The Great Day Of God's Wrath! # 1

 The Great Day Of God's Wrath! # 1

"For the great day of His wrath has come - and who shall be able to stand!" (Revelation 6:17).

Every man's thoughts run now like Nebuchadnezzar's - with a desire to know what shall come to pass hereafter, or what things the future will bring forth, "As you were lying there, O king, your mind turned to things to come, and the revealer of mysteries showed you what is going to happen." (Daniel 2:29).

There is nothing in the womb of time - but what was first in the womb of God. Now, this book of the Revelation shows us these three things:

1. The state and condition of the true church of God upon earth, under the power and reign of antichrist.

2. The rise, the reign, and the rage of antichrist in the world.

3. The quiet, blessed, and glorious state and condition of the true church here below, after the ruin and downfall of antichrist, "whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of His mouth and destroy by the splendor of His coming!" (2 Thessalonians 2:8).

This chapter out of which my text is taken (Revelation 6), shows us seven things:

1, You may see what God's dreadful judgments are, by which He cuts off and destroys the inhabitants of the earth, for their sin and wickedness; they are likened and compared to horses, as you may see from verse 4 to verse 8. Here you have:a white horse, war; a red horse, the sword; a black horse, the famine; a pale horse, the pestilence, or plague, which leads to death.

Horses are creatures which run to and fro - and so do God's judgments from house to house, from street to street, from city to city, from town to town, and from one place to another. "Show no mercy; have no pity!" (Ezekiel 9:5).

Horses are creatures which are very swift in their motion, they run many miles in a little time. Likewise, God's judgments are also very swift, they do much execution in a little time. "So the Lord sent a plague on Israel, and seventy thousand men of Israel fell dead." (1 Chron. 21:14).

You may also see a proof of this, by what God has done to London, where more than a thousand died in one day.

2. You may see here where all the holy martyrs and witnesses of Jesus Christ are, who have been slain for the Word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus; they are under the altar, that is, under the glorious protection of Christ in heaven, "They are before the throne of God, serving Him day and night; and the Lamb leads them to the living fountain, and God wipes away all tears from their eyes." (Revelation 7:15, 17).

3. You may see also the cause for which these blessed saints were slain; it was "for the Word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ." (Chapter 6:9).

4. Here you may see that all the saints' precious blood, which has been spilt from time to time by the whore of Babylon, cries aloud, day and night, to God for vengeance upon Babylon. Chapter 6:10).

5. You have here the answer of God in relation to the saints' cry, "And it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow-servants also, and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled." (Chapter 6:11)

6. You may here see what dreadful and terrible things followed upon the opening the sixth seal, verse 12, 14. "And lo, there was a great earthquake. The sun became as dark as black cloth, and the moon became as red as blood. Then the stars of the sky fell to the earth like green figs falling from a tree shaken by a strong wind. The sky was rolled up like a scroll, and all of the mountains and islands were moved from their places." There are the visible judgments of God, which are come upon the anti-christian crew.

And, lastly, this chapter shows us what will be the state and condition of those men at that day, who are found enemies to God and His people, "Then everyone - the kings of the earth, the rulers, the generals, the wealthy, the powerful, and every slave and free person - all hid themselves in the caves and among the rockes, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of the One who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!" (Rev. 6:15-16).

Now this brings me to the words of my text, which shows us the reason of this great out-cry, "For the great day of His wrath has come- and who shall be able to stand?" (Revelation 6:17).

~William Dyer~

I Found Him Whom My Soul Loves! # 2

 I Found Him Whom My Soul Loves! # 2

It generates humility, deep and adoring humility. Humility, which makes us lovable, and fires us with love to all about us. Humility which fills us with profound admiration of the conduct and condescension of our Lord, and lays us in the dust at His feet. Humility, which inspires us with lofty expectations, of seeing more of His beauty, enjoying more of His presence, and of being ravished always with His love.

O the blessedness of find that loved One again, and once more enjoying His presence, and the assurance of His love!

Believer, when Jesus is not enjoyed by you - He is not far from you. He only stands behind the wall. "My lover is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look! There He stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattice." (Song of Songs 2:9). He is just beyond the watchmen. We are not far from finding Him when we feel and lament His absence. He will soon turn again, and have compassion upon us. If therefore you are seeking Him, though discouraged for a time, press on, persevere - for you are sure to find Him. "Everyone who seeks - finds."

