SUNDAY READING

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 223, 8 February 1913, Page 1 (Supplement)

SUNDAY READING

THE SACPJFICES OF GOD.

Sermon preached in the Baptist Clmrcli by the REV. FRANK HALES.

Tito sacrifices of God arc a broken spirit: a biokcn and a contrite heart, O Cod, thou wilt not despise."— Psalms .)1:17.

The Book of Psalms, fays Maurice, is the most wonderful book in the •world. because it is the most universal; and this iifty-iirst Psalm is. as it seems to me, the real explanation of all the Psalms, and of the continual references which they contain to another and higher Kins than David. Jt was, and is, nio-t natural that ihe .Tews reading of such a Kin?, and honestly persuaded that iie must lie what the name "King" imports, -liould have rejected the notion of a broken-hearted man —a man of sorrews —as not at all answering to the idea of such a ruler and conqueror. Till they are brought as low as David himself was brought when lie poured out this they will not, from all the arguments and evidences in the world, lind how that riddle is solved; they will not know why only such a one could be tlie King, because only such .mi one could be the Sacrifice. THERE MUST BE AX ATONEMENT, A SACRIFICE. The evidence of this statement is found in every heart. Plato has shown us that there is no escaping the penalty of sin. and no possibility of peace until the sin is faced. The. wrongdoer, he says, who is convicted and punished, is happier than the one wiio gets off scot free. Our hymn teaches the truth that the Psalmists groped after:

Xot all tlie blood of beasts On Jewish altars slain, Csnld give tlie guilty conscience peace, Or wash away the stain.

But Christ, the heavenly Lamb, Takes all our sin away, A sacrifice of nobler name And richer blood than they.

Jesus Christ is the Sacrifice of GoU, and a broken heart is only the sinner's reipuonse to its appeal. Don't let us in the pretext that the Sacrifice of Christ is all-sufficient, withhold the oblation of ourselves to God. We have no merit, but we have a duty, and that duty is to live clean, sweet and wholesome lives. The falsehood that led the Israelite astray, and that leads many astray to-day. was that a man might bring his wealth, his time, his talents to God, but leave his heart behind. Such sacrifices God despises. What God wants first of all is the heart, not mere outward show and conformity to ordinances. True religion consists of a cleansed heart, that will show the effect of' cleansing in straight dealing with our fellows' There is a lot of outward show to-day that passes muster for religion, but it is not Christianity; it is mostly humbug.

A BROKEX SPIRIT IS DEEPLY CONSCIOUS OF ITS SIN.

A contrite spirit refuses to deal in generalities. "Wash me thoroughly from -my' iniquity, and cleanse 'me' from 'my' sin." A broken spirit never stops to discuss the origin of sin; it doesn't speculate about the effects of it; it cries: "I have sinned." The Baptists have a mission in Korea, carried on in a little shop and under conditions of severe simplicity. Good has been done in the mission, and, as always, the news spread that God was with the people, and others were led to go with them. One poor woman, living outside the town, heard the report of the mission, and walked into the town to attend the services. Not knowing where it was situated, or by what name it was known, she enquired for the place where they cured the "broken heart," and she was directed to the Baptist Mission. What a good thing it would be if every preaching place were entitled to this description!

•A BROKEN' SPIKIT MAKES A FULL

CONFESSION OF SIX.

"For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is ever before inc." And in answer to that John says: "If we confess our sins. He is faithful and just to forgive our sins.'' A hroken heart tells out to God all the story of sin and shame. There is a beautiful legend winch runs as follows:—Lite one evening a careworn, haggard man came to a priest, and begged to receive absolution for the sins of life of which he was weary, a life which had become to him a living death. The pircst listened with attention to his confession. Crime after crime, a long tale of woe was poured into his ear. At length he intervened. "My son," he said. "God's spirit will not always strive with man; your sins are too fearful. I dare not pronounce absolution on such a one as you." The poor man rose up and went* away, bent low witli grief and remorse in the agony of unforgiven sin. That night the priest in his bed was visited with a strange vision. He seemed to be present at the judgment of a soul, which was to he arraigned before the presence of God. A large balance was placed firmly in the ground. A man whose face he recognised, whose crime he had pronounced unpardonable, was brought trembling before the Judge. In one scale of the balance the devil was busily cngagedin placing all the sins of a misspent life, and they were, very many and very heavy. Doom was certain,' condemnation inevitable, when a faint flutter of wmgs was heard, and an an<*el appeared, bearing in bis hands a handkerchief all wet ami hcavv with tears, lie east it into the other scale; the sins were outweighed and the balance altered. The soul was saved. The priest awoke with fear and compunction. He hastened to seek out and enquire for the care-worn sinner who had sougnt his help. After some time he found him lying under a tree—quite dead—dead of a broken heart; but under his head was a handkerchief still wet with tears; and then he remembered how it was written: -The sacrifice of God is a i"iiblcd spirit: a hroken and a contrite heart, 0 God, thou wilt not despise." THOU WILT NOT DESPISE. There are many things that God despises; such as pomp, pride, pageantry; hut "a broken and a contrite spirit.,'o God, thou wilt not despise." C H >»'geon said: "What is the use of a broken heart? Why. much the same as the use of a hroken pot, or a broken .in??, or a broken bottle. Men throw it on the dunghill. Hence David says, '\ broken and a contrite heart, ()' God, 11,011 wllt "<>t despise'; as if he felt that everybody else would despise it." "Though I have no palm-branch wav-

mg, And no song to give Thee greeting -At our meeting. When Thou comest for Love's saving, " ill it be as good a part If I bring a broken heart?

When the songs were Zionward flow'

nig, At the world's great place of selliii", w in was telling, °' What a price for love was coin", And my spirit, over-bold, Flung away my hope for gold.

But to dross my gain is turning, And »y heart is full of weeping, Vigil keeping, And I coine, all longing, yearning, Just to lay me at Thy feet, For Thy pity, Lord, most sweet.

I have missed the palm-branch waring, i have missed the children's greeting At Thy meeting,

When Thou earnest for Love's savin"— In Thy triumph I've no part— Yet i bring my broken heart.

Wilt Thou pour Thy pity in it? And though far Thy peace is shining Past my pining, Grant, 0 Lord, that I may win it, When the glory of Thy day .Rolls the gloom of night away."