The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-11-07

stLet the redeemed of the Lord say So"
Let us testify TO this love OF Christ How
strange that some, who we can scarcely
doubt are believers in the Lord Jesus
Christ, their conduct is so graceful and gra-
cious, refuse to take every opportunity of
testifying to His love and grace. Do not
think this command is wri ten in vain: Let
Gods redeemed say SOY Some won't say SO.
They have been redeemed, yet they refuse to
tell others Of Him who loved them and gave
Himself for them 1t is incredible; yet we
know it is so. Why it should be so we can
not tell. Because the remembrance of his
goodness is not only helpful to ourselves, but
strengthening to the fifth of others.
"Let the redeemed of the Lord say so. |"
Very simple words these "say So" My
mothers XII 8 made me painter" said BEN
iamin West, recording how when, as a boy,
amusing himself with drawing and colorlng,
his mother entered the room, and, delighted
with his work, caught him up in her arms,
and covered him with kisses SO we might
say we know not all Col might be pleased to
do for US did we but give Him the gratitude
due to His name. Gratitude would bring us
fresh assurance of help in every time of need:
it would draw us nearer to God, and conse-
uuently nearer to one another. A French
cynic has said that men are very often
thankful for trivial gifts. but are
weighted down with great blessings, the
sense of obligation not seldom making them
enemies. Do not let it be so with US; God
has conferred on US the highest OF oil posi-
BILE obligations in the gift of His Sonado
not let it be said we are unthankfuL God
has done great things for US, and let us say
SO. Do not be afraid to confess it in His
presence and in the presence OF
our fellow-men. There is moth
ing to be concealed. Another French cynic
has said, Language is given to conceal our
thoughts Do not let us use language to con.
ceal our gratitude to our Heavenly Father. Ii
we receive from heaven, no language can be
too emphatic to tell it out before Him and
before the universe. We can never do wrong
in praising God for His mercies. lngratl-
t,lde is one Of the crying sins of the day
Men ask and receive, yet seldom return
thanks. One visiting an asylum for the
insane was accosted by one Of the inmates:
"Have you thanked God this morning yoM
are not madr' II never thought of it. !"
So we very often act. We forget to thank
God for His common mercies, and even
for His greatest and grandest Of all mercles
our deliverance from captivity, our re-
demption by the blood of HIS SON; His guild,
ing us as pilgrims, His bringing us ont OF
the prison house, his breaking the bars as
sunder, His raising US from deadly sickness,
or preserving us from it; His stllllng tne
storms and tempests of life, and His prom
ise of leading us safe home to heaven at last
We do not think of these things-even
the last and best. the gift of His own dear
Son, for us who deserved 1t not anu deslreo
it not All this done for us so freely; and
yet thousands have never gone to God and
said, II thank Thee for sending Thy Son to
die for me; and that Thou didst find me by
Thy grace and didst quicken me when dead
in trespasses and sins" Thousands do not
believe thess things, and therefore do not say
so: but thousands do believe, and yet do not
say so. Surely there is nothing to be ashamed
of in it. There is nothing to make us shame.
faced in His great love in giving His Son TO
die for us. Yet thousands know that Jesus
died for their sins who will not say so for
ashamed of myself, but there is nothing to be
ashamed of in Gods love in giving His Son
for me. Let the redeemed of the Lord say
So!-[Rev. Dr. Paterson.