The Cross is the Attraction.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 43315, 21 April 1908, Page 3

The Cross is the Attraction.

I, Eoekht Dawson, remember first bearing of Jesus dying for ns upon]* I the cross. Although but a child I thought what a fearful death it must have been. I afterwards read of the miracles of Christ, believing them to be true, and heard that a Christian experienced a satisfaction that worldly enjoyments could not give to the soul ; I understood that conversion meant a miraculous work by the Spirit of God within the heart. Before I|saw the Salvation Army I had heard men testify how through faith in Christ they were enabled to servo God, but I could not get any clue how to accept Christ, and could not hope to be saved until I thought: —“ How can the suffering of one man atone for the sins of others ?” It seems so unjust that one man should be crucified for the sins of others. I then remembered that Christ was more than man, that He was God’B Son, and because God created mankind He therefore loved ns, and that was why He gave His Son to die for oar sins. After this I believed that Jesus had died for me, and I tried to act accordingly, bnt could not be persuaded to keep from worldly pleasures. A 7 friend read from Dr. Mack ay’s book “ Grace and Truth ” :—“ Suppose as I was dying the devil said to me, ‘ You are not saved.’ Suppose I waa to say that I once had a vision of Christ hanging on the cross for me. ‘Ah !’ he would say, * that was only a delusion I brought before you to deceive you.’ * Well, but I once dreamt that Christ said, ' thou art mine.’ ‘ Only a delusion.’ ‘ Oh, but I once had a thought that I was saved 1 ; 'lt was all a delusion ’; ‘ and I could not answer the accusing deceiver. But I will tell yon what will put him to flight. I take my Bible and I say, ‘God says that He gave .me Christ.’ * How do you know that Christ is for yon f* * Because God says that He so loved the World that He gave His only begotten son.’ * Bat do you think a sinner like.you can be saved by simply accepting Christ as God’s gilt P ‘ Yes; for He says that whosoever, believeth on Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.’’ ’ As these words were read to me I saw the simplicity of resting upon and believing the work of God. I believed as firmly as if I had heard God speak it. By reading “ Grace and Troth ” I was brought to see that I had been trusting in myßelf to keep from sin, and by looking and trusting in Jesus I was so brought to | realise His dying love that worldly pleasures had no charm for me. Previous to this I hod heard of entire sanctification, bat would not believe that it was possible, as “ Grace and Truth ” teaches two natures. But since believing for sanctification I have experienced a gradual spiritual heart cleansing.—Advt.