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sufferings; and sometimes on His glory that should follow。 (1 Peter i。
11。) They did not always mark out for us the distinction between
Christ's first ing and Christ's second ing。 Like two candles in a
straight line; one behind the other; they sometimes saw both the
advents at the same time; and spoke of them in one breath。 They were
sometimes moved by the Holy Ghost to write of the times of Christ
crucified; and sometimes of Christ's kingdom in the latter days。 But
Jesus dying; or Jesus reigning; was the thought you will ever find
uppermost in their minds。
(k) It is Christ; I need hardly say; of whom the whole New Testament is
full。 The Gospels are 〃Christ〃 living; speaking; and moving among men。
The Acts are 〃Christ〃 preached; published; and proclaimed。 The Epistles
are 〃Christ〃 written of; explained; and exalted。 But all through; from
first to last; there is one name above every other; and that is the
name of Christ。
I charge every reader of this paper to ask himself frequently what the
Bible is to him。 Is it a Bible in which you have found nothing more
than good moral precepts and sound advice? Or is it a Bible in which
you have found Christ? Is it a Bible in which 〃Christ is all 〃? If not;
I tell you plainly; you have hitherto used your Bible to very little
purpose。 You are like a man who studies the solar system and leaves out
in his studies the sun; which is the centre of all。 It is no wonder if
you find your Bible a dull book!
III。 In the third place; let us understand that 〃Christ is all〃 in the
religion of all true Christians on earth。
In saying this; I wish to guard myself against being misunderstood。 I
hold the absolute necessity of the election of God the Father; and the
sanctification of God the Spirit; in order to effect the salvation of
everyone that is saved。 I hold that there is a perfect harmony and
unison in the action of the three Persons of the Trinity; in bringing
any man to glory; and that all three co…operate and work a joint work
in his deliverance from sin and hell。 Such as the Father is; such is
the Son; and such is the Holy Ghost。 The Father is merciful; the Son is
merciful; the Holy Ghost is merciful。 The same three who said at the
beginning; 〃Let us create;〃 said also; 〃Let us redeem and save。〃 I hold
that everyone who reaches heaven will ascribe all the glory of his
salvation to Father; Son and Holy Ghost; three Persons in one God。
But; at the same time; I see clear proof in Scripture that it is the
mind of the blessed Trinity that Christ should be prominently and
distinctly exalted in the matter of saving souls。 Christ is set forth
as the 〃Word;〃 through whom God's love to sinners is made known。
Christ's incarnation and atoning death on the cross are the great
corner…stone on which the whole plan of salvation rests。 Christ is the
way and door; by which alone approaches to God are to be made。 Christ
is the root into which all elect sinners must be grafted。 Christ is the
only meeting…place between God and man; between heaven and earth;
between the Holy Trinity and the poor sinful child of Adam。 It is
Christ whom God the Father has 〃sealed〃 and appointed to convey life to
a dead world。 (John vi。 27。) It is Christ to whom the Father has given
a people to be brought to glory。 It is Christ of whom the Spirit
testifies; and to whom He always leads a soul for pardon and peace。 In
short; it has 〃pleased the Father that in Christ all fulness should
dwell。〃 (Coloss。 i。 19。) What the sun is in the firmament of heaven;
that Christ is in true Christianity。
I say these things by way of explanation。 I want my readers clearly to
understand that in saying 〃Christ is all;〃 I do not mean to shut out
the work of the Father and of the Spirit。 Now let me show what I do
mean。
(a) Christ is all in a sinner's justification before God。
Through Him alone we can have peace with a Holy God; By Him alone we
can have admission into the presence of the Most High; and stand there
without fear。 〃We have boldness and access with confidence by the faith
of Him。〃 In Him alone can God be just; and justify the ungodly。 (Ephes。
iii。 12; Rom。 iii。 26。)
Wherewith can any mortal man e before God? What can we bring as a
plea for acquittal before that Glorious Being; in whose eyes the very
heavens are not clean?
Shall we say that we have done our duty to God? Shall we say that we
have done our duty to our neighbour? Shall we bring forward our
prayers?our regularity?our morality?our amendments?our
church…going? Shall we ask to be accepted because of any of these?
Which of these things will stand the searching inspection of God's eye。
Which of them will actually justify us? Which of them will carry us
clear through judgment; and land us safe in glory?
None; none; none! Take any mandment of the ten; and let us examine
ourselves by it。 We have broken it repeatedly。 We cannot answer God one
of a thousand。Take any of us; and look narrowly into our waysand we
are nothing but sinners。 There is but one verdict: we are all
guiltyall deserve hellall ought to die。 Wherewith can we e
before God?
We must e in the name of Jesusstanding on no other
groundpleading no other plea than this; 〃Christ died on the cross for
the ungodly; and I trust in Him。 Christ died for me; and I believe on
Him。〃
The garment of our Elder Brotherthe righteousness of Christthis is
the only robe which can cover us and enable us to stand in the light of
heaven without shame。
The name of Jesus is the only name by which we shall obtain an entrance
through the gate of eternal glory。 If we e to that gate in our own
names; we are lost; we shall not be admitted; we shall knock in vain。
If we e in the name of Jesus; it is a passport and Shibboleth; and
we shall enter and live。
The mark of the blood of Christ is the only mark that can save us from
destruction。 When the angels are separating the children of Adam in the
last day; if we are not found marked with that atoning blood; we had
better never have been born。
Oh; let us never forget that Christ must be 〃all〃 to that soul who
would be justified!We must be content to go to heaven as
beggarssaved by free grace; simply as believers in Jesusor we shall
never be saved at all。
Is there a thoughtless; worldly soul among the readers of this book? Is
there one who thinks to reach heaven by saying hastily at the last;
〃Lord have mercy on me〃 without Christ? Friend; you are sowing misery
for yourself; and unless you alter you will awake to endless woe。
Is there a proud; formal soul among the readers of this book? Is there
anyone thinking to make himself fit for heaven and good enough to pass
muster by his own doings?Brother; you are building a Babel; and you
will never reach heaven in your present state。
But is there a labouring; heavy…laden one among the readers of this
book? Is