are two lessons from this subject. First: Learn in life by occasional solitude to be independent of men. Then, when, in dying, human help is gone, there will be no sudden terrible surprise. Second: Seek in life companionship with God in solitude. Then, having often been alone with God before, aloneness with Him in death will be no terrifying experience, but the repetition and consummation of some of the best experiences of life. So was it with Stephen as he cried, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Bristol. URIJAH R. THOMAS. Subject: A CLOUDLESS SAINT SET. "For I know whom I have be lieved, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day."-2 TIM. i. 12. THIS second Epistle of Paul to Timothy was written from Rome when the Apostle was expecting to be brought before Nero the second time. Paul was now an aged man. He had fought a good fight, he had finished his course, he had kept the faith, and he was going to his reward and rest. Paul was very anxious that Timothy should be confirmed in the faith, and that he should go on fighting the good fight as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Paul knew from his own experience that there would be much to discourage him in his warfare, much calculated to make him ashamed and stumble, so he exhorts him to be brave and of good cheer and to give heed to the testimony of a valiant and veteran soldier of the Cross, who could speak well of the service and Captain, and who was also sure of victory and glory. What wonderful words these are, coming from the lips of a prisoner of the Lord! Paul was persecuted and imprisoned; yet he felt he was not forsaken. His trials did not shake his faith in Christ. Light and liberty and love were in that Roman prison. It seemed a hard and sorrowful wind-up of a life of labour and self-denial, to become a prisoner and to die a martyr. But the setting of this saint is cloudless. What calm and peace smile from these words "I know," etc.! We have here I. PAUL'S UNWAVERING CONFIDENCE IN CHRIST. "I know whom I have believed." How different the Apostle's case from that of the Baptist John -no inquiry here, "Art Thou he who should come, or do we look for another ?" Paul, as U a Jew, was satisfied that Jesus was the true Messiah. His great learning had enabled him to examine the evidences of Christ's Messiahship, and he had not the shadow of a doubt upon the subject. The knowledge was, therefore, 1, Theoretical. His had not been a blind assent and consent to things which had been presented to him; he could give a reason for his hope. His was an intelligent as well as an intelligible belief. His confidence was unwavering because it rested on a historical basis, and because the Apostle knew he had not followed cunningly devised fables. His knowledge was also, 2, Experimental. He had seen the Lord. He had heard His voice, he had felt His power, he had enjoyed His presence. Paul had the inward witness-Christ in his heart. He did not say, Iknow what I have believed, but "whom I have believed"-his confidence rested in a present personal Saviour. Let us seek for such knowledge that we may have like confidence. II. THE OUTCOME OF PAUL'S UNWAVERING CONFIDENCE IN CHRIST. "And am persuaded that He is able to keep," etc. The Apostle had committed all his affairs into the hands of his Master. He seemed in the hands of men, but he felt he was in the arms of Jesus. Nero might be able to keep Paul's body, but he could not keep him. Paul committed his reputation, his soul, his eternal happiness to to Christ, and he knew they were safe in His hands. There was poverty in the prison, but there were riches in reserve. In heaven's never failing treasury the Apostle had awaiting him "a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." The outcome of Paul's confidence was hope-a sure, blessed, glorious, hope. He was fully persuaded, his mind completely made up. He looked forward to "that day." Let us confide in Christ as Paul did, then we may expect a calm and cloudless end like his, whenever or however that end may come. Bristol. Subject: F. W. BROWN. SKETCHES FROM GENESIS. JOSEPH A SLAVE. "And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither," etc.-GENESIS xxxix. 1-6. The following truths can be learnt from the history of Joseph whilst a slave in the service of Potiphar, captain of the guard. |