Containing: "Two Years on the Brink of Jordan,"with Letters on Sanctification and a Storyfor Little Folks; the last namedwritten expressly for TwoLittle Nephews,BYMRS. REBECCA STEWARD.
Early one spring morning, as I was going about my work, a messenger arrived, saying my Father wanted me. So I made haste and finished up all my work, looked over my wardrobe, picked out and packed up such articles as I thought I should need, and started on my journey, my guide going on before. We had not traveled far before we came to a broad, dark river, whose waters at the time were very much swollen. My guide said, I would have to wait awhile till a ferryboat could come and take me across; so I sat down on the bank of the river and began musing. The river, though so dark and swollen, did not look so dreary,for my guide had given me a telescope, through which I could look away beyond and see my Father's House, which was illuminated with glory and light; and the light from that far mansion shone over the river and the dark valley all around. While I sat there musing, the boat came, but not for me; there were other friends there, the Father had sent for before me; but he sent me this comforting message: "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee," and my soul answered: "All the days of my appointed time will I wait till my change comes." (Job iv., 14.) And so for many days I sat there waiting and musing; again and again the boat came and went, friend after friend passed over, but still the message came not for me. At length I began to grow weary and impatient; to neglect my Father's business; saying my Lord delays his coming; then came this quiet reproval: "Ye have need of patience, that after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise." "For yet a little while and He that is to come will come and will not tarry." (Heb. ix., 36, 37.) After this gentle reproof, I felt ashamed and strove to humble myself under the mighty hand of God, and in due time He did build me up, for my guide advised me to take my telescope and take another look towards my Father's House. I did so, and the sight gave me new vigor, for I could see all the surroundings of my Home. I could see its beautiful gardens, all its choicest fruit and its sweetestflowers; and flowing through the midst of the garden I could see the "pure river" of the "Water of Life," which watered and enlivened every plant that grew in the garden; and on either side of the river stood the "Tree of life," "which bore twelve manner of fruit, and yielded her fruit every month, and the leaves of the tree were good for the healing of the nations;" then there was the sweet Lilly of the Valley, in its humble innocence sending up its rich perfume; then the "Rose of Sharon" was there, whose odor filled the air with sweetness, and the Birds of Paradise were there,—those sweet little songsters that the Father had brought from the cold, sterile regions beyond Jordan, and placed in His beautiful garden. They were busily flitting from branch to branch, warbling forth their sweetest notes, and making the air resound with their music. Some of them I thought I almost knew, by the mark of their feathers. As I sat gazing, the river that before had been so swollen, seemed to subside and become very narrow, and seemed as if I had nothing to do, but get up and walk across; but my guide detained me, saying: "If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall in due time eat the good of the land, but if disobedient, the sword of the enemy shall devour you."
Being still detained and feeling somewhat weary, "I laid me down and slept, and awoke again, for theLord sustained me." On awaking, I took up my telescope to take another look across, but I only had it adjusted to my eye, when I again discovered the ferryboat in the distance. This time I thought surely it was coming for me, and began to look around and make all things ready for departure; but again I was doomed to disappointment. The boat came, but not for me this time either; another friend must go before me, one whom the Father thought more weak and needy than I. And as He saw me begin to grieve and fret, He sent me another comforting message, saying: "I will not leave the comfortless, in the sixth trial; and in the seventh, I will not leave thee nor forsake thee." Then again my soul replied, I will fear no evil; in God alone will I put my trust. When I found I had to wait awhile longer, I thought I would look around on this side of Jordan, for I had been so anxious to get home to my Father's House, and so busy looking beyond, that I had not noticed anything on this side so much; and in the glory of light that beamed across the river, I had not noticed the poisonous flowers that spread their baneful influence over all the land, or the muddy, filthy pools, sending up their miasmatic odors, poisoning the air; and while I was looking, with shame let me say it, poisonous as were those flowers, noxious as was the vapor from the pools, I began to be interested in them, and to seek after them; so much so, that my guide said softly in my ear: "Watch and pray, lest ye enterinto temptation." (Matt. xxvi., 41.) But I was so engrossed with the flowers, and the whisper came so softly, that I did not heed it, but kept on going farther away from the river, losing sight more and more of my Father's House. Again my guide called after me, but this time