This does .not in the least interfere with the present and certain salvation of the real believer, but it surely ought to arouse all from dangerous sleep to watchful ex- hortation; and so much t he more as we see the day approaching. It is a day of such overwhelming moment to all," that the day of Jerusalem's destruction is but its faintest type. The only other place in which the word assembling together is found, lends to it additional solemnity and tenderness: " W e beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together unto h i m , " (2 Thegs. ii. 1). Sure- ly the assembling together here has som© bearing upon t he joy of our gathering to- gether there, and upon the measure of our Lord's approval of our earthly service and testimony. I t is not, therefore, for His followers to meet in order to please them- selves, but to please Him, and we may be assured that every such meeting, though it be worthless as the giving of a cup of- cold water, He will remember in the day of His coming.
ourselves together, as the manner of some i s . " What, then, shall be said of those who have f ar less excuse for absenting them- selves from t he meetings of the brethren? They may t ry to persuade themselves that they do not stand in need of instruction, and that no benefit can be derived from public worship, owing to the private oppor- tunities of improvement which they pos- sess. But against all arguments, however satisfactory to themselves, is the impera- tive order of God, " N o t forsaking the as- sembling of ourselves together as the man- ner of some i s . " This is enough for every true believer, and it will scatter his diffi- culties and objections to the wind in a moment. Alas! there is too much room to conclude that worldliness has come into t he hearts of those who now forsake the assembly of t he saints, and worldliness is the forerun- ner of spiritual lethargy, and spiritual leth- argy is the precursor of final and f a t al apostasy, unless the sovereign grace of Christ awakes from the terrible slumber. ; HATEVER else may be said of the Holy Bible, all agree that this Book contains the mind of God, t he state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of wilful impeni- tent sinners and the happi- ness of believers. I ts doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding. The Book gives us. t he golden key. to God's storehouse for His children. Here we find t he water of life, the bread f r om heaven, honey out of the rock a"nd fruit from Canaan. I ts author is able to do exceeding abundantly above all we "can ask of -think. I t is God's great phar- macy. It contains 32,000 prescriptions suited to our every need. Daniel Webster said: If we abide by the principles taught in the Bible, our country will go on and prosper; but if we and our posterity neglect its instruc- tions and authority, no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm ug
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and bury all our glory in profound ob- scurity. The Bible will stand repeated rea,dings and the most diligent study"; and he. who has gone over it most frequently is the surest of finding new wonders" a i d ; new light breaking forth f r om its sacred pages. All honor |to the men who stand by the Book and lovingly wield the unbroken sword. , Charles ]Hodge well said t h at the best evidence of t he Bible's being the word of God is to be found between its covers. It proves itself. , , ; . , ; All ancient documents propose to men:- Who wrote this book? to whom? and why? and when? What is the product of his busy pen? To note the facts and thus to quiz "'em, I§ called the Higher Criticism—JH.s.
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