SUNDAY READING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9455, 10 March 1894, Page 4 (Supplement)

SUNDAY READING.

"THE STUMBLING-BLOCK." [BY ME. ROBERT BROWN.] "T.akti up the stumbling-block out of the way of My people."—lsaiah lvii. 14. It is the unbelieving nature in man that makes it so difficult for the convinced sinner to trust himself in the hands of the Lord Jesus. And it will not do to tell him only that it is his unbelief that is keeping him back from Christ, for this he knows ; or (as but too many do) that he must make an effort to believe. What he needs to be shown is " the stumbling-block" that is before him;; and how that is to be taken up out of" his " way" (Isa. lvii. 14); for "faith cometh by hearing," not by effort, "and hearing by , the word of God" (Rom. x. 17). And I have seen deeply-convinced souls (I mean, of course,, those who have been truly " convinced of sin" by God the Holy Ghost; for it is only of: such that I am now speaking) again and again bound up into the light on this having been made clear to them. And indeed it must, and always will, be so where this is the only *' stumbling-block" that has to be removed. If there be others, the soul will not and cannot, of course, "enter into rest" until these likewise be taken away. As an illustration of what I mean. 1 think I cannot do better than introduce here one of the many cases that have come under my own personal observation, a case which might, as the lawyers say, be considered to be

" A LEADING CASE because it includes so many points that might serve as rules for the decision of other cases, wherein the same principles are involved.

Several years ago, while conducting an after-meeting, consequent upon an evangelistic address, my attention was directed to a lady who seemed to me to be deeply and truly convinced of sin by God the Holy Ghost. Finding this to be the case, I pointed her at once to "the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John i. 2?)), at the same time opening out to her several passages of Scripture which were applicable to her particular case. "Oh J" she said, "I cannot feel that it is for me!"'

"Imow,'' I said, "let me point out to you what your heart is saying to the Lord. You are really saying to the Lord: ' I cannot believe what You say, Lord, because my heart tells me the contrary. You tell me, indeed, in Your Word that Christ Jesus the Lord is si, Saviour for such as I am; but my heart tells me the reverse. If, therefore, You will give me some sign in my heart that You are speaking the truth, I will believe You; but not unless.' Is this the way, think you," said I, "to treat Him, who 1 cannot deny Himself ?'" (11. Tim. ii. 13). "ISo," she said, in much distress; "but what am I to do ?"

" Well," X replied, " I will tell youand then, after having fully opened out and explained to her that blessed passage in John iii. 14, 15, I pointed out to her that she was liike an Israelite who might be looking at his wounds instead of at the serpent that was lifted up upon the pole; and that she was to reject what her own heart said, and give it the lie, and just simply trust in what the Lord Himself had said in His Divine Word, according to that which ia written Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not; to thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Hitn, and He shall direct thy paths" {Prov. iii. 6, 6). "And the reason, I continued, "why He gives you this counsel is because 'your understanding is darkened' (Eph. iv. 18), and it cannot therefore guide you aright; but' the entrance of

god's word giveth light, and it giveth understanding to the simple' (Ps. cxix. 130). Now, judge yourself: which of the two do you think is speaking the truth, your heart or God?" "God, she said.

" Well, then," I said, "just give your heart the lie, and give God credit for speaking the truth ; and cast yourself on His faithfulness, and you will find His promises to be true; for 'he that hath received His testimony hath set to his seal that God is true'(John iii. 33). For we are not received for what we are, or for what we have done; but for what Jesus is, and what He has done and suffered for us," as I then more fully explained to her; pointing out to her at the same time that she was looking for a righteousness in herself instead of in Jesus, who is the Lord our righteousness (Jer. xxiii. 6), and to whom the Holy Ghost was now pointing her (John xvi.B, 10,13). And now I looked for her to enter into rest by believing, as I had seen so many do before, on this " stumbling-block" having been taken out of their way; and she no doubt would have done so had there been none other, bub it was otherwise with her. Quivering with emotion, which showed that the power of the enemy, who was striving to retain his hold upon her, was relaxing, she said : "But is it not said somewhere that ' the Spirit beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God V "

"Yes,"l replied,"it is in theSth of Romans and the 11th verse; but that is spoken of the children of God ; and the Spirit cannot bear witness to a lie. The Spirit has borne witness that you are a sinner; and you hath believed His testimony, and found it to be true. Now, the Spirit would point you to that Blessed One who ' bare our sins in His own body on the tree' (I. Pet. ii.*24); and the moment you ' receive' that ' testimony' He will bear witness that you are a believer in Jesus; but He cannot do this before, for it would not be true until then ; as it is written again, As many as received Him to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His na^a ; which were born, not of blood, nor ur the will of the flesh, nor of the will of ik.an, but of God J (John i. 12, 13). And if you can truly say, ' All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way (as I had previously found that she could), then you can also say, 'and the Lord bath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

"Oh," she said, bursting into tears, " 1 fear I have not got the right kind of faith!" THE BIGHT KIND OF FAITH. I replied : " I only know of one kind of real faith, and that is trust. If I were to tell you 1 would call upon you. to-morrow morning, and oring you a book which might, instruct you further on these subjects, 1 suppose you would believe me, would you not 9 " "res," she said, "I should!" " Why ?" Because I don't think you wish to deceive me." . t /'Because, I suppose, you really believe f should be speaking the truth ?" " Yes." Then, can you really think that I should speak the truth, and that God could lie—He, who says, He 'cannot lie?' " (Titus i. 2). Here she fairly broke down; and now the tap-root of her final unbelief was fully revealed ; and gladly and joyously did I use ' the Sword of the Spirit," even "the Word of God" (Eph. vi. 17) to cut it. Weeping, she said, with much emotion, " But I shall never be able to stand; because all my family J are worldly people !" • ■ . " "Ah," I said, 41 I see where your difficulty lies now! You think you have to trust in Christ as your Saviour;.and then that you will have to keep yourself in Him by your faith. Is that it?" "Yes," she said, with much surprise; " and haven't I?" "Oh, dear no," I rejoined; " you could no more keep yourself in Christ than you could save yourself, to begin with. This is Christ's work altogether. You will have to be' kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation' (I. Peter i. 5), which is a very different thing indeed I"

