SUNDAY READING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11520, 3 November 1900, Page 4 (Supplement)

SUNDAY READING.

" BORN AGAIN." [BY PABTOE JAB. FtTSSJELL.] " Except a man be born again be cannot bog the Kingdom of God."—John iii. 3. If you and I had had the joy of hearing tho Apostles preach we would have noticed that their preaching was always expository. They did not go about suggesting theories, or delivering moral essays to the people; but they expounded God's word, and urged upon their hearers the acceptance of those mighty truths. So it is the duty of every minister to-day, whether he chooses a single text or a whole chapter, to give the people a true exposition thereof. This is, and ever has been, the most successful preaching. Mr. Moody said he considered C. H. Spurgeon to be about the best preacher he had hoard, but he would rather hear him give an exposition of Scripture than any eloquent sermon. We desire now to give a simple exposition of the strange text before us. It is at the same time A SIMPLE TEUTH AND A DEEP MYSTERY. The doctrine of the new birth has puzzled thousands besides Nioodemus, and yet it is so simple to those who have experienced it. Let us then consider THE NEED OF THE NEW BIRTH. Whatever you may not know about this great matter, be assured that you need it. First, because Jesus said so. " Ye must be born again." Oh, dear friends, His word alone is more than sufficient to show us how imperative this new birth is. When Nioodemus was troubled about his soul he went to Jesus. And is not that the most natural thing to do? We would never dream of going to Buddha or Mohammed, nor consulting the idols of the heathen. The sinburdened soul as naturally goes to Christ as water flows downhill. He is to be relied upon when all others fail. So then ye must be born again because Jesus said so. But it is plain that we need to be born from above in order to go above. If it were God's intention that the human race should henceforth live in the water our nature must be changed to suit that new home. It would not be sufficient for us to become externally like fish—having fins and scales, etc.—but we should have to bo born again in order to exist in the sea. If it were possible for an unconverted man to enter Heaven he woidd be more wretched there than on earth. . Everything would bo foreign to his nature; angel's food would make him sick; and he would almost long for hell, where at least he would feel at home. A fish on land, or a man living in the sea, would be happy compared with the wretchedness of anyone in Heaven who was not born again. The new birth completely fits us for God's presence. I believe we will be surprised how much at home the redeemed will bo in Hea- , ven. The dear name of Jesus will bo fasoi-

