The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1914-03-06

- ----zS - sure cure in the
Word OF God. In
this case II is evident that the cause
OF the mans fear is this: He is think
ing OF saving himself instead OF com
mitting the case TO Christ He means
10 try little harder than ever before
to do good, but he has failed so often
in the past that he has little con.
hdence that he will succeed any bet
ter In the future. And the man is
right. He certainly will fail II he re-
lies upon his own efforts to lead a
Christian life.
The remedy in this case is TO take
the mans attention away from him.
self. and fix II upon the Lord Jesus,
who alone can save him Say TO him,
My dear friend. the question is not
whether you can hold out. but whether
or not God is able to save you. Let us
see what he says about It." Opening
your Bible ask him to read aloud He
brews 1925. Wherefore he is able
also to save them to the uttermost
that come unto God by him. seeing he
ever liveth to make intercession for
them After he has read II, say to
him, IF God is able TO save 10 the
uttermost, there Ia certainly some
hope for you. With an 'uttermost'
salvation such as Christ offers. there
are no hopeless cases, do you see?"
Yes, II does look little more hope
ful / must confess. but ! am afraid
should fail, II | started in the Chris
tian life. My bump OF persistence is
not very prominent, and I am easily
discouraged"
That may be true, but do you know
this 'uttermost' Savior has made pro-
vision also to keep you from falling?
Read what he says In Jude "a" Now
unto him that Is able to keep you from
falling, and TO present you faultless
before the presence OF his glory with
exceeding JOY"
Isn't that splendid? Able to keep
you from falling. and to present you
faultless.' Blameless would mean a
great deal. but without fault means
much more. And that is the condition
In which Christ promises that you
shall be when he presents you before
the Father. (And the Joy referred
TO In that verse is not the Joy OF the
sinner, though that will be unspeak. |
able, but the Joy OF the Savior as he
looks with actual pride upon his finish.
ed work. II doesn't seem possible. |
does II, that you can be saved so com. /
pletely, and made so perfect and beau
uful. that the Lord Jesus will put you
on exhibition as a sample OF his handi.
work. with actual priS and Joy? And
yet that is precisely what he says he
can do. and he certainly ought to
know Now does not your case seem
hopeful. looking at 1t from Gods stand.
point?"
Yes, ] must admit that IL does. but
you see my case is peculiar. had
grandfather who was a drunkard. and
I have inherited from him an appetjte
for liquor Occasionally an awful crav.
ing for strong drink comes upon me
with irresistible power, and down 20
before it, That is the real cause OF
my apprehension. n II were not for
that ! think could be saved. but you
see my case is peculiar"
Yes, see your case is peculiar. but
no you know We have a peculiar
Savior? In the first place, he was &C.
luainted with that grandfather OF
yours, and he knows all about that at-
petite. In the second place. he has
made ample provision for Il In the
Book. Indeed. he has provided spe-
'ial promise for just such cases. Read
Z you will l Corinthians 1913 God
9 faithful who will not suffer you TO
'e tempted above that ye are able;
'ut will with the temptation also
make way to escape. that ye may be
BILE TO bear H.
II the man is sincere In his desire
o be Christian there is only one al
ernative. and usually he will accept
IL these verses do not lead a per.
OH 10 a decision I have sometimes
ried this method You are lost now. !
nyway. are you not?" Yes, I am :
,st now" Well, II you should try :
ne Christian life and fail, you could q
OF be any worse of than you are now,
ould your" No" But II you should
icceed you would be a great deal bet. Z
n OF, would you not?" Certainly" '
Then II looks 20 me as II you had
gerything to win and nothing TO lose
y starting. is that not so?" Yes. b
II ! never thought OF that before"
Viii you then kneel right down here 4
Id commit the keeping OF your soul II
Christi" Il will" a
/ have seldom found a person who 3,
'uld not be convinced by such simple
asoning. II they honestly desired To a