A Few Thoughts on Salvation.
By A. S. Hutchins
"I HAVE longed for thy salvation, O Lord; and thy law is my delight." Ps. cxix, 174. Thus exclaims one greatly beloved of the Lord. How reasonable to long for salvation, while we delight to do the will of God. But how delusive the hope of those who persist in a course of disobedience to him. Do not those who refuse to render obedience to the law of God, neglect salvation? The apostle asks, "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?" Let us briefly consider a few reasons why we may regard salvation as being great. 1. We may thus consider it from the boundless love and tender mercy of its author. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him." 1 John iv, 9. 2. The deliverance which salvation offers to those who receive it, renders it great. The happy change which the penitent sinner experiences, as he lays down his weapons of rebellion against his Maker, and owns allegiance to his just and righteous government, is represented as passing from "darkness into his marvelous light," from "death unto life." 3. The expense connected with the plan of salvation, renders it great. The bitter tears, the arduous toil, the bloody sweat, the indescribable agony, and the ignominious death, of the dear Son of God, hath purchased it for you and me, dear reader. "Let such as love thy salvation say continually, The Lord be magnified." 4. With wonder and admiration, we survey the glorious plan of salvation, and acknowledge its greatness, when we reflect that no other door of hope opens before a fallen and ruined world. "Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts iv, 12. 5. We consider salvation great, when we remember that Christ gave himself a ransom for all. "For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." 1 Tim. ii, 5, 6. 6. Salvation is great, from the fact that it is eternal. "And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him." Heb. v, 9. "For the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner; but my salvation shall be forever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished." Angels of God with their higher and more noble intellect, have dwelt for some six thousand years with untold satisfaction and delight, upon the stupendous plan of salvation, as they have come forth to this dark earth, as ministering spirits "for them who shall be heirs of salvation." But its height, its depth, its length, its breadth, can only be known and appreciated by the saved in the endless ages. But great as is this salvation, thousands and millions neglect it. Heedless of the cry of mercy, and all the blessings connected with a life of obedience, thoughtlessly they pass on down the broad road to death. Its doors close upon them, and hide them away till the resurrection. How shall such escape? Will they be able in the judgment to plead any defect or oversight in the plan of salvation? Have the dark counsels of skepticisms and infidelity, found any way of escape here? Or will they presume to meet the Judge with the excuse that they knew not their duty? that they could not understand his requisitions, that his holy commandments were obscure, and that they could not learn and do them? "This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not grievous." 1 John v, 3. "My yoke is easy, and my burden is light," saith the Master. Or will they carry up before the great white throne the meritorious sufferings of the dear Redeemer, and the mercies of God, and vainly hope to escape, after having spent a life in sin and rebellion, after having slighted all the calls of mercy, and refused the offers of salvation? "But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof. I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh. For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord." Prov. i, 25, 26, 29. Men may forget for the time being, that "justice and judgment are the habitation of the throne," of Him that ruleth on high, they may suppose mercy will ever prevail, but soon her voice will be heard no more, and justice will assume its right. How then shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation? "See," says Paul, "that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from Heaven." Heb. xii, 25. "Much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from Heaven." Oh! dreadfully solemn and fearful doom for those who turn away from obedience to the Lord! But who shall take the alarm, and fear and tremble, and hasten to the outstretched arm of mercy, and find a safe refuge? Is it alone the bold sinner? Is it the vile deceiver, or the hypocritical? Are there not those who hope for salvation in the kingdom of God, who would do well to examine the foundation of that hope? Is it based upon some past experience, without reference to a belief of the whole truth and obedience thereunto to-day, so far as the light shines upon your pathway? You are chosen to "salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth." How much "truth" is it safe to reject? How much to shut our eyes against, and persistently refuse to obey? "Lord, I have hoped," says David, "for thy salvation, and done thy commandments." Happy, thrice happy the faithful, self-sacrificing, obedient man of God, who hopes through Jesus for salvation, while doing the will of his divine Master. While all Heaven approves the word of God, "salvation is far from the wicked; for they seek not thy statutes." Ps. cxix, 155. Most affectionately then do we urge upon all to obey and live. Live amidst the glories of the better world. Live with the redeemed who sing the victor's song, who wear the robes of white, and bear the palms of victory. Live with God and sit with Christ on his throne. Live with the holy angels and all the blood-washed throng, when the grave gives up its sacred treasure. Dear reader, we hardly know where or how to lay aside our pen, while speaking on a theme so glorious and transporting. Salvation looks more and more lovely and desirable. May God, and the Son, and holy angels, the city of gold, the tree of life, and the river of life, and the "far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory," beckon you away, and attract your affections upward, like a holy magnet, and you lay hold of the blessed hope, and gain an hundred fold in this life, and in the world to come "life eternal."