SUNDAY READING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6147, 30 July 1881, Page 3

SUNDAY READING.

i^.-\ TRUE GODLINESS. . I '■"' ''"AS ADDRESS BTiREYJI.Wi-'BAY M.; H--!.,:.-, ' [Delivered in St. Paul'^iCathedral on..Friday," ~...,-, J ;;■ ;......■ May; 13," 188U], r . ~ : ...,. . , "Godliness is profitable onto,all things, hiring promise.'of tie life that now ia, and of that which Iβ-to .comi."—l Timothy It. 8. .■■•_:.li:.j-:' ::■, :.-..„■ How far shall Igain-or lose so-far~a3 my spiritual" nature is concerned, and so far as ! that' grand destiny is to be considered to--1 wards which this fife leads up, by becoming a real Christian? Such is the question that • lies before us to-day, and here it is obvious l at onc&that the argument is all on one side. .There may be some (difference of opinion as' to whether we shall gain or lose with regard to the pleasures which'-belorig to"the body by surrendering ourselves to the call of Christ; there may be some argument as to- the mind, whether intellectually we are gainers !or losers by becoming possessed" of true religion; there may. even be some who question how-far our moral nature is a gainer or. •loser; there are certainly some who are dis,posed to argue that temporally and. with, ■regard to commercial , matters man is a rather -than a gainer.; but purely there can be no argument about the question whether > we are gainers or'losers spiritually? If there be such a thing-as-spiritual life and. spiritual experience, if there"be such a thing as an unseen world, if it. be true that the destiny of man is not' limited by time, there surely can be no ■ question whatever-as to whether or' not; we'' gain - spiritually' and finally by becoming followers of Christ ? These considerations, ■ however;; obvious they may appear, require to be brought ■forcibly before oar minds, because, unless men are strongly impressed with the thought of how real and actual their gain must be. if they 1 surrender themselves to Christ, I apprehend that they ]will;be disposed to'.think but lightly of a mere spiritual acquisition, and to regard it;as.jf:it were but a email thing. ■ But is 'it a small thing? Is it .smaU thing to have a blessing which is ours, not "onlyin the future, but even now? Is it a sniall thing in the midst r of a changeful . world to find unchanging jleace and joy ? Is it a small .thing. to find ourselves ransomed froni the depths ol 'onr -moral degradation, and fitted to play the' part, shall I say, of heroes upon the battlefield of life? Is it a little thing to be able to amile through our tears, to,be bright amidst the shadows of life, • and happy aniidst 'trials 1 —" sorrowful yet always rejoicing ?" .Well may we say with the ancient Roman, when speaking of a less. pure and less noble faith, "Nay, but if I err, my error brings me pleasure." Let me ask, who are the happiest men you meet ? Is it not a fact proved by all experience that it is just those men who are following Christ most closely, those whose noble ambition it is to count all things-but loss that they may serve -Him,who are really happiest? And our argument is obvious, and cannot be escaped from —that a.religion which produces such con? sequences as we may by our own observation become acquainted with, which meets onr wants, answers our aspirations, and elevates our character, cheering and brightening the whole course of our life, can be no less than Divine.

This religion—taking it for granted" that it is a reality and not an imposture—and we have no time now to enter into any discussion of the Christian evidences—contemplates gain, actual and real ijain to him who surrenders himself to its influence. Let us consider what this must be. He who thus yields to the call of God must needs gain in the first place by the establishment of now relationships of real, personal intercource and fellowship with God. And let'me say, if your religion do not bring you thus into , close spiritual contact with God, it does very little for you. A religion which does not sweep away all barriers and obstacles between my soul and God, which does not deliver me from tho overwhelming sense of demerit and unfitness to approach God, which makes me shrink from His presence, is not the religion of this sacred Volume. — -

The grand object and purpose of this religion, first revealed eighteen hundred years ago by Jesus Christ, is to bring us, who once were, far off, near to God, to introduce us into the place of Holy fellowship with the Divine. Nor ia this a mere flight of rhetoric, or a mere sentimental abstraction, it is a' reality, a reality testified to by tens of thousands' of persons the wide world over who in their personal experience are conversant with it, and who attribute to it their deepest satisfaction and truest joy in life. It is no sentimental fancy this, it is tho real practical experience of tens of thousands of people who every day they live have to exolaim, or'at all events feel, "This is life eternal, to know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent."

