Page 3 Advertisements Column 2

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 2, Issue 88, 7 June 1879, Page 3

] cume short of tbe glory of God," and oon,se<iuently we are in imminent danger of | the latter, "For the vvage.snt.~iu is death;" death spiritual, death natural, and death eterimi, the latter to tie endured with liini who brought death into the world through our tirst parent.s. God however in llis intiiiite iimrev lias provide'l a remedy for 'in- fallen race, "He so loved the world that Be gave His only begotten Sou, that whosoever believetb in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." The sacrifice made by the death of Christ was lultiuient to atone for ull our sins, and j now the invitation is given to all men to coins and bo reconciled to God, Christ ' himself has laid down the conditions ; upon which this reconciliation may be effected, viz., Bspentenoe and Faith. The f.ruierto be genuine include* .sorrow on account of sin—not only sin in the life, but sin in the heart; n confession of sin to Uotl, an entire forsaking of it, and a lmtred to it. Faith implies not only n conviction of the truth of thn.se things revealed to us in Uod'.s Word, but a perfect trust in the blood of Christ for personal salvation. Till these two conditions are complied with no man can be reconciled to Uod, but remains under His just wrath and indignation, mid must eventually be driven from His presence for ever " into outer darkuess where there is weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth." Porbips you will say, like some of old, " This is a hard saying, who can hear it; but we reply, ".Search the Scriptures" and see if these things are not so. Christ himself declares that " Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God," and again,—" lie that believetb not shall be damned," with a score of other passages of similar anil stronger import On the other baud if a man complies with tbe conditions his soul is saved, and be knows it, for -'The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that vve are the children of Uod." \v e have then a title to un inheritance in heaven, " iiicorruptib.e, Uhdetilcd, and thatfadeth not away." The Kingdom Of Cod is set up in the heart, that Kingdom which " is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost," even in the present life, but the full glory of which will not bo realised till earthly things have passed away.

Haying thus very briefly directed your attention to our state by nature, the remedy provided for our recovery, th<> conditions upon which thai remedy is available, aud the results >f oomplying >r not complying with thaw conditions; we would remind you if the fact that leath, winch may come at any moment, ends the time o:' our probation; if the conditionally Lot. compli-H] with before death they novel can be, "And after death Lthc judgment," ,; l«'or wo must til appear before the judgment seat of Christ,'' when each one will have to give an 00.oiiof as to bis compliance, or non-com-piianee with the conditions >f reconcilia tiou, and bo rewarded accordingly, either with "the tn wn of life that Indeth not away," or with "everlasting destruction from tin: presenoe of the Lorn, end the glory of His power." 11 „w iusignificanl then should all temporal affairs b< considered in comparison with rices- i ternal things, and yet how few 1 fear, if thosi whom 1 now address ever give these subjects a sen jus thought; voir. whole time is engrossed with tile cares an.i business and pleasures of this life, to (ho utter neglect of the life that is lo come IV you who are thus acting we would say, stand stili in the journey of life old think a little: let each one ask himself where am I going >. When this fraii body dies, what will become of my soul 't Shall eternal happiness or woe he then my portion i° When 1 riso from the dead shall il he to " everlasting life. >r .shame and everlasting contempt f" These questions are not only suited to those who may he indulging iu open sin, but to many who are living uplight, honest lives before their fellow men. and who even pay considerable respect and attention to the tonus of religion, for there .ire many such who are not reconciled to God , their sin consists iu the neglect of spiiitual religion, and the Apostle says, "How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation :-" We cannot escape ; a man may go a long way in the observance i)t' the form of religion without being born again For a proof read Mathew vii. 21

There is much more I would liko to say, but I must necessarily be brief in u communication of this kind, and I trust sufficient lias already been said to draw your attention to the subject and also to lay the matter plainly before you. In conclusion let me earnestly entreat each ono who reads this letter to examine himself and ascertain at once in what relation he stands to God, whether as a friend or an enemy ; if the conditions of recon. ciliation have been complied with, thon it must be the former, but if not, thon it is the latter. Terrible thought! An enemy of God, in whoso hand your life is, who can in ono moment consign you to eternal wrath, but who in His infinite mercy willeth not the death of a sinuor but exhorts you to turn unto Him and live. " Turn ye turn ye why will ye dio ?" U then listen to His'call, this to somo of you may be the last; put away your sins though ever so dear, and fleo to Christ for salvation, so will you secure real present, happiness and lift* eternal. May Uod bless this feeble effort to souio soul. If only ono should l»: led to reconciliation, through it I shall bo amply repaid fortho trouble of writing and the expense of printing.

Praying you every necessary good 1 rcuiuin, youis faithfully,

, John S. Aistls Satupuiti'ii, .Snnioa, Muj 18, I»7U.