The Newtown bee., 1898-09-23

scious of deficiencies Gas we all are) find
occasion for Thanksgiving IN the thought
that by the Lord actions are weighed? Fl
How can the Christian believer feel as.
sured Of acceptance at the iudgment2 II
can answer these and similar questions
best by an Illustration. once took q
would weigh it accurately on a standard
scale. [ greatly desired (and it was very
importantly that 1t should weigh a Ger
tain number OF ounces which in this
case would be necessary to render 1t of
any value and so to me would be per-
feet weight-just as we all desire that
our characters should be 80 perfect as to
stand the test in the Judgment day and
be approved by God! 1t was put in the
scale but fell short Of the requisite
weight. What could be done? [ could
do nothing. l had exhausted my re.
sources in that direction; could not add
another ounce to the article and yet IN
less it were added and more it would be
an irretrievable loss. Now notice what
happened! The person weighing was
my friend; he had what was needed t:
"Will you take what is lacking and nee
essary from me?' he asked. ayes, will
lingly, if you you can spare it and will
furnish it," 81 can and will"-he said
Instantly it was added and
the standard weight was secured.
Do you not see, that my
friends ability and willingness to give
and my Willingness to accept and to use
and appropriate what was lacking re-
moved all difficulty, atoned for all de-
ficiency? Notice the word atone. Do
you not not also see how we, who are,
even when judged by ourselves, imper-
feet and sinful, and -
WHOSE ACTIONS ARE so OFTEN WRONG
and at the best far from right, can be &C.
cepted through Christ? Can be weighed
by the Lord and not found wanting on
account Of the stonementP Do you not see
how God can be just and yet the jus
tif1er Of all who come unto Him through
Christ? We 20 to him with our
imperfect lives and actions just
as they are; he weighs our &C.
tlons and compares them with his
perfect law and with that rule he himself
has made ''be ye perfect as your Father
inIHeaven is perfect" He sees (and we
seel how far short we came of that per-
lection; but Notwithstanding all our de-
ficieucies and short comings, he (who
jud ges righteously and yet shows
mercy accepts and saves the penitent
soul because he can offer US and we can
appropriate Christ's righteousness by
faith. Christ supplies what we lack.
When we approach the bar OF God to be
tested and weighed, when the depravitv
Of our hearts and the imperfections of all
our actions are discovered, God In effect
asks twill you (having done your utmost
and besr) take Christ into the scale, will
you receive Him rs your all sufficient Sa-
vIour, will you allow Him to do for you
what you cannot do for yourself and to
be To you righteousness and salvation +?
And when the penitent, humbled and yet
trusting soul, conflding In the friendship
and love of the promise of God says, 1T
will, do" the scale turns, and we are
justified from all things from which we
could not be justified by the law alone.
MY friends, the soul with Christ need
not fear the test and trial to which every
one must be subjected, but the soul with.
out Christ is hopeless, helpless and ur-
done; there is none that doeth right al
ways, no, not one, and it is useless to
think of being saved by good works or
right actions. You may estimate these
In certain way and claim they
will outweigh all your sins and all
human and heart depravity. In this NOR
al reckoning you may use~your best bal
ances-the best human standard scales
but remember it is by the Lord, by the
Lord alone, that actions are weighed; it
is his decision and judgment and not
yours that is TO decide the merit or de-
merit of your actions and of your life and
your eternal destiny. Then do not, dare
NOT, go on farther Ia life (and some of
you are far on your way towards the
end) and perhaps suddenly up 30 the
Judgment without having Christ in you
the all sufficient hope of glory. ssThere
is no condemnation to them who are in
Christ Jesusss'
I took letter TO the postmaster. re-
Gently. and asked twill it go?" mo-"
was the reply, as he weighed II, mot nm
less stamp lis added" So we take our
Heaven as we are, on the strength Of our
morality and good infentsons?n No-not
unless Christ Is added But with the Inn
print of Christ and with the soul stamp.
ed by his likeness and with his righteous
ness imputed TO us so rs to atone for our
unrighteousness, we are sure OF accept
ance. Without il or its equivalent there
is the possibility, and must we not say
certainty OF It's being dead letter. |. g.,
a spiritually dead soul.
That God will In hia mercy and justice
do all he car TO save all, believe: that
he will accept aome equivalent for faith
in Christ from those who have never
heard OF Christ, |. e., save all infants and
children, save some heathen and others