REV- GEORGE C. GRUBB.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 119, 20 May 1892, Page 3

REV- GEORGE C. GRUBB.

This Rev. G. C. Grubb gave tho second of his evangelical misaion services ab the City Hall last evening to a very large audience. Tho address was listened to with bhe greatest interest and attention, and was delivered in a very powerful and graphic manner. The reverend gentleman illustrated and confirmed bho salienb points of his subjecb by several good anecdotes. Some of the phases of the subjects touched upon wero told in such a droll way as to keep the faculties of those present fully alive and active, bub bhe address on the wholo was earnest and impresaivo, and the eloquence of bhe speaker quhjkly subdued the mirth of tho audience into the dcopesb attention.

'" The services of the evening were commenced wibh praise, gospel reading, and prayer, and bhe Rev. Mr Grubb gave out tho toxb for tho evening, taken from the 19bh of Sb. Luke, vorses 5 and 6, "And when Jobus camo to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchrcus, make haste and come down; for bo-day I musb abide ab thy house. And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully." He said if they thoughb bhey could receive Chriab othorwiee than joyfully bhey were very much mistaken. There is no such tbftig as receiving Christ sorrowfully. Whon bhey received Chrisb they received lull forgiveness and all the blessings that accrue from it, aqd he wanbed to toll those piesent to-nif»ht how to receive Chrisb joyfully, and to follow very closely in tho steps which led up to the salvation of the publican Zaccbceus. Many of bhera would be surprised when he told them what he thought was the first step in the publican's salvation. He was an instance of a man saved by curiosity. They mighb blank thia a curious fact, but he believed thab scarcely anyone was saved withoub any curiosiby firsb of all. Bub curiosity could do another thing ; it could damn the boul. Here he gave an example of the curiosity of King Herod when he saw the child Jesus. lie said he was glad to see Jesus, but in reaiiby he only wanbed to see some greab miracle performed, for Chriab to be a kind of bheabrical show for the pleasure of himself and his soldiers. Thab was carnal curiosity, and Chrisb was not bhere to gratify carnal curiosiby. The Lord Jesus remains eternally silent bo bhe spirit of carnal curiosity. Thab kind of curiosiby would kill all capaciby for learning the truth. He said if they wanbed bo geb Jesus bo apeak to their souls bhab night, and bhey could nob he saved withoub bhab, they musb put away bhe spirib of carnal curiosiby. He did nob know what they came there thab'nighb for. He was assured bhey came out of spiritual nob carnal curiosiby ; they had come really desirous of hearing something about Jesus, and somebhing worbh gebbing—salvation. He then observed that Chriab calls by name, and made a powerful appeal bo bhose presenb bo respond and give bhemselves wholly bo Chrißb if they were called by name thab nighb. He also alluded to the wrath of Chrisb as spoken of by Sb. Paul, and urged bhem all bo flee from ib. He thoughb thab men had a great deal bo come down from before bhey could be saved. He bold of several of the trees which men and women perch bhemselves high up in. The tree of " respectful religion ;" bhose say "I have been baptised, I pay my debts regularly, I have been confirmed, I am an aubhenbicated member of church, I am a regular communicanb," and bhey could nob see why bhey should be spoken to aboub conversion. There was the bree of the " Fear of man." He would tell them a secret which applied to Auckland. The greatest pack of cowards in the whole world are young men from the age of 18 to _5. There were many who would be splendid Christians were ib nob for the fear of their fellowmen. He urged all those present to give themselves bo Chrisb, and bhey would receive grace to resist the fear of anyone. He also spoke on the tree of besetting sins. He said there waa nob a single person in bhe City Hall who had a perfect assurance of perfect salvation. He concluded with a strong appeal to those present to accept Jesus Chrisb in a humble and lowly spirit, to cast all bheir burdens on Him, and allow. Him to fighb for bhem and thoy would find thab "eternal salvation would be their reward. After bhe address, anobher hymn was eung, and bhe meeting concluded wibh Mr Grubb pronouncing bhe Benediction.