“NONE BUT CHRIST; NONE BUT CHRIST.”
By J. B.
THE world thinks little of Christ, and cares little for him. Scepticism looks towards him with a cold indifference or a dubious mind. Philosophy occupies too mystical a place and moves in spheres too ethereal to stoop to the contemplation of the GREAT FACT of the universe. The self-righteous are to themselves the beau-ideal of all excellency; and will not behold in the “express image of the Father” any thing superior to the graces which adorn their own characters. Various and multiplied are the fallen ones of earth, who, though Christ came to bless them in turning every one of them from their iniquities, will not deign to give Him the look of faith and the life of obedience. They will not have him to reign over them. They turn him out of their synagogues, out of their prayers, out of their sermons, out of their books, out of their families. They are emphatically “without CHRIST in the world.” But there are a remnant of the children of men who know more, and act wiser, and who honor Christ according to the true dignity of his character, his work, his relations, and his offices. They give him the pre-eminence in all things. They crown him Lord of all their thoughts, their affections, their desires, their principles, their actions. He is to them the portion of their cup, and the goodly heritage which the Lord Jehovah bestows upon them. He is the fairest among ten thousand, and the one altogether lovely; the bright and morning star; the rose of Sharon; the lily of the valley; the garden of spices; the paradise of earth; their sun to lighten them; their provision to supply their wants: in one word, he is their all in all. How rich, how blessed, how exalted, how secure are they! These are the sons of the Lord Almighty; the heirs of glory; the kings and princes of Heaven. All things are theirs, they are Christ’s and Christ is God’s. Well may they say, “None but Christ, none but Christ.” For all that they have, and all that they are, they owe to him. They are forgiven through his atonement; cleansed by his blood; comforted, guided, strengthened by his Spirit, instructed by his word, and accompanied by his presence. In the storm and tempest he is their peace. In the conflicts of earth’s battle-field, he is the captain of their salvation. In the sorrows of the heart, he is their solace and joy. In the poverties of life, he is their riches of grace and goodness. In their wanderings, he is their leader back to paths of safety. In their bereavements, he is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. In their temptations, he makes a way for their escape. In their afflictions, he is afflicted. In their dying hour, he is the strength of their heart, and their portion forever. O yes, it is then that the soul cries out, “None but Christ, none but Christ.” This was the language of one of the noble army of martyrs as he stood in the consuming fire. It was the sentiment and experience of Paul as he lay imprisoned in the Roman dungeon. It was what Wesley felt in his life:
None but Christ to me be given,
None but Christ in earth or heaven;
and what he repeated at his death:
“I the chief of sinners am,
But Jesus died for me:"
It is what myriads of holy souls express in their songs of devotion, “You may have all this world, but give me Jesus.” Reader, will you not join in the choir? Will you not close in with Jesus? Will you not choose the only good, the only wise, the only beautiful, the only Saviour, the only friend, the only Mediator? Will you not now, henceforth, and forever, exclaim: “None but Christ! none but Christ?” J. B. — Guide to Holiness.