The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1886-12-16
Our Evening Sermon

Our Evening Sermon
"And he came and took the book out of
the right hand of him that sat upon the
throne. VI.
John has laid down in plain, simple Ian
guage, the relation which he was permit
ted to enjoy, of the Heavenly world, yet
the picture portrayed by this inspired
writer, of the book with the seven seals,
has been the subject of much discussion
among Bible students-especially so re-
Gently, as the vision has played an import
ant part in the International Sunday
School Lesson. There is too often ten
dency to confuse or confound a vision
with recorded fact. This vision of John
conformed beautifully to the teachings of
the plan of the Gospel of Christ, his mis-
sion in the world, his suffering, death and
resurrection. 1t would seem, therefore,
that nothing could be palmer than that
that the wonderful sealed book was Gods
purpose regarding the human race, or in
other words, his plan of redemption.
We have been taught that the human
race was lost in sin through the error of
the first of the race. A seemingly i'm
passable gulf was made between man
kind and the Creator. How should We
expect to escape the condemnation of the
Divine Power? What hope for the soul
to rise out of the environtment of sin, and
attain unto state of peace and safety,
and joy? What was Gods plan with us /?
The future was sealed book-veritably
sealed with seven seals. We were per-
mitted, as we came from time to time to
the throne of Grace, to plead for the par
don of our transgressions, to obtain, like
John vision of the sealed book, but it
was eyer sealed. At the last, when the
poor, overburdened heart was cast at the
feet of the Master, there came realiza-
tion that the seals could be broken, and
the book read. even of mankind.
Suddenly there broke upon the vision a
great light, accompanied by feeling of
buoyant hope nothing else could give, and
the trusting soul beheld the Lamb of Cal
vary break the seal, and unroll the great
parchment upon which was written of
the fate of mantle map of the Chris
tian's journey-the chart of destiny. And
in the unrolling, the whole blessed story
of Redemption is read. The darkness of
world of sin is portrayed, the need of
atonement, the offer of the Lamb a will
ing sacrifice, the mailing upon the cross,
the burial, and the glorious resurrection.
All this was necessary in breaking the
seal of the great book for US. Without
this sacrifice, the gates of Paradise might
have remained sealed to us-not that the
mere fact of the crucifiXion had sufficient
merit to save soul, but the great plan
which comprehended the sacrifice as a
part of it's detail.
How little we know, after all! And
this lack of knowledge is not confined to
spiritual things, merely. We start out in
the journey of life, just as upon journey
through an unknown country. We are
on the alert to catch and appropriate all
the valuable things that appear along the
path of our pilgrimage. We pick up a
spray of hope here, bud of encourage
ment there, and full-blown flower of ex-
perience yonder; we cross gentiy-fow-
ing stream of joy here, and hastily step by
a stagnant pool of distress over there; we
pause here to listen to the beautiful song
of bird, over yonder we cast stones at
the warbler; we walk in the sunlight for
the time, and shortly find ourselves shiv-
ering in the gloomy recesses of some hid
den cave; we pause to admire the beauty
of the clear sky, in one hour, in the next
we seek shelter from a driving storm; we
ask a friend for favor, then turn with
disdain from the poor brother who seeks
help at our hands, We emerge from Sum-
mer into Winter, from light into dark
ness. All these experiences crowd them
selves into one poor little human life.
Yet call the pilgrim up and ask In the
light of your past experience, what is in
store for you?" All is a sealed book
Many pleasant experiences have been en-
joyed, the pathway of life has been pleas
ant in many respects, but knowledge of
the future, hope of the future, will not
come, save in the vision which comes in
answer to the prayer of faith. After all
the enjoyment, all the faith, all the cul-
ture of earth, there is but one way to haye
the great book opened-and that way is
by going to the exhaustless fountain of
Divine Grace, and having the seal broken
by the one who alone can do it, the Lamb
that was slain but arose again, to make
for humanity, and propiation
for the sins of the world. When the poor,
weary soul, broken with many discour-
agements, seems ready to sink in despair,
and the eyes strained with watching for
the manifestation of the coming fulfill
ment of hope begin to overflow with tears,
the soothing assurance comes as it did to
John: Weep not: behold the Lion of the
tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath
prevailed to open the book, and loose the
seven seals thereof" A simple act of
faith in single moment of time is suffic
lent to open the great book, and enable
the redeemed life to be known and read
Of men, and the name of the Lord to be
glorified.
But how careless are some of those who
have vital interest in that book, and its
But a careless little act
may start the life spinning along course
eading away from duty and righteous
ness. Too frequently is seen the shame
FL of n x,o,,no ,,or in,