The lost sinner who have never enjoyed His presence, if he seeks - will find; and the backslider who has sinned away His presence - shall have it restored again. Seek, seek then, for none can seek His face in vain.

When Christ is found after long seeking, and after deep searching of heart, He is more precious, than as if found at once. We value that most - which costs us most. We enjoy that most - which is only gained by much labor and effort. Never does the sun appear so bright, as after the long, cold, dreary night. Never is health so prized, as after a long season of painful sickness. Never is water so sweet, as when the tongue fails for thirst. Just so, never is Jesus so precious, as after the long night of guilt, gloom, and desertion. Never is Jesus so precious, as after we have suffered from broken bones, a wounded spirit, and a troubled conscience. Never is Jesus so precious, as when the fire of God's wrath has seemed to dry up our vital moisture, and the firey law has almost brought us into the dust of death!

The trumpet of Jubilee, was not so sweet to the bankrupt Israelite; the act of emancipation, was never so delightful to the manacled slave; the proclamation of pardon, was never so precious to the doomed criminal, who expected to the executed in the morning; as is Jesus to the soul, when He manifests Himself once more, after a long dreary season of desertion.

Reader! Are you seeking Jesus? Whatever may be your case, circumstances, or discouragements, never give up until you have found Him. Find Him you will, you must - if you seek for Him with all your heart. And when you have found Him, do not fear to own it, or neglect to acknowledge it - but in the language of the delighted spouse, exclaim, "I have found Him whom my soul loves!"

~James Smith~

(The End)

The Rights and Duties of Laymen # 1

 The Rights and Duties of Laymen # 1

"Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus - To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons" (Phillipians 1:1).

This opening verse of Paul's Epistle to the Philippians is a very remarkable text of Scripture. I suspect it receives far less attention from Bible readers than it deserves. Like the gold of California, men have walked over it for centuries, and have not observed what was under their feet. In fact, if some Anglican divines had stood at the Apostle's elbow when he wrote this verse, I believe they would have hinted that he had made a mistake.

Now what do I mean by all this? What is the remarkable point to which I refer? The point on which I place my finger is Paul's mention of "the saints" before the "bishops and deacons." He places the laity before the clergy when he addresses the Philippian Church. He puts the body of the baptized in the front rank, and the ministers in the rear.

There is no room for dispute about the various readings of manuscripts in this case. It was unmistakably given by inspiration of God, and written for our learning. As such, I see in it the germ of a great truth, which demands special notice in the present day. In short, it open up the grave subject of the rights and duties of the lay members of a Christian Church.

I approach the whole subject with a deep sense of its delicacy and difficulty. I disclaim the slightest sympathy with those revolutionary counselors who want us to throw overboard Creeds, and turn the Church into a Pantheon, in the vain hope of buying off invaders. I desire nothing but scriptural and reasonable reforms, and I know no reform so likely to strengthen the Church as that of placing her laity in their rightful position. One of the best modes of promoting effective Church defense in this day - is to promote wise Church reform.

What then, was the position of the lay members of Churches in the days of the Apostles? Let us imagine ourselves paying a visit to the baptized communities at Rome, or Corinth, or Ephesus, or Thessalonica, or Jerusalem, and let us see what we would have found, and what Scripture teaches about them. In this, as in many other matters, we have a right to ask, "What light can we get from the New Testament?"

This is an inquiry which deserves special attention, and I am much mistaken if the result does not astonish some people, and make them open their eyes.

I say then, without hesitation, that you will not find a single text in the New Testament in which the ordained ministers alone are ever called "the Church," or ever act for the Church without the laity uniting and co-operating in their action.