in louder tones: "Therefore be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh." (Matt. xxvi., 24.) But still, strange as it may seem, and as ungrateful as it appears after the pleasant view I had had of my Father's House, and the soothing promises he had given me, such is perverse human nature, that I paid but little heed, but still wandered on, plucking flowers, now here, now there, 'till I had gone quite away; but still my loving Father would not leave me, "for whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth," and on looking up I saw my guide approaching with a rod, which, when he came near enough, he laid heavily about me. Humbled, ashamed and bleeding, he brought me back and laid me exhausted on the bank, where I lay for many days without power to move or courage to look up. Although I had been so disobedient, yet was my guide most assiduous in his attentions and care of me, saying: "If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons, for what son is he whom the Father chasteneth not. (Heb. xii., 70.) And as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that love him, for he knows our frame that we are but dust." (Ps. clxxxiii, 13.) It sorely repented me, and with the Psalmist I exclaimed: "My feet were almost gone, my steps were well nigh slipped." (Ps. lviii, 2) Then I began to cry mightily unto the Lord for help, and from His temple He heard me, and from His Holy Hill He sent me succor. And I was comforted by this message: "Before thou callest I will hear thee, and while thou art yet speaking, I will answer thee." Being thus comforted and somewhat strengthened, my guide advised me to take up my telescope again and take another look across the river. It had been so long since I had looked across, he thought it would do me good, and so it did; for as I looked the green shores appeared so pleasant and inviting to me, it made me feel at once like passing over, and while I was gazing I saw the boat again leave the shore; this time I thought it would certainly come for me. Again I gathered up my things making ready to depart, and many friends gathered around me, mourning and weeping, begging me not to go, but stay with them; yet I was anxious to be gone. Many were the petitions that went over to my Father's House to spare me a little longer, that "they could not do without me;" in this I could not join them. I could only say: "Lord let thy will be done." Meanwhile the boat came nearer and nearer, and I lay looking, both hoping and fearing; hoping it was coming for me, and fearing it was coming for me; for like the apostle I was in a strait betwixttwo: "for me to live is Christ, but to die is gain." (Phil. vii., 21-23.) And I suppose that the prayers of tender friends must have prevailed, for when the boat drew nearer, I found it was not coming for me yet, but I received this message: "Let Patience have her perfect work that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." (James, i., 4.) From this I saw that Patience was to be my best friend and I tried to take her close to my bosom, and my heart breathed the prayer: "Lord help me with Patience to do all thy righteous will concerning me," and, as I sat there, with Patience for my comforter, I grew calm and composed and began to wonder what had become of the boat I had seen approaching, when, on looking around, I saw it had stopped close by an old friend that had been laying there for a long time; almost ever since I had been there, and, while I looked, I saw her with a shout spring up and step quickly into the boat. Oh! with what rapture I gazed; and when the boat struck out from the shore I could hardly contain myself, I felt I really must go too. But Patience laid her hand on me, and whispered to me, to take my telescope and look after them; and, as I looked, the boat sprang from the shore with great velocity; the river seemed to become narrower, and the light from my Father's Temple so illuminated it, that the darkness had all fled away; and, as I gazed, my vision became brighter andbrighter, and my telescope became more powerful, and it seemed, I might follow the boat with my naked eye, as it sped its way across, until it neared the other shore; and, as it neared the shore, I saw the pearly gates of my Father's House fly open, a company came out to meet her, with songs of welcome, saying: "Come ye, blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." (Math. xxv., 34.) So they took hold of her and led her in through the gates; and, as they went through, I could hear the warbling of the birds amidst the rustling of the leaves, and could see the waving grass and sweet flowers, and the waters rippling along their winding way. As I looked, I really thought there were more birds than I had ever seen before; and I never heard them sing so sweetly. As I gazed upon the shining ones, I tried to see if I could recognize any of them; and I thought I could see several whose faces were familiar to me there, and with whom I had associated; and, while I was still looking, they led her into the vestry; then I lost sight of her awhile; but, presently, they brought her forth clothed in white linen, pure and clean, and a palm of victory was placed in her hand; then I saw a greater number come to meet her, and they all joined in one mighty overpowering song, saying: "Salvation to our God, who sitteth on the throne, and unto the Lamb." (Rev. vii., 10.)