liar to us, and we shall feel that He is as old friend of ours. , ' Ah, well, we ' must 1 surely know tho new birth is truly needed, bo let.ua. examine THE MANXES OF BEING BOBN AGAIN. This can never be thoroughly understood by reason. The text saya "except a man be born again he cannot sec, etc." As well try and explain the natural birth to unborn generation's as describe- the now birth to those who are dead in sins. Men and women arc born again as a direct and immediate result of tho Atonement.' If our Saviour had not died for our sins, thereby making a full atonement for us, we could not be born again. 01), may God the Holy Ghost help US to understand and cling to this central truth of the Gospel, from which the radii of crimson light shoot out into eternity. Someone has said that Christ'? centre was the cross and His circumference the radient universe ; and it is from this centre that new birth emanates. The gift of eternal life is the result of our Lord's travail on tho cross. Tho cross, the cross.' the bloodstained eros 3, The Hallowed cross I sec; Reminding me of precious blood That once was shed for me. But it is most important to loan, that the second birth is intensely spiritual. Many, like Nicodcmus, do not believe it possible to be born again because they cannot see it done. You can certainly nee tho effects of this change in a man, though the operation is invisible. The body remains the same. If a person has heart disease before being born again he will still have it though truly bore from above. It is in the very soul of man that the mightv work is done. Before only fit for hell, the immortal soul is now prepared by Almighty God for the mansion above, ?o that when freed from this mortal body it 1 shall mount up into tho glorious sunlight of I God's presence, to be "forever with the Lord.'' And now I would, in conclusion, point out THE EVIDENCE OP. SYMPTOMS OP THE NEW BIRTH. Can anyone really be positive about his or her eternal welfare? Those who profess to be saved aro very often regarded as terribly presumptuous and self-righteous. But I see a great difference between presumption and assurance. It is by no means God's purpose to keep us in agonising suspense; He has granted an unfailing witness to those who are born again. There is not the faintest shadow of a doubt about the safety of those who hilly trust in "the finished work of the Redeemer. Whatever outward troubles assail the trusting soul there is, always ft calm sense of peace with God, and it is a reality not to be explained away. St. John says, "we know that we have passed from death to life becauso we Iov« tho brethren; "—so that love to God's people is a strong symptom of second birth. But the "crowning evidence is the profound love to Jesus Christ which the believer has. It is not. merely veneration, 01 adoration, but tender moving affection for the Beloved Saviour, who gave Himself for us. May tho Heavenly Father grant His own blessing on this gospel message for Christ's sake. Amen. "BE STILL." (Psalm xlvi. 10). Imagine this brief injunction spoken to ont of active brain, hands, habit of life at the present day. Possibly ho would say at once "I cannot!" We love to be actively employed, and to bring our most, energetic efforts to bear, unceasingly, upon the various important and absorbing affairs with which we have to do. Wo think we must do so. or bo defeated, suffer loss, perhaps be ruined. And yet. tho stilled mind learns the most precious of life's lessons: the stilled heart some of its deepest secrets: tho stilled spi-< rit its greatest strength and its greatest victories. In the natural world the grandest forces work in silence. For example, tho succession of the seasons of tho year; the vast operation of vegetation; the law of gravitation, which controls, directs,, and governs the wondrous systems of unnumbered worlds. What greater, vaster, more momentous forces are there in nature than these? And yet they, one and all, work in silence. No noise or excitement or commotion or bewildering sound of mighty operations. All are silent forces. Throughout them all stillness reigns. How different the ways and workings of men. Visit the foundry, the mill, the exchange, the market-place, and mark the din of clashing machinery here, the excitement of competition there, the babel of conflicting voices in. another place. Commanding stillness would mean commercial paralysis and grevious loss. Stillness in places of the world's business would betoken stagnation, failure, ruin. In tho spiritual life, however, it is far otherwise. The stilled mind, heart, soul are in a suitable condition for communion with God. Then tho Lord can silently speak to usteaching, strengthening, comforting us;, perhaps reproving and admonishing us also. Our hurrying activities are now in abeyance. We are not eager to give out, but to take in. So we say humbly, longingly, " Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth." Sometimes God has to teach us how to be still by letting us weary ourselves down, till we must bo still, whether we like it or not. Or by laving us aside for a sea-son, quite out of the sphere of our activities. Or by putting us on a sick bed, where we are obliged to be still, and cannot work or talk or even think very much. The inner power of action is now low; and in the silence of our enforced retirement we web come " the still, small voice." But why not have seasons of stillness with out having to bo laid aside? Elijah, on Mount Horeb, was full of talk and self, till at last, subdued and silent before God, ho wrapped his face in his mantle. Then God made known to him His will and directed, him in His way. Think, too, of Mary of Bethany, who, with stilled spirit, sat at the feet of Jesus listening to His word: while' Martha, with irrepressible impatience, went on with her self-imposed and excessive activities until she brought upon herself the Lord'* rebukes. Think alio of the eleven disciples,, in the stillness of deepest attention, listening to those precious words of consolation and promise recorded in the fourteenth chapter of St. John's gospel— chapter which ha* sweetly comforted many and many a disciple's heart, in its " still hour," since their day. Then think of St. Paul, when "caught up to the third heaven," in tho awed silence of his enraptured soul hearing words which could not be repealed, which indeed were impossible for a man to utter; and then coming to the lower level of ordinary life to serve his Lord with strengthened devotion and prepared to suffer, yea even to die for His sake. But. more than all, think of the example of the Lord Himself, whoso spirit was always strong in the stillness of the conscious power of truth and right. When reviled, He reviled not again; when He suffered He threatened not, hut committed Himself to Him who judgeth righteously. And thus, learning of Him who was meek and lowly in heart— merely on special occasions and under favouring circumstances, but always and everywhere, even amid the contentions of —wo may possess and manifest a stilled spirit which will prove a spirit of power, re- • straining, convincing, overcoming. Many disciples find the " still hour" of the early "Morning Watch" very specially precious. At this season of the year, with the freshness of tho new day. the bright sunlight shedding its cheering beams around, the birds astir with song, and amid all the calm loveliness of the scene, how delightful and most profitable to be alone with God, holding the blest communion of peaeefulnesa and confidence and love at His feet! With such a commencement, is not the spirit "stilled" for the following hours, whatever events may occur or however varying the experiences? None can fully tell the spiritual value and power of the " still hour" with God in the early morning, or how it starts one on the day's march with a strength otherwise unknown.

That you may learn some of God's moat precious secrets— and again, a« a habit of the spiritual life—"Be still!" When in difficulty, or under misapprehension or the wrong judgment of others, "Bo still!" When tempted to be loudly self-defensive 01 self-assertive, "Bo still!" Amid the tumuli of controversy and contention, whon par tisanship is noisily vociferous, "Be still!" When hurried on under a sense of increasing responsibilities, and the urgent affairs ol life weigh upon you their ever-growing burden, and yon feel tempted sometimes to fret and worry about things that seem as thoucrh they cannot bo made to go right, " Bo still!" It is a difficult lesson to learn but is one of heavenly wisdom and wondrous power, taught by tho Master Himself, "Bo still!" " Grace be with you all. Amen."— J. T. Wronford.