THE GARLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3802, 25 January 1927, Page 68

THE GARLAND.

BOR TEE QUIET HOUR. _ No. 700. By Duncan Wright, Dunedin. (Fob tzd WxthixbJ “TRY CHRIST.” King of Ages ! We adore Thee Great in wisdom, grace, and lovs; • kingdom, power, and gloryEarth is Thine, and Heaven above. King of Ages! Earth will crumble ■oU. ,- eky in smoke decay; But Thy love which lifts the humble chines—the light of endless day. * * * A conversation arose one day in the public hospital at on the subject of religion. A convalescent had crawled, with the aid of his crutch, to the bedside of a comrade who had been with him in engagements on the battlefield. Well, Barry, how are you to-day?” inquired the visitor. “I cannot say all’s well indeed. Stanton, either inwardly or outwardly; but you are just the man I want to see.” And what can I do for you, my good fellow?” “Well, the chaplain was here yesterday, and I told him that I was miserable. I told him, too, that I had tried pleasure, drink, and everything; and that now my wretched mind was harder to bear than my wounds. And what do you think he said? In the solemn and earnest manner he said: ‘Try Christ.’ ’ All night long these words have been in my ears: ‘Try Christ!’ But what cau they mean?” Through sovereign grace and divine light the soldier found out what was meant by, and included in, the mystic words; “Try Christ.” King of Ages! We implore" Thee, Since Thou hast not spared Thy Son, Grant that we may only glory, In what Jesus Christ has done. * * * Reader in the crowded, bustling city have you tried Christ? Reader in the far off isolated bush, sailor on the sea, soldier in the barracks, shepherd on the lonely gully and hillside’ digger on the goldfields, plodder in the coal mine, lady with jewelled fingers in the drawing room, maid in the kitchen, clerk in the counting-house, apprentice in the noisy workshop, mother everywhere—have you tried Christ? If you can honestly, humbly, reverently, yet firmly, reply: “Yes, I have, and He has made me glad,” tell it out, tell it out! Ff honestly you must say “No,” then Try Christ ’ to-day. Yes, this very day where you are, and as you arc. King of Ages! Kindly hear us. And through the light Thy Word affords Let us find Thee always near us King eternal. Lord of lords! * * * In view of the great works of the Great Teacher: “What shall it profit a man if he shall gain the -whole world and lose his own soul?” Just think of it—a church member, but a stranger to Jesus Christ! An office-bearer, but no Christ! A Sunday School teacher, but no Christ! No life! No true peace, no joy, no gladness, no song! Cold, formal, heartless! The man in the pew, if he be wise, will often say: “Good Lord, deliver me from the sin and snare of being a mechanical critic; make me a devout, reverent worshipper!” How easy and how common the custom to grumble and cavil at preachers and preaching. Too often, alas! The fault is at your own door. “Try Christ”; a personal, present, precious Christ. He fills and floods the soul with light, with life, with abiding gladness. Then—and only then—may we, with the dear old Quaker poet, say and sing:—

For the dear Christ dwells not afar, The King of some remoter star, Listening at times with flattered ear To homage rung from selfish fear; But here, amidst the poor and blind. The bound and suffering of our kind, In works we do, in prayers we pray, Life of our life, He lives to-day! Kind reader, don’t misundertsand me, and don’t misrepresent me. Fair, honest criticism is not deprecated, and never should be objected to —never. Please don’t get angry or impatient with the writer who has no axe to, grind—none whatever. The Pauline teaching is this: “The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him, and he cannot know them, because they are spiritually judged.” Says the sweet singer: “The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him.” The wrongs of past can be righted only effectively in one way:

“TRY CHRIST!” To Him who is seated on the throne, And to the Lamb, Be all blessing and honour Until the ages of the ages. * * *

“I beheld, and 10, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying: ‘Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and' unto the Lamb. Amen: Blessing and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.’ ”

In no way am I concerned about books where all the good people die. But strenuously would I plead for robustness and jubilation of sanctified common sense and vigorous manhood which knows and loves Jesus Christ, and lives for Him in the blazing day. Quite apart from wrangling and all theorising and valueless speculation wo have over and over again seen and known saintly women and manly men who have tried Christ, and were completely changed in thought, in speed, and in action, and the change was observed by all concerned. .* * * Grimaldi, the once famous actor, at the height of his success, when multitudes were laughing with him, went to consult a famous physicfan as to his own health of mind and body which caused untold misery and melancholia of a distressing character. In ignorance of who his visitor was the doctor said: “Go and hear Grimaldi; he will put you right, he will cure you.” The actor replied: “Good God, doctor, I’m the man. While causing ceaseless merriment and laughter among my patrons, I am a wretched man.” Alas! we have been pained to know such cases. Once again we repeat to all who are similarly situated : “Try Christ!” * * * Blessing and honour and glory and power. Wisdom and riches and strength evermore. Give ye to Him who our battle hath won, hose are the kingdom, the crown, and the throne. Give we the glory and praise to the Lamb, Take ws the robe and the harp and the palm, - Sing we the song of the Lamb that was slain. Dying in weakness, but rising to reign. The great Spurgeon said: “More ami more am I jealous lest any views upon prophecy, church government, politics, or even systematic theology should withdraw one of us from glorying in the Cross of Christ.” “Blessed is that ministry of which Christ is all.” * * * Yesterday, to-day, and every day we rub shoulders with neighbours and friends who are kind and courteous, and yet wo know, and they also know, that without Christ all happiness is hollow, delusive, and utterly disappointing. Too often, alas! the conscience rebukes us sharply, and refuses to be bribed, and the heart secretly says: “Go away for to-day; when I have a more convenient season and when I have tried the pleasures of life, then—but not till then—do I mean to try Christ.” * * * Said Dr James Hamilton: “If any inquire the foundation of my hope and confidence it is not that I have been a minister of the Gospel, or have been kept from sin, for I feel utterly unworthy; but my hope is in the mercy of God through Jesus Christ, and in that blood which cleanseth from all sin. And I wish to go into God’s presence as the others have gone—a sinner saved by grace, a sinner saved by grace.” * * * Lord Jesus, take us, keep us near to Thee, That all the world may know that we are Thine; May risen glory lustrs all our actions. And our daily words and conduct shine. * * * A PERSONAL TESTIMONY. “Gentlemen,” said Dr M‘Call of Manchester, to his physicians, “I am no fanatic; rather have I been too much of a speculatist, and I wish to say this: I am a great sinner. I have been a great sinner, but my trust is in Jesus Christ, and what He has done and suffered for sinners. Upon this as the foundation of my hope I can confidently rely now that I am sinking into eternity.” Does the reader of this message wish a true Friend? “Try Christ.” Do you desire a precious personal Saviour? Try Christ. Do you desire abiding rest and peace? Try Christ now. Conscience whispers soft and low? Try Christ. Nothing in my hands I bring, Simply to Thy Cross I cling.