S C R I B N E R ' S M A G A Z I N E Important ... - Rparchives.org
S C R I B N E R ' S M A G A Z I N E Important ... - Rparchives.org
S C R I B N E R ' S M A G A Z I N E Important ... - Rparchives.org
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December 24, 1913,<br />
A FAMILY PAPER.<br />
THE CONIES.<br />
A Sermon by the Rev. R. J. Dodds.<br />
Prov. 30:26.<br />
The Bible, the Word of God, never flatters man.<br />
On the contrary, it employs various means to<br />
humble his pride. It refers him to the loAver animals<br />
for lessons in 'prudence, wisdom and virtue;<br />
'lo the ant, ergo, and to the beasts of the field<br />
and the fishes of the sea. It even compares him<br />
with brutes to his discredit and disparagment,<br />
with the ox, that knows his owner, and the ass,<br />
that knows his master's crib, to the stork, that<br />
knoAvs its appointed times; and the turtle and<br />
the crane and the swallow, that know the time<br />
of their coming.<br />
The conies are referred to in our text in a<br />
Avay to both humble our pride and point us a<br />
useful lesson. They are commended because<br />
though Aveak and helpless they have an instinct<br />
for self-preservation. They make their houses in<br />
the rocks. They also place sentinels to apprise<br />
them of danger. In both respects their conduct<br />
is worthy of man's imitation.<br />
•What the rocks are to the conies God is willing<br />
to be to all who resort to him. Corresponding<br />
to the conies' sentries are Christ's ministers,<br />
"watchmen to the house of Israel."<br />
But while t'ne conies heed the alarm of their<br />
little sentinel, men often disregard God's warnings,<br />
and are even indignant with those whom he<br />
employs to utter them. They prefer to be let<br />
alone in carnal security. They prefer life on<br />
the plains to houses in the rocks.<br />
The expressions "entering into God" and<br />
"dwelling in God" are highly figurative, but quite<br />
Scriptural. They signify an acceptance of God<br />
and a loving, obedient attitude towards him.<br />
Alter so much by way of preface, I wish to present<br />
three thoughts.<br />
1. Man's only safety and salvation is in God.<br />
It is in a urrender of himself to God and an<br />
acceptance of his offered mercy; an acceptance'<br />
Of each of t le three dlA'lne persons, the Mediator<br />
in each of his three oflices and the word of<br />
God as the rule of life.<br />
To make such a surrender, to thus accept God,<br />
one must feel his need of God. This is why the<br />
first steps the Holy Spirit takes in the application<br />
of redemption to a soul Is to convince it of<br />
sin.<br />
, '^<br />
Until converted to God we are in the power of<br />
our spiritual enemies. Man sold himself to Satan<br />
and became much like his master. 01 all unregenerate<br />
men it may be said "Ye are of your<br />
father, the devil, and the works of your father<br />
ye will do." Also Satan's inheritance must be<br />
tieir portion. The outcome is death, "the wages<br />
of sin is death." That man's state of bondage<br />
Was self-chosen does not make it less real, less<br />
bitter. Yet Satan has a deceitful way of persuading<br />
his victims for a time that his service is<br />
delightful, freedom, in comparison with Christ's.<br />
It is only for a time the delusion lasts. Satan<br />
throws off his mask and they come to feel his<br />
power and his hate. But even then the sufEering<br />
victims will not seek deliverance through divine<br />
power until they are first convinced of sin, and of<br />
the righteousness of Christ, and the judgment and<br />
overthrow of Satan. They are then convinced<br />
that a iperfct salvation is offered in Christ.<br />
They flee for refuge to the hope set before<br />
them. By faith they enter into Christ as the<br />
conies into the rocks. The name ol the Lord becomes<br />
to them a strong tower. They sing "God<br />
Is our refuge and our strength, the dwelling place<br />
of his people in all generations."<br />
II. Degrees of safety and salvation vary with<br />
the degree ot our entrance into God.<br />
Perhaps you have never thought ol different<br />
degrees of entrance into God, perhaps not even<br />
of different degrees ol safety and salvation. They<br />
are all, however, taught in the Avord of God.<br />
There are degrees in the punishment ot the<br />
wicked, corresponding to their different degrees<br />
of guilt. Some having an imperfect knowledge of<br />
their Lord's will when they violate it, are beaten<br />
with a few stripes. Others who, with a full<br />
knowledge of it, deliberately transgress it, are<br />
beaten with many stripes.<br />
With the knowledge ofl this fact might we not<br />
infer different degrees of salvation for believers?<br />
To this the Spirit appears to refer when he says,<br />
"There is one glory of the sun, another glory of<br />
the moon, another glory of the stars, for one star<br />
differeth from another star in glory." The basis<br />
of these different degrees is the degree of fidelity<br />
to God and his truth in our present state of<br />
probation.<br />
This is, no doubt, a difficult matter to understand<br />
clearly. Efforts at illustration have only<br />
been (partially successful. Perhaps the best illustration<br />
is that of cups of varying sizes filledwith<br />
wine. Each may be full, yet each will not 'contain<br />
the same amount. So all believers will, in<br />
the future state, be fllledwith glory and blessedness<br />
to the extent of their capacity. But their<br />
capacities will differ.<br />
We are living creatures. We grow and develop.<br />
The degree of blessedness we attain depends<br />
upon our present growth, that upon our use of<br />
