Semi-weekly herald., 1909-11-08
a AN ON THE ROCK"
(Rey. James sn,iihl

one OF my hearers, who was near
death She WAS an aged woman. ro.
markably quiet aud unobtrusive. and
whose life had adorned the gospel.
When ] approached her. l saw that
death was evidently doing its work
but she was calm and composed. ]
took her proffered hand. and said:
How is 1t with you?"
In her calm. quiet way, yet with
considerable earnestness. she replied:
We'll, sir, am on the Rock"
What mercy" thought |. ito feel
thus after long life, In which SO
many trials had been experienced, and
so many changes scent" 1t brought TO
my mind what | had heard Of n good
woman In humble life. who. when visit.
ed by her pastor. when she was draw
ing near to death, and being asked by
him II she felt sinking. replied:
How could you ask me that? Did
you ever know any one sink through
a rock? l am on the Rock!"
Reader, If you were in my friends
place. and some one was to put the
same question to you, could you hon.
estly say. Il am on the Rock? 1t Is
one OF the Saviour's own figures, and
represents the solid peace. settled rest,
and unquestionable safety enjoyed by
the believer In Jesus. We all by ma
ture build on the shifting sands But
when the Holy Spirit discovers to US
our danger. we are filled with alarm
and at once begin to look out for safe
ty and repose. These can be found
nowhere but in Jesus. These can be
enjoyed only by believing in Jesus. All
the good works we can perform, all
the tears we can shed. all the prayers
we can offer, will never lay founda.
tion for true peace. All must be dis.
carded, and the soul must learn to
build On the person, blood shedding.
and finished work of Christ alone.
Nothring tries the convinced soul like
this: TO have to renounce everything.
and to venture on Christ alone for
salvation, without the least thing OF
our own to look to or lean upon
But we must come to 1t, or we shall
never be happy. There is no founda
ton on which to build our hopes OF
eternal life but Jesus Christ alone
Nor can there ever be any: for the
testimony of God is. Other foundation
can no man lay but that is laid, which
Is Jesus Christ" On this all who
have taught by the Holy Spirit. in al,
ages. have built. and on this we mus,
build We can have no peace or sense
OF safety until then. But as soon as
We rest our souls on the atoning blood
the perfect righteousness, and the
prevalent intercession of the Lord .Je
sns, we enjoy the pardon of sin, we
have peace with God. and look for
ward with assured hope to the glory
that shall be revealed. -'-.
Having taken Christ for the founda
tfon of our hopes for eternity. we fec,
that we are on rock. The winds
may blow. the waves may roar. In,
storms may beat, but we are safe
being founded on a rock. Many a storm
mas the believer to brave. many q
tempest has he to endure, but nothing
can shake his foundation. Tho Lord
Jesus is tried stone, a sure founda.
tion. He never failed one who trust
ed In him. No earthquake can en-.
gulf 1t. nor can any wave ever wash
the believer off It, There he stands
hrm, while all around him reels to
and fro. There he rests in peace.
while mems hearts are failing them
Tor fear, Once on the rock, he is
safe forever Once united to this
foundation by living faith, he can
never be severed from 1t. At times
ne may fear At some seasons he may
doubt. But these do not affect his
SAFETY In his happiest and holiest
seasons he can look above and below.
before and behind, on the right hand
and on the left, and ask, who shall
separate me from the love of Christ p,
And when he has deliberately thought
OF all that Is powerful, cruel, malicious
crafty, and likely to effect such pur.
pose. In calm and quiet confidence he
can exciaim, Il am persuaded that
neither death. nor life, nor angels.
nor prlhcipalities, nor powers, nor
Things TO come, nor height, nor depth.
nor any other creature. shall be ablc
TO separate me from the love OF God
"hich Is In Christ Jesus my Lord ''
On, blessed assurance! Oh, glorious
state of safety and peace, Life may
wane and death may approach. but
the believer can say 81 am on lhe
Rock!" With David and with Lu,het
the believer can sing, "Therefore vii,
we not fear through the earth bo re-.
moved. and though the mountains be
carried into the midst of the sen.
though the waters thereof roar and be
troubled, though the mountains shake
with the swelling thereof"
Friends, are you on the Rock?
"a 1AI