The Book for All:
ITS UNIVERSAL GOOD.
Ye have not sowed in vain!
Though the heavens seem as brass,
And, piercing the crust of the burning plain,
Ye scan not a blade of grass.
Yet there is life within,
And waters of life on high:
One morn ye shall wake, and the spring's soft green
O'er the moistened fields shall lie.
Tears in the dull, cold eye,
Light on the darkened brow,
The smile of peace or the prayerful sigh,
Where the mocking smile sits now.
Went ye not forth with prayer?
Then ye went not forth in vain:
"The Sower, the Son of Man," was there,
And His was that precious grain.
CHAPTER XIII
CHRISTIAN RESPONSIBILITY—FAITH—THE MACHINERY MAN—MAN'S INNER WORLD—SIN REPROVED—CONVERSE UPON AN OMNIBUS—THE INFLUENCE OF TRUTH—THE BIBLE ONLY—COMMUNICATION ESTABLISHED—BROUGHT NIGH, VERY NIGH.
The Book for All:
ITS UNIVERSAL GOOD
"And the next Sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the Word of God." Acts xiii. 44.
"THEY that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament:" they who have the wisdom of God in a mystery, or the hidden wisdom,—the knowledge not to be found by searching the works of creation, or in the discoveries and developments of science and philosophy. This wisdom cometh from above, and is therefore communicated by the all-wise and eternal Jehovah. This, and this alone, can enlighten man spiritually, invest him with power to comprehend the central and infinite in truth, and lead him to the attainment of those graces and perfections which can alone fit him for the reception of reflected glory, and raise him to a place before the throne of ineffable light and purity.
This wisdom (like its counterpart in the natural world, the sun) casts rays of light, beauty, and restoration very widely. When He, the essence of uncreated light, stood with "the glory He had with the Father" veiled, as the Teacher of men, He uttered a truth so mighty that wherever it is repeated the darkness fleeth away; wherever it is sounded forth with power, be it in the palaces of kings, in the hovels of the poor, or in the deepest recesses of moral corruption, the blackness of the shadow of death which surrounds the immortal soul is dispersed as by the voice of Omnipotence. Jesus said, "I am the Light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."
The Church militant, the royal priesthood, the ransomed people, is an assemblage of individuals called out of darkness into His marvellous light. This community of the blessed occupies the place of the absent Lord, and has to show forth His glory. As children of the day, they renounce the hidden things of darkness; and as vessels of mercy illuminated by Divine grace, they show forth "the light of the Lord." They of necessity do this by letting men see their good works, by reproving sin, by giving instruction in righteousness, by holy zeal in efforts to increase the kingdom of truth and purity. Possessed themselves of the Word of God, through which and by the Holy Spirit they are being sanctified, they use that same word for purposes of the grace of God which bringeth salvation. The Bible in the hand of the Christian is as the wisdom of God in the hand of Ezra, leading them "to judge;" to give wisdom and prudence "to all such as know the laws of their God, and to teach them that know them not." Hence it is the duty and high privilege of each Christian, be he minister or layman, ordained or unordained, to communicate precious truths, to teach from the Holy Scriptures which are able to make wise unto salvation, through faith, which is in Christ Jesus.
We have a conviction that the individual members of the Church have not yet risen to the dignity of every man saying to his neighbour, "Know the Lord." This witnessing for God is not a professional matter, but a religious duty. Masses of people in our great cities perish for lack of knowledge, while many partakers of precious faith are content to live without an effort to add one immortal spirit more to the ransomed from the earth. They, alas! are many who are under the "woe" pronounced against those "who live at ease in Zion." There are no laity in the theocracy of grace. All are priests. And they who have heard the call of Divine compassion, and feel themselves sheltered in the covenant of love, are commanded to say "Come," or for ever bear the reproach of being unfaithful servants. This standing back from the great conflict, this looking on instead of joining in the holy strife, is a reproach to the royal people, an injury to our neighbour, and a withholding of blessing from this sin-stricken world. There is work for all in the great vineyard, and opportunities for usefulness are ever occurring. It is not those only who dwell in squalor that require the Gospel: the respectable mechanics, the trading and professional classes; yes, and the educated, and the noble, and the princes of the earth: all who have not passed into the kingdom of grace need the same truth, the same restoring and elevating force. While, therefore, it is right to send the Gospel of the grace of God to the lower orders, this does not exonerate from the duty of influencing the other classes to the acceptance of truth and the practice of holiness. The necessities of the world require that every Christian should carry a pocket Bible, and study how to use it well. Then would the kingdom of God come with power.
