Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1873-05-15
CHRIST QUE REFUGE.

There were six cities in the land of
Canaan which were set apart as places
of refuge, to which a man might flee
if he had, either by accident or design,
! killed another These cities were easy
Of access. Three were on the west
side ofthe river Jordan, and three on
east side. Every year the roads Lead
ing to them were examined, TO see
that they were in good condition, and
that there was nothing III the way to
stop the manslayer as he was running
from his pursuer At different points
there was a guide-boara, and on it was
written, REFUGE, REFUGE!
ii a man by accident killed another,
and reached one of these cities before
his pursurer, he was allowed to stay
there until the death of the high priest
who was then living But if in anger
a man had purposely killed another,
then, although he sought refuge in one
Of these cities, he was given up to the
avenger OF blood to be slain. You
will find more about these cities and
their names if you will read the thirty
fifth chapter Of Numbers, the nine
teenth. chapter of Deuteronomy; and
the twentieth chapter of Joshua.
God has different ways of teaching.
"A great many things about which we
read in the Old Testament are what
are called TYPES. A type, in Scripture
language, means pattern, or likness
to person who is to come, OF to an
event which is to take place. 1t is
supposed to point forward to something
more valuable than itself. Thus, for
example. the blood of the lamb which
was slain on the Jewish altar was a
TYPE OF FoREsuADowING of the cruel
fixion Of Jesus Christ for our salvation.
Hence John the Baptist, pointing to
the Saviour, said to his disciples, ssBe
hold the Lamb Of God, which taketh
away the sins of the world. john ]:
20. The paschal lamb, which was
slain to commemorate the deliverance
Of the Jews from the bondage of Egypt
See Exodus, chapter 12), and the
lamb which was offered daily, both
morning and evening, in the service of
the Temple, were representation of the
greater sacrifice which Christ came
from heaven to make for ~our saliva
ton.
So the land of Canaan was type of
heaven. The lifting up of the brazen
serpent on pole was q type of our
Saviour's crucifxion; and the cities of
refuge were beautiful type of Jesus
Christ, whe is the sinners refuge,
You know,;ny dear children, that
we have all sinned, and that we all
need place Of safety. The avenger
says, ''Thou shalt surely die. Escape
for thy life. But that we may not die
eternally, God has given us the Bible
as our guide board; and the Bible is
constantly pointing to Jesus. Christ as
the sinners refuge. He is our hiding
plaza. 1t is to him Isaiah refers When
he says, "And man shall be as
hidingplace from the wind, and a
covert from the tempest; as rivers of
water in dry place, as the shadow of
a great rock in a weary land. = Isaiah
80: 2
The way to our city Of refuge is
plain.
q am the way" is the Saviour's in
direction. The gate is always open,
and the assurance is, s'iiim that cometh
to me will in no wise cast out"
| want you TO remember, my chill
dren, that is q great deal easier to run
to this City Of Refuge when you are
young, than it viii be it you put it off
until you are old. The promise Of the
Saviour is, "They who seek me early
shall find me-" Will you not fee to
Jesus as your hidingplace? VIII you
not seek him when he may be found?
How SAD it will be if you neglect to do
so. You will need a refuge when the
tempes Of Gods judgments shall burst
upon the wicked. Oh, then, how grad
you will be if you can say, as David
said of his trust in God, 'Thou art my
hidingplace; thou shalt compass ME
about with songs of deliverance. -
Psalms 32:7