The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-10-03

the simple Cos
pei! For everywhere men and women
are busy with their self-righteous eff
forts to reach heaven and fit them
selves for God-doing. doing, doing
instead of resting in what has been
done for them. | was nineteen years
old before l ever heard of this rest.
What will God say of those, who, COM
missioned to proclaim il, so wickedly
withhold the gospel?
The Hebrews epistle of the opened
heavens, disclosing that Man in the
glory exalted at the right hand of the
Majesty on high because Of the fin
ished work of the cross, breaches TO
us of the rest which that work has
provided for the heart of our God. In
the verse that follows the ext d quo
tation from Gen. % occurs: For
he spake in a certain place of the
seventh day on this wise, And God
did rest the seventh day from all his
works" The events of the six days
that led to that rest are we'll known.
God had seen His image in hat first
man, and rested, not from WEAKNESS
but from achievement, in complacent
delight amid the work Of His hands.
But turn the page and all is married.
Sin had come in and a curse had
fallen upon the scene that God had
blessed. And no more do we hear of
His resting. Sin had disturbed His
rest, and when the Lord Jesus Christ
ceme He said: My Father worketh
hitherto, o l work" There was no
rest for Him while al accursed crea-
ton existed. But we come to this
epistle to the Hebrews and behold. a
scene of rest once more: THE last
ADAM" who finished the work that the
Father gave Him to do, is sitting
down at the right hand of the Males
ty on high" Gods heart is at rest at
last in what this second man" has
done, for He has forever put away
the sin that marred His rest at the be-
ginning.
But the marvel of it is that this rest
is yours and mine! I'VE which have
believed do enter into rest" Here
and now! Perfect and complete. We
have not earned ii by toiling; ii has
been provided for us who believe
Gods testimony These poor hearts.
so full of unrest because of sin, have
found their rest at last, where the
heart of God has found tin what His
beloved Son has done, And this is
the gospel, the glad story our God so
sa,-~ - all +bo+ 10 = SO an9nrlr- ,,al-
ing known in n way or another
though men seem so reluctant TO hear
the proclamation of a finished work
that He invites poor sinners 10 rest
in with HIMSELF Oh soul, this is what
the Lord Jesus Christ promised when
He said: Come unto me and
| will give you rest" Oh, who is this
that stands up before a whole world
full of restless, sinful hearts, with
such a promise? 1t is the only Savior
of men. And He does what He prom
ises! And every generation since that
promise was spoken has had its mil
lions of rejoicing witnesses to its
truth!
I came to Jesus as I was,
Weary and worn and sad.
I found in Him a resting place
And He has made me glad.
Then, in verse 10 of Il chapter
this word Is added: For he that is
entered into his rest, he also hath
ceased from his own works as God did
from His" Do you believe 1t? Are
you joyfully realizing its truth?
Ceased from my own works, which
could add nothing TO the work of
Christ but would mar it and tarnish
the luster of its glory; ceased from
my poor efforts to make myself fit for
God; 10 rest in what has been done
for me! And in that perfect heart
rest. 10 work with both hands, not to
achieve merit but in gratitude 10 Him
whose infinite merit is all imputed
to me by grace.
The Christian who has read. with
faith. this chapter of Hebrews never
sings. When l Can Read My Title
Clear 10 Mansions in the Skies for
he knows that he is In the possession
Of the title of the Lord Himself, read
clear in Scripture and signed and
sealed by the blood of His cross