I am not here to expatiate upon the benefits of mere formal religion or to commend conventional performances. I will not waste words in attempting, to show that this is profitable, or that it is worth while for its sake to make any considerable sacrifice. It is of such a religion as produces the effects described in this Book that I speak, and because of these effects I couclude that it is profitable for all.

Look at these effects once again. Is it a small thing to be able to say of oneself and of our condition before God, " Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ;" and with this inward assurance of peace with Him, to face all the uncertainties of this changeful world sustained by the thought, "If God be for us, who can be against us ?" And, in the midst of all the ups and downs of daily experience, is it a slight matter to have a faithful Friend, a strong arm to lean upon that never fails? Is it a little thing to have One to whom we can come with all our disappointments and. trials,, and cast them upon Him, knowing that of His sympathy we are sure? Happy they who, amidst all the tumultuous experiences of earth, know the secret source of calm repose in the consciousness of their great Father's lovo. Happy they who, passing over the troubled billows of this changeful life, still discern the form of Him who walks, as of old in Galilee, over the troubled sea, in the calm majesty of His power, and the tender sympathy of His compassion speaking the word of power that brings a great calm. Blessed are they to whom the Master's voice still speaks, " Why are ye affrighted ?" Blessed most of all are they by whom He is received, not no>v as of ; old into tho ship, but into their heart of ! hearts. ■

Surely this is no small acquisition. Have you got it ? Is He Himself your own ? Can you say, "He is mine, and I am His"? Have you accepted Him as your life and your salvation, and have you thus been introduced into fellowship with Him ? If so, you are a gainer indeed, you are already wealthy Deprived of this you are already a bankrupt, drifting to that great bankruptcy court, that prison for fraudulent bankrupts, to which we give the terrible name of hell, for hell is the loss of God by souls that cannot do without Him.

' This brings us to consider- the further inquiry, What shall we lose, or what shall we fail to gain, by allowing ourselves to make the* false and fatal choice of turning our backs on the call of God ? The inquiry, put

long ago by our blessed Lord, needs to be put with equal force to every fresh generation of men, • and by every individual to his own heart, " What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul ?" The inquiry is a familiar one, and has lost much of its original force, perhape by the frequency of its repetition, but the question is a reasonable one, I may say it is inexorable in its logic, and must needs carry our- common sense along with it. It demands an answer, but who shall give it? Other losses a man may suffer and yet recover from them, but here 13 a loss of necessity irrevocable. Let a man lose his money, he may yet make good his losses and reinstate himself in prosperity. I have been told that he who_ 13 reputed to bp the ■wealthiest man living at this moment in the world, was a- bankrupt'twenty years' ago. Thus we . see the. .possibility of regaining position, .wealthier- anything.else..in this ■world"after serious losses. "Let a 'man lose his friends, it is a sorrowful experience, but ethera may take their place; let him lose his character, the loss is still more grave, but his broken reputation may be recovered, though it ie no 'easy matter, and men may ■ respect him again; but let him lose his own adul, and what is there left to call his own ? He has lost that which is the centre, to which whatever may belong to him,' must attach itself that in which his property is vested—himself, and when he loses that he makes shipwreck of all. .;',; . ■ ißut when we turn from the side of loss to the side of gain, how shall I speak of it? For "eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man,

■prospect,: , it is beyond ;the reach of human thought. ~ ....,... . r J ""iwiU riot attempt to depict -what cannot bcdeipicted, or to describe what hath not .entered the heart or mind:'o£ man, rather •let us dwell in .wondering, reverent joy on the'"thoughts ■'suggested by the fami'iar phrase,-"everlasting life'.' , I see it etretching on through the vast cycles of eternity— lifein all its fulness of energy, life in all its intensity- of consciona enjoyment, life that ever rises towards jts source, and exalts us into participation with'the Divine. '; Oh, strange and startling contrast to the momentary pleasurei, the evanescent gratifications, the painted toys and fashions of thie fleeting world ! It seems too much to hope for, yet could we be satisfied with nothing less. Less than endless life means the shadow of death cast over all, less than infinite gain must needs be an infinite loss. Heart may fail and head may swim as we contemplate the wondrous prospect; yet neither heart nor head could be satisfied with less.

