SUNDAY READING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6948, 23 February 1884, Page 4 (Supplement)

SUNDAY READING.

A DIALOGUE BETWEEN , D. L. MOODT AXD EKV. MARCUS KAINS7OHD, AT DOWS.:.LODOI!|HiLL, < VANDSWORTH, ENISLASD. , At thive of the after-meetings in Down Ledgo Hall, Mr. Moody varied the nsual order of proceediuga by asking Rev. Marcus Rainsford. to answer certain questions' on vital points of doctrine aud experience. In this issue we give a full report of one of these instructive and interesting dialogues : Mr. Moody : What is it to be a child of God? ' What is the first step ? Mr. Rainsford : Well, sir, I am a child of God when I become united ,to the Son of. God. The Son of God prayed (John xvii. 20) that all who believed upon Him should be one with Him, as He was ono with the Father. Believing on Jesns I receive Him, and become united to Him (John i 12, 13) ; I becom-, as it£ were, a meml er of His body. lam an heir of God, a joint, neir with Christ (1 John v. 1, Galatans iii. 26). Mr. M. : What id the best definition of faith ■>. Mr. K. : Trust in the Son of God, as the' Saviour He has given to us. Simpletrust, not only in creed, but in a person. I trust my soul to Him. I trust tho keeping of my soul to Him. God has promised thar, whosoever trusts Him, mercy shall compass him on every side. Mr. M. : Does not the Scripture say that the dovils believe? Mr. R. : Tbey believe the truth, don't they ? They believe that Jesus was manifested to destroy them, and they "tremble." I wish wo believed as truly and a3 fully that God sent His Son into tho world to s.ive us. ' Mr. M. : What is it to trust? Mr. R. : I take it to mean four tiling—(l) Believing on Christ, that is, taking Him at His word ; (2) hopicg in Christ, that i», expecting help fnun Him, according to Mis Woid ; (3) relying on Cbnst, tu-\t is, resting on Him for tho times, aud ways, aud circumstances in which He may be pleased to fulfil His piomiHus according to Ilia Word; (4) waiting on Christ, that is, continuing to do so, notwithstanding d-lay, ciirkness, bairenness, perplexing expeliences, and the sentence of >io.itli in myself (2 Cor. i. 9). He may keep wu wait'ng a while (L have kept Him a lonj time waiting), but Ho will not keep me waiting always. B?heving in Him, hoping in Him. relying upon Him, and waiting for Him—l understand to be trusting in Him. Mr. M. : Can all these friends here believe the promises? Mr. R. : The promises aro true, whether we believo them or not. Wo do not make them true by believing them. God could not charge me with being an unbeliever, or condemn me for unbt,liel, if the promises were not true for me. I cculd in that c.»s>e turn round and say, "Great God, why do you expsct me to believe a promise tliat w.ib not true for me ?" And yet the Scriptures set forth unbelief as the greatest ain I can coutinue to commit. Mr. M. : How are wo "cleansed by the ulood?" Mr. R. : "The blood is tho life." The sentence upon sinners for their sin was, "Th 6 soul that sinnefch it shall, die." That wo might not die, the Son of God died. The blood is poured out lifo of tho Son of God, given as the price, the atonement, the substitute for the forfeited life of tho believer in Jesus Christ. Any poor sinner who receives Christ as God's gift is cleansed from all ain by His blood. Mr. M. : Was the blood shed for us all? Mr. R. : There is a fountain Qllcil with blood, Drawn fr Ui Inilrtinuel's veins ; .And sinners plunged nencith that flood, Lose .ill their guilty stains. The dying thii'f rejoiced to sco Ihiit fountain in hi? Oay, And there niuy wo though vile a3 ho, Wash all our sins aw,i;. Mr. M. : Some may say that is only a hymn, and that is not Scripture. Did the Lord <ver say it? Mr. R. : He said, "I have ; -n you tho blood upon the altar to make uioncin<'nt for your soul." That was said of the picture of the blood of Christ; and at the Last Supper our Lord said His blood was " the blood of the New Testament which is shed for you and for many, for the remission of sins" (Matt. xxvi. 2S, Luke xxii. 20, and John vi. 37 ; see also Rom. iii. -■3, and v. 9 ; Heb. ix. 12, and xiii. 12; and Rev. i. 5). Mr. M. : What is the gift of God ? Mr. R. : There are throe gr;at gifts that God has given to us—" His blessed Son" (John iii. 16); (2) The Holy Ghost, "the promise of the Father," that we might understand the unspeakable gifs bestowed on us when Ho j;ave His Son ; (3) Ho has given us His Holy Word." The Holy Ghost has inspired the writers of it that we may read and hear and know the love that God has to us, "in that while wo were yet sinners Christ died for us." We could not have the Son for our Saviour unless God gave Him. We could not understand the gift of God unless the Holy Ghost had come to quicken us and teach us, and this He does through the Word. Mr. M. : How much is there in Christ for us who believe ? Mr. R. : In Him dwelt "all the fulness oE the Godhead bodily"— fulneo3 of life, of righteousness, of sanctification, of redemption, title to Heaven, and rmetness for it; all that God wants from iis and all that we want from God, Ho gave in the person of Christ. Mr. M. : How long does it take God to justify a sinner? Mr. U. : How long? The moment wo receive Him we receive authority j to enroll ourselves among the children of God (John i. 12). and are then and there , justified from all things (Acts xiii. 39). The ' sentence of complete justification docs not take long to pronounce. Some persons profess to see a difficulty in the variety of ways in which a sinner is said to be justified hefore God : (1) Justilied by God; (2) justified by Christ; (3) justified by His blood; (4) justified by grace ; (5) justified by faith ; (6) justified by works. Justification has reference to a court of justice. Suppose a sinner standiug at the bar of God, the bar of conscience, and the bar of his fellowmen, charged with a thousand crimes. (1) There is the Judge ; that is, God, who alone can condemn or justify. "It is God who justifieth" (Koin. viii. 33). That is justification by God. (2) There is the Advocate, who appears at court for the sinner; the Counsellor, the Intercessor : that is Christ. "Justified by Christ" (Gal. ii, 17, and 1 John ii. 1). (3) There is next to be cousidered tho ground and reason on account of which the Advocate pleads before the Judge. That is the merit of His own precious blood, I That is justification by His blood (Rom. v. I 9). (4) Next we must remember the law, 1 which the Judge is dispensing. The law of works ? Nay, but the law of prnce and faith. That is justification by His grace (Rom. iii. 24). (o\ And now the Judge Himself pronounces tho result. "Be it known unto you through this Man is procUimed uuto you the forgiveness of sins, and by Him all that believe aro justified fiorn all things. Now for the first time the sinner at tho bar knowe he is justified by faith (Rom. v. 1). (6) But now the justified man leaves the criminal's dock. He does not return to his prison or to his chains. He walks from the court-house a justified man, and all men, friends or foes, are made aware that lie is free. That is "justification by works" (James ii. 24). Mr. M. : A man says, "I have not found peace;" how would you deal with him ? Mr. R. : He is really looking for the wrong tiling. Ido not look for peace ; 1 look for Christ, and I get peace with Him. Some put peace in the place of Christ. Others put their repentance or prayers in place ofChrist. Anything put in the ulaco of Christ, Gr between the sinner and Christ, is in the wrong place. When I get Christ, I possess in Him everything that belongs to Him, as my Saviour. - Mr. M. : Somo think they cannot be Christians until they are sanctified. Mr. R. : Christ is my sanctifieation, as much as my justification. I cannot be sanctified but by His blooa (Heb. xiii. 12 ; gee also Heb. ■ix. 13). There is a wonderful passage in Exodus xxviii. 3G-3S. Tho high priest there represented in picture the Lord Jesus Christ. There was to bo placed on tho forefront of the mitre oi the high priest, when he stood before God, a platu of pure gold, and graven upon it as with a signet, the words, " Holiness to tho Lord." My faith sees it on the forefront of the mitre on tho brow of my High Priest in Heaven. "And it shall bu upon Aaron's forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts ; and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before the .Lord." That wu for Israel of old! That on the brow of Jesus Christ is for me. Yes, "this is for me, that 1 might be accepted before the Lord." As I bulieve this truth it purifies my heart, it operates on my affections and my desiree, and I sock to walk with Him because He is my Sanetifieation before God, just as I trust in Him as my Justification, because Hβ shed Uib blood for me.

