Newspapers / Zion’s Landmarks (Wilson, N.C.) / Oct. 1, 1869, edition 1 / Page 7
Part of Zion’s Landmarks (Wilson, N.C.) / About this page
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 167 -causes or effects, is, I think, 'persecu tions; but tribulation in the scrip tural sense is an imvard conflict inci dent upon spiritual causes and ef fects : it works patience and results in hope, and the more abundant than heretofore love of God shed abroad in the heart. I think its power must be driven, for like faith, hope and love it draws to God as its centre of gravity (if i may s(> illustrate,) none of these can rest upon or find a place on earth ; they repulse and are re- jiulsed. They are irresistably at tracted and, drawn to Jesus. They come from and go back to God. That peculiai, indescribable distress and anguish of soul, that knows no out ward or eardily cause (and which I distinguish as tribulation,) that only life in this earth to-day that knows , (See Col. 1:24, 2 Cor. 1:5, Phil. 3:10 a fountain head—a hiding place in God ! There are desires in earth to day that are lifted to God in the silent strength and power of the “life of Jesus made manifest in our body” (not bodies.) The life breathing to God is the life of Christ | i^gs in soul UD to God. The knows its anguish and bitterness and r thirst for the living God; desires nor seeks anything of earth, the living (rod is its centre. This tribulation results in hope, and if we hope we patiently “wait all the day.” “ All the days of my appointed time will I wait till my change come.” Whoever can say this knows a spiritual refining process, begun in tribulation; and however terrible the process in be- - when ended, like tdie “man that had seen affliction by the rod of God's wrath,” and who had been “compassed by gall and travail” (Sam. 3:25,) can say “it is good that a. man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.” ]jct all who have been in the furnace ^‘rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him.” We wait for Ave scarcely know Avhat, but Ave feel that to aAvake in His likeness Avill satisfy. None knoAV “0 God beside thee, Avhat He liath prepared for them that Avaiteth for him.” (Isaiah 24:4.) We know His promises are exceeding great and precious, and Ave Avait all the day of this life. There is something beautiful, glo rious and sublime beyond expression in these five first verses (1 read not the balance,) and in fact all the .Psalms. David represented Christ, .arid there is not a sentence in the Psalms but Avhat is Avitnessed by Christ as the Head or Bocln. When O Christ Avas actually in the flesh, he responded to the Avords of David, and “the Spiritef life in Christ Jesus” noAv .actually\in the flesh .still re sponds. Truly God teas manifest ju the flesh,” and is still manifest in the flesh. Oh His grace, hoAV bound less in richness and fullness, and His love passes knoAAdedge ! There is a lifting our soul up to God faith that says “thou art the God of my salvation,” is “ the faith of the Son of God.” And the sufferings— oh hoAV shall I express it!—there is a sad sacredness in it—there are sor- roAving tears of joy mixed Avith it— is it possible that sufferings that Aveighs so low that the soul in desire must be lifted up to God, has any part of Christ in them ? “If we be dead Avith Christ” we have a oneness and a fellowship in his death. “ If we be risen with Christ ” Ave have a oneness and fellowship in his life, and if Ave suft'er with him Ave “know him in the felloAvship of his sufferings;” that is, if we have at tained to this knowledge. We may breathe his very life and not “knoAv him in the power of his resurrection,” and also suffer Avith him and not “ knoAV him in the fellowship of his suff'erings.” If Ave be dead Avith Christ Ave Avere virtually recognized in the “one offering for sin,” and that, as the price of redemption, “is finished.” But eternal life is a gift, and suff'erings a test or proof of its application. Neither of these last have actually accomplished their ends, nor Avill they till tae topmost stone is laid, crying grace, grace unto it, else Jesus Avould not occupy the me diatorial throne ; else the eternal Spirit of life in Christ Jesus given to the saints in time on earth, would not lift their souls up to God in in tercessions with groanings Avhich can not be uttered. Ah hoAV coiisolino’ CD the thought that these silent unut terable desires are as Aveli pleasing Gal. 6:17.) Is there not something glorious and sublime beyond expression in the thought of the close relation we bear to Christ (if we be His ?) Ave were thus, -with Him in eternity—in His suffer- the flesh—on Mount Olive— on the cross—in the grave—in the resurrection, and are with Him in the heavens. And He is Avith us, even Avhen we lift our souls to God. He lifted up Ilis soul to God Avhen in the flesh, Avhen we were with Him as the Aveight that sunk Him doAvn to die. He is Avith us in the flesh as the pOAver and spirit upon which we arise up and live. How near we are to Christ when in spirit Ave utter the prayers of David ! How near Ave are to Christ Avlien Avith one of His children ! Do Ave realize being at the feet-of Jesus Avhen at the feet of one of these? Do Ave realize subjection to Christ Avhen subject one to another ? Do we realize the fact that in refusing to administer to the necessities of the saints Ave refuse Christ, as if in person? Ijo Ave realize the fact that in offend ing one of His little ones A\m “ sin against Christ ?” 