Yes, my friends, this is true; and the longer you live a life of faith
and godliness, the longer you read and study that precious Book of books
which God has put so freely into your hands in these days, the more true
you will find it. And if it was true of the Old Testament, written
before the Lord came down and dwelt among men, how much more must it be
true of the New Testament, which was written after His coming by apostles
and evangelists, who had far fuller light and knowledge of the Lord than
ever David or the old prophets, even in their happiest moments, had. Ah,
what a treasure you have, every one of you, in those Bibles of yours,
which too many of you read so little! From the first chapter of Genesis
to the last of Revelations, it is all written for our example, all
profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished
for all good works. Ah! friends, friends, is not this the reason why so
many of you do not read your Bibles, that you do not wish to be furnished
for good works?—do not wish to be men of God, godly and godlike men, but
only to be men of the world, caring only for money and pleasure?—some of
you, alas! not wishing to be men and women at all, but only a sort of
brute beasts with clothes on, given up to filth and folly, like the
animals that perish, or rather worse than the animals, for they could be
no better if they tried, but you might be. Oh! what might you not be,
what are you not already, if you but knew it! Members of Christ,
children of God, heirs of the kingdom of heaven, heirs of a hope undying,
pure, that will never fade away, having a right given you by the promise
and oath of Almighty God himself, to hope for yourselves, for your
neighbours, for this poor distracted world, for ever and ever; a right to
believe that there is an everlasting day of justice, and peace, and
happiness in store for the whole world, and that you, if you will, may
have your share in that glorious sunrise which shall never set again.
You may have your share in it, each and every one of you; and if you ask
why, go to the Scriptures, and there read the promises of God, the
grounds of your just hope, for all heaven and earth.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account