And „ now the Divine' SnW ~ hear£ to receive the truth in the^ ned t her and the light shot down into her sniri? ° f h ' kneel down and ask Him?" "Sh I?'" kneel down and ask Him ?" "uall »« "Oh, do,"shereplied, with int»r,,. ness. And so we knelt down • and r X" 1 ?*- with the Lord to reveal Himself fife?®* and to bless her; and He did so - y , ber, God of hope" at once " filled" her' "»lu the joy and peace in believing" i n Him m h all 13); tbe blessed Spirit then she was truly one of God's own dear chn i hat in Christ Jesus. ' children SUFFICIENT GRACE. [BY J. R. MACDUFF.] "My grace is sufficient for thee; or M„ is made perfect in weakness."— 11. Cor. xii j The apostle'si thoughts" were desnnmiones, when his God whispered in' his ear precious thought of comfort. A thorn [rAh flesh— messenger from Satan—had iJ lle to buffet him. We know not speclall? T* I this thorn may have been. It is nil L f left indeterminate, that each may nuk?! 7 individual application to his own cm?V2 circumstances. e But who, in their diversified and experience, has not to tell of gome ®r, eii trial?—some crook in their lot-som*'^l fly in life's otherwise fragrant ointment some sorrow which casts a softened over, perhaps,, an otherwise sunn/p& Infirm health, insidious disease, worldly Ir, ' domestic anxiety, family bereavement t??' discharge of arduous and painful duty tK treachery of tried and trusted friends th sting of wounded pride or disappointed amhf tion, the fierce struggle witn inward corrm, tion and mortified siu, the scorpion dart of violated and accusing conscience ; the world all the time, perhaps, little knowing or dreaming of the inward conflict, the lifelong trial, the fountain of tears, though "a faun tain sealed." As the apostle earnestly en treated that his thorn might be taken awav so may you, reader, also have prayed far vently and long that your trial might £ averted, your sorrow mitigated if not re moved; and you doubtless imagine that it ; were better far were this messenger of Satan this spirit of evil exorcised and can out' But here again God's thoughts are often notour thoughts. What was the answer to the apostle's earnest petition when " he besought the Lord thrice ?" It was not granting th» removal of the trial, but it was better U was the promise of grace to bear it. "'\J He said unto me, My grace is sufficient" for thee." It was enough ; he asked no more He may have demurred at first to the strange answer—so unlike what he expected, so unlike what he wished. But he was led ere Ion" not only joyfully to acquiesce, but heartily to own and acknowledge the higher and better wisdom of the Divine procedure. "Most gladly, therefore, will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." This, too, may be God's dealings with you. Often and again, it may be, have you taken your hidden sorrow—the buvduiW secret of your heart—laid it on the mercy seat, and, with importunate tears, i nploreil that it might be taken away. The sorrow still remains ! But, nevertheless, remember the prayer is not unanswered. It has been answered; not, perhaps, according to your thoughts or desires, bat according to I the better, thoughts and purposes of your [ Heavenly Father. The thorn is still left to pierce and lacerate, but strength has been given to bear it. The trial, be what it may has taught you, as it did Paul, the lesson of your own weakness and your dependence on Divine aid. It has been a needful drag on your chariot wheels— needful clipping of ; your wings—lest, like the great apostle, "ye should be exalted above measure." Who can judge the heaviest of sorrows if they have thus been the means alike of discovering to us our own weakness, and of endearing to us the all-sufficient grace of a Saviour God?

Blessed, comforting assurance, "in all time of our need" that God will deal out the requisite grace. Seated by us like a physician, with His hand on our pulse. He will watch our weakness and accommodate the supply to our several wants and circumstances. He will not allow the thorn to pierce too far; He will not allow the temptation to go beyond what we are able to endure. "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation (11. Peter ii. 9). "As thy day is so shall thy strength be." Grace "sufficient" will be given sufficient for every emergency. His arms are ever lower than our troubles. I will go forth bearing my cross, fortified with the assurance, aw breathing the prayer, Thy God hath commanded thy strength. Strengthen, 0 God, that which Thou hast wrought for us" (Ps. lxviii. 38). "Fear thou not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God. I will strengthen thee ; yea, .1 will_ help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness." "CHANGED INTO THE SAME IMAGE." (11. Cor. iii. 18. See also Rom. riii. 28, 39.) Far off, in a distant quarry. Lay a block of marble rare; Rough-hewn, and by man unnoticed, It had lain neglected there. But the Master saw it, and straightway He knew its intrinsic worth ; " This marble," He murmured gently, " Shall witness for Me on earth." Then day after day, unheeded (For none understood His skill), He worked on that shapeless marbl# The plan of His wondrous will. With instrument keen and varied, He sculptured it hour by hour ; Till slowly, its pure white lustre Began to attest His power. It grew into human likeness, A man in his best estate; Then all as they saw it marvelled, And owned that the work was "great But time passed on, and the Sculptor Continued His work so fair; Then men saw with speechless wonder The Master's own image there. And liker it grew, and liker, As stroke after stroke was given ; Till earth whispered, grave and awe-struck, " Made meet for the courts of heaven!" Charlotte Muriuv.