MRS HAMPSON'S' MEETING.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXIV, Issue 9662, 3 November 1882, Page 3

MRS HAMPSON'S' MEETING.

The 'meetings in connection with this lady's mission were Continued yesterday. At '•'mid-day the gathering was. very nutuerous,: and : in v tb'e evening the Princess JTb eat re was filled to overflowing.. .The. chair was, as before, filled by Mr' Gilbert Carson, chairman' of the committee, and on the platform were the Bey. W. J.W illiams, W. House, and B. J.. Allsworthj with several leading supporters of the movement. Prayer was offered by the Bey. Mr Alls worth and by Mrs Hainpson, and during the evening a number of hytnns were sung by the choir, Mr Pownall officiating at the organ. The 53rd chapter of Isaiah •was read; and a few brief comments made upon it. Mrs Hnmpson took as her text a portion of the 13th verse of the sth chapter of the, second Book'of Kings — "Wash and'lie' J clea,n'. f ! ■'These words, she said, occurred''ai,the' | end of an incident in the-Jife of .Naaman,the . Captain' of the Hosts- of the King of Syria. Naaman was a good honest, and honourable man, by whom the Lord had given deliverance to Syria, and it was suggestive of his true character that his servants adressed him as father. But a dark cloud cast ,a, gloom .-over him and spoilt his life, for he was a leper. This story was' found in the Bible, and one thing she believed her mission would accomplish — it would make her bearer", and young people especially, readers of their Bibles. They would give their love to the " precious word;- which would make them stalwart ■ men and -women in Christ ■' Jesus.-'ThostS amongst them who had been, weathercock Christians, not firm and',' steady' as a rock in the midst of coldness and flarknesß, knew that the cause'was'th'e' want' of Bible truth-im-bedded in their heartsV Mrs Hainpsrin then drew, attention, to "the terrible and incurable disease of leprosy, which ■was permitted by God to shadow forth • thet ■'. still;- • more • terrible complaint^ 'of :-s'ini ; "and the wonderful cures' which Jesus Christ camj to accompiish'.b'y His sin-offering. i3o horrible was.leprbsy.lliat two missionaries who went to preach in a Lazar House were shut,.up for .life. A vivid description of 'this awfuijcomplaint and its phrases of ,cbrruption and pain was given. It was illustration for her hearers, amongst whom , no , doubt were many amiable church - going .^people — who, like the Syrian, captain,.- seemed so sweet and lovely in.their lives that' they co.uld not swerve : from- the right. But, though their- righteousness might seem good and perfot when compared with that of others, underneath • was the poison of original sin wbichhad comedown to them from their first parents. It had not lost any of its'venomen,' though many religious, pbservVnce's might have covered it i3p.' : The fear was' that they might deceive, thetnselves, and therefore Bhe wished themtto see that all had sinned. Culture ;i and education wero only a covering after all, . and in the heart , was the ger.m of terrible leprosy. Some of : them had that week admitted their, s'n, and found the sinners' Saviour. . In Christ, her hearers and open sinners were on tho same level, though the poison might have taken the shape of pride and respectability with some of them. The brightet and purest young'girl needed the cleansing ,pf Christ's religion just as much as the jbffscouring at.which virtue pointed and respectability turned its back. But Jesus had been made not the sinner but the sin, a mountain of which was rolled upon him,' and the poorest wretch could be lifted' Tip to' know him. The greatest safety wns to . know one's danger, just as NBaman did, and she prayed that, like him, all her hearers "might discover it. A messenger so weak and unexpected as v little Jewish slave-girl; who understood that leprosy " must be .cured by coming into contact with, the priest according to Jewish type and' shadow, brought salvation to Naainnn. Nothing could cure leprosy but going through the process God had appointed. There was only one doctor I Sfld priest for tliejleprosy of sin, and his

I atoning blood was the cure. Like the slave child, they should be to the truth' which they had experienced- in' their own hearts, and should tell it all around'them. Mrs Hanipson then related an anecdote of a vile man at Liverpool who was brought- to Jesus by the instrumentality of his little daughter, and urged young people to remember that God expected them to tell what they knew to their parents and companions. She then went on to further describe the story of Naaman, and his going to the prophet Elisha, who sent him the message to % wash seven times in the Jordan and be clean. There was something, therefore, for Naaman to do, and so with Christians, who were not to ■sit down and wait for a wave to cast them into salvation. They must come and take salvation ; believe and live. But Naainan did not smilingly accept the task as an easy cure. On the contrary, his pride took fire at God's way, which was higher than man's way, and he indignantly asked why he could not wash in the rivers of his own land instead of in the muddy Jordan. Hoiv many Christians met God thus in a spirit of bargain and barter, and tried to purchase the assurance of salvation in their own way, questioning the Almighty's plan. Men wanted to gain merit of some kind to cover up their deformity in their own eyes. Like the' proud. Naaman they stood outside till they were cured by their own plan, but lepers they would remain until they obeyed the voice of God. Many had tried ordinances, sacraments, meetingß,' alms - giving and Sabbath schools, but nit Jesus, /who alone could cure their leprosy and bring the proper means to bear upon it. Mrs Hampson then described how Naaman was persuaded by his servants, who pointed out that,, had he been asked to do a hard thing, b.e would have - done it, and how much. rather, therefore should he simply wash' to be clean. So Naaman went down to Jordan, without possessing much faith, but still throwing away his vain imaginings, his state and his dignity! So must the lepers of sin go down to salvation and to God's thoughts and plan. What a humiliating process was the going down to God, and being stripped helpless and vile before his Christ. Naaman obeyed God and was cured, his flesh becoming as a little ohild, every stain, Bear, and. mark of leprosy being washed away. In vivid language, Mrs Hampson then entreated her hearers to perfectly trust God, and throw off the garments of pride and self, which had. kept them back. God would put their sins away, from them, and Heaven would be their .home. They were not to stop half way at any river of their own, but fully trust in a sin-pardoning God. Then Naaman returned to the prophet, who told him to go in peace. That word could only bo heard by those who leaned on the Saviour's bosom, and had obeyed the message and gone to the Jordan of God. Their faith might be smal l , and they might womler at their cleansing, but the ' object of their faith, the elevation and dignity of man, would be attained. Upon her hearers rested the responsibility of seeking this cleansing, and throwing off the coverings which kept them from that Jesus wbo was the Jordon for all who trusted in him. He was the fountain in which all might plunge, and their souls would become pure and white.- It was not God's fault if they went back in their • pride and refused to do the small thing • asked of them. Just as Naaman came up from the waters rejoicing and thankful to God, so the life of faith and of the cleansed soul nrast be a life of love and of gratitude for what hud been wrought upon them. In conclusion Mrs Hampson solemnly urged those present to meet her in the inquiry- room, and related an instance of the striking conversion of a Lancashire collier who met his death in the pit but a few hours afterwards. A great number remained, and the inquiry room was thronged for some hours.