As I heard this, my heart felt like bursting with rapture. O! how I longed to be there! Just then the pearly gates swung to, and I could see them no more. When I could see no more within, I thought I would take a look around and view the holy ground, and "mark well her bulwarks." So I looked well around her walls, and measured her towers, which I found to be very strong, so that no enemy could prevail against them; and her walls were great and high, and I found they lay four-square and rested on twelve foundations, all of them precious stones, and on each foundation there was a name written, which, when I had looked more closely, I found to be the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel; and in each wall I saw there were three gates, and on the gates I saw the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb; and, as I still looked, I saw numbers coming and entering in at the gates, from all parts of the world, East, West, North, and South; every gate seemed in use, and with every new arrival there were new songs of praise. As I still looked, I discovered, that all that went over, did not enter the pearly gates; but, instead, some were hurled over a dreadful precipice, which lay just below the wall, and led to a dark, dreary gulf below, where the voice of their groanings was dreadful to hear. Then I asked: "Who are these?" And my guide informed me: "These are they that go away into everlasting punishment, andthe smoke of their torment ascends up forever and ever." And now my guide thought I had seen quite enough for awhile, and so had better lie down and rest; musing on these words: "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither has it entered the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love Him."
While wondering what more could be for the child of God, than that which my eyes had already seen, I fell asleep. When I awoke, everything looked calm and bright around me; so I thought, with Patience, I would take a stroll along the banks, and see if there were any friends there whom I knew; for I saw many had gathered there unobserved, while I had been so deeply interested in what was going on, on the other side of the river. As I went around from one to another, I found several I was acquainted with; some had been waiting for a long time, others had just arrived. Some were waiting with patience, others were growing very impatient. To while away the time, and for mutual encouragement, I sat down, and entered into conversation with some of them. "For as iron sharpeneth iron, so doth a man the face of his friend." Some had grown very weary, and one said: "I would have fainted, unless I had believed, to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living; and now I believe, that ere long I shall see the King in his beauty, for I have the promise, that He,that is to come, will come, and will not tarry. And my Father's command is: Wait on the Lord, be of good courage; and also the promise: And He shall strengthen thine heart. Wait, I say, on the Lord."
With this I felt very much encouraged, and felt as if I too could "Wait on the Lord." Much more encouragement from one and another I found, till presently I saw one coming up in great haste, saying: "My Father has just sent for me in great haste, and I must be gone. Have you seen the boat that takes us across?" I looked up and saw it coming, and, while waiting for it to come to the shore, I asked her at what time the messenger came for her. "In the early part of the evening," she said, just as she had folded away all her work, and closed up her house, and had sit down, to enjoy a long, quiet evening, thinking over those texts of warning: "Let your loins be girded about you, and your lights burning." Another: "Be ye also ready; for in an hour, when you think not, the Son of man cometh." And said she: Just while I was musing on these things, there came a knock at the door, and the messenger came in, saying: "The Master calleth for thee;" so I left all and made great haste to get here. The boat then came alongside; she sprang in, and it shot off from the shore like an arrow. Again I felt as if Icouldnot be left behind; and, feeling so anxious to go, I almost sprang into the water; for the river looked sonarrow, and I could see the bottom so plain; it seemed as if I could walk across; but Patience laid hold of me and gently held me back, saying: "Wait on the Lord, that the trial of your faith being much more precious than of gold, that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ."
But I still felt so homesick and complaining, that my friend had almost gained the other side, before I had observed it; so, then, I thought, if I could not go, I could see across, and with my telescope I could follow her and see her enter the pearly gates; by this time she had reached the shore, and I saw a great company come out to meet her, having harps in their hands; among them were several that I knew, who had journeyed with us through life, whom I had heard many times tell their hopes and fears; but, now, they were safely housed in their Father's mansion, never more to go out. As they came to her they commenced chanting: "Blessed are they that do his commandments; that they may have a right to the Tree of Life, and may enter in through the gates into the City."
