SUNDAY READING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8082, 24 September 1887, Page 4 (Supplement)

SUNDAY READING.

A REDEEMED SLAVE. [BY THE REV. THOMAS CHAMPNESS.]

Ik a large African town there lives a woman who, if asked, " Do you know Mr. Champ* ness 1" would reply, 11 Champnessi ? Champnessi ni Olurapada mil" ("Champneas is my redeemer.") What would aha mean ? I will tell you. Slavery and the slave trade are the bane of African life. Nearly all the labour of the country is done by those who have bean either taken captive in war or kidnapped, or their descendants. The rank of the mother settles the rank of the child. If the mother is free, all her children are free. If she is slave, all her children are slaves, and the property of her master, just as maoh as his calves, or foals, and lambs are. Some of these child slaves have a pleasant time of It, and play with the children of their master, who perhaps is their father also. There was a woman living in Abbeokuta who was very fond of children, and she would buy Utile ones, and treat them with great kindness. Among the others was a little girl, who was brought up as one of her own. When the old woman died, the little girl became the property of her eon. This man wag induced to worship with our people, and he professed to become a Christian. I fear be never had the root of the matter, for a church member may be like the man who had not on the wedding garment, sitting among the guests, but not fit to ait down with the King. He left us after a while, and became a bigoted idolator. No one gives the missionary bo much trouble as an apostate. However, before he left us this girl had grown old enough to be betrothed, and her hand was asked in marriage by another Christian worshipping in the same place. When a girl is betrothed there is a meeting of relatives of both man and woman, and the pedigree is gone into. When this matter came to be settled it came out that this lass was a born slave, and, therefore, could not be married of her own will, but her master said, "You are a Christian, and I am a Christian; get married to William, and I will never interfere with you," This was done, and when I arrived on the station I found her living close to my house, and the happy mother of several children. Very soon afterwards the apostate thought that he would do us an injury, and accordingly made a claim to the woman and her offspring. It was during the time that I was away on a visit: to a king in another country, who had never seen a missionary, or, indeed, a w trite man. During my absence this wicked man gave the woman notice that he should claim her, but our native Christians rallied around the house, and told him plainly that he should not touch the woman till " Babba, Wa" returned that is, our father," meaning myself. When I got home our people came to see me in great distress, They felt that it was not only an outrage, but a terrible disgrace to Christianity, to have this woman and her children sold out of the country ; accordingly they begged me to interfere. I felt so, too, and determined that I would redeem her and her children, I wrote to England, asked my friends to raise the money, which was done in answer to an appeal in the newspapers. But, without aiting to get a reply from England, 1 told cir sorrowing people not to fret, for that .1 would certainly redeem her. Mind y-.u, that was supposing that it could be done with money. If her master had said, " Chatnpuess, you can only buy her by taking her place and becoming my slave," I am free to confess that she must have remained in bondage. Think, though, that Jesus redeemed us, not with silver and gold, but in the words of the new song, "Thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood," Yes, He gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us.

An unexpected difficulty arose. When the apostate heard that I meant to ransom her, he at once put up the price and charged me twice the market value for the woman and her children, This I resented, for if I had given way there would have been, I expect, another claim, and there was no telling what the devil would have pat him up to do. Doubtless he would have taken all the money I could raise. But he soon found out he had a hard man to deal with. The result was that we went to law. It was the first and only time £ ever went to law; still I would go into Court again on the same errand. In due time the case came before the native judges, and was argued in full. When the Court heard the story, heathen though they were, they said, " The white man is good ; he wishes to act kindly to our countrywoman, and she shall have the benefit. The owner shall sell her at the fair market value."

Of course, thin verdict was received by us with great delight and thankfulness. I paid the money in great glee, and soon sent for her to tell her that she need not be ati all anxious about her future. She was free, and her children also. You, dear reader, should have seen her when I told her. It is years ago, but I can call up her delighted countenance as I told her that she was free. Mark you, she did not doubt me, but believed and rejoiced. It may be that some who will read this story are not enjoying the assurance of God's favour, though they have turned from their sins. Let me ask you, Do you believe the Gospel ? Open your Bible and find Ephesians i., 7. "In Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins." Is that true? Did Jesus pay the price? For whom did He pay the ransom ? Was it for you ? Do you tell me that you believe all this, and yet are not happy ? Allow me to say that I very much doubt you. You may think you believe ; but let me ask you another question : Have you thanked Him for shedding His blood as the price of your redemption ? You cannot believe Ha died for you and not thank Him.

Some time ago, when Messrs. Moody and Sankey were at work in Newcastle on-Tyne, there was a non-commissioned officer convinced of sin. He became a changed man, his habits were reformed, and the room in which he lived became another place altogether. Among other changes that came to his home was the asking a blessing at meals. He taught his little girl to say grace in a verse which many know. Yet all this time he had not obtained assurance. One night, as he lay awake, his little girl, who was sleeping in another bed, began to talk in her sleep. As she dreamed, she thought she was at table, and her father heard her say,

We think Thee, Lorii, for this our food, But more because of Jesus' blood.

All at once he said to himself, "I have never thanked Him for Jesus' blood," and, while he praised the Lord for dying for him, peace sprang up in his soul. The redeemed woman could not have thanked me if she had not believed that she was redeemed ; and she could not thank me and yet be miserable about her slavery. She was redeemed ; and, therefore, gratitude and joy filled her heart. She is mine to-day ! Some of my friends joke me abont it, and say, "Champness, you are a slaveholder." This is literally correct. If I liked to send out and have her sold, it could be done, but she does not fear, I redeemed her to make her free. All her children are mine. She has had some born since 1 bought her, but they are my property ; they do not cost her any anxiety, though. I received a letter from her one day since I returned to England. I had sent her my photo, and in the letter, written in her name by one of her sons, who was bought at the same time, she said, " When I look upon your likeness, tears of joy and gratitude run down my cheeks." Why should you not trust God as she trusts me, and say with the psalmist, " My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto That, and my soul which Thou hast redeemed?" Do not wait till you have made yourself better. Supposing, when I had paid the money, and sent for her, telling her that she was free, she had said, "Here, master, is a threepenny piece which I have brought to you to help pay the money." Should I have liked it, think you ? And all your tears and sighs, your fastings and yonr prayers are but as that bit of silver, not to be acoepted, and more of an insult than an acceptable offering. What should yon have thought if I had heard that she had gone away from her nusband, and taken her children, and gone to live with her old master ? You could not believe such a thing possible. But if she said farther, ''I am free; Champness has made me free. Can 1 not do as I like ?" would it not have made me very angry, hink you ? Do not be quiok to say any r hiug, for this is precisely what some people u> to Him who has redeemed them. St. • 'aul asks, in Romans vi., 1, "Shall we ..ontinue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid I" Are there not some of you who have been redeemed yet living in sin ? Is there any folly or ingratitude to compare with yours ?

Bat if the had said, " It is true thai; I *1 redeemed, yet, now and then, I will go and do a day's work for my old master," you would have'been vexed at her, now, would you not? And yet there are Christians who will now and then do a little work for the devil. Are you one of these foolish people ? St. Paul, in writing to the Christians in Colosse, argues that they should walk worthy of the Lord, and be fruitful in every good work; and bases this on the fact that they- had been delivered from the power of darkness, having redemption in the blood ol: the Son of God (Colossianu i., 10-14). supposing, now, that some day one of th<' native Christians should go to- the womanvi house and find her in tears, and wheu asked, " Why that look of sadness I" she should reply, "I have been thinking, sop* pose my old master should take me away •gain. He is rich, and very strong, and Champness is & long way from here." The other would reply, " Have you not a paper ? Did he who redeemed you leave a document ? You have only to show that, and the rnlers will protect you, and all will be well." Is there one of my readors doubting and fearing? Get you to the Word of God that is no romance; and, when you have it, read such passage as Galatians iii., 13 : " Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law." If this be true, why not sing one song of the redeemed, "Ok, give thanks unto the Lord, for. He is good, for His mercy endareth for ever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy."—Sunday Magazine.

REST IN JESUS. [BT REV. T„ L. CCYLER, D.D.]

Why can we not rest in Jesus when it is our privilege to do so, when we are invited to come so lovingly, when our sad hearts are beating so wearily, and we feel that we conld not lift life's burden any longer ? I stood by the bedside of m dying Christian. Upon a strong and vigorous man disease for two long painful years had done its work. Pale and wasted, and weak as an infant, he was now waiting the approach of the dread messenger of death. Dre»d, did I say? N(it to him. - His coming was eagerly looked for as a loved, welcome friend. Bodily pain wrung great drops of moisture from his brow, an agony no mortal could relieve, yet the face of the sufferer shone like an angel, and a sweet smile parted the livid lips, as he turned those eyes of love towards his dear ones, while in a voice with the death-rattle huskily sounding he said, "Don't weep for me. lam so happy. Jesus helps me bear the pain. This is not death, i am only going home. Let no sable raiment be worn for me. Rejoice and be glad. 'I know that my Redeemer livetb.' Now sing, ' Shall we gather at the river ?' and let it be sung at my grave." I can never express how sweetly »nd solemnly the notes of that song rang out on the soft summer air. The dying man essayed to join, but could only sing a line or two ; then, clasping the hand of his wife, and his hesid resting on the breast of his son, he breathed his life away. As they laid him gently down, with that seraphic smile stamped on his silent face, which even the last struggle conld not obliterate, thinking of the last words that fell from his lips, "At rest with Jesus," " SurSly," we said, " death has lost its terror. We have stood at the very vestibule of Heaven."

Oh, why do not we professed Christians have this perfeot faith and trust? It is sin that comes between us and our Saviour. Sometimes, when I feel sore discouraged, I think of that dying saint, and I feel that religion is no myth, but is God-given, to help us all along the stormy way. If it can support without a shadow in chat dark hour when we cross "over the river," it can now. Brothers, sisters, cheer up! Faint not! (.'ling close to Christ 1 Living or dying, rest, oh, rest in Him 1

FAITH.

F«lth Is a very simple thing, Though little understood (1 Cor; 11., 14); It frees the soul from death's dread sting, By resting in th > blood (Ex, xli., 18, 23). It looks not on the things around, Nor on the things within (Jer. xvii., 9); It takes its Sight to scenes above, Beyond thj sphere f sin (Hah. i„ 8). It'lees upon the throne of God A Viotlm that was slain (Heb. x., 12,14), It rests its all on His shed blood, And says, " I'm horn again" (2 Cor. v., 15,17). Faith Is not what we feel or see, it is a slmnla trust 11 John 1., 9) In what the God of love has said Of Jesus ss " the Just" (1 Peter 111., 18). The Perfect One that died for me, Upon His Father's throne (Rov. iii., 21), Present) our names before our God, And pleads Himself alone (Heb. iv., 14,15). What J?sua is, and that alone, Is faith's delightful plea (Eph, 1., 0, 7); It never deals with sinful self, Kor righteous Self, in me (Rom. vll., 18). It tells me I am counted " dead," By God, in His own Word (Rom. vi., 0, 7). It tail* me I am " born again" In Christ, my risen Lord (Rom. vi., 4, 5), In that He died, He died in sin ; In that He lives—to God (Rom. vi., 10) ; Then 1 a n dead to Nature's hopes, And justified through blood (Rom. ill., 24, 25), If He is free, then I am free, From all unrighteousness (1 John ill,, 5-7); If He is just, then I am just (2 Cor. v., 21), He is my righteousness (1 Cor. i., 30, 31). What want I more to perfect bliss ? A body like His own (Phil, ill., '20, 21), Will perfect me for greater joys Than angels round the throne (Eph. 1., 17-23). —is. s.