p. 175 | GOD IS LOVE by F. Rogers

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 20, 1859

GOD IS LOVE.

By F. Rogers

DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: As I take my pen to write on this subject, I feel my nothingness. It needs an angel's power to do it justice. "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Oh what love! Jesus laid aside his glory, took upon him our nature, became a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. He hungered, thirsted, and was weary. The foxes had holes and the birds of the air had nests, but the Son of man had not where to lay his head. He bore the sins of the whole world. Oh, how the dreadful load bore him down in the garden of Gethsemane, when he sweat as it were great drops of blood, and prayed, Father if it be possible let this cup pass from me! It was not possible that this cup should pass. Justice must be satisfied and God's law honored by the life and death of the Son of God. With what meekness and sweet resignation he then exclaims, Not my will but thine be done.

Then he was betrayed into the hands of a cruel and blood-thirsty mob, and led to the hall of judgment as a lamb to the slaughter; and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth. He was scourged, buffeted and spit upon, and nailed to the accursed tree. The cruel nails pierced his tender hands; and those dear feet that went about doing good were nailed to the cross. Oh, why was this necessary? That a door of hope might be opened, and a way of escape made for all the sinful race of Adam; for without the shedding of blood there is no remission. He made his soul an offering for sin. He cried, It is finished. He committed his spirit into the hands of his Father and was laid away in the silent tomb. On the third day he burst the bars of death, and arose a mighty conqueror over death and the grave.

He ascended up on high into the place of the heavenly sanctuary. And now by living faith we can follow our great High Priest into the holies of all where is the ark of his testament; and there is the rejected fourth commandment; and blessed be God, all the enmity of men and devils cannot harm it. It is safe beneath the mercy-seat.

There stands our great High Priest pleading his own most precious blood in our behalf; and now can men, worthless worms of the dust, rebels against God, gain access to him, and find pardon of all their sins? Yes, blessed be his holy name, God can now be just, and the justifier of him who believeth in Jesus.

I would take to myself shame and confusion of face that I have done so little for him who has done so much for me. My dear brethren and sisters, do we realize as we should the long-suffering and tender mercy of our God in giving his Son for us? Oh, let us remember and bear in mind continually that we were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold, but with the precious blood of the Son of God. My heart is melted within me while I write. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless his holy name for such a plan of salvation! "What wondrous, what unbounded love is seen throughout salvation's plan!" Soon that same Jesus will come again without sin unto salvation, to take us to himself. O let us be faithful a little longer, and we shall be free from sin and a tempting enemy. Bless the Lord! Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord!

F. ROGERS.

Mauston, Wis., Oct, 1859.