Mr. M. : What ia it to believe on His Dame?,. Mr. K. : His name is His revealed self. We are informed what it ia in .Exodus xxxiv.o. Moses was in. the mount with God, and He had showed him wonderful things of kindness and .of love. , And Moses said,':.'!O God, show 1 oie Thy glory." And ; He.said, " I will mske. all My goodness pass before.thee.. So He put Moses >in the cleft of the rock, and proclaimed th-Vname of the Lord : " The .Lord God merciful and trraciousj \>long-su£fering, . abundant ia gooanesa and. truth., keeping, mercy for thousands, ■ forgiving;,iniquity, transgression; and sin"— " there it is root and.branch"—andthat will by no Tneans clear the guilty:" That is His nanie, and His glory He will not give uoto :another ; aud to .believe 1 in. the naine of the Lord is just to shelter under His<promiseß. Mr. M. : What is to receive, the: Kingdom of God like a little child ?;„,Mr.;;R. .Well, I do. nor. believe in a little child-being an inno,cent;thing. I tliink :it.m'eans that wo are to receive it in all our -need: and helplessness. A little child is tho most dependent thing on earth ; all it 3 are in its parent's, love, all ;it can do is to. cry, and its necessities explain, the meaning to .the mother's heart: It we 'interpret it 3 language, it means;.. ''Mother, wash me,. I cannot wash myself. Mother, clothe me, I ; am "naked and cannot clothe '.myself.- Mother; teed me; I cannot feeu myself. Mother; cirry me,. I cannot walk." It is written, "A mother .may ;forget her. sucking child; yet will not I forgrt- tiieei " This, is to receive the Kingdom of God as a little to conic to Jesus and . siy, " Lord Jesus, wash me!" "Clothe- me!" "teed me;!" •'Carry me!" "Save me, Lord, or I perish.!,"