1 must stop, but •iny S'oul goes out, as it Averc, Avith the subject and seeks communion and companionship. Shall it seek in vain? My dear sister, this letter has taken quite an unexpected turn. When I began it Avas A>ith a heavy heart, and a certain premeditated letter. I lost them both. I intended to notice some delightful points in yours. I bear testimony to their beauty and truth, at least. Will you accept this A-ery imperfect letter, my beloved sister, as a feeble return for in all things we are more Election be not true, hoAvever as sured the believer may be at the time his sins are forgiven, he cannot say that to-morrow ho will not be engulphed in bottomless perdition.— How a rational being with such a contingency before him, can be otherwise than perfectly miserable, I cannot see. But established in this truth, we can say with Paul: “Who shall sepai'ate us from the love of Christ ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, orfamiue, or nakedness, or peril, or sword ? Nay, thai. con- loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor prin cipalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to comi nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be aole to separate us from the love of God Avhich is in Christ Jesus our Lord, And while Election secures the salvation of countless multitudes, it ascribes all the glory of their salvation to God. This to the Christian is the most en dearing feature of the Avhole subject. And it constitutes one of the many proofs that the doctrine is divine.—• Hence just views of Eleclioxwbidglm querors, through him that yours ? I knoAV nothing better ever Avas penned by a mortal than the subject I have tried to present, but my imperfections, I fear, have rather marred it. I Avould like to hear from you on the same. Let me hear from soon. to God as the offering of the body of j you very Christ, for this is also the ofl'ering of | y^ur soul to God the body of Chiist, ioi, as I said, | vemember one avIio feels the manifestation of the life of Christ wjittle sister,” and who is not yet actually accomplished to its full end. And the sufferings of Christ are not yet completed. And the same flesh that God io made mani fest in, or that receives the gift of eternal life in Christ, Avill the suffer ings of Christ abound in., ,and Avill “fill up that Avhicli is behind of the suff'erings of Christ,” “ahvays bear ing about in the body the dying of our Lord Jesus that the life also of Jesus mi ght be made manilest in our body.” subscribes herself your unAvorthy sister (I hope) in Christ. A. PHILLIPS. Election redounds to the glory of God’s grace, as it secures the salva tion of a multitude, Avhicli no man ean number. It claims no merit of its OAvn, but gives all the glory to God. From the denial of this doc trine is alAvays derived the aAvful fear ten in the minds of believers the con viction of the obligations to glorify God. We are bound, brethren, to ren der thanks to our heavenly Father for the gift of his Son, for influen ces of his Spirit, and for his word. But this is not all. But we are bound to render thanks for the ad ditional expression of his love to wards us in the conversion of our souls. Had God left us to the in clination of our OAvn wills, we should have lived and died in our sins, in full view of the atonement of Christ; but when wo are reject ing the offers of mercy and going further, and vet further from the heavenly road, he pitied us, and turned our feet from the way that leads to death. We should adore and praise tne goodness of God, brethren, for the provisions of grace, for the invitations of the gos pel, and especially for the disposi tion imparted to us by divine grace to comply with those invitations.— “By the grace of God Ave are AAdiat Ave are;” and in eternity if we should be found among the redeem ed of the Lord, we shall most will- of being finally cast aAvay, for if ingly cast our crowns at the feet of Christ and ascribe, “Blessedness and honor, and glory, and poAver., unto him that sitteth upon the throne., and unto the Lamb for ever.”-IFiWmw IF, 1845> i I'
Zion’s Landmarks (Wilson, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Oct. 1, 1869, edition 1
7
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75