He who'gave "us our being knows what that being requires, and has proved His ■knowledge of us by giving us this, and no less than this.

-■• Here, theD, is the proper prize of humanity, the truu destiny, the crowning glory of man,, and this is the gain of those who listen to' the call of Christ. And to set against .this what have we but the empty joys, the passing frivolities, of the world, which in their, turn have to give place to disappointment, anguish; and despair? Surely, as we contemplate the contrast, not one of us will -turn our back upon immortality, and pronounce ourselves unworthy of everlasting life? The prize stands before us in all its glory arid blessedness, and he that is not longing that he may have it is wronging himself, is denying himself the great end of his being. When you turn your backs upon God; you"entail "miserable disappointment, pain,' rain, weariness of heart upon yourself arid you doom yourself to become a loser of all things. : . .

The process of loss commences here, it is to,be completed yonder. For you are "already._losing .the commencement of_that, heayenly life which begins on earth, but never ends in glory. Yes, Heaven begins on earth, and they who do not taste it here can the lull fruition, ot it hereafter. Talk not to me in general and senseless :terms of "going to Heaven," as if it were a progress from one locality to another. Heaven begins on earth, in the experience of the regenerate heart. And let me ask you, has it begun with you ? v ' Do I look forward to everlasting life in the fullest sense of the term, to boundless age 3 of unclouded joy, to pleasures that can never cloy,-and glories that cannot fade? iNo less if I am now enjoying the privileges ;of .a child of God am I able to derive com,fort from the thought that "he that be--lieveth on the Son of God hath everlasting life." Thus it is no mere floating vision of -the feature, not a mere possibility of enjoyment yet to be realised, but a blessed, present reality—a reality which we have not earned by merit, which we have not gained by prayer, nor bought by tears, but which we have received by free gift from the hand of the Great Life-giyer. " The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God"—stupendous in its character, infinite in its fulness—"is everlasting life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

My dear friends, is that gift yours? If so, then you have begun to be wealthy. But, if that gift bo not yours, then you are already, though you may know it not, poor, and miserable, and wretched, and blind, and naked. "Behold," saith He whose very name is the Counsellor, " I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich." Oh! accept the counsel, my brethren, I pray you, and act upon it. Then you shall prove in your personal experience that "godliness"—not a profession of religion—not a name to live while yon are dead—but "godliness"—that is, the religion which consists in God present in the renovated heart—this "godliness is profitable unto all things, having the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come."

PERFECT PEACE. ,"I have made a great discovery, said a warm-hearted, eloquent, and well-known minister in the office the other day, his face flushed, and his eyes filled with tears. His voice trembled as he repeated it. "Ihave made a great discovery, at this age of my life and of my Christian experience. I have discovered the secret of perfect peace 1" If he had fallen heir to a fortune he could not have manifested greater earnestness or given a livelier exhibition of delight. He had always had, as he thought, a clear idea of faith, and had exercised it. But led by severe, though gracious, providences, he had been enabled to place himself utterly upon the Divine hand and promise. He had not only accepted Christ as his personal Saviour, but had received Him as an abiding guest in his heart; and the result had been perfect peace. In the whirl of life he bad been enabled to say, " None of these things move me." This is just what the Master promises to them that really come to Him and reach Him, "I will give you rest." It is just what wearied, worried, burden-bearing men most need. "My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest." What a discovery 1 Perfect peace! It was worth all the discipline of sorrow and the struggle of prayer to have it finally break, as a heavenly revelation, upon the hungering and thirsting heart. And this peace is the spiritual birthright of every disciple.—Zion's Herald. .

