SUNDAY READING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9064, 26 May 1888, Page 4 (Supplement)

SUNDAY READING.

COD IS SATISFIED, ARE YOU? Anxious souls generally begin at the wrong end. They begin with themselves instead of beginning with God. It is their doings, their feelings, their satisfaction — themselves in some way or other ; and often it is a very long time before they learn to turn from themselves and look at God's side ; yet they can never find peace of conscience and joy of heart till they do. We arc continually meeting such cases. We ask them, " Are you saved ?" They reply, " I hope so. " But are you not sure about it?" "Well, not exactly; I only wish I were. I am seeking for it, and praying for it, but I can't say I am sure. I don't seem to get satisfied."

Oh, the numbers there are in this condition ! Praying, seeking, and trying to get satisfied. It is all self together. They are putting the cart before the horse, and are surprised because they can't get it to go. Of course not. The Gospel begins with God, not with us. Look at that well-worn, but unexhausted 16th verse of the 3rd of John as an example: " For God so loved the world that He gave His oulv begotten Son, that whosoever bolieveth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." It begins with God. God loved: God gave. We believe, and we have everlasting life. Start, then, with God. See how He has been met; how He has been satisfied. Then yon may well be satisfied when you have earnt that He is. I remember, some time ago, meeting » young sailor in this very condition. He had been in that state for about three years. (Perhaps the reader of these lines has been in this state for twice three.) He had been seeking and praying and trying to feel satisfied. And what do you think delivered him at last and made him perfectly happy? Just one simple fact which he had overlooked the whole of those three years. Do you ask what is it? It is the fact that "God is satisfied." Now, just think of it; turn it over and over in your mind; read it slowly, and let your poor weary heart take it in. "God is satisfied. ;, " Oh," said the sailor, as his face brightened, "I never thought of that before— ' God is satisfied.'" " Yes," I said. "He was the offended party by your sins. You were the offender. Jesus came to satisfy God's holy and righteous claims by dying for our sins, and Ho did that work perfectly. And God has proved His satisfaction in the Person and work of Christ by raising Him from the dead. Had God not been satisfied with that work He would have left Him in the grave; but He has taken Him out, and proved He is satistied. And it was all for you. Surely, if God be satisfied with the work of His Son, you may be also. " 1 see quite clearly where you are making your mistake," I continued. " You are trying to he better and feel different; trying to work yourself up to a certain state of happiness, and then fool satisfied with your own joy; and because you are always failing, and never arriving at the standard you have set up, you are dissatisfied. " Now, just suppose a man buying goods at a shop to the amount of £5, and then he gets into difficulties, and is unable to pay. He cannot pay the debt himself, and he is not aware that anyone has paid it for him ; and so you find him going about saying, "Oh, if I could only get satistied !" You would say to him at once, "My friend, you never can be satisfied until you have paid your debt or someone has paid it for you. The shopkeeper must have payment, and be quite satisfied first.' " But, now, supposing a kind-hearted friend goes to the shopkeeper, and pays the bill, and obtains the receipt, and sends it to the man, he would not sit down and look at the receipt, and say, 'If only I could feel satisfied. Of course not. He would know the £. r > was paid, for the shopkeeper had given his receipt, and thus the proof of the shopkeeper's satisfaction would give him satisfaction.

"Thus it is in the Gospel. The Saviour who stood in our place was ' delivered for our otfenues (He had none}, and was raised again for our justification (Rom. iv., 25). So that the risen Clu-ist is God's receipt for mo. Ho is satisfied, and so am I. Now, whv should you not be this very moment, and give Him the thanks and praise ?" It was sweet to see the effects of this truth on the sailor, as his heart drank it in. He was filled "with joy and peace inbelieving"(Rom. xv., 13) that "God is satisfied." And, looking at me with a face beaming with joy, he said, " 1 see it all—l see it all—God is satisfied. I can go home and thank Him for that." Now, dear, anxious render, you have read thus far; will you lay down this paper, and sav, " I wish I could get satisfied?' Never, never will you be satisfied until you have believed that God has found infinite satisfaction in the work of Christ on the cross for you. "He bore our sins in His own body on the tree" (1 Pet. ii., 24). He cried out on the cross, "Itis finished," and died (John xix., 30). But, thank God, He is risen again, and exalted to the right hand of God (Acts ii., 32, 33). Yes! "This Man, after He had ofiered one sacrifice for sins, for over sat down on the right hand of God" (Heb. x., I'2). From whence God hath sent the Holy Ghost to give this witness to all believers. "Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more" (verse 17). Matchless Saviour! Thy work is done. Once was sufficient for God, and once is sufficient for me. I can meet God now with joy, for Thou hast answered every question and settled every claim, and introduced me to that blessed God who " rejoices over me with joy, who rests in His love, and joys over ine with singing" (Eph. hi., 17). Yes, the wav in which He receives the poor, dissatisfied, repentant, returning prodigal, covering Him with clothing, and feasting him, tells out the satisfied heart of a satisfied God.

Dca-r, anxious soul, try no longer to do anything; wait no longer to feel anything; but rest where God rests, in Christ, who has so glorified Him at the cross that He can send a message of love to you, and say, " God is satisfied." Now, are you? W. E.