There can be no doubt that the practical infidelity and viciousness of the classes immediately and very much above them has a most injurious effect upon the lower orders of society. The wealth of the rich is often used to the demoralization of the poor, while skilled workmen are the chief propagators of scepticism among them. Those, therefore, who give themselves to the labour and care of uplifting the very low, have a deep interest in the religious elevation of the more refined and educated, as the classes act with marvellous effect upon each other. These considerations must be our excuse for devoting this last chapter to narratives of like Christian work among the more advanced in the social scale. As infidelity is so terrible a foe, we commence with two instances of recovery from its destructive influence.
One evening the visitor had occasion to call at a public institution, and stopped in the lobby to examine a microscope and set of lenses. The optician showed him a telescope by which he said stars at a great distance could be seen and particulars accurately defined. In answer to the inquiry, "If those distinguished by the appellation 'telescopic stars,' and ranging from the seventh magnitude upwards could be seen by it," he gave a very clever answer, which led to a long and pleasant conversation. At parting, the visitor observed "that there was an instrument now much in use by the 'wise,' of higher range, and called by the name of 'faith,'—a gift of God, a power by which Christians could look through the clouds, beyond the nebulæ, even to the place where Jesus is seated at the right hand of God."
The optician shook his head, and said that "he believed in all that was true in creation, in all that could be demonstrated; but that his credulity stopped at the uncertain."
The subject was renewed upon another visit, and continued at intervals for some months; so that he became well instructed in the principles of that faith which is said to "abide" and to "dwell" in the true Christian, and which the unbelief of men cannot "make void." After a time the optician left the institution, and was lost sight of for nearly three years. He then addressed a letter to his friend of the telescope, from Middlesex Hospital, telling him that he had suffered sad reverses, and that he was a patient there with a painful eruption; and added, "Through the mercy of God I have obtained precious faith, and I hope to be ever mindful that I can only conquer the enemy by giving myself up, and entirely depending upon the blood of the Lamb. I feel, my dear friend, what tongue or pen cannot describe: I feel that I am preserved by our blessed Saviour from that doom I so deserved; and I now place all my dependence upon this new Friend, and I trust that I may continue in the faith, and rest in the Lord and wait."
When the visitor called he found him afflicted with a kind of leprosy, being covered with sores from head to foot. He however looked happy, and in the course of conversation, observed, "That remark, sir, about the telescope when you first spoke to me, was the leading step in my conversion: I never lost its impression. When I packed or unpacked the instruments I used to think about it, and at last got to desire your statement to be true,—that 'the Lord Jesus, by a power of the soul, could be seen pleading for and saving sinners;' but now, blessed be God, I feel that I have the heavenly gift, and pray for its increase." He recovered from his disease, and has for years proved his faith by holy living.
The other instance occurred in the International Exhibition. A visitor who frequently embraced opportunities to direct attention to some truth contained in the good old Book, was one morning worming his way through the machinery annex, when his progress was stopped by a barrier. As it was the midday hour for refreshment, the whirl and clatter was stayed, the machinery being at rest. A man, a fine specimen of the English mechanic, sat by the motive engine reading Goldsmith's History of England. The visitor noticed this, and, handing him a Gospel of St. John, said, "Here is part of the great biography,—some leading passages in the life of the King now crowned with many crowns; but whose life here was a miracle, from the manger to Golgotha."
"I have read it, sir," the man replied, taking the book; "but I cannot believe all the Bible says about Jesus Christ, and other matters."
"If you have time, I should like to know how it is that you reject the testimony which God has given of His Son?" said the giver of the Book, and the following conversation took place:—
"Well, sir, this is how it is: I was religious in my youth, but when an apprentice, my shopmates induced me to attend theological lectures followed by debates. These discussions shook my faith in the Christian system, and the reading of books has strengthened my convictions."
