Newspapers / Zion's landmarks. / April 15, 1870, edition 1 / Page 5
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
ZION’S LANDMARKS 77 C? (Box 68.) Opkuk.i, ( March ISth, 1870, ^ Mr, E, A. Braley: Dear Friend:—Yours of the 12th inst,;, is at hand, and I liave |x;rused its coiitente with much interest. I tiAi' ly sympathise with you and your wife in your bermvement». But the Judge of all the earth will do right.” How unsearchable are his judj2 ments and his ways past finding out Eom. 11:3S. However dark and jny.sterions the providences of God may be to u&, rdl are right and will iu the end redown to the glory of God and the good of all his j>eople. It is but the voice of prophecy to as sert that ‘kill God’s people shall be taught of the Lord.” Isa. 54:13. W'c should remember, however, tliat the Lord lias his own method of teachim>-. If it be his pleasure to teach by the rod of affiietion, liiapur- |Hjse will be accomplished. We need not expect slw'ays to sail on a smooth sea. 8«torms will arise to fur- iii.sh an o])]:x?rtunity for a more full manifestation of the power andgo>od- ncss of God in our protection and de liverance, as Avcll as to teach us more and more of the frailty and nothing ness of all creature help. “In my distress (says David) I cried unto the Lord;; he heard my voice out of hi.s holy temple.” Psa. 18 : G.— Then surdv it is for the good of GchI’s ])CO>ple to be brought into dis- tresis, clsethev W’ould never know' the goodness of God in deliverance from it.. But \vc are very sh©3t creatures and often look at t'rcss alone and not at* those things which are to result from it.— We look too much at the things that arc seen by tlie natural under&tand- im*-. and not at the things tlwst are not thus seen. But as you and your lady both ask if the saints will know one ano- tlier in the heavenly glory as they know’ each other here,. 1 will stiiy a few words on that subject. The general tendency of meat of the r«‘- ligious teaching of the present day is, to early impress the youthful mind that the heavenly state is sim- sighted the dis- blessed pi} a; change of location- with some little improvement for the better, instead of a complete change of na ture. To-all such it might with gri'at projiriety be said,, as Christ i^aid to the Sarklucees, “y.a>do err, not knowing the Scriptures^, nor the jx)wcr of GodL”' IVIat.. 2i2.: 29. It thos&-tlc.shl v tics- sad relations of husband and wife, parents and ciil- dren, masters and servants, kings and subjects, are to remain in the heav enly world of unsullied glory as; they once exi.sted here, then the problem snbmjtted by the Sadducees to Christ remains- unansw-ered to this (kiy.— Seven iWotliers, in succession, had one w''s*m!an for a wife; as one wmuld die the next brother would raarry Ms widow’, and last of all the wo man died- “IVbose wJfe shall she be?” Will any of the modern Theo logical teachers who teach that these fie.shly relations asd recognitions res main, iu the heav'euly state, pfease answer this question ? “Whose wife shall she be of the seven ?■” Mat. 22: 28. If these earthly relations re main, each of the.se seven brothers has equal claims to- ihe same w’ornan for his wife. What a squabble and confusion -would enstse. The whole of this very popular and absuRl theorv proceeds from the source tliat vs stated by our blessed Lord- “Not knowing tlie-scriptuiTS, nor the pow er of God.” If popular religious teachers w’ere not ignorant of the Scriptures asd of the pow’er of God, to change this vile body and fashion it like the glorious body of a crucified and risen Saviour tlvcy would not so oreatlv err in teaching the absurd doctrine of fle-shly recognition and fleshly affections and relations re maining: in the heavenly and re.surrec- ted state, Phil. 3:20, Do they not know that “Flesh anrl blood can not inhevit thekivigd6»ra of God?” Do they not know tlvat “corruption can not inherit incorru]>tion ?”’ 3 Cor. 15:50. This corrupt fleshly mffnre is the greatest enemy that the Chris tian has to contend with e^’'en m this life. It cannot come ruto the king dom of Christ even In Ms geopel Church state upon cartlii mnich' less into the glorified state of the saints above. The old man with his dle?eds must be put off', and the new' man which is rcnew’cd in kriow'Iedge after the image of him that created him i% put on in the kingdom of Christ, “wTerc there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor UTicircumei- 31011, Barbarian, Scythirsiis, boiwl nor free, but Christ is all,, anti in all.”— Coh. 3:10:11. If “they that' are Chiris ’s have crucifiecS ishe flesh with the-affections and liists^.’