As they led her through the gates, I again heard the singing of birds; it seemed to me, at this time, they sang louder and sweeter than ever. Andamongst them I saw three,[1]that I thought looked more bright and cheerful than the rest. These kept all the time very near her, sometimes sitting on her shoulders, sometimes in one place, then another; but all the time keeping near her, and expressing the utmost joy. On examining more closely, I found they were some pets that she had sent to her Father several years before; and now they led her into the vestry; and, while they were robing her, as the gates were still ajar, I thought I would look further within. So, by readjusting my telescope, and increasing its magnifying power, I could see away beyond the walls; and I discovered there "many mansions," that my "Elder Brother" had gone many years ago to prepare, for all those that love him. I thought, "my sister will soon inhabit one of these mansions," and, how long, ere I too shall inhabit one also; and, in the anxiety and desire of my soul, I cried: "How long, oh Lord!" Then my guide whispered, reprovingly: "In patience possess ye your soul." So, being comforted, I continued my gaze, and, looking further on, I saw a great and high mountain, which, my guide told me, was Mount Zion; and a Lamb stood on the mountain, and with him a hundred and forty and four thousands, having their Father's name written in their foreheads; and I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of manywaters, and as the voice of a great thunder; and I heard the voice of harpers, harping on their harps; and, they sang, as it were, a new song before the throne. (Rev. xiv., 1-3.) Then I inquired of my guide who the Lamb was, and who was this great company that was with him; and he said: "The Lamb is He that was slain from the foundation of the world, and they, that are with him, are those who follow the Lamb, withersoever he goeth; these were redeemed from among men, being the first fruits unto God and the Lamb." As I listened to their music, I tried to hear what they were singing; and I found they were singing the "Song of Moses, the servant of God," and the song of the Lamb, saying: "Great and marvelous are thy ways, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are thy ways, thou King of Saints. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name, for Thou only art holy; for all nations shall come and worship before thee, for thy judgments are made manifest." (Rev. xv., 3, 4.)
[1]Three children that this Christian mother had buried before.
[1]Three children that this Christian mother had buried before.
I had become so enraptured with this beautiful sight, and so charmed with the music, that I had quite forgotten my sister; but now I bethought myself to look for her. I had not looked long, before I discovered her amidst the company of the just made perfect; and, I thought, her song was the loudest of any, as she sang: "I have come up through tribulations, and washed my robes and made them white inthe blood of the Lamb!" Oh, how I longed to be amongst the heavenly throng; but just then I heard friends calling me on this side, saying: "Oh, be content to stay with us a little longer; we cannot let you go; even lying here, we cannot do without you; even this is better than not have you at all." The little children came winding themselves around me, begging me to stay. "Oh," they would say, "we do want you to be back among us; we cannot bear you to leave us." Oh! the power of human love! How my heart was grieved! I was again in a strait betwixt two; for, indeed, I felt it better to "depart and be with Christ." But my Father knew best what he wanted me to do, so He left me the promise: "Abide in me and I will abide in you; I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you." After this I entered into conversation with my guide, about my friends that had gone over; said he: "How did you know those friends?" I answered by asking him another equally important question: "How did you know the Lamb that was slain from the foundation of the world?" Said he: "I knew Him by the marks in His hands and side, (John xx., 20), and from what the angels told us when He was taken up into heaven and a cloud received him out of sight." "This same Jesus," said they, "which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." (Acts i., 9.) Well, said I, that is just how I knew myfriends; by the marks on them. Some men will say: "How are the dead raised up, and with what body do they come? Thou fool; that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die, and that, which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but are grain; it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain, but God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to everyseed his own body. There are also celestial bodies and bodies terrestial; but the glory of the celestial is one and the glory of the terrestial is another. There is one glory of the sun and another of the moon, and another glory of the stars; forone star differeth from another star in glory, so alsois the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body; there is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, that the first man, Adam, was made a living soul, the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. How be it, that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural, and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of earth, earthy, the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy; and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have born the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption." (1 Cor. xv.) Now this is the way that I know them. As the Lamb that was slain, took upon him the image of the earth, earthy, the form of a servant, so do they take upon them the image of the Lord from heaven; and, as you have shown me the Lamb, I cannot be mistaken in them, and I think when I look again, I shall find many more that I have known; for I think I know what kind ofseedthey were, and from every seed I look for its own plant. Then said my guide: "Who else do you think you will find there, besides your immediate friends?" I answered: "I think I shall see Moses and Elijah, from the fact that they were seen with my Saviour on the Mount of Transfiguration; and God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. And I think I shall see Abraham, because Christ himself says the rich man saw him with Lazarus in his bosom. And I shall see Israel, for the Revelator tells me that he saw one hundred and forty and four thousand of the children there. I shall see Solomon and David, and Samuel and Paul, and Peter, and so many others that I cannot now name, all of the one hundred and forty and four thousand of the tribes of Israel." I felt so rejoiced with the thought of meeting so many, that I could heartily join with the Poet in saying:
"Give joy or grief, give ease or pain,Take life or friends away.But let me find them all again,In that Eternal day."
"Give joy or grief, give ease or pain,Take life or friends away.But let me find them all again,In that Eternal day."
