THE GARLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3348, 15 May 1918, Page 53

THE GARLAND.

FOR THE QUIET HOUR,

No. 246.

(By Duncan Wbight, Dunedin.)

A SAVIOUR WHO SAVES.

William Luff is an honoured name in evangelical literature. The Gospel Message from his pen, or lips, is always clear, definite, and strong, and never qualified or compromised by impotent "ifs" or "buts." His shots hit the bull's eye every time.

Here is a. sample : A Saviour who saves is the Saviour I need; A Saviour whose promise is proof of His

deed; A Saviour who tells me of grace, hope, and

joy, And' works a salvation not death can destroy

This sounds to my ears like the clear ring of a blacksmith's anvil; does it not? Once more read, please : A Saviour who saves is the Saviour you need; A Saviour in practice, in truth, and in deed; A Saviour as good as the stories I hear— And, friend, such a Saviour, my Saviour, is near. RALPH CONNOR, a well-known and much-honoured writer of books like "The Sky Pilot," has a message which also is clear and unmistakable. With a host of other celebrated heralds of the great Evangel, he took part in, what was called the mammoth evangelistic campaign in Philadelphia. He was, from full knowledge and, experience, thoroughly convinced of the real value of revivals in religion. O'ne morning he wag honoured and pri veleged to address a body oi ministers in Philadelphia, and said :—■ "I would rather preach the Gospel than write the' greatest book ever written. I would rather win souls to Christ than make £2OOO a month. I believe in sudden and instant conversion. Reform won't do. I tried for six years to reform a man, and it cost me hundreds of dollars; and last summer the same man forged my name to a dozen cheques. I quit the method, and henceforth will strive not to reform men, but to get them converted." Does not this utterance dovetail with the emphatic teaching of the perfectly Unique Teacher of all the ages, when, he said to one who was a teacher and theologian, "Ye must be born again?" He saves! there are witnesses, men whom you know; He saved them, and still His salvation they show. They used to be all that to-day you still are ; He saved them—they shine to His praise like <a star. "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved." (Romans x.J. WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN, when standing as Democratic candidate for the American Presidency, had the courage to use the following words : "I desire my minister to preach every Sabbath the simple Gospel. The old, old story never wearies the average congregation, if it comes from a devout mind with preparation for the message. "My ideal" (Mr Bryan continues) "sermon is one which has an appeal to the unconverted, and a.spiritual uplift for the Christian. I want my minister to act upon the belief that Christ's Gospel is the surest cure of all social and political evils, and that the method of promoting temperance, social morality, and good citizenship, is to bring men into the Church. In a word, I want my minister to emphasise in his life-work the declaration of the most successful preacher, Paul: 'lt pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.' " Now, isn't there here a muscular, honest ring about these words ? I think so. And coming from one who was not a faddist nor a crank, but a level-headed man, and a legislator to boot, all friends of the Gospel will be delighted, as I certainly am. I am optimistic enough to assume now, and have always assumed, that in our own community, and in all communities of rational beings, there are men and women who, secretly perhaps, although oppressed with a load of care—aye, sometimes crushed beneath a load of sin—eagerly long to be true disciples in the school of Christ. My messages are for all such, and solemnly do I feel and sincerely believe that such persons may be saved ancL, sanctified and made sons of God, and fitted by grace for endless bliss in the world to come! Let us sing it again:

A Saviour—their Saviour—my Saviour—and

He Is ready, my brother, your Saviour to be; To save you, and cleanse you, and keep you as well; Saved ever, till eavedi in His presence to dwell.

When reviewing Matthew i, 21, John Reuchlin, reviver of Hebrew learning in Europe, says: "The mysterious name is that of Jesus. . . . The Cross is the symbol of that miraculous Name. The word of tho Cross is -the greatest of all secrets: it is

whispered in the ear of the faithful, but is inaudible to others.

"The words of promise spoken by the angel of the Lord in. Joseph's dream are used by J. M. Neale as a message to the Christian heart. 'The command given to Joseph is also given to you. Whatever others may call that dear Lord, thou shalt call His name Jesus. Thou shalt call Him so, oh how earnestly, in prayer I Thou shalt call Him so, oh how earnestly and yearningly, by fixing thine eyes on the Cross, as the dying Israelite on the brazen serpent; thou shalt call Him so by clinging to Him, oh how entirely, as Peter on the surges of the sea; thou shalt call Him so, by leaning "on Him, oh how tenderly and confidingly, as the Bride coming up from the wilderness.' " FATHER IGNATIUS. Do you know the name at all? Well, never mind; read the story told by -this famous preacher. Une day when passing his door in Belgravia (London) to his carriage, the nobleman encountered a sweep who had been cleaning the chimneys of his man-sion-house, when the sweep had the courage to look up and say : "Have you the wealth of Christ's salvation?" Two months later the nobleman was dying, and he sent for the sweep, and from his message received by the power of the Holy Spirit the knowledge of salvation. Father Ignatius further reported that the 'nobleman not only wept for joy, but died in possession of the unsearchable riches of Christ.

If every genuine working man, became truly Christian, it would be Paradise restored—not as a fanciful dream, but as a solid fact. And if all toilers by brain, or by muscle, were truly converted to God, then should we see many of the hard problems which are to-day convulsing the nations solved and war—hateful war—come to an end !

Would to God. all readers of your (admirable journal could truthfully say and sing: I dare not work my soul to save, — That work's already done; But I will work like a-ny slave, From love to God's dear Son. Or this song: My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesu's Blood andi Righteousness; I dare net trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesu's mm. On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand, All other ground is sinking sand. Remember, All the fitness He requireth, Is to know your need of Him.. And,--. If you will tarry till you're better, You will never come at all. Come then, just as you are. Say-w Just as I am without one plea, But that Thy 810-. d was shed for me, And that Then bid'st me come to Tlicc, O Lamb of God, I come. A BISHOP'S TESTIMONY. To a scoffer Bishop Kavanagh said : "Twenty-five years ago I tried the power of God's grace. It made a different man of me. All these years I have preached salvation, and wherever accepted has never known to fail. A godless man may tear to tatters, as he thinks, your creed, but he cannot make mincemeat of your personal testimony." His power to save is just as strong As His strong power to love; As high, as deep, as broad, as long, And both His chosen prove. Bishop Ryler wrote: —"lt costs something to be a Christian. Let that never be forgotten. To be a nominal Christian, and go to Church, is cheap and easy work; but to hear Christ's voice, and follow Him. and confess Him,, requires some self-denial. It will ccst us our sins, and our self-righteousness, and our ease, and our worldliness." ANOTHER CLEAR TESTIMONY. "I believe for certain on the Lord Jesus Christ as my divine and atoning Saviour. God's word is my absolute warrant for salvation. I. have complied with God's conditions, and that settles it for me. I go by the Book. I abandon myself to my Saviour. I rest securelv in His keeping power, and go about His business in a consecrated life. Here I rest." A guilty, weak, and helpless worm, On Thy kind arms I fall; Thou art my strength and righteousness, My Saviour and my all. Note.—To friends and sympathisers who have spontaneously sent me words of thanks and exprersions of approval, 1 am sincerely grateful.—D. -W.