THY WILL BE DONE. [by rkv. w. frith. J These words form part of the Lord's Prayer, and are used continually by the whole Church of Christ, both in their public and private devotions. Words both expressive and appropriate to the last degree. For where grace has made us members of Christ, we " are under the law to Christ." We are no longer our own, but "bought with a price;" we are enjoined "therefore to glorify God in our bodies and spirits, which are His." This being so, what more right and reasonable than that our wills should be thoroughly subordinate to the divine in the whole current of our life? Our whole manhood includes and comprehends the whole mental and moral integrity—" body, soul, and spirit," is the tripartite of Scripture psychology. Nothing less must be presented before God. A divided heart can never be accepted. For the human heart consecrated to God can be but one throne, have but one Priest and King. Because the renewed heart is a little temple of God in which Christ must officiate at the soul's altar. " I will dwell in them and walk in them : I will be their God, and they shall be My people," has a beautiful application even now to the Lord's heavenly people, " the Church, which

is His Body, the fulness of Him who f illeth all in all;" and doubtless it has a prophetic significance and application to the Lord's ancient people in the days to comeHere, and now, however, these precious words should be written on the habitudes of our life, as well as expressed in the words of our lips. They are far from expressing anything like creature perfection; for they are part of a beautiful prayer, uttered in conscious weakness and dependence, asking the God of all grace that "He (the Holy Spirit) who worketh in us both to will and to do" (Phil. ii., 13), would so consecrate our wills as to render them concurrent with "the will of our Father who is in Heaven." And, when we resist His will, " we grieve the Holy Spirit, whereby we are sealed to the day of redemption." But when we, in devout prayer, ask the guidance of the Holy Ghost, seek to curb and restrain our preferences, " not doing our own will," but the will of Him "whose we are, and whom we serve," oh, what a life of peace and joy in the Holy Ghost we realise! May this be the life-purpose of both writers and readers, for Jesus' sake!

"AND POUR CONTEMPT ON ALL MY PRIDE." The life and death of our Lord Jesus Christ are a standing rebuke to every form of pride to which men are liable. Take, for instance : — Pride of birth and rank : " Is not this the carpenter's son ?" Pride of wealth: " The Son of Man hath not where to lay His head." Pride of respectability: "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" "He shall be called a Nazarene." Pride of personal appearance: "He hath no form nor comeliness. " Pride of reputation : " Behold, a man gluttonous and a wine-bibber, a friend of publicans and sinners." Pride of independence: "Many others who ministered to Him of their substance." "Pride of lean)ing : "How knoweth this Man letters, having never learned ?" Pride of superiority : "I am among you as he that serveth." "He humbled Himself." " Made a curse for us. :. Pride of success : " He came unto His own, and His own received Him not." "Neither did His brethren believe on Him." "He was despised and rejected of men." Pride of #elf-reliance : " He went down to Nazareth, and was subject unto them." "Pride of ability: "I can, of Mine own self, do nothing." Pride of self-will: " I seek not Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me." Pride of intellect: "As My Father hath taught Me, I speak these things." Pride of bigotry : " Forbid him not; for he that is not against us is on our part." Pride of resentment: "Father-, forgive them; for they know not what they do." " Friend, wherefore art thou come?" Pride of reserve : "My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death. Tarry ye here, and watch with Me." "The Son of Man must suffer many^things, and be rejected." Pride of sanctity: "This Man receiveth sinners, and cateth with them."

REST IN JESUS. Peacefully, peacefully rest I in Thee, Saviour, most precious of all things to me. Joyfully, therefore, I lean on Thine arm ; That will most surely protect me from hurra. Clean ev'ry whit and brought nigh t'i my God, By virtue of nothing*but Thy precious blood, Dead to the world, and yet risen again ; Sanctified, glorified, all thro' Thy name.

Happy to meet Thee whene'er Thou dost come, ■Saviour, my Saviour, to take Thy bride home. Holiness, too, I have fully in Thee— Perfect in purity—can it be me ? Yes, blessed Jesus, Thou purest and blest, ■Soon Thou wilt bring me to glory and rest. Order my steps by Thine own precious Word, Until I shall see Thee, my Saviour, my Lord. J. Dl.nham Smith. A BIBLE STUDY. The following should be widely circulated in this day, when the tendency of so much religious teaching is to turn off the mind from Christ Himself:— THE LORD JESUS CUBIST. The name above every name. There is none other name or way whereby we must be saved (Acts iv., 12). Those only who have Christ have everlasting life (John iii., 16; 1 John v., 12). The Father, the Son, and the Spirit are one God, one Lord, united in saving all believers. Satan is real, sin is real, hell is real; and, precious truth! the Saviour is real, His righteousness is real, and Heaven is real. No theory, church minister, "priest," "pope," "sacraments," or "good works," or all together, can ever save any one soul—Jesus only can save (Ps. lxii., 2-6; Matt, i., 21; Eph., v., 23. SALVATION IS ALL OF GHACE. The gift of God, as free as the air we breathe ! Ifc is all in Christ; clearly made known throughout the Bible; is revealed by the Spirit to all who seek, and it is enjoyed in believing (Rom. xv., Those who have Christ and trust alone in Him are saved. HAVE YOU CHRIST? Do you believe that He is present with you? And do you trust Him, and obey Him, and none other ? Can you say," Christ is all, and He is Mine?" If so, ye have eternal life (John v., 24). Having Christ Himself is being in the way. Having Christ Himself is having the truth. Having Christ Himself is having the life (John xiv., 6). He saves by His precious blood all who truly trust Him. His death is our life, and His life is oiir strength. He is our perfection to delight in for ever (Col. ii., 10). BEHOLD HIS BEAUTY. Be satisfied with Himself, and grow like Him (2 Cor. iii., 18). Those are most unwise who allow anything to come between their soul and the Lord Himself (1 Thess. i., 9, 10; and iv., 16, 17. Read His Word with prayer for grace to know and do His will. Having the Lord a blessed reality yourself, seek to make Him known to others by calm, meek, loving conduct; and always mention His name with becoming reverence.