means. We develop here in the degree of our<br />
fidelity and obedience to God.<br />
Does it not seem strange in view of this lact,<br />
that so little importance attaches in the minds of<br />
many to denominational differences? Are the<br />
different churches to be regarded as different<br />
roads to the same place? This seems to be the<br />
view of many. It is only partially correct. Attachment<br />
to principle should not be set down as<br />
a matter of prejudice. Do not be unduly moved<br />
by the question "Do you not believe that members<br />
of other denominations can be saved?" Of<br />
course you believe they may be, and are in large<br />
numbers. Faith in Christ is the only condition<br />
of salvation. Few evangelical Christians hold<br />
that even membership in the Covenanter Church<br />
necessarily debars from heaven. Many who think<br />
it too strict, for themselves at least, rejoice that<br />
their revered ancestors lived and died firm in its<br />
principles. The fact that you, admit that men<br />
may be saved in other churches does not condemn<br />
your adherence to certain principles that<br />
are not accepted by all. The admission, when<br />
made does not necessarily condemn all devotion<br />
to principle or sweep testimony bearing off the<br />
board.<br />
We believe that men may believe and be saved<br />
who have no connection with the visible church.<br />
We do not, however, condemn as useless, the<br />
church which Christ established and <strong>org</strong>anized.<br />
Nor do we say a person is as well out of the<br />
church as in it.<br />
We believe that men may be saved in the membership<br />
of corrupt and apostate churches—not<br />
by reason of, but in spite of their membership<br />
in them. This admission, however, does not imply<br />
that one is as safe In an apostate church as<br />
in one quite evangelical. Membership in one<br />
jeopardizes tbe soul instead of helping'it heaven-<br />
Avard.<br />
We may find much to admire in all the evangelical<br />
churches and love their members as dear<br />
brethren in Christ, without saying they are alike<br />
good.<br />
Other things being equal, must not one's spiritual<br />
saiety be greater and his degree of salvation<br />
greater in the degree ol the purity of doctrine<br />
and worship ih the church with which he<br />
chooses to be identified? God rewards men In<br />
the degree of the honor they show the principles<br />
ol his word in their private, civil and ecclesiastical<br />
life. He shows them honor by according<br />
them a greater degree ol protection from spiritual<br />
foes and by granting them a more abundant<br />
entrance into the kingdom of our Lord and<br />
Savior, Jesus Christ.<br />
III. The greatest degree of safety and salvation<br />
is attained by those who enter most deeply into<br />
God. After the previous considerations there<br />
is no escape from this conclusion.<br />
The conies, being exceedingly wise, doubtless<br />
conceal themselves, when danger threatens, deep<br />
within the crevices of the rocks. They leave no<br />
limb exposed to be seized by 'prowling wolf or<br />
cunning fox.<br />
But many 'Christians, it is to be feared, do not<br />
enter so deeply into 'Christ, by a lull surrender to<br />
his will and acceptance ol his truth, as to malve<br />
themselves perfectly safe. So far as we can judge,<br />
many expose themselves culpably to danger from<br />
the attacks of him who walks about as a roaring<br />
lion. Does it involve no danger of entering<br />
maimed into life?<br />
There are many who want to be a little like<br />
their neighbors, a little conformed to the world,<br />
in devotion to pleasure, in disregard for the<br />
sanctity of the Sabbath or in courting the company<br />
of the irreligious and profane. They persuade<br />
tliemselves there is no risk, that, go where<br />
they may and do what they may, Christ has<br />
pledged himself to keep them safe here and give<br />
them a home in heaven at last. Need it be a<br />
matter of wonder if they enter heaven in some<br />
measure as they are plucked from the lion's<br />
mouth, considerably mutilated, "a leg and a<br />
piece of an ear?"<br />
It is never safe or right to say. How far can<br />
1 depart from the right way and still be saved?<br />
Disobedience always involves danger and loss.<br />
While no one can ever merit even the lowest<br />
degree in glory, yet it is the duty ol every one<br />
to strive for the highest. The Scriptures are<br />
full of urgent exhortations to a strenuous Christian<br />
life. "Fight the good fight of faith.'' "Press<br />
toward the mark." "Take to you the whole armor<br />
of God and stand." Do these commands seem<br />
to countenance indolence, indifference, lukewarmness?<br />
By diligent heed to these exhortations, men win<br />
divine faA'or and God becomes their defence, a<br />
wall of fire about them, their shield and their exceeding<br />
great reward.<br />
When tempted to relapse into a degree of unfaithfulness,<br />
in invitation of others, consider that<br />
it involves a great degree of present spiritual<br />
safety and a great degree ol heavenly glory.<br />
Seek to know and on the divine will and you<br />
shall dwell on high; your place of defense shall<br />
be the munitions of the rocks.<br />
The conies require only defense. We require<br />
an advantageous position whence to attack the<br />
enemies ol our King. Under the wings of the<br />
Almighty is safety and strength, a full supply<br />
both for defense and offense.<br />
Let us imitate the conies by establishing ourselves<br />
behind the impregnable doctrines of the<br />
diA'ine word, with the utmost devotion to Christ's<br />
honor, above all taking refuge under the blood<br />
of the everlasting 'covenant.