"This is a serious matter: do please tell me your chief difficulty."
"Well, sir, this is one: the Bible says that every man in order to be a Christian must have a change wrought in him called conversion, which to my mind is simply a change of opinion, with results which could be effected by other means. Socrates was made good by philosophy; and men of all opinions, even Mohammedan and Hindoo, have been made moral by the good in their systems. What we are to aim at is a perfect moral code free from superstition and spiritual tyranny."
"You must, my good friend, judge of a system by its general influence, as well as by its effect upon the individual; and I suppose that you would not like society to go back from the Christian to the heathen state, because there may have been moral heathens; or to live under the government of Turk or Hindoo, because some individuals among them have practised virtue. Now it occurs to me that you may not be quite clear in your views of the Christian system which you reject. It consists not of moral principles, which are its results,—but of a new life,—the communication of Divine influences. Let me illustrate this by your occupation. It is your duty to connect the band of this engine with the various machines; and thus by an act of yours a mass of inert mechanism instantaneously becomes subject to complicated motion, and invested with great power. It is so with the inner world of man's spiritual being, which has its facts as well as the outer and material. The soul of man has wonderful powers and capabilities, even when inert, in a state of spiritual deadness, resembling the machinery around us, until the steam force is communicated to it. Man in a state of nature is dead and incapable of loving God, or otherwise exercising the powers of his higher being; but the ever blessed Creator, by an act of clemency, pardons sinners who believe in Jesus, and gives His Holy Spirit to them. These divinely influenced persons form the Church of Christ, and of them the sayings of this Book are true: 'And you hath He quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins.' 'Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost.'"
The man, who had listened with rapt attention, rose from his seat, and said with emotion, "I see it all, sir, as if scales had fallen from my eyes. I have had my machinery, philosophy, science, Bible, and all sorts of books, but I have never prayed, 'Give me Thy Holy Spirit.'"
"Utter that prayer," said his instructor, "in the name of the well-beloved Son, and you shall be endued with power from on high; for He has said, 'I will give my Holy Spirit to them that ask Me.'"
As the time for setting the machinery in motion had arrived, the visitor promised him a book on infidelity; and after shaking hands with the new acquaintance, made his way through the annex.
Several other visits followed, and as the blessed result, the man believed on the Saviour, and gave evidence of having passed from death unto life. A clergyman who visited the place a few months after, wrote of him, "Among others I spoke to a man in charge of machinery; a frank, open-faced, and as I should think, open-hearted Englishman. 'I was, sir,' said he, 'an infidel, until a gentleman spoke to me here, and gave me a Gospel. He then reasoned with me, and lent me a book. I am now persuaded that the Bible is true, and I am trying to be a Christian.' I think he has the root of the matter in him."
The readiness with which this man received the Gospel is exceptional. With sceptics of his class prejudice is usually so strong that to remove it is like working through a granite wall; and, after years of effort, the good frequently appears to be lost upon them. Such an incident is therefore a great encouragement to trust in the power of revealed truth.
The reproving of sin is also a plain Christian duty, and yet how few nerve themselves to do it. Besides, persons who, for instance, are guilty of profane language, not only show their need of good counsel, but their very words give the judicious Christian a kind of introduction to them, which can be used to advantage. We will give two instances in illustration of this use of the Book.
When travelling in Yorkshire, the visitor one morning lost his train at a junction, and had to remain in the waiting-room for some time. Three young men entered, who proved to be a barrister's and two solicitor's clerks. One of them in his disappointment at not being in time, as he had to attend a barrister at the assize, uttered an oath, and another took the Divine Name with worse than lightness upon his lips.
"Be careful, gentlemen," observed the stranger, "or you will never discover the legal title."
"What on earth do you mean?" inquired the swearer.
"Just this: there are possessions of present value, and a heavenly inheritance covenanted and held direct from the king, but the profane and corrupt will never be able to prove their legal claim to them."
"It was a slip of the tongue, sir, as I don't swear," said the young man, with some confusion.
"Then be careful," was the reply, "not to contract a habit so vile."
