12 m/ DTIOlfll??? No. I J J. A GREAT QUESTION ASKED ? EV REV. JNO. S. GKASTY— Fincartlb. That question, oh ! sinner is simply this, why will you die ? The Prophet, in the pre- sent instance, speaks not of bodily dissolu- tion, but of a death spiritual and eternal — a death that never dies ! Why will the sinner lie down in everlasting Iwn 1. Is- it because no proviaibn has made for life? Not at all. The word is, God so loved (lie world that He gave His only begotton Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlast- ing life. It is a faithful saying and worthy ot all acceptation that Christ Jesus came in- to the world to save sinners, even the chief. He that believeth, though he were dead, yet shall he live again. la it for lack of invita- tion? Surely this is not the reason ? Every class is invited. Are any poor, then hearken to the words of the Master, when He had opened the Book and found the place where it was written, the spirit of the Lord is upon me because He hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor, &c. Are any rich, then let them take courage as they call to mind the oases of Zaecheus and Joseph of Arirnathea. Those in tlie morning ot life are invited. 1 love them that love me and they that seek me shall find me. But the old too are not forgotten, for the househol- der goes out even at the eleventh hour to enquire if there are any that he idle and if he finds such in the market place or else- where, \he bids even these to enter into His vineyard and work. -How gentle are His words to any who are afflicted and sorrow- In 1, come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. The invitation is to all. Ho ! every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money, come ye, buy and eat, yea, come buy wine and milk without money and without price. Christianity differs front every false religion in this; 4hat its invitiK lions are universal, while its remedies are applicable to all countries and to every class. 2. The exhortation is urgent. Why toil! you die ! The pulpit asks this question eve- ry Sabbath, and the spirit of God, like a still small voice, follows us everywhere, both in solitude and- society, and its ques- tion all the while is, why will you die ? The worth of truth again is full of solemn Warn- ings, it is sharper than a two edged sword, •and added to all this is- the ever recurring Providence of God. Our Heavenly Father tries His mercies first and then come health and stieugth and food and gladness, but* if His bounties tail, afflictions and the rod are visited upon us. We are made to ieel that sin is an evil thing and a bitter. "The Church of God, once more, adds her testi- mony, she cries unto those who are ready to perish, come thou with us and we will do you good, tc"? the Lord God hath spoken good concerning Israel. The Saviour Himself exhorts us. I am the way and the truth and the life. He points to His obedience, sufferings and resurrection. He tells us of the worm that dies not and the fire that is not quenched. He lifts *be everlasting veil and bids us'hearken to the voice ot a ruined soul. He then turns upon us again with the question— why ivill you die % 3. But is hot salvation afar off. A- thing of much mystery — a matter for long pilgrimages and wast- ing toil ! Not at all — not at all! Simplicity itself describes the whole scheme— it is a look, one single heart cry to God. Just where yon ore and just as you are, cast all upon Jesu* and you are saved I Say not in thy heart who shall ascena into heaven, that is to bring Christ down from above, or who shall descend into the deep, that is to bring up Christ again from the dead ; but what saith it, the, word is nigh t lire eyetl in thy mouth and in thv heart, that is the word of faith which we preach, that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. But shall I not wait for a revival, for a season more favorable than the present. The answer is peremptorily:- Wait not a moment, now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation. It matters not if it -be the crowded city or the solitary country or the deadly battle field, the place is nothing, only look up witli thy hea*rt to Christ and salvation is sure. Then why will you die.. Is it because death has more advantages than life? Is sin preferable to holiness — is Hell a -sweeter home for eternity than Heaven. Can we exist more gloriously apart from God than when dwelling in His blissful presence. Is our own strength- sufficient, for the trials that await us! — Then why will we die. Why will' you die. Sinner, shall we answer the question for you. If we speak the truth be not of- fended. Our answer is,. ye do not desire to be sav ed. The quilty one does not wish for life. Said the Saviour, oh ! Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the 'prophets and stoniest them that were sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children as a hen* doth gather her brood under her wings and ye would- not. The sinner perishes, not because lie is reprobated nor because Christ's atone- ment is insufficient, nor because -he is ignorant and uninvited, but he perishes simply and solely because he is a sinner and because lie wills to be such.