The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-05-22

tending that it was the keystone of
the true English style. He says:
1.-The ultimate standard of English
prose style is set by the King James
version of the Bible. For examples of
limpid, convincing narrative we go to
Genesis, to the story of Ruth to the
quiet earneStneSS of the Gospels; for
the mingled argument and explanation
and the exhortation in which lies the
highest power of the other side of lit
erature, We go to the prophets. and
still more to the Epistles of the New
Testament; nj for the glow of vehe-
mence n feeling which burns away
the limits between poetry and prose,
and makes prose style at its highest
pitch able to stand beside the stirring
vibrations of verse, we go to the Psalms
or the book of Job or the prophecies of
Isaiah, or to the triumphant declara-
ton of immortality in the Epistle to
the Corinthians"
Most people who read religious news
papers-some of which have more of
the secular newspaper topics than re-
ligion-and sermon literature know. of
the high repute of DR.. Joseph Parker,
the very able and eminent Noncon-
formist preacher of London. Reading
one passage from a sermon of his de-
livered not long since, we We're i'm
pressed with the fact more than ever
before that the r theme of the pull
pit is salvation, is Jesus. DR.. Parker is
indeed 1.-The prince of London preach
ers," as a Presbyterian paper said of
him. Preaching an anniversary sermon
of his long ministry-probably his fiji
tieth year-he spoke this:
Looking pack on all the chequered
way, I have to testify that the only
preaching which has don me good is
the preaching of a Saviour who bore
my sins in His own body on the tree:
and the only preaching by which God
has enabled me to do good to others is
the preaching in which 1 have held up
my Saviour, not as a sublime example,
but as the Lamb of God that taketh
away the sin of the world"
One more glance at Hebrews 4th. In
the sixteenth verse, with which the
chapter closes, we have this: Let us
therefore come boldly unto the throne
of grace, that we may obtain mercy,
n find grace to help in time of need"
Surely this is a most gracious exhorta-
ton after what had preceded, and Upon
which we have sought to comment and
enforce in several brief Sunday studies.
We began the examination with the
announcement that the author of this
very precious Epistle urged three mo-
tives to prompt all seekers after
God to diligence and perseverance,,
Gods word; 2, His knowing all things;
3, The sympathy of Christ. In the verse
given above we see that God is help
for men; and it is their bounden duty
to come unto Him in the name of the
dear Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ,
1.-The Son of God" as the 14th verse
states. that for His sake they may re-
ceive grace to help and find eternal
life. All the foregoing discourse leads
up plainly and surely to the conclusion
of the last verse. We have a most gra-
cious, adorable High Priest who is full
of love and sympathy as welh as of
power and wisdom, and having suf-
fered for us that we might not die
eternally but be saved by the power of
an endless salvation. we are exhorted
to seek Him constantly, perseveringly,
imploringly, knowing that He can be
touched with the feeling of our in
firmities." The verse under considera-
ton at the conclusion of the examina-
ton Of the whole lesson, sets forth
clearly and directly three things. full
of encouragement and comfort: First,
there is a throne of grace in Heaven.
Second, That it is possible for believ-
trust and confidence and hope; and
Third, That all help comes from God.
who is mighty to succor and to save.
Burkitt, in his famous Notes. has
these timely words: There is a throne
of grace which believers may come
unto. God has a throne of justice and
a throne of grace; if He look upon man
according to the law of works, he must
needs sit upon the throne of justice as
a severe Lord, and strict judge to con-
denim US; but being propitiated and
ton by the blood of Christ. His
throne is a throne of grace and mercy,
from which He represents Himself to
US as a God in Christ, as a God of for
g%iveness, as a God in covenant. and as
a God that will have communion with
u.s." There are joy and hope in this
statement. Depending upon Gods love
and eternal power, upon the perfect
~fullness and efficacies of the blood of
the Atonement made by the Lord