For many days more I lay there on the brink, waiting for the boatman; but still he came not. I began to think Patience was about to desert me; it seemed to me, I had so nearly lost sight of her, that I could hardly hear her voice; then I cried unto my Father: "Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy holy spirit from me!" Then came the message: "Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for him;" this comforting, though short message, cheered me much, for it seemed to bring a sweet sense of rest and security with it; and with the Psalmist I could say: "Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the Heavens, and thy faithfulness reaches into the clouds; thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are as great deeps; Lord, thou preservest man and beast; how excellent is thy loving kindness, O God; therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wing; they shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house, and thou shalt make them drink of the rivers of thy pleasures." I felt filled with that sweet peace that flows as a river, and enters in and fills the soul with glory and with God. As the boatman came not for me yet, I thought I would look around again and see if any new friends had gathered along the brink; and, while I was looking, I saw one coming with slow, reluctant step, as if he would rather stay on this side of Jordan than to cross over; but his guide kept urging him on withthe Father's message: "Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest." "Well," said he, "I am weary and heavy laden; I have had a tiresome journey through this howling wilderness, and fain would find rest; but I have become so dirty and bedabbled through the swamps and quagmires, that I have not a garment fit to appear before Him in." The guide answered: "All thatwillcome, may come and partake of the waters of life freely." Then said he: "I will arise and go to my Father." He brightened up and quickened his pace; as soon as the guide saw that he was willing to go, he sent to the servants to bring hither the best robe and put it on him; and, so neatly clad, and in his right mind, I saw him approach the "bank," and seeing he would have to wait some time for the boatman, I entered into conversation, by asking at what time the Father sent for him; he said: "Just about noon, just as I had finished up my morning's work, and thought the hardest of the day was done, and I could in the afternoon finish those little jobs that I had planned in the morning; but in the hour, I thought not, the Son of man came." "But what," I asked, "made you so reluctant to come?" "Oh," said he, "I thought the Father was angry with me; for it is written: 'God is angry with the wicked every day;' but I heard another say: 'He that cometh with a broken and a contrite heart, he will in no wise castout.' I thought I would go, for I could only perish anyway, and if I tried to stay away, I knew I should perish; another said to me:
"A broken heart He'll not despise,Nor on the contrite sinner frown,His ear is open to their cries,He'll quickly send salvation down."
"A broken heart He'll not despise,Nor on the contrite sinner frown,His ear is open to their cries,He'll quickly send salvation down."
"And He did send salvation; for, when I cried mightily unto the Lord, He heard me, and from His Holy Hill He sent me help; He took me up from the mire and clay and dressed me in garments neat and clean, and has brought me in sight of my heavenly rest! Only this narrow river lies between, and I shall cross that, for I think I see the boatman coming now." With a glad shout of triumph he entered the boat and was gone. I knew the gates would be opened again, so I made haste to gather up my telescope; and again I saw the shining ones come to meet and welcome a brother to his eternal rest; and again I heard the glad shouts of welcome and praise, as they dressed him in clean, white robes, and put a crown on his head, and led him to the Father, who met him, and with His own hand wiped all tears from his eyes, telling him, he should have no more sorrow, nor crying, nor sickness, nor death, nor go any more out, neither should he thirst any more, and the sun should not light on him, nor any heat. Oh! What more, I thought, could I want to make up an eternal rest!Just then my attention was attracted by the sound of unutterable groanings and crying, and I looked around to see what it all meant, and I saw close beside me one lying apparently in great agony. I inquired what could be the matter? Said he: "Just this morning, quite early, the Master has sent for me, and here I am; naked and barefooted; without a thing to cover me; I had a garment all washed in the blood of the Lamb. The Master provided it for me, but I thought it was too long and straight for me; so I laid it aside, and now I cannot find it;Oh! help me to look for it!" By this time others hearing his cries had been attracted to the spot, and in piteous moans and tears he begged, he entreated them, to assist in searching for the neglected robe. All this while he lay there without making an effort to seek for it himself; and, although his friends searched with much earnestness, they could not find it. They then besought him to get up and look for it himself; but he could not be persuaded, and would continue to lie there groaning, and begging them to continue their search. Meanwhile the boatman was waiting and urging him to go, till finally he compelled him to go on board, and the boat pushed off; and immediately the river became so dark and swollen, that we lost sight of it, and wecould see it no more. Surely, thought I, "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