THE THREE ONLYS. ■LEAVES ..OSLY. Ma t sxi. 19 Th's is all that the Chiistless sinner can bear. H<s may, be decked with all tha outward forms of rel.gion, but he cannot b°ar a single cluster or Iruit such as God cau own aud accept. His forms of prayer and chants ot" sonv, with all the routine of f.i&ts and feaats, are " notlnug but leaves" in tho sight of God. Hia nature i 3 corrupt, and a corrupt tree cannot bring forth good fiuit. The leaves may hide hia real condition, and cover his shame from his fellmv moitals ; but how quickly will they "wither away" before the Searcher of Hearts when He brings the secrets of men to the light of His judgment throne. How many will fiud in thar. great day that all their boasted profession was but an empty aud fruitless form — " leaves only." BELIEVE ONLY. Lute viii. 50. This is all that the .sinner has to do ih ; order to be &aved. It is not believe and ''live up to it," or believe and "wait till you feel happy ;" but God says, " Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be Bived." No ctonbt the truly saved one wnl feel happy, and God will enable him to live as a believer ought; but this is not to be mixed up with tho God-appointed way of a sinner's reception of the Gospel. " Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness." Ho did many good works, and gave up much for God alter this, but this justification before God was by faith alone. It was—" Believe only," Jrsus only. Jan. ivii. s. This is all that God gives the sinner for his salvation. It is not Jesus aud "do the best we can," nor Jesus and the "means of grace ;" but it is "Jesus only" who is the sinner's Saviour. It is all-important that we should ba clear on this point. There are many who are willing to include Jesus, as One whose help they need to bring them nigh to Uod ; but they will not allow that it is "Jesus only" who must save. Others go a step further, and would willingly give Jesus the first and highest place in tha work of their salvation, but, like Peter when he purposed to build tabernacles on the holy lull, they want to give others a place alongside of Jesus—a very much inferior place it may be, but still it ia not— "Jesus only."

WALKING WITH JESUS. A young man in England once went from his country homo to London to obtain employment. Hβ had been given letters of introduction to Baron Rothschild, the great banker. He obtained an audience from the Baron, and presented his credentials. The Baron said, "My young friend, your references are perfectly satisfactory, b-it 1 employ no clerks. My business is dune by millions. I loan to countries." Then the Baron invited the young man to accompany him on a walk through one of the business streets. In the course of the walk they were passing a bank. The Baron told the young man to go into the building and ask for a clerkship. Ho did so, and to his great surprise was at once aesiqned a desk. Some few days after, ho asked one of the officers bo«v it happened, why had they guen him a situation without e\en looking at his credentials? The ieply was, "I saw you walking on tho street with Baron Uotlischild. That fact was euißcient reference." "In like manner," said the gentleman, who related this anecdote in a religious meeting, "when we appear at Heaven's gate, jf during our life on e~rth we have walked with Jesus, we shall have an abundant entrance ministered to us." Ho that has learned to pray as he ought, has got the secret ot a holy life. JOY IN THE CITY. "Then Philip went down to tho city, and preached Christ unto them, and. there was groat joy in that cit} ' —Acts vni 3, £ -Thero was joy in that city," for Jesus had come, And praises bunt forth from tho lips of the dumb, Uhe feet of the lame m in leaped up as the hart, And smiles which had clouded tho blind fell apart. For the servant stood up in his Masters great natnc, Tho captives' glad time of releise to procUitn, xhen (lemons c&uid out of tkc prisoners of sin And stiaightwa} the Lcra ci ihe templa stepped in. Again thore is joy In tho cily, behold ' How muitttuijis thr'inf; a Q tho fLcker , * for gold, Ihey hiten intrnl while Goo's scrv int-, proUnim, Koloibe from the faiuiucU 01 iin and of su»me. There is peace in jon home, wont to echo with strife, drunkard is thirsting for water of life, And the liar and sweuicr in penitent shame Are vowing alleguni-c to Jesus' pjro name. Hero, tho woman of fashion has quitted its crowd. And there, tho decuiwr his thrown oft his shroud \\ hile the thief and tho i-hoat like Zaccheus of old, Aro weepingly giving their gams back fourfold. Tho hard hearts aro broken, the proud ones bent And weaiy ones freed from their burden of woe. For tho Lord of the vineyard -walks through it today, And blesses the needy who kneel in His way. 1 here is joy in the city, tho blind ind the lame Arc milling their healing through faith in His In the health of His presence, -ill sickness and sin Are quenched by the lifcht of His entering in. ± here is joy in the city and miny & ono Is beginning to join in tho anthem's gUd tono Aro yo i learning the chorus, or will >ou be dumb. When tho heavens ihall re-spen .in I Jesus ihill ■come.? Clai'.a.A. Tuckett'; [The abavo lines wore simgestel through reading the accounts in the (Jhribtian oi th- meetings being held in London by Moody and Sankey.]