^ how can they expect these fleshly affections-to eris4 their trlumphent state in the workk of glory? Gal.. Y: 24. Even in the gp»{Xil Church state in this- wvar.kl \ws-cajinot observe tlie law e# Christ if we know “any nuan after the flesh,” “If any man be in Christ he is a new creature, old things are pa-^ed aw'ay; febold all things im' beecTOc new.” 2 Cor, 5:16: 17.—- A man’s wife or child is no nearer related to him iu the kingdom of Christ tlian any other subject of griMSP. These fleshly relationgf and alfe-etions cling ah©ut the saints in thih -world, but cannot enter that “he«jse not made"with hands, eternal in the heaven.sf” Dear friends, I might say much upon this subject, huf must desist for the present. You also ask ira substonce, “What is re- qmvrefl of a man here on earth that he may see GocF in persee hereafter ?” This is veiy’ much like the enquiring of the mas who* said “lYliat good thifflg sliaflT do'that I may inherit eternal life?” Mat. 19. It is a gresf and awful mistake of sinful o men to sn-ppese- that their eternal Salvattion caix be- obtained by w’orks-. of righteousnese- which they are able- to doj.. Ifyo’ffl hcqve for Salvation and heavenly peace -^vlth God'on the I'groumI of your own -works, yo-uv will c-ertainly be in-istaker?, I would ask, hp^rever, are you really concerned about eternal Sal vation? Have either- you or your wifiv feltat any tiine-that yon w'ere great sinners before God? and did you then feel or do you now feel that the justice of God requires your bani.shment and eternal condemna tion ? Does this sense of guilt press youdowm like a hea\-y load of sin by: dlly and by night? Does all your- prayers and all your works seem to' partake of the nature of your own- sihftrr self? Now if I was to tell you “wliaf is required of a man Here on earth to s'ee God’s face- in peace,”' I should tell you' that this very sense of wretchedness, this loathing and abhorring ofyoui-self is necessary.— A"ou must lose all confidence in vouT own works^ feel that you are a- lost sinner before you can trtily feel your need of tfre Saviour of’ siuners. For all who' thus feel their need', there is help at hand. Christ is tlie Saviour of sinners. If you feel that von liavc a stock: of righteous ne.s.s of y’our own, y’ou cannot eM'm- the pro mise of Salvation to' siuners. Do yett not knew that the “wage.?- of sin i.s-dfeath.’” That i.s the wages- or pay fer'sin, “But the gift of God^ is eternal life through. Jesus ChrisC our Ixvrill”’ We-sec af once- tliraf Salvation is-not obtaineel as-aamvairc? tor our wnTks-j.-vve'cauaot bv^‘ ft neiv get it as wages for which we have labored. It is the gift of Govl, through Jesus Christ. “By gnioe vou are saved, through faith, and that uo'l of yourselves, it is the gift of God,. Not of -works lest any man should hmst.” Eph, 2:8. If then you ask “what you can do to insure your eternal Salvation?” I must ans wer, nothing, absolutely nothing.— Now if y’oi-5 can feel assured of this and yet feel that something must be done for you speedily, else you sink forev'er, let me say to-you that some- tMng has already been done for you else you would not feel yoirr need.— 'Hast your burden upon the Lord, he will sustain you.” Look to Jesug- alone for Salvation.. “lie- is able to save-'to the uttei;most those that conm to God by him,” But rememlrer that when we come to God by hiiUy we do>not come in our own name,. u(>r in oqr own works, but we come- by liis atonement, we" come by' liis- righteousness aixl grace wliich lie sheds abundautly on ?is. Do you. mourn for siu? do'y’ou: repent, do you hunger autt thirst after righte ousness? do you desire a new heart and a view Spirit?. Then let me tell you these very tlving.s are ev.idenec& that you. have a-new heart alrcadv and as-arec-uscquence you. have new views of'the-clviiracter of God, and ofy’ourowvv character,. T"o-ur mourn ing, rejventing, hi'in.gering and thirst ing are the efl’cets,. and not tlie cause of life; It is the living tiiat see, feel, mourn and repent. But I have perhaps said enough upon; this point. You say that your wife has never made any res ligious profession, but seems to be much Goncerned about lier condi tion. Now let me say for her coii- solaticn, if tliat concern is produ' ced by the Spirit o-f God giving her etermd life she will assuredly be brought experimentally to know Jesus in the forgivenessref sins.—■ He is-the YTayq the Truth and the Lite;.and no mian eometh unto the Father but by him. “He is exal ted to-be a Vi nee and Saviour, to 01 give-repentance and- remission sins- to- Israel.’’ Repentance is therefore the gift of God as well as eveyiyfliing.else necessary to Salva- tton. Silver now a few concluding re^ r»arks Irom f%e who feels that his labor oni earth is nearly done. Let me say to you. and your lady, Search, the Scriptures carefully, notice particularly who-is addressr
April 15, 1870, edition 1
5
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75