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diamonds in the world; and yet they do not prevent their being rated at
a priceless value。 Away with this morbid squeamishness which makes many
ready to exmunicate a man if he only has a few faults! Let us be
more quick to see grace and more slow to see imperfections! Let us know
that; if we cannot allow there is grace where there is corruption; we
shall find no grace in the world。 We are yet in the body。 The devil is
not dead。 We are not yet like the angels。 Heaven has not yet begun。 The
leprosy is not out of the walls of the house; however much we may
scrape them; and never will be till the house is taken down。 Our bodies
are indeed the temple of the Holy Ghost; but not a perfect temple until
they are raised or changed。 Grace is indeed a treasure; but a treasure
in earthen vessels。 It is possible for a man to forsake all for
Christ's sake; and yet to be overtaken occasionally with doubts and
fears。
I beseech every reader of this paper to remember this。 It is a lesson
worth attention。 The Apostles believed in Christ; loved Christ; and
gave up all to follow Christ。 And yet you see in this storm the
Apostles were afraid。 Learn to be charitable in your judgment of them。
Learn to be moderate in your expectations from your own heart。 Contend
to the death for the truth that no man is a true Christian who is not
converted; and is not a holy man。 But allow that a man may be
converted; have a new heart; and be a holy man; and yet be liable to
infirmity; doubts and fears。
IV。 Let us learn; in the fourth place; the power of the Lord Jesus
Christ。
You have a striking example of His power in the history upon which I am
now dwelling。 The waves were breaking into the ship where Jesus was。
The terrified disciples awoke Him; and cried for help。 〃He arose and
rebuked the wind; and said unto the sea; Peace; be still。 And the wind
ceased; and there was a great calm。〃 This was a wonderful miracle。 No
one could do this but one who was almighty。
Make the winds cease with a word! Who does not know that it is a mon
saying; in order to describe an impossibility; 〃You might as well speak
to the wind!〃 Yet Jesus rebukes the wind and at once it ceases。 This
was power。
Calm the waves with a voice! What reader of history does not know that
a mighty King of England tried in vain to stop the tide rising on the
shore? Yet here is one who says to raging waves in a storm; 〃Peace; be
still;〃 and at once there was a calm。 Here was power。
It is good for all men to have clear views of the Lord Jesus Christ's
power。 Let the sinner know that the merciful Saviour to whom he is
urged to flee; and in whom he is invited to trust; is nothing less than
the Almighty; and has power over all flesh to eternal life。 (Rev。 i。 8;
John xvii。 2。) Let the anxious inquirer understand that if he will only
venture on Jesus; and take up the cross; he ventures on One who has all
power in heaven and earth。 (Matt。 xxviii。 18。) Let the believer
remember as he journeys through the wilderness; that his Mediator; and
Advocate; and Physician; and Shepherd; and Redeemer; is Lord of lords;
and King of kings; and that through Him all things may be done。 (Rev。
xvii。 14; Phil。 iv。 13。) Let all study the subject; for it deserves to
be studied。
(a) Study it in His works of creation。 〃All things were made by Him;
and without Him was not any thing made that was made。〃 (John i。 3。) The
heavens and all their glorious host of inhabitantsthe earth and all
that it containsthe sea and all that is in itall creation; from the
sun on high to the least worm below; was the work of Christ。 He spake
and they came into being。 He manded and they began to exist。 That
very Jesus; who was born of a poor woman at Bethlehem and lived in a
carpenter's house at Nazareth; had been the Former of all things。 Was
not this power?
(b) Study it in His works of providence; and the orderly continuance of
all things in the world。 〃By Him all things consist。〃 (Col。 i。 17。)
Sun; moon; and stars roll round in a perfect system。 Spring; summer;
autumn; and winter follow one another in regular order。 They continue
to this day and fail not; according to the ordinance of Him who died on
Calvary。 (Psalm cxix。 91。) The kingdoms of this world rise and
increase; and decline and pass away。 The rulers of the earth plan; and
scheme; and make laws; and change laws; and war; and pull down one and
raise up another。 But they little think that they rule only by the will
of Jesus and that nothing happens without the permission of the Lamb of
God。 They do not know that they and their subjects are all as a drop or
water in the hand of the crucified One; and that He increaseth the
nations and diminishes the nations; just according to His mind。 Is not
this power?
(c) Study the subject not least in the miracles worked by our Lord
Jesus Christ during the three years of His ministry upon earth。 Learn
from the mighty works which He did; that the things which are
impossible with man are possible with Christ。 Regard every one of His
miracles as an emblem and figure of spiritual things。 See in it a
lovely picture of what He is able to do for your soul。 He that could
raise the dead with a word can just as easily raise man from the death
of sin。 He that could give sight to the blind; hearing to the deaf; and
speech to the dumb; can also make sinners to see the kingdom of God;
hear the joyful sound of the Gospel; and speak forth the praise of
redeeming love。 He that could heal leprosy with a touch; can heal any
disease of heart。 He that could cast out devils can bid every besetting
sin yield to His grace。 Oh; begin to read Christ's miracles in this
light! Wicked; and bad; and corrupt as you may feel; take fort in
the thought that you are not beyond Christ's power to heal。 Remember
that in Christ there is not only a fulness of mercy; but a fulness of
power。
(d) Study the subject in particul