For many days I lay there, feeling very listless, not caring to look beyond the river, nor even to look on this side. I was just in the condition to listen to the voice of the tempter, when he whispered: "Why stay here any longer? the Lord delays his coming; He might have come sooner; it is very cruel to be lying in this dreary, loathsome place so long." And again, with shame I must confess, that after all the visions of glory I had seen, and all of my Father's goodness to me, I listened to his wily whispering, till I became almost enraged, and began to cast about me this way and that, for a way of deliverance. At one moment I would feel like going back into the wilderness, in all its filth and quagmires, and the next I would feel like rushing headlong, uncalled for, into the river; any way, it seemed to me, to get out of this murky, deathly atmosphere. For several days I was thus tempted. Oh! those were dreadful days to me! I sat in sullen silence, and would not look toward my Father's house; I would not see the light that was beaming across; would not see my Father's gracious smile; nor would I see His loving hand reached out to help me. My telescope lay beside me, but I would not take it up. But, oh! the depth of the wisdom and knowledge of God! "How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!" Blessed be His Holy Name. He would not leave me, nor suffer His loving kindness tobe removed from me; but in the midst of deserved wrath He remembered mercy toward me. On looking up I saw my guide coming near, saying: "Dost thou well to be angry. Hast thou not received good from the hands of the Lord, and shalt thou not receive the evil? And if thou doest well, shalt thou not dwell in the land of the living forever? For the mercy of the Lord is round about them that put their trust in Him. Though clouds and darkness may be round about Him, yet righteousness and judgment are the habitation of His throne." At these words the tempter left me, and Patience again resumed her seat, and commenced to soothe and tranquilize my spirit, saying: "Return unto thy rest, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with thee. Ye, that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord, for He is your help and your shield. O! forget not all His mercies." At this I felt very much humbled and sinsick; and I longed to be free from the power of sin and temptation, and earnestly I prayed the Father: "Lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from all evil!" And with the apostle I could exclaim: "Oh! wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! Then I would fly away and be at rest." "But then," said Patience, "as you cannot go yet, you had better take your telescope and look again beyond the river." So I took it up and began to look around; first onthis side, but here, as usual, I could find no rest or abiding place; nothing but filth and stench that sickened me; but as soon as I turned my gaze toward my Father's house, I was struck with the glorious light that fell from the place; for it seemed to shine with peculiar brightness; and, as the gates were ajar, I could look full within; but I could see no sun, nor moon, nor the light of a candle; but the light was glorious, far surpassing the light of the sun at noon-day. So I looked in wonder, to see from where it came. My guide said: "There is no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. (Rev. xx., 2, 3.) And this is the same light that has lighted up this valley ever since the time the Lamb passed through it and fought and conquered the tempter; for it was in this valley He spent some time, and on this bank He was hard beset; here was the dreadful conflict; here it was He was hedged in as you are; here the tempter raged as he never had raged before; and Jordan swelled and roared, and overflowed her banks; such a time was never known before, since the world began; but the Lamb gained the victory; bound the enemy, subdued Jordan, and passed safely over. And all his followers have to do, is to keep in the light and they need not fear." Then the prayer arose from my heart: "Oh Lord! help me to walk in the light of thy countenance; mytimes are in thy hands; deliver me from the hands of my enemies; make thy face to shine on thy servant; save me for thy mercies' sake." Then said my guide: "Be of good cheer."
Can we be sanctified and live?
I have often heard it questioned: Can we live in a sanctified state? I ask first, is not Christ able to keep us in a sanctified state? Did God ever break a covenant that He has made? Every covenant He has made with man has been sealed with blood; and the Apostle says, without the shedding of blood is noremission of sins. When God made His promises to Abraham, that in his seed all the nations of the earth should be blessed, He made Abraham take an heifer of three years old, a she-goat of three years old, a ram, a turtle dove and a young pigeon, and divide them asunder, that the flowing blood might, as it were, cleanse the passage between the parts; and the Lord passing between the parts in the form of a smoking furnace and a burning lamp, swore unto Abraham that to him and his seed He would give that land forever.Having sealed the covenant with blood, and with an oath, God was bound to keep it; and He did keep it. Although He permitted them to be severely tried and carried away from their own land into cruel bondage, and to serve under hard task-masters for many years, yet did they become a great nation, for God had said: "In blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven," and "in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed."