-— The lost company in hell is composed of those who would not come .to Ch/ist that they might have life. Tiiisn sinneh wiry WILL you DTK, No. 114. FAITH AND WORKS. BY REV. J NO. 8. GRASTY. There are certain texts in the sacred Scriptures, which to a superficial reader, seem to contradict each other. In one place tlie Bible says, whosoever hcareth these say- ings of mine and doeth them, I will liken him unto a Wise man which built his house upon a rock and the rain descended and the floods came and the winds blew and beat upon that house and it fell not for it was founded upon a rock. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. If any man will come after me let him deny him- self and take up his cross and follow me.-r Show me thy faith without thy works and i will show thee my faith by my works. — For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that every one may receive the things done in his body recording to that be "hath clone whather it be goo. 1 or bad. On the other hand the Bible tells us that we are saved by grace, through faith and that not of ourselves, for it is the gift of God. The Apostle informs us that boasting is ex- cluded and that by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight. Bfe'tliafc believeth on the Sou hath life. In a< word, we are jasfi/led by faith. Now, do the Scriptures really contradict themselves. By no means ! In this celes* tml volume all is harmony. Faith has its place and so nave, works. We are justified by the one while we are judged by the oth- er.. Tile Apostle James does not preach a irew or contradictory doctriue when he says y faith without works is dead— show me thy faith without thy works and I will show thee my faith by my works. He only means to reassert and establish the connection be>- tween the two. It is the old idea of the tree and 1 its fruit, the vine and its branches,, b?o eight before our minds in ye.t another form. If a man has faith there is a way to 4 demonstrate it, that way is by works. Here- by we ascertain and are assured- of the faith of yibraham He offered up Isaac, account- ing that God was able to raise him up even from the dfitd, Abraham's works illustrat- ed his faith, proved its existence and denioD- UrXed its genuineness. And this -corres- ponds with the words of our Saviour, when lie says,, by this shall all men know that ye- ars my disciples if ye do whatsoever I com- lna-ndyou. Faith is the intrumental condi- tion of justification, it is a saving grace "wfeereby wo receive and- rest upon -£eem&' Christ and Mini alone, as Ife is ottered- touls in the Gospel. But faith is an act of wffich none can be cognizant but the soul audits God. So far as respects all other persons, angels or men, the transaction is secret. The •universe, therefore, must have some other standard by which to judge of the creature than that of faith. A tree is not known by certain hidden qnalties or substances, though these may give it life, but by its fruit. And -the Apostle speaks with true inspiration when he says, show me thy faith without thy works and I will show thee my faith by my works. Works are the Fruit* wlii/h J faith hangs out to the eye of the beholder. These two go together, they are never 'divor- ced, and yet. faith is not work, neither is work faith. But as faith and works are' in- separable and as the latter can be seen, wfifle the form ; r is invisible, it is but'f<»ir to the judge, to the spectators and to the party to .be judged that the deeds done in 'the body should constitute the rule of judg- ment. For God has declared that there '"is nothing covered that shall not be revealed, neither hid that shall not be known. And thus while we are justified by faith and. faith only, yet we shall be jxidgkd hereafter by .oar works. The hooks shall bo opened and everyone receive sentence according to that he hath done. Justification by faith is now r as ever, the sign of a standing or ialli? g Church- but if faith and works are never- disunited in the true-ehild'of God, it surely can breed ro confusion in the final day to judge the tree by its fruits. If what we have now said be* true, 'tin -r,< these apparently contradictory Scriptu e& are entirely harmonized. By faith we are justified, made at peace vvilh God and ml mi tied into the family cf Christ; by wWkii this ggeat benefit become palpable, so 'that .men take k. owl edge of us that we have been with Jesus! while in the day of judg- ment, God's eye will look down at the heart and upon thai faith which no eye but His- can see, yet the judge in vindication of His righteous sentence shall point to those la- bors of love, those deeds done in the body, which are the works or fruits of belief, and which are manifest to the creature as well as the creator. Thus mercy and truth shall meet together, righteousness and peace shall kiss each other. Let every man, therefore, see to it that behave both faith and works. For without faith it is impossible to please God and yet faith without ivories is dead. Hollinger Corp. pH 8.5