As they had to wait an hour, the reprover produced his pocket Bible, and to interest them in the truth, compared the Old Testament to a court of law—stern law, in which no sinner living can be justified; and the New Testament to a court of equity, in which the highest legal Authority in the universe has pronounced sinners, who believe on Jesus, "Justified from all things from which they could not be justified by the law of Moses." After this, he impressively read the words: "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirits that we are the children of God; and if children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ." As the train approached the station, the young men thanked their reprover, and there was hearty hand-shaking.
The second instance occurred under exceptional circumstances, for the conversation took place at the top of an omnibus. Late one fine summer evening a Christian man was seated at that pleasant elevation, when, as they passed a club in Pall Mall, a gentleman came out, ascended to the top, and lit his cigar. As they passed along, he made a most improper remark concerning some low people who were quarrelling at the corner of a street.
"Your sympathies," observed the man addressed, "are evidently with those persons: as we say in chemistry, there is attraction, an affinity between you."—
"Thanks for the high estimate you have formed of me," said the gentleman in an angry tone.
"A very right way to estimate a stranger," was the reply, "as to judge a man out of his own mouth is a very proper judgment. There are only two orders of men—the natural or corrupt, and those who have been made pure in heart. Had you belonged to the latter, those bad people would have caused a revulsion of feeling within you; instead of that you spoke with sympathy, and I therefore as a moralist come to the conclusion that impurity attracts you instead of holiness."
This remark was followed by a long silence, when the gentleman turned suddenly toward his reprover and inquired,—
"Are you a religious man?"
"Yes: I am."
"Then your reproof of my thoughtless words was very proper; but to unchristianize a fellow for such a remark is really too bad."
"I did not unchristianize you, but gave honestly the impression your words conveyed to my mind. And now by way of apology for the sharp manner in which I spoke, may I return your question: 'Are you a religious man?'"
"Well, yes: I am certainly baptized, and am regular in attendance at church with my family; but after all I am not quite right, as there are mysteries in the faith which trouble me."
"Are you a new creature in Christ Jesus?"
"That doctrine has no doubt a depth of meaning and much beauty in it, but I can only see the beauty. With me it is not a reality, as the longer I live the more difficult it is for me to conceive of the Almighty God and a vile creature, an unit among hundreds of millions, holding intercourse and affecting a transaction between them."
"And yet such is the fact, established by the verities of the Truth Himself, who has said, 'Your heavenly Father will give His Holy Spirit to them that ask Him.'" And then pressing the arm of the gentleman, the speaker continued, "It is thus: just as matter can influence matter, so can spirit influence spirit. Your body feels the grasp of my hand, and it is as possible for your soul to be touched by the Holy Spirit of God and to be made conscious of that blessed influence."
The conversation was continued, and deepened in interest until the omnibus came to the end of its journey in the suburb. The passengers alighted, and then the gentleman in a most graceful way said, "You have, sir, reproved me wisely, and made the truth, which for years has disturbed me, so plain, that duty to myself requires me to ask your friendship, certainly for the favour of another long conversation."
"I am much occupied," was the reply, "but will gladly spare an hour or so to-morrow evening, should you be disengaged."
"Then I will give you my card, and will remain at home to receive you. I have only to ask you as a point of honour not to mention my foolish remark."
The promise was given, and the gentleman handed his card to the religious teacher, who was startled at the rank of the man to whom he had spoken so faithfully; but addressing him by his title, he endeavoured to fix the Scripture in his mind: "If any man be in Christ he is a new creature: old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."
Upon the next evening the promised visit was paid, and the stranger was introduced by his new friend to the family circle. For a time his lady was reserved (as well she might be), but after an hour's converse about "things spiritual," she became genial and kind. Before he left, the servants were called in, and the Missionary read and gave a short exposition of the chapter commencing with the words: "And you hath He quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins;" after which he engaged in extempore prayer.
This was the first of many pleasant visits, and the commencement of a friendship with the family which had its proof of blessing,—certainly with its head, who received the doctrine of regeneration in its fulness. When a believer is impressed with the duty of witnessing for God, opportunities for doing so are sure to occur, and if he keeps simply to the Bible, good will of necessity result. He may speak with conscious feebleness, but his infirmity has nothing to do with the matter. The secret of success in Christian work is humility before God and meekness of wisdom before men, united with firm faith in the truth and power of the Divine Word. That Word can be spoken by, but can gain no improvement or strength from man. All experience gives proof of this, and we add two narratives, in confirmation of others, which show that the lodgment of passages from the Holy Scriptures is sufficient to accomplish the purposes of grace.
