be clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life, saying, one to another, He that hath wrought us for the self-same thing is God.31 31 But they were given to understand that still there was a bar to be crossed, where two seas met, and where the passage might be dark and rough, or it might be as smooth and shining as a summer's sea; but that would be according to the strength of their own faith, and the good pleasure of the King, whenever he should summon them. They were informed, also, that they would have to pass that place in an open boat, which, itself, would also disappear from them, as they crossed the bar. At this their spirits were somewhat damped at first, but there was no help for it, nor any other way of ever coming to the City. Sometimes it seemed as if they could have flown thither, but they were to wait the King's pleasure, neither could they take a step farther but by notice from him. Now, being thus situated, the two men spent no little time in pondering the King's Chart, reviewing their log, and considering all the way the Lord had brought them. They comforted one another in much prayer, and in a mutual reminding of the King's great promises; for they rested only upon his infinite love, his cleansing blood, his sanctifying grace; 31 2 Cor. v. 4, 5. and they said one to another, If the Lord were pleased to kill us, he would not have received a burnt offering and a meat offering at our hands, neither would he have showed us all these things, nor would, as at this time, have told us such things as these." And sometimes they would lean over the taffrail of the ship, and gaze towards the heavenly light before them, and say one to another, Even so, come, Lord Jesus, come quickly! Here the glass was of but little use to them, for it would not penetrate the cloud, except when there were the rifts that have been spoken of, and, moreover, they could see no farther from the mast-head, than from the deck. 32 Judg. xiii. 23. 33 33 Rev. xxii. 20. CHAPTER XXVIII. DEATH SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY. How sweet it is to know, said John to Peter, that our times are in his hands,' and that he hath the keys of death and hell." 3 Yes! oh, yes! exclaimed Peter. My soul cleaveth to his promises; for, oh, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Oh, the sweet power of his most precious blood! What should we do without that, at such an hour as this! What should we do without his dying love to rest upon, and his blood that cleanseth from all sin. And oh, how precious his own most comforting assurances. All that the Father giveth me, said he, shall come to me; and him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out. And again, No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me, draw him; and I will raise him up at the last 1 Psa. xxxi. 15 2 Rev. i. 18. 3 1 John i. 9. day. What precious security of life, from the Father and the Son! JOHN.-Yea, that is a blessed assurance, This is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me, I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. If the Good Shepherd had not loved his sheep, and determined to keep them, he had not laid down his life for them." PETER.—But he is an Almighty Redeemer, able as willing, and willing as able, to save to the uttermost all that come unto God through him. How great and glorious the promise, I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one. 8 JOHN.—Oh, if we are his, no doubt we are everlastingly his. It is not him that my soul ever doubteth, or distrusteth, but myself. If I should be mistaken, it is for eternity. Lord, save me, I perish!" PETER. That, dear brother, must be our last prayer, as it was our first. We are stripped, as at the beginning, and have lost all things but Christ, yet we have all things in him. Our fellowship is 4 John vi. 37, 44. 5 John vi. 39. 8 John x. 28, 29, 30. 6 John x. 11. with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ; 10 and the plank of Free Grace, on which we too may swim. to glory, may venture death without fear, is just this, THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST HIS SON CLEANSETH US FROM ALL SIN.' 11 Shudder not to pass the stream, Him, whose dying love and power Safe is the expanded wave, Gentle as a summer's eve; Not one object of his care Ever suffered shipwreck there. And then there comes that other beautiful hymn, floating as a prophetic life-song in the atmosphere. When I can read my title clear To mansions in the skies, And wipe my weeping eyes. There shall I bathe my weary soul In seas of heavenly rest, Across my peaceful breast. My title clear! exclaimed John. Truly it is only this; The chief of sinners, ransomed, renewed, adopted |