That countenance fell, and the lips of my owner trembled as he answered, that it was not for him to speak of blessedness; that he had not long begun the Christian life and warfare; that he had yet much-oh, how much!-to do before he could dare hope that his offended God would lift up upon him the light of his countenance; so much holiness to attain before he could hope to be received into the full favour of Heaven, that his soul was sad within him. He knew not how it would end. The aged, dying disciple looked fondly and anxiously at my poor young owner when he heard such words as these; then he painfully raised himself on his hard pallet, and leaning towards his visitor, who was drooping over me with eyes laden with tears, he gently repeated the following words of mine: "Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."* Then, as he fell back exhausted with his effort, and gasping for breath, he whispered— CHAPTER X. THE COLLEGIAN. "A WORD spoken in season, how good is it!"— My sad-hearted owner retired from the chamber of the dying pilgrim, and hastened to his room in college. He shut himself in, and fastened his door, to assure himself against interruption. He was greatly agitated, yet not entirely with sorrow: a new light seemed to have broken in upon his soulfaint and glimmering as yet; but it was the light of truth. 666 666 Being justified by faith,'" he exclaimed,being justified by faith, we have peace with God.' I have heard these words before; I have read them; they are familiar to me as a nursery rhyme: but there is surely there is deeper meaning in them than I have ever found or sought. Let me think-let me pray." He knelt before God. Did he utter many words? It may be that he did not. The struggles of a soul after peace-sin-convicted, weary, heavy-laden, and agonizing for rest and peace-are not told, cannot be told, in words. He rose and walked across his room with unequal steps, now hurrying to and fro, now lingering. Twilight was falling over the face of nature, for it was evening; but one cloud after another was rolling away from his soul. It was morning there; and "the Sun of righteousness" was rising "with healing in his wings." "I never saw it so before," he said. "Foolish, and blind, and ignorant, and self-righteous that I have been, to think that my own obedience could help me!" And then the words of the old disciple came to his mind: "Not the labour of my hands Christ must save, and Christ alone." He threw himself into his chair, and wept tears of penitence and gratitude. An hour later, and he had lighted his lamp, and, with a throbbing heart, was listening to my words, while, from time to time, exclamations of hope and joy, and quick, lively, spiritual intelligence broke from his trembling lips. The veil, of which I have before spoken, was taken away from his heart, while the truth wherewith Christ makes his people free, in such assurances as these, poured in upon his soul. "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference; for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.* "I have heard this before," said my owner, in self-communing; "but my foolish mind was darkened." After a short pause I proceeded: "Being justified freely-" 66 'Freely!" he exclaimed: "and I had thought to purchase to earn free justification." 66 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus."† "I do believe," said he; "Lord, help my unbelief." Then, after a long pause, I recounted to him the experience of one who, like himself, had, in the days of his ignorance and unbelief, gone about to establish his own righteousness, and who afterwards declared: "What things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord; (for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them + Rom. iii. 24-26. *Rom. iii. 20-23. but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:) that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death."* Then I again returned to that message of mine, which the old dying Christian had faithfully quoted: "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; by whom we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but 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 given unto us."† 66 Oh, that is what I want," sobbed my young owner: "the love of God, the love of God. I have learned to fear him, and tried to love him; but mine is not that love, that 'perfect love,' which casteth out fear. Oh that the love of God were shed abroad in my heart by the Holy Ghost which he hath given!" Even then was the process going on: pride and unbelief were departing; faith and love and humility were dawning there. *Phil. iii. 7-11. Rom. v. 1—5. |