When God is about bringing them out of bondage, He renews His covenant and again requires blood; but this time the blood of a perfect lamb, and the blood must be sprinkled upon the door-posts and lintels of every door, setting the inmates apart to God, or showing that God's people dwelt there; and the destroying angel passed over the land but destroyed them not, because God knew and kept them. He brought them safely out of bondage into a wilderness, and conducted themthroughthe wilderness safely to the promised rest. He did not at once let then enter into that rest; but kept them in the wilderness to try them, and prove them. They were His people, sanctified to Him by the blood of the perfect lamb, and He could keep them just as well in the wilderness as in the land of Canaan. He could spread their table in the sight of their foes. When they wanted meat, He gave them quails in abundance; when they wanted bread, He sentthem manna from heaven—angels food; when they wanted water the rock contained a full supply, but must be smitten to produce it; and it sent forth a stream that followed them through all their journey, typifying the spirit of grace that accompanies the child of God through all his journey. Although they wandered forty years in the wilderness, their garments did not grow old, nor their sandals wear out. So we see that God provided for them through all their wandering and brought them to that promised rest, and according to his promise they became a great nation.
Once more, God renews the covenant He made with Abraham, or in other words fulfilled it. Here it requires again the shedding of blood, and this time it must be the precious blood of the Lord Jesus, the only begotten son of God which cleanses from all sin. If the typical blood of Abraham's heifer and Moses' lamb, could prevail with God, to the temporal salvation of man, how much more shall the precious blood of Christ prevail to the purifying and washing away of all our sins. As God gave the promise of the "seed" to Abraham, and set it apart in Israel, he has perfected it in Christ. As He kept them (His people) in the temporal wilderness through which they had to pass to get to their promised rest, so will He keep us in Christ through this wilderness of sin through which we must all pass. It is not His will to take us at oncefrom the world; but to keep us in the world; to help build up His kingdom in the world; for it must take perfect workmen to do perfect work.
Christ when praying for his Apostles, prayed not the Father to take them out of the world; but that He should keep them from the evil of the world. Nor need we ever look to be freed from temptation; but He will not suffer more to come upon us than He will give us grace to bear, and with every temptation will provide a way for our escape. Christ at one time said to Peter "Satan desireth to have thee, that he may sift thee as wheat;" but what follows? The wrath of God hangs over Peter, but Christ our mediator intercedes, and his soothing words are, "I have prayed the Father for thee, that thy faith fail thee not; and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." Thus we must be kept for mutual aid and for mutual comfort.
If God were to remove each one as soon as he becomes perfect in Christ, who would be left to tell transgressors the way? Or how could the kingdom of Christ flourish in the world? For the kingdoms of this world are to become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ, and the sanctified Christian is the salt of the earth. Take him away, and what becomes of the world? God has use for all His perfect men and women in the world; they must beinthe world, but notofthe world.
It is a mistaken idea that we can be Christians and not sanctified Christians; and, as God has use for us in the world, it is very plain that He is not only able to keep us, but He will keep us, until He has finished all His righteous will concerning us; until everything is done that we can do; until we have withstood temptation at every point even as our Saviour did; until the last battle is fought and the victory won! Oh! I wish that every Christian would feel that he is a sanctified Christian, and go to work as such. Oh! that every one could feel that to-day I am apillarin the temple of our God; aliving stonein the building; instead of sitting still and dreaming: "Can I be sanctified, or when can I be sanctified." Oh! thatChristianswould awake, and look around, and see what they can do for the Master. The fields are all white for harvest. The Lord calls for laborers. Christian brothers and sisters will you not awake; will you not have faith in Christ; seeing that God hath perfected in him all that He promised in Abraham, and all that He "set apart in Israel." The Lord which made heaven and earth is thy keeper. "He will not suffer thy foot to be moved; He that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil; He shallpreserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out, and thy coming in from this time forth, and even forever." (Psalms cxxi., 3-8). This God, O Christian, is thy God. He that spreadeth out the heavens as a curtain; who keepeth the stars in their courses; who causes the sun to show forth his light at morning, and the moon at evening. He that keeps all nature in its proper course year after year for so many ages, will He not keep thee through thy life's short day and bring thee to heaven at last?
As a father pitieth His children so the Lord pitieth them that love Him. The father will labor hard night and day, will make any sacrifice, will deny himself any pleasure, will travel East, West, North or South, and endure any hardships for his children's sake; and should he have a dozen or more, yet his care over them will not diminish, nor will he grow weary of his labors. "If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Heavenly Father give His holy spirit to them that ask Him." Let us then trust a Father's love, and dwell safely under the shadow of his wing and we need not fear!
