MR HENRY VARLEY.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 464, 19 April 1890, Page 5

MR HENRY VARLEY.

Auckland, April 15. Yesterday afternoon Mr Varley gave one of his Bible readings to a fair attendance in the Lecture Hall of the Y.M.C.A., on “ The Distinction Between Sin and Sins Given According to the Word of God.” Mr Varley warned his hearers against the snare of believing in the absolute holiness of any men. In the evening a very good attendance mustered in the City Hall to hear Mr Varley’s lecture on “The Judgment of Cain.” Mr Varley read the judgment as given in Genesis. He said some persons outside the Church complained that Cain was hardly used, and that the Lord was guilty of a very arbitrary proceeding in condemning him though he brought the best that he had. They said that it was very natural for Cain and Abel to bring of their respective first-fruits. But it must be noted that there is but one way to God, and there never has been any other way. It is nonsense to talk of people being allowed to take their own path for the goal—the kingdom of heaven. The only way is through Christ. Does he not say, “I am the Way ?” God is the creator, and he appoints the creature the means of salvation. Before Christ, from the beginning-, there was the symbol of Christ’s sacrifice, the sacrifice of a lamb. Now Abel came to God with the appointed sacrifice, but Cain came in his own style and suffered the punishment of his sinful disobedience. Abel was sinful too, but he took the right means to avert the effects of his sin. Human reason might approve Cain, but the faithful and those who wish to be saved must throw themselves on the mercy of God through the blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. Looking at Cain’s judgment from the right point of view, must we not say that Cain was graciously treated ? The logical outcome of sin is the dethronement of God ; but Cain’s sin of disobedience was punished by rejection only at first, and he might, by following the right path, have reinstated himself with God. Cain had his own sinfulness and hardness of heart to blame for his punishment, as will every man who follow's the same line. Then when Cain has proceeded to his great sin he cries, “Am Imy brother’s keeper?” Of course he was, and every man is the keeper of his brother and his sister. He who neglects or abuses his trust must expect to suffer, and the man who does so wilfully is a moral leper, and the concentrated essence of a villain. The consequence of sin was always suffering, and he had no doubt that New Zealand in her present depression was suffering the punishment of the neglect to honour God during her prosperity. When in Victoria he had warned the people of the consequences sure to follow the sins of their land boom. No heed had been paid to the warning, and now his words were come true. No doubt England’s troubles were the results of the wrongs ehe committed in her oppressive opium traffic, her oppression of the South African races, and of Ireland. Mr Varley concluded by an earnest appeal to his hearers not to depend on themselves to gain the grace of God, but to throw themselves on their Saviour, Jesus Christ. He announced that he would this afternoon, in his Bible-reading at the Y.M.C.A. lecture hall, show Jesus Christ as the servant of His people, and in the owning, at th 6 City Hall, contrast “ Man that is born of woman,” etc., with " Man that is born Of God.”