DROPPING A SEED. Tho land was still; tho skies were grey with weeping; Into the soft brown earth the seed she cast ; "Oh! soon," sho cried, "will come tho time of The golden time whon clouds and tears are past!" There camo a whisper through tho autumn haze, " Yea, thou shalt find it after many days." Hour after hour sho marks tho fitful gleaming Of sunlight stealing through the cloudy lift; Hour after hour sho lingers, idly dreaming, To see tho rain fall, and tho dead leaves drift; " Oh ! for aomo small green sign of life," she prays; " Have I not watched and waited 'many days r" At early morning, chilled and sad, she hearkens To the stormy winds that through tho poplars blow; Far over hill and plain tho heaven darkens,

Her field is covered with a shroud of snow: "Ah! Lord," she sighs, "aro these thy loving ways}" Ho answers—" Spako I not of many days ?" Tho snowdrop blooms ; the pnrple violet glistens On banks of mos3 that take the sparkling showers; Half-cheored, half-doubting, yet she strays and listens To finches singing to the shy young flowers; A little longer still His love delays The promised blessing—" after many days." " Oh ! happy world !" she cries, ■" tho sun is shining ! Above tho soil I sec them springing green; I could not trust His word without repining, I could not wait in peace for things unseen! Forgive me, Lord; my soul is f nil of praiso; My doubting heart prolonged Thy »many days. , "

The AtrcKi-AND TVeekxy News this week Is specially interesting. Full summaiy of Mail New?, Parliamentary Reports and Returns, tho Latest Telegrams from all parts of the world, Town and Country News, besides the usual features, will be found in its columns. Amongst the illustrations is an excellent portrait—with biographical sketch—of E. C. Barstow, £sq., our esteemed Resident Magistrate, and one of Auckland's oldest settlers.

New comers wishing to turnish quickly cap do bo in one day by purchasing from the large •tock at the City Hall Arcade. The proprietors study to keep furnishing goods to suit all classes, and seß at cheap rates. An immense assortment of bed-room furniture, which, with few exceptions (such as iron bedsteads, toilet glasses, etc.), are themselves at their factories in Lome-street. The greatest variety of carpets in the north Island can be shown by Garlick and CranwcU. Tapestry, from 2s lid per yard; Brussels, from 4s lid; jute, from gid. Novelties, Jnit arrived: tho "Royal Axminstor" carpet, with handsome border; the Worceete. eLiir carpet, made of horsohair, very durable; handsora9 coverings for drawing-room suites, and latest designs in Brussels. 'Buyers get 6 pex cent, discount for cash at timo of purchaso on all furnishing goods The drapery and clothing departments are conduotei on tho Co-operative Caih System, and (joods arc marked at a imall advance on cost, and it is only on the very large turn over of capital that the business t» made remunerative. Support the cash system, and purchase , rom Garlick and CranweU, City Hall Arcade, and tou will not have to pay for other people's bad debt*

Bronzi. —It is to be deplored tha Japanese art i> in its docadence Westom civilisation has invaded the land of the Mikado and Tycoon, and the country which produced at onco the most classic and most groteaqucfonns of art, has become bo imbued with the " Brummagem" spirit that connoisseurs no longer delight in its productions. Thore are sUll, however some rare articles to bo procured, and lean sell for £3la set of mantel onutmtnts in pure bronze the ? rwb Tie Cough? and Colds will prevail everygS cJn.umSSonr with other throat and lung carry off mkny These diseases should not be neglected. Doctors' bills are expensive, and we shoulu advise our pooplo to use Bosckee's German SyituP It never has failed. Ono bottlo at 3a 6d will keen your whole family well during tho winter. Two do3es will relievo any case. Sold in all towns In New Zealand, and wholesale by New Zealand Drag Company, Auckland. Wellington,! IDanedin, [and Chrutoliurcu: