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14 THE PRESBYTERIAI
Young People's Society
AT THE CROSS.
Topic For Sunday, May 16:
Pilgr'm's Progress Series, No. V. At the Cross.
John 19: 16-27; L-uko 23: 39-49.
DAILY READINGS.
Monday: Deliverance at the Cross. John 3: 14-18.
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Wednesday: Joy al the Cross. Galatians G: 14-18.
Thursday: Peace at the Cross. Romans 5: 1-11.
Friday: Cleansing at the Cross. Hebrews 9: 12-14.
Saturday: Sealed at the Cross. Ephesians 1: 7-14.
Bunyan's Pilgrim felt the harden which was bound to him
-oil off when he looked at the cross.
The load of sin is loosened when the sinner turns his eyes
towards Christ, and can no longer he bound upon him.
The blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanseth us from
ail sin." "There is therefore now no condemnation to them
which are in Christ Jesus."
"Christ also hath uuce suffered for sins, the just for the unjust,
that he might bring us to God." "By one offering he
liof h norfnoi rwl fnrnvor I hr.tn i*hnf urn eonnfifi^/1 " "Wn u* ti i
made sin for us."
With the burden of guilt goes also the burden of corruption.
A new life is born in the believer and he has the powe"r of
endless life. "Death hath no more dominion over him." "Old
things have passed away."
The burden of sorrow is also relieved in the presence of
the cross. Christ either removes it entirely or gives grace
and strength both to bear it and to get power and sweetness
out of it. At the sight of hint helping and sympathizing, grief
take3 its flight.
The peace of God that is inexpressible and that "passeth
all understanding" is shed abroad in our hearts through Christ
Jesus. Ai d it is not a merely negative peace, either. There is
"joy in the Holy Ghost." At the cross anthems of praise are
?>iai icu.
All suffering Is not sin, nor is it always Indicative of sinfulness
before God. Many a time it is God's discipline of his
child. But at the sight of the cross even the hard elements
of discipline melt away, and there the presence of the Teacher
makes the lesson an easier one and the trained quicker and
surer.
Even tribulation becomes, at the cross, a source of gladness.
"We glory in tribulations also, knowing that tribulation
worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience,
hope; and hope maketh not ashamed, because the love of
God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is
fflvon un Ia ne "
5> * vu uu u ?.
God's promise which is ever sure, his covenant which will
net be broken, is the roll placed in our hand3, to assure
and comfort us along the pilgrim's way. He places his word
;n our hands, to be our one guide and stay. When we put
it down our feet 3lide, our steps falter, bur spirits fail, we
are compelled to retrace our steps for awhile.
The wav of the cross Is the simnlest wav ever devised. All
it requires is a look. The serpent-bitten Israelites had only
to look to the brazen serpent hung by Moses, at God's command,
where all who would might turn their eyes to it and
be healed. So har Christ been lifted up and the dying soul of
the guiltiest has but to look to him in faith and have life.
"There's life for a look at the Crucified One,
There's life at this moment for thee.
Then look, sinner, look unto him and be saved,
Unto him who was nailed to the tree."
M OF THE SOUTH. May 5, 1909.
Prayer Meeting
Topic: LIVING EPISTLES
2 Cor. 3: 1-3.
Week Beginning May 9.
The- inspired writer had been discoursing on the responsi- 1
bility of his office. As he thought of the tremendous issues
that hung on-his ministry, he said, "Who is sufficient for these
things' ? He had occasion to insist, despite the misgivings of
some of the brethren at Corinth, that he and his associates
were "unto God a sweet savor of Christ," speaking in Christ,
"as of God, in the sight of God." To ' them that are saved"
their doctrine was as a delightful perfume, exhilarating the
spirits, invigorating the health and perfecting the life. In
Viincoi'it \' onH oIm uliniti. n" " ~ ? " " *
u..u na messenger irom uoa ana under
the impulse of his grace, he commended Christ and his salvation,
regardless of self-interest or the attitude of his hearers.
The apostles' ciitics would be disposed to censure this
justification of his ministry as an instance of his "commending
himself." Against such an unjust suspicion he makes his defense.
He insists that he does not need any human testimony
his character in coming to them. Why should testimonials
from other churches in his behalf be required? Or
why should the church at Corinth give written testimonials
to others in their favor? The Corinthians themselves were
his epistles of commendation '
The apostle firmly believed in their genuine conversion.
If this were not misplaced confidence they could not question
the genuineness of his ministry through which their conversion
had been accomplished. The fact that they were Christians.
settled the other fact that his ministry was of God.
His language here is very strong. He calls them "The epistle
of Christ ministered by us." Christ wrote this "epistle"
by his Holy Spirit, using the apostle as his amanuensis.
The conversion of the ungodly and their subsequent lives of
l'aith and obedience, contribute the best letters of commendation
to the genuineness of Christian work. It constitutes the
attestation of Chr'st himself and is the declaration of his approval.
It. is written not in formal words that may err, but
by the Spirit of the living God, on the hearts of the people
and is declared in their lives. Our zeal for the interests of
our Lord's kingdom is to find its true expression in the maintenance
of that quality of character which corresponds to the
teachings of his gospel.
It is altogether poesible that many who receive the most
faithful and able- ministry may prove themselves to be unworthy
of it and untrue to its beneficent guidance. The biaine
is not upon the doctrine that is taught, nor on the ministry,
but on perverse and disobedient hearts, and these are of
the number that "shall be beaten with many stripes." How
serious is the obligation that professing Christians shall consistently
obey the commands and imitate the example of their
Lord, who writes his approval in living letters on every
faithful heart!
Remembering that "we are not sufficient of ourselves, to
think anything of ourselves" we should expect our entire
spiritual endowment to come from him to whom all the glory
of our salvation belongs.
It is a rare honor to be made able ministers of the New
Testament. We shall not come to that preeminence of service
to which the Master appointed his servant, Paul, yet we
may imbibe the tame principles, cherish the same motives,
imitate the same example, love the same great cause, manifest
the same loyal, devoted Spirit, anticipate the crown of righteousness,
as he did, and bear the same faithful witness to
the end.