The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1879-07-18
SUNDAY READING. s.
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| can We Feel Sure uill j :
1t was said of certain magnificent
speech of Daniel Webster that "every
word weighed pound" But there Is
a line in tRe thIrty.fifth psalm--rnostly
made up Of monosyllables-in which
every word weighs ton. David utter
ed il in a season of despondency, when
he cried ont: "Say unto my soul, / an.
thy salvation" The old monarch was
in trouble. His own throne was assail-
ed, and SO he went TO the everlasting
throne. His own heart was assailed by
doubts, and SO he sought for d fresh and
full assurance Of salvation. Whatever
David's own experiences may have
been, he furnished golden prayer for
universal use in these pregnant, piihy
words; Say unto my soul, l am thy
salvation" i-inil
The salvation which all of us most
need is deliverance from the guilt and
dominion of sin. We need TO be liber-
ated from the bondage of that great
STAKEHOLDER, the devil. Beset with temp
tations, we need succor when we are
tempted. The only salvation ssunder
Heaven given among mcnv is by the
aloning blood of Jesus and the regener-
ating power of the Holy Spirit. This is
II full salvation, a complete salvation; It
is Gods masterpiece of mercy TO W.
guilty, depraved, and dying sinners.
Can this salvation be made sure to a
man, and can he be sure that he posses
ses il!
We answer, unhesitatingly, Yes.
David did not ask for impossibilities
when he asked God to assure him of his
salvation. Paul knew what he was
about when he said: Know We not
your own selves, how that Jesus Christ
is in You, except ye be reprobates Z"
There is no perhaps about the salvation
of true follower of Christ, any more
than there is about the rising of to-mor-
rows sun. II does not depend upon
my say or your say, or any mans say.
Only God can give the decisive and in
falliblc assurance to us that we are safe
for this world and for eternity.
Let il be carefully noted that the
prayer is that God would say unto the
soul, al am thy salvation" There is
no audible voice addressed to the ear;
in fact, multitudes hear the offer of sal
vation every Sabbath by the ear, and
yet their hearts are as deaf as adders.
What God says can only be heard by
the heart. We would define faith to be
heart-hearing. And unto the docile,
believing soul God says wonderful
things, and things to make the soul leap
for joy. This is a faithful saying and
worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus
Christ came into the world to save sim
ncrs. | open the ivory chamber of
Johns Gospel, and read these words:
"Verily, verify / say unto you, he that
heareth my word and believeth on Him
that sent me hath everlasting life I'd
shall not come into condemnation"
Again, Jesus says: "This is the will of
him that sent me, that every one who
beieveth OH the Son may have ever
lasting life" "My sheep hear my voice
and know them and they follow me.
And | give unto them eternal life, and
they shall never perish; neither shall
any man plnck them out of my hand"
He does not affirm that we may never,
in fit of waywardness and pride throw
ourselves out of that almighty and lOv-
ing hand. But lie does declare that
while we stay there we are safe. And,
being safe, we have right to know 1t,
and to feel all the serenity and satisfac-
ton which this ownership by the Lord
Jesus can inspire.
Faith is the souls trust in Jesus as
our salvation. 1t ought TO bring de-
lightful sense of security. But it does
not always do so, because it is too weak
and doubling to produce assurance.
Faith is the milk, and assurance is the
cream which rises OH ii. The richer the
milk the more abundant will he the
cream. Assurance is not essential to
salvation, as faith is; for God will let
great many people into heaven who
had very feeble faith here on earth.
Faith is life, though it be sometimes
very weak, anxious, burdened and un-
comfortable life. Assurance marks
higher degree of health, vigor, joy,
and power to overcome. Peter posses
sed some faith when he screamed to his
master from the waves: "Lord, save
) me! lie had reached much higher
attainment by the Spirit when he ex-
claimed in the market-place of Jerusa-
lem: "This is the stone which we set
at naught of yon builders, which is be-
come the head of the corner" Saul of
Tarsus had an infant faith born in his
soul when he was cropping about in the
house of Ananias at Damascus. The
infant had grown into a giant when
Paul had reached up TO the eighth chap
ter to the Romans, and could shout: 81
know whom | have believed, and am
persuaded that he is able to keep that
which [ have committed to Him." Je-
sus had really said to Paul: 81 am thy
salvation" a... I.-
Paul had the witness of the spirit that
: he was Christ's. There was an inward
conviction and an outward life, and the
= two corresponded with each other.
They both corresponded also to the
4 Spirits description of true piety in tho
bible. When tree produces the leaves
= of pear and the fruit of the pear, We
are sure that it is pear tree. When
man feels the love of Jesus in his soul
- and keeps the commandments of Jesus
i'm his life, he has the witness of the ho-
! ly shirt that he is in Christ. Being in
Christ, he is safe. There is no condem-
:, nation to such man. He has passed
from death unto life. The Lord has al
ready said unto such consistent be-
;, lever: "I am thy salvation." But
! when all oily-tongued dissembler, who
= who cheats his creditors or lives life
!, of secret uncleanness, rises in a prayer
y meeting and prates glibly about his ho-
- liness or his sanctifed attainments, he
simply unmasks his own hypocrisy.
u We have Just said that assurance is
= not a positive essential of faith; but yet
y it is the privilege and the duty ofa gen
y nine Christian TO possess the assurance
:" of Christ's love and protection OLD
Iatimer used to say that when he had
This steadfast trust in his Master he
could face n lion. When he lost IL he
was ready to run into n mousc-hole
y Why should the soul TO whom alesu
a. has said Il am thy salvation" be contin
Is ually worrying itself sick, with doubt
al and fears? If have put my everlast
As ing all in Chrst's hands, He is respon
Us sible for the trust-as long as leave
" with Him.