Are the deacons appointed? The apostles recommend their proposal, but "the whole multitude" choose (Acts 6:5). Is a council held to consider whether the heathen converts should be circumcised, and keep the ceremonial law? The decision arrived at is said to come from "the apostles, and elders, and brethren," with "the whole Church" (Acts 15:22-23). Are inspired Epistles written by Paul to particular Churches? In eight cases they are addressed to "the Church, the saints, the faithful brethren" - and they are addressed to "the Church, the saints, the faithful brethren" - and in only one case (the Epistle to the Philippians) is there any mention of overseers and deacons" in the opening address. Does Paul send instructions to the Church about the Lord's Supper, and about speaking with tongues? He sends them to "them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus" not to the ministers. Is discipline exercised against an unsound member? I find Paul giving directions to the saints at Corinth, without mentioning the ministry, "Put away from among yourselves that wicked person" (1 Co. 5:13). Is a man "overtaken in a fault" to be restored to communion? Paul tells those who are "spiritual" among the Galatians to do it, and does not refer to their ministers (Gal. 6:1). Is an Epistle written to the Christian Hebrews? Not a word is said about "rulers" until you come to the last chapter. Does James write a General Epistle? He addresses the "twelve tribes," and only names "teachers" in the third chapter. Does Peter write a General Epistle? He writes to the whole body of the elect, and says nothing to the "elders" until he arrives at the last chapter, and even then he is careful to remind them that they are not "lords over God's heritage." As for the Second Epistle of Peter, and the Epistles of John and Jude, they never touch the subject of the ministry at all.

~J. C. Ryle~

I Have Found Him Whom My Soul Loves! # 1

I Have Found Him Whom My Soul Loves! # 1

No healthy Christian can be happy without the presence of Christ. For what the sun is to the day, the moon to the night, or the rain to the soil - that is Jesus to the soul. What a day would be without the sun, or the night without the moon, or the earth without moisture, that would the soul of the believer be without Christ. And yet we often lose a sense of the presence of Jesus, and sin away the enjoyment of His love. As the church of old who retired to bed, when she should have been actively employed for Him, and then complained, "By night on my bed, I sought Him whom my soul loves, I sought Him but I found Him not." Jesus will not indulge idleness, nor sanction sloth. Therefore she had to arise, go about the city, and inquire of the watchmen,k nor could she again enjoy His presence - until she had passed by them all, and then with a glad heart she exclaimed, "I found Him whom my soul loves!" (Song of Solomon 3:4).

Here is a pleasing fact, the lost Saviour may be found; or the forfeited presence of Jesus may be regained. When convinced of our folly, when humbled under a sense of our sin, when sighing, and crying, with ardent longing, we seek Him - then He will giveus a fresh manifestation of His love - His great love. Again will He appear to us, disclosing the glories of His person, the beauty of His character, and the excellency of His salvation. Then we afresh perceive His glory, and beauty, and exact adaptation to us, and our love is drawn out to Him anew.

Glorious as He appeared at first, every new manifestation of His grace seems to enhance His glory, and bring out some fresh and richer beauty. Then, our sense of our interest in Him is sweetly renewed and deepened, and we claim Him with confidence as our beloved, our Saviour, and our friend. The heart glows with the richest enjoyment, the bosom heaves with ecstatic delight, and the soul overflows with the most pleasurable emotions. Oh, how precious is Jesus now! How wonderful His love. How glorious His grace. How tender His mercy. How efficacious His blood. How magnificent His righteousness. Christ, and everything in Christ - Christ, and everything connected with Christ - is unspeakably beautiful and glorious; so that we lack words to express our thoughts, and we lack thoughts to embody our feelings, which are exquisitely delightful. Who can describe the rapture of a soul, which has been walking in darkness, mourning for the Saviour - but can now exclaim, "I have found Him whom my soul loves!"

The delightful EFFECTS of it are many and various.

It gives us satisfaction; the desires find the object they have been seeking, and the soul glides into a calm and delightful repose. We seem to want no more - but only the perpetuation of what we are now enjoying.

It produces tenderness. We become more cautious and careful, and avoid everything likely to grieve Him, or disturb our enjoyment. We become more watchful over ourselves, and against temptations which may lead us astray.

We are more prayerful, spending more time with Him alone, pouring out our hearts before Him. And this tenderness of conscience, watchfulness of spirit, and prayerfulness of soul - will preserve and keep us from innumerable evils.

It awakens gratitude - deep and soul stirring gratitude. Such gratitude as inspires us with the strongest confidence, fills us with the warmest love, animates us with glowing zeal, and makes the soul eloquent in His praise.

~James Smith~

(continued with # 2