"Though friends should all fail and foes all unite," we may go on firmly trusting "The Lord will provide" trusting in His everlasting arms, we shall pass safely through the wilderness of sin, and at last get safely into our Father's house, where we shall restfrom all care and sing our sufferings o'er; where sin, and sorrow, pain and death, never can enter. Being washed and cleansed in the blood of the Lamb, we shall join our voices with one accord in singing blessing and honor and wisdom and thanksgiving be unto the Lamb forever and forever.
When God had finished His work of creation, He set apart the seventh day, and sanctified it to Himself. In it no one was to do any work; it was to be holy. The day in itself was like all other days; nothing different; just as long, just as short; but He chose it to himself. He chose thewholeof it, and all of it atonce. He did not say, half shall be yours and half mine; or, I will sanctify a part now and the rest on next seventh day; but as soon as the day dawned,it was hallowed to the Lord.
So in the work of redemption. Christ has finished His work; done all there is to do. He has opened the way and made it passible, and now invites all to come and find pardon; and sets the time when they should come. He says, now is the accepted time; to-day is the day of salvation; if ye hear my voice, harden not your hearts. The time is fulfilled, theKingdom of Heaven is at hand; repent ye and believe the Gospel.
The day of redemption has dawned. Our King has fought the mighty battle; has gained the glorious victory; has set up His Kingdom, and now invites every one to become willing subjects. And all He requires of us is simply to "repent and believe the gospel," which promises that all things shall be added unto us. We may ask for it with confidence and without fear, for it is our Father's good pleasure to give us the Kingdom.
Then repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, are the very groundwork of religion; and are more than all burnt offerings. For He taketh no delight in sacrifices and offerings, but a contrite heart is always acceptable with Him.
What is repentance but a sorrow for sin, and the forsaking of sin for our love to God. Love to God, because He first loved us. God loves us. He wills our salvation; and draws us to Him by the cords of love. We feel a sorrow in our hearts; a weariness of sin, a dread of coming vengeance; we begin to consider, and finally to ask, "What shall I do to be saved." Then comes the promise: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." What then is faith but believing in Him who was sent; believing that he came to save; believing that He is willing to save; believing that He will save; becausethe Father sent Him for this purpose. Him hath the Father sanctified, and sent unto the world to save the world. Believe that He is able to save; "thou hast given Him power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given Him." (John xvii, 2.) Believe that He is willing. "I lay down my life for the sheep." Then, we can go to God pleading these promises, and God willjustifyus through this faith, and Christ will apply thesanctifying bloodthat seals the covenant. For, by His own blood He has entered, once for all, into the Holy place, having obtained "eternal redemption for us."
And as every law and every precept was sprinkled with blood, so has Christ sealed every promise and every covenant, with His own precious blood. Then it surely follows, we cannot believe without being justified; and we cannot be justified without being sanctified. "Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ," and this peace we can only have by being one in Christ and abiding in Him. It is a peace the world cannot give nor take away; a peace that subdues all evil passions, a peace that keeps us patient and cheerful under difficulties; that keeps us humble and truthful under trials and temptations. This is the grace that must prevail in a distressing hour; and, filled with the sweet peace, we can sing "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want, etc.," and this sanctifying grace makes us heirsof God, and joint heirs with Christ, who owns us for brethren and writes our names in the Book of Life.
But some may inquire: "How can we become perfect at once?" Do you see that little babe? As soon as it is born it is aperfect child; perfect in its father's love, perfect in its mother's tender care; perfect as a child—not yet a perfect man, but all thegerm of the man is there. His limbs, hands and feet are perfect; of his body there is no part lacking; and under the fostering care, and tender nursing of his mother, the rigid but wholesome discipline of the father, he must grow to perfectmanhood,—and who can fix the time when the child ceases and when the man begins. Or, see the branch in the vine; as soon as it shoots its buds out of the vine, it is a branch in the vine, and never ceases to be such until cut off. The grain of mustard seed cast into the ground becomes a tree; but who can tell when it ceases to be a plant. So is every one that is born of the Spirit. "The wind bloweth where it listeth, thou hearest the sound thereof and canst not tell whence it cometh or whither it goeth."
As soon as we believe we are perfect in Christ; and through the wise and just discipline of God the father, and the loving and tender care of Christ as our mother, being fed with the word, we grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth daily. We can no more exist in a justified state and not be sanctified, than a child can be born without anatural mother!Ye must beborn again,—born of the water, and of thespirit, and of the blood; for that which is born of the flesh is flesh! The natural mind is "enmity against God; it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." But if we are in Christ, we are new creatures; "old things are done away, and all things are become new. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit." Then