THE GARLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3338, 6 March 1918, Page 53

THE GARLAND.

FOR THE QUIET HOUR. No. 236. Br Duncan Wright, Dunedin. " "JUST AS I AM." Early in 1887 the editors of the Sunday at Home invited readers to send lists of the 100 English hymns which stood highest' in their esteem. N early 3500 persons responded to the invitation. The first on the list, "Rock of ages," received 3215 votes; the three next received about 3000 votes—- " Abide with Me," "Jesus, Lover of my soul," and "Just as I am." Just as I ami without one plea, But that Thy blood was shed for me, And that Thou bid'st me come to Thee, O Lamb of God, I come! Just as I am., and waiting not , To rid- my soul of one dark blot, To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot, O Lamb of God, I come! Just as I am, though tossed about With many a conflict, many a doubt, Fightings and fears, within, without, O Lamb of God, I come! Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind; Sight, riches, healing of the mind 1 , Yea, all I need in T'hee to find, O Lamb of God, I come! Just as I am, Thou wilt receive. Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve, Because Thy promise I believe, O Lamb of God, I come! Just as I am (Thy love unknown Has broken every barrier down), Now to be Thine, yea, Thine alone, O Lamb of God, 1 come! Just as I am, of that free love, The breadth, length, depth, and height to • prove, 7 Here for a season, then above, •" O Lamb of God, I come! Miss Charlotte Elliot was visiting some friends in the West End of London, and there met the eminent pastor, Cesar Malan. While seated at supper the pastor said (in a quiet, kindly way), "I hope you are a Christian." The lady took offence at this, and replied that she would not discuss that question. Dr Malan said he'was sorry if he had offended her —that he always liked to speak a word for his Master, and that he hoped that some day the yoijng lady would become a worker for Christ. When they again met at the home of a mutual friend three weeks later Miss Elliot told the pastor that ever since he had spoken to her she had-been trying to find the Saviour, and that she wished him to tell her how to come to Christ. "Just come to Him as you are," said Dr Malan. This she did, and went away rejoicing. Very soon afterwards slip wrote this well-known popular hymn, which first appeared in " The Invalid's Hymn-book " in 1836. She was an honoured member in the Church of England. "In all my preaching," said her brother, the Rev. H. V. Elliot, " I have not done so much good as my sister has been permitted to accomplish by writing this one hymn, "Just as I am." This gifted woman was born in 1789 and died in 1871. She was grand-daughter to the Rev. John Venn. I have, ventured publicly to declare in many towns and cities how much (as a Scot) I love the grand old solid, rugged Psalms, because they are, when understood, so full of marrow, substance, and strength. Through the ages men and women, good and true, have used them, and found them most helpful in the battle of life. Sincerely would I hope and pray that the Psalms will never be discarded in the gatherings of God's people. Some of the hymns used are mere jingle and sound, we frankly admit. Many—very many—of the hymns are most precious, so full of New Testament teaching, and by the Divine blessing have been the means of answering fully and clearly the old Bible question, " What must I do to be saved?" Take this case as an illustration: One day a faithful minister, the pastor of a small church, met in the street a young girl, a member of his congregation. She told her pastor she was preparing for a ball, when he said, " I wish you would give up your life of vanity and become a true Christian and act as such." In the impulse of the moment she replied: "I wish you would mind your own business and leave me alone," or words to that effect. She went to the ball. Soon afterwards she realised that she had grieved her friend and pastor. When she could not bear it longer she again saw him, and said, "What must I do to be saved?" Ultimately she went to her room, and, taking a pencil and paper, wrote the words:

Just as I am, without one plea, But that Thy blood was shed for mo, And that Thou bid'st mo come to The*?, O Lamb of God, I cornel

We have reached perilous days, and parents are deeply concerned about sons and daughters all over the land.. The world's pleasures and snares are spread out before them, and they axe halting between the world and Christ. What a strength they might be to the cause of Christ and His Church! If they would calmly, and with full intelligence, decide for God, there would be in heaven and on earth a perfect thrill of gladness. There are not only parents, but pastors and teachers who are eagerly watching and waiting to see these words of promise realised: " They that sow in tears shall reap in joy." If hundreds, nay, thousands, of our young people throughout our own land and the sister colonies would, like Charlotte Elliot, the gifted singer, earnestly weigh and calmly consider these mighty questions, with the vast issues involved, renounce all that really hinders from clear decision, and quietly come in faith to the waiting Saviour and say, or sing :

O Lamb of God, I come! there are fathers and mothers, and ministers, too, who would weep for joy ! Parenthetically might one be allowed to ask this question : - If the preaching in our churches was sometimes simpler, clearer, and more pointed as to the way of salvation, would it not greatly help those who in our Lord's time were called "the common people" ? There are, beyond all disputation, in our congregations many persons, of all ages and capacities, who are really and truly anxious"' inquirers, who might sometimes say to teachers and preachers (and if they did it would be well) : "We do not quite follow you or understand, and much of your preaching goes over our heads : what we most of all wish to know is how our weary hearts and wounded consciences may be brought into immediate, personal, and close contact with the Friend of sinners. In plain, homely language, please answer us questions like these : May we be saved ? How may we be saved ? May we be saved now ? May we know that we are saved?" In my humble judgment these are not only vital points, but vastly more important to unsaved men and women than many of the efforts that are made to solve intellectual difficulties or unravel hard theological problems.

Sir James Simpson was not ashamed to say : ''My sole and whole trust is in the love of Christ, as my all-sufficient Sinbearer and Saviour." Just as' I am,' -without one plea, But that Thy blood was shed for me. "I so like the plain, simple, gospel truth, and don't care to go into questions beyond that. I have heard of men of science and philosophy raising doubts and objections to the Gospel of Christ; but I have never for one moment had a doubt myself since I believed." - What a noble testimony from one of Scotland's illustrious sons ! So far as I undestand God's Word, there is one, only one, way of obtaining present, full, free salvation from sin and death and hell. The dying thief of yon far distant century had no merit, no plea, no righteousness of his own. The 'dying thief rejoiced to see That fountain in his day, And there may I, tho' vile as he, "Wash all my sins away. England's well-loved Queen, in her day, and the poorest men and women in her vast dominions, were invited to come to the same Saviour and in the same'manner—that is, repenting of and renouncing sin, consenting and assenting with head and heart to be cleansed by the precious blood of our Substitute and "Redeemer, and to be clothed with His spotless righteousness. "0 Lamb of God, I come!" • .