A Christian man was in the studio of a celebrated sculptor, fixing upon designs for the first drinking-fountains erected in London. When the order was given for cutting passages of Scripture in the solid granite, the sculptor objected, upon the ground of "leading the vulgar to despise the Scriptures, by making its words common." The point was reasoned with him, and the position taken, "that any word of God may lead the thoughts of men up to Him, and that the honouring of His truth must therefore be attended with beneficial results." The order was carried out, and for years the drinking-fountains of London have at the same time refreshed the people with pure water, and instructed them in words of heavenly wisdom. Upon one of them, in the Edgeware Road, is the Proverb, "The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life." One evening two young men passed it. The eldest was a barman, and the other was his youngest brother, who had just come up from the country. They had planned the robbery of the master in this way: the youth was to enter the bar as a stranger, to call for liquor, and to hand his brother sixpence; change for a sovereign or half-sovereign, according to the money in the till, was then to be handed back to him. This was to be repeated several times during the evening, and next day they were to meet and divide the spoil. As they passed the fountain the eye of the youth caught the inscription, "The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life," and he gazed at it with riveted attention. The teaching received at Sunday-school and a succession of corresponding Scriptures flashed into his mind. Turning to his brother, he said, "God will see us, and I dare not do this thieving." Next Sunday he attended a meeting of "The Young Men's Christian Association," and soon after became a decided Christian. Who can tell how many have been thus blessed by Wisdom making her voice heard in the public ways!
The other instance was that of an opportunity being embraced of speaking faithfully to eighteen highly intelligent young men. They had assembled in a classroom at the Royal Polytechnic, to receive instruction from a professor in chemistry. A Christian man had occasion to enter the room, and upon being informed that several of the young men were telegraph clerks, he reminded them that the word "religion" in Latin really meant "binding again,—the re-uniting of a broken communication;" and added, "This is the condition of us all in our natural estate. Communication is cut off between the sinner and the Almighty Creator. Faith in the Lord Jesus and the reception of the Holy Spirit are the only means by which communication can be re-established between the creature on earth and the offended Majesty of heaven; as it is written, 'Ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.'"
More than a year after this circumstance a young man lay upon his death-bed. A rapid consumption had reduced him to a shadow, and when he felt the end drawing nigh, he sent for the Christian visitor, to thank him for speaking so clearly of Jesus in the hall of many sciences. He was at that time "far off," but by faith in the risen Lord he had obtained mercy, and a blessed hope of everlasting life. He spoke of "the comfort of prayer," and "his sweet anticipation of glory," as proofs that communication had been established between him and the Father of his spirit. Soon after this he fell asleep in Jesus. In him the great object of the Church in all her labours was accomplished. Being ignorant, he was instructed in saving truth. Being separated from his God, he was drawn by the cords of Divine love; and then, being assured of resurrection life in Jesus, he laid down his mortal body that he might follow with the ransomed of the Lord, who enter Zion with songs, and everlasting joy upon their heads.
This great good resulted from one Scripture being fixed in the mind of that young man, "But now in Christ Jesus, ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ." To every Christian the Word is committed, and it is the duty of all to use it for the spiritual enlightenment of others. All whose communication with heaven has not been re-established, must be instructed in the saving truths of Holy Scripture. Opportunities to instruct the intellectual and the higher social classes in the grand but simple truths of salvation must not be lost; but to the poor the Gospel must be preached. They were and ever will be the objects of the deep solicitude of our Lord. He in a special manner was their Teacher: for them as for others He lived and agonized and died. They must not be permitted, as in our great cities, to continue in ignorance and sin, and with multitudes to die the death that is eternal. The Church universal must answer, "No!" She must gird on her strength, and convey the Book of God, which sheds the light of His salvation, into every dark dwelling,—that redemption's work may spread, and the people learn righteousness, to their salvation and to the praise of the glory of Divine grace.