Middletown transcript., 1873-10-04

gradually conforms them to the image Of
the divine Redccmcr.
Again. lastly; the life Of tho believer
is in Jesus Christ, because he derives
from him oil gracs and strength. and is
kept from falling by His almighty power.
As tho branch derives its nourishment
from the vine. 40 does the christian obtain
grace from his Saviour and as the branch
cannot grow or bear fruit except /. abide
in the vino. no more can the child Of God
grow ia heavenly things and bring forth
good works. without n vital union with bis
Saviour, "Witbou. me 20 can do moth.
ing"
This explains the seeming paradox Of
the apostle: " When l am weak then am
| strong" When tho christian most SEN
sibly feels his own weakness, he relies more
entirely on the strength Of Jesus. Then
be cries. "lIold thou me up and shall be
safe" and feels the necessity Of being made
strong in the Lord and in the power Of
his might.
We shall close the subjcc. with two or
three practical observations; AMI
Let We observe what an incs,imable
blessing do We possess in having the BIZ
BILE in our hands which contains the record
that God hath given Of his Son. Creation
and Providence teach us many important
lessons respecting our great aud generous
Creator; but in the book Of nature there
is not tho smallest in,ma,oa that God
will be mereiful to sinners. or that he has
/ provided Saviour for fallen man. Ma
,ure is entirely silent on the subject Of pnl-
va,icn through a cruciiied Redcemcr It
is the Bible alone which can cnlirhten our
/ darkness. remove our ignorance and point
out the way to everlasting life How
ought VIC to esteem this book as the gift
! Of God, aud IS tao light Of our feet and
the lamp al cur path? We ought to prize
1 II as the psalulist did when he exclaimed
20, how | love thy law, i, is my medita-
ton all the day. How sweet are thy
words unto my taste yea, swecter than
! honey ta my mouth. y
81 How grea. is tho love Of God in
] giving 10 us eternal life in bis Son.
lie be.,ows this grca, blessing on ms re.
bcllious. sinful creatures, who have revolt
ed from him and become the servants Of
sin We, who have violated his righteous
commands, and abused his goolncs- We.
wha have been united with the prince Of
! darkness in 1i,hnnoring God and opposing
his blessed kingdom. We. who have d..
pissed the Saviour and repeatedly rejected
the offers Of his grace
Ghrisiian brethren, is il not. indeed, n
surprising proof of tha unhounied lore of
God towards US. tha. he has given us eter-
nal life when We deserved death. aud were
seeking destruction in the error Of our
ways II magniiies the love Of G cd when
We reflect IN rinm God has given US etcr.
nal life Not in ourselves, not in an an
gel, but in his Sou his only and we'll
beloved Sou, who is the brightness oI
his glory aud the express image of his per.
sau Who is the Alpha aud Omega
the beginning and the ending; whieh is
and which was, aud which is 10 come, the
Almighty
Sd How great Is the sin ana danger ot
those who hayc not believed the record
that God hath given Of his Son. . IL
iha, bvlcscth not Goi ha,h made him
liar. because he beieveth not the record
that God gave Of his Son"
" HVrotseT, tutH. 10 nut peleSeT !,
jesus. is guilty of the awful sin of charg
ing the tod OF truth with falsehooi. ant
making his word lie.
II is esteemed a grcn. offence to call +;
man a liar; how great then must be th,
crime when committed against the hol,
and infinite Jehovah.
And wha, is thc punishment Of him wht
makes Tod liar. Such shall have ,hei
portion in TIM. lake which bnrne,h Will
fire and birthstone. which is the sccon,
death.
BE troubled ye careless oncs-be awful
ly distressed .ye unbelieving ones, les, Go,
should swear in his wrath. Yo shall no
enter into my rest.