The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1914-09-08


promised to save her and her house
hold alive when the city should be
destroyed, on condition that she bind
line of scarlet thread in her win
dow. This story. found in Joshua
and 6, furnishes many helpful lessons.
Fear as the Beginning of Love.
The woman told the spies how the
terror of Israel had fallen upon her
countrymen. because of what Jehovah
had done at the Red Sea and in the
wilderness. Many have fed to Christ
because led to fear the wrath of God.
There is something in God to be
feared, much as this age forgets 1t;
God who is not indignant against
wickedness is not worthy of wor-
ship. Christ did not show his love by
excusing sin, but by bearing it in his
own body to the cross. Men like
Finney and Sturgeon and Moody, who
have led multitudes to love God, have
warned them to flee from the wrath
to come. Fear may properly be the
beginning of love.
The Possibilities of Grace.
LIS WUudu WdS d S1HnSl. L CT hOA
faith is praised in Hebrews IL, her
works in James 2 and-most wonder
full of all-she became an ancestress
of Christ. Let none despair in the
presence of the grace of God which
bringeth salvation! The impure, the
drunken, the slave of drugs, the muir
derer, the avaricious- and any
may find deliverance in Christ. When
at last the New Jerusalem comes
down, adorned as a bride, among the
names shining in the foundation will
be that of Matthew, once a publican!
The Scarlet Thread.
1t doubtless reminded of the Pass
over and the sprinkling of blood. 1t
speaks to US of the way Of redemp-
ton through the blood of Christ. He
oath made him to be sin for US. who
Knew no sin"-how horrible, how
blessed! We need some great thing
to assure our condemning hearts that
q just God may deal graciously with
us sinners, but Calvary is sufficient.
The most despairing may fully trust
in the blood of Jesus Christ which
cleanseth from all sin.
The Works of Faith.
James writes (2:25), Was not
Rahab the harlot justified by works.
when she had received the messen-
gers, and had sent them out another
way?" Some have thought this state
ment contradictory of PauPs teaching
of justification by faith; but while
Paul is giving the inward principle
James writes of the outward develop
ment of it. Saved by faith alone.
but not by faith which is alone" says
Chalmers. Faith if it have not works
is dead" writes James. Our faith as
to spiritual things should affect all
our lives, even-as Rowland Hill
quantity said-the treatment Of the
dog in our home.
Rahab's faith manifested itself. also.
in her concern for the safety of her
household. Such a concern sfor the
salvation of others is a prime mark
of salvation Do you find this mark
In yourself, Christian reader?
True, her faith was weak, and its
weakness was exhibited in the false
hood told to the king of Jericho. Yet
we should not forget how patient God
must needs be with the best of his
servants Abraham's lying is recorded
and Peters denial. We are not to
continue in sin that grace may
abound. but we will need to remem-
Der to the end that ito him that work
eth not, but believeth on him that
justifeth the ungodly, his faith is
counted for righteousness" (Romans
4:5.)
The Deliverance Effected.
Some see in Jericho type of this
world, under doom from God: it was
near Jordan, "the river of death" 1t
is true that Jericho means sweet
SAVIOR" although curse was on it and
1t was an offense unto God; so men
speak of this doomed world. But as
destruction came to Jericho at the
time of harvest so it will come to
the world at "the end of the age"
We read, Joshua saved Rahab the
harlot alive, and her fathers house
hold. and all that she had; happy
will those be, in the day of wrath"
who are delivered by greater Joshua.
This sinful woman was saved by
relying on the scarlet thread, be-
cause of the word of the spies. But
let the unsaved now hear this prom.
Use Of Christ: Verify, verify. say
unto you. he that heareth my word,
and believeth on him that sent me.
hath everlasting life. and shall not
come into condemnation; but is
passed from death unto life" John