SOLID CERTAINTIES IN CHRIST.
By Theo. L. Cuyler
AMID all the disappointments of this world, no one was ever yet disappointed in Jesus Christ. Our cisterns of enjoyment often become broken cisterns; our little rills dry up and vanish away. But who ever saw the fathomless ocean run low? Oh the depth of the riches of wisdom and knowledge and grace in Jesus! "Of his fullness have all we received," said that favorite disciple who leaned on his bosom at the feast of love. John was never disappointed in his Master; nor was Paul when he found himself filled unto all the fullness of God. There is a fullness of power in him who is able to save unto the uttermost, and a fullness of love in him who loveth his own ransomed flock unto the end. All the needy sinners in the universe cannot exhaust the infinite supply which Christ hath in store for us. We cannot ask too much or too often from Christ. Nay; he must take it ill that we ask so little, and then with such a hesitating faith. "Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it." "Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do." These are imperial promises; and the only limitations are in the infinite wisdom which decides just what he ought to give, and what he ought to withhold. Christ must wonder at our feeble faith and stammering hesitations, in presenting requests to him who "loveth to be inquired of." Pint-cup praying brings only pint-cup blessings. It is good to carry a large cheque-book, and inscribe on it, "My soul, wait thou only upon God, for all my expectations are from him." Paul realized his own splendid heirship, and drew large drafts on the inexhaustible treasury. "I know whom I have believed" gave backbone to Paul's faith, and kept the sunshine of assurance playing on the old furrowed face. After he had tested his Lord for more than thirty years, he summed up his glorious experience in these words, "I have finished my course; I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the righteous Judge shall give me in that day." The veteran apostle had never been disappointed in Christ's service—its joys, its toils, or its rewards; he knew that he never would be. He felt just as certain of Heaven as he did of the rising of the morrow's sun. So should we, if we have given ourselves to Christ, and aimed to follow him honestly in the spirit of obedience. Salvation is not guesswork. If I have given myself into the hands of Christ, I ought to feel confident that no man—or devil—can pluck me out of those omnipotent hands. I confidently expect that through faith I shall be kept by the power of God unto salvation. I expect that when I walk through the valley of the death-shadow, his rod and his staff will comfort me. I look forward to an hour when—poor, imperfect sinner as I am to-day—I shall become like HIM, and shall see him as he is. I have not seen anybody who has seen Heaven, any more than I have seen anybody who has seen next week. But they are both coming. I feel sure that if I hold fast to Christ, he will bring me into his Father's house, and show me its indescribable splendors. I confidently expect to find there a joy that shall be to me a "harp," and a triumph that shall be to me a "palm," and a reward that shall be as an "unfading crown." Whether the words used by the inspired John are figurative or not, makes no difference. If they are figures of speech, they represent solid certainties. Our knowledge of that life is small,
The mortal eye is dim;
But 'tis enough that Christ knows all,
And we shall be like him.
—Theo. L. Cuyler.