Page 28 Advertisements Column 3

Otago Witness, Issue 1805, 25 June 1886, Page 28

children of Adam — "for as in Adam all die" (that is 1 , the taiufc of sin is inherent in every descendant of Adam) — must look to the Cross of Christ, of which the brazen serpent was a type ; must look to the all-prevailing atonement made by the Saviour, and casting away all trust in anything) aud everything which they have done themselves, muot rely for healing, and cleansing, aud salvation, solely aud wholly upon the Sun of Righteousness, who is risen with healing in his wings, aud who ever liveth to make intercession for us.

But as in the time of Moses, the mere fact of the brazen serpent having been raised in the wilderness for the healing of the Israelites was not attended with any healing power of the Israelites was not attended with any healing power to those who had beeu bitten unless they " looked upon it," so the mere knowledge of the historical fact, but with a wilful refusal to thiuk further of the matter, and a resolute rejection of any benefits which may be derived from it, that the Son'f God suffered death upon the Cross, will not deliver a soul from perdition unless that all-prevailing atonement be, as it were, " looked upon " and appropriated, unless all one's care be cast upon the Lord Jesus, and all one's hope of salvation and Heaven be confided to him, aud personally and individually rested upon his mercy and loving kindness. But let an earnest and solemn note of warning be uttered against the fearful danger of procrastination in anything which relates to the eternal welfare. Some persons, on being spoken to about the concerns of their soul, say, " There is time yet, there is ample time yet," or that in a year or two, or even on their death-bed, will be time enough to make their peace with Heaven. But what sinful folly to postpone a matter of such supreme and vital importance to a time when the senses may possibly be benumbed by the cold hand of Death ; when that icy monarch has chilled their nerves and feelings, and it is impossible for them to realise the precipice upon which they are standing, owing partly to the racking pain or exhaustiug fever which they may possibly be suffering, and partly to the deadly stupor which sometimes supervenes when the spirit is about to take its departure from its mortal bonds — a stupor which renders the mind insensible to the momentous importance of the salvation of the soul.

Again, what is the fate of those who trust in that false refuge of the carelesSj a death-bed repentance, if as occasionally happens (and which is always possible), they meet with a sudden death ; if, whether by a so-called accident, or by any other means, their spirit is suddenly removed into the presence of the Eternul Judge ; if the dread summons has gone forth from on high: — "Thou fool, this night shall thy soul be required of thee ; what, let it be asked, will be the tate of those who, while in the enjoyment of health and strength, have not chosen that good part which cannot be taken away, and cast themselves entirely upon the full atonement made for all sinners by the blessed Saviour? If they havu not, like the Israelites of old, looked upon Him who was pierced and slain that they might live, aud whose precious blood cleanseth from all sin? Let all those, then, who read these lint s ba earnestly adjured to make up their minds and decide at once, i£ they desire to spend Eternitj — never-ending Eternity — in that blest abode where God shall wipe away all tears from their ejes, and were there shall be uo more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain — no, no more disappointments or aggravating and unpleasant occurrences ; or whether they will run a certain risk of being placed on the left hand of the Judge, and be among those unto whom He will address that awful and irrevocable sentence, " Depart, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels, where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched ;" for upon their present decision, perhaps, their future fate may be determined.

Those who decide upon enrolling themselves under Christ's banner soon experience that He is very gracious and merciful to all who trust in Him. They feel that they are accepted by -their Saviour, that he loves them and cares for them, that He overrules all things which may happen unto them, and will not suffer any real evil to befall them, albeit He may, at times, see fit to chasten them ; yet even then they feel that it is for their soul's good, and they sorrow not at those that have no hope. Even in comparatively trivial occurrences they feel that an uvorruling power is directing everything for the'r good : that He who seeth a sparrow fall, and number eth even the very hairs of their head, will order for them their earthly lot, and will cause all things to work together for their gocd. But if in temporal things they feel the luvefor thoir dear Saviour unto them, how much more in spiritual things! They know that iv love to their souls He has pardon all their sins and blotted out all their iniquities, and made them meet for the inheritance of the saints iv light; that, although their righteousness is but as filthy rags, yet He is their Righteousness, and that the eternal Father accepts them for His sake. They feel more and more, as they grow in grace, the power of the Holy Spirit within thi-m, filling them with joy and peace in believing — a joy which is indescribably enhanced when they reflect that their Redeemer has prepared for them a Mansion in Heaven, and that when their alloted span upon earth is finished their souls will join the heavenly choir, aud mingle with the blessed company of the redeemed.

THE STREAM OF DEATH. There is a stream whose narrow tide The known and unknown worlds divide Where all must go ! Its wavcless waters, dark and deep, 'Mid sullen silence downward sweep AVitli moanlcss flow. I saw .where, at that dre.irv flood, A smiling infant prattling'slood, Whose hour was come ; Untaught of ill, it n eared the t de, Sunk, as to cradled rest, and died, Tjilc going home. Followed with l.i. quid eye, anon, A youth, diseased, and pale, and wan And there alone. He gazed upon the leaden stream, And feared to plunge— l heard a scream, And he was gone. And then a form in manhood's strength Came bustling on, till there at length He saw life's bound ; He shrank, and raised life's bitter prayer, Too late !— his shriek ot wild despair The waters drowned. Next stood upon that surgeless shore A being, bowed with many a sore Of toilsome years ; Karthborne and sad, he left the bank, Back turned his dimming eye. and sank, Ah! full of years. How bitter must thy waters be, « O Death — how hard a thing, ah me ! It is to die! I muse, when to that stream again Another child of mortal men With smiles drew nigh. 'Tis the last pang, he calmly said ; To me, O Death, thou hast no dread ! Saviour, I come. Spread but Thine arms 011 yonder shore I see— yp waters bear me o'er, There is my home. From " Eternity." (By a Banker.)— 3sth thousand PriceUdi each or 5s per hundred, HaukhtoiY and Co., 20 Paternoster-row, B.C. London.