knew that it was shame that would most divide His followers from Kim in the days to come, and in the Cross that has struck its print so deep there is still nothing so terrible to flesh and blood. His- apostles, encountered it and triumphed over it. St. Paul himself often employs the word. He speaks t of crucifying the Son of God afresh and putting.Him to, an open shame. He knew that the followers of Christ could endure shame just in so far as they were His followers. Because He had borne shame for them, they were to bear shame for Him. Because He had not been ashamed of them, they were never to be ashamed of Him. Yet, so hard was the ^battle, that St. Paul speaks very soberly, very quietly, the words of his utmost triumph: "Nevertheless, I am not ashamed." He had said: "I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ;", he had said: "Hope maketh not ashamed ;" he had blessed a brother who was not ashamed of the apostle's chain. St. Paul counted no cost, and reserved no retreat, and marched on with unimpaired conviction—London Christian. Coul Winning. ^ By A. T. PIERSON, D. D. a knowledge of the message of the gospel. It may seem strange ;to say that there-are many who undertake to save souls that do not understand what is the real .sub- stance, of the gospel. The word gospel means, "God's spell, or good news.",, It is all embraced,in four words,i,"Jesus died for me." That is the substance of it. These are the four,-words of which Chas. H. Spurgeon said he had lived and was going to die. Of course this is not the whole gospel, as another three words are very essential,— "Jesus rose again." While His death is the foundation of atonement, His resurrection is the only grounds of justification. . If Jesus had died, and had not risen there would be no salvation. If He could not deliver Himself from the power of death and the grave He certainly could not deliver others. If He had to remain under the penalty Himself, how could He deliver others from that penalty? Hence we read in Romans 4:25 that He was delivered for our offenses and was raised, again for our justification. When He said on the cross, "It is finished," He did not mean that His work was done but only His suffer- ings were completed. From that time on there was nothing but triumph. The Devil appeared to have the victory when Jesus died, but the fact was that He who seemed to be the victor was the victim. .Christ in dying slew death and in entering the grave became triumphant over the grave and in going into the place of departed spirits He contested with the Devil the control of the dead and lead a multitude of capti-ves out from H^des, into Paradise. This was the first triumph that there had ever been over the power of death and from that time j on ;the. sceptre of . death and Hades has been in the hands, not of Satan, but of the Saviour of sinners. Hence He Himself- rose and in rising :pledg-ed to every believer a similar resurrection like unto-His with"-a resurrection body fashioned in the likeness of. His glory and not of His humiliation. Second Lesson. The second element in soul winning is ;
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