MRS HAMPSON'S MEETING.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXIV, Issue 9662, 4 November 1882, Page 3

MRS HAMPSON'S MEETING.

There was no abatement in the attendance at the two mission' meetings conducted by Mrs Harnpson yesterday. In fact, the attendance in the evening was larger than on any occasion except Sunday evening last. At the evening meeting the chair was taken by Mr G-. Carson (chairman of the committee), and on the platform were the Eovs. W. J. Williams, J. Treadwell, and J. Eoss. The choir, as usual, sang a number of hymns very sweetly and effectively, Mr Pownall (as before) accompanying on the organ. Prayer was offered by the Eev. Mr Treadwell and Mrs Hampson herself, and the latter read the Ist chapter of Eevelations, from tho 4th verse. Mrs Hampson then delivered a stirring address, beginning by tracing the history of the salvation wrought out by Christ from the cradle at Bethlehem to the Ascension. Those who believed the story of Divine love, not only with the assent of the head but with the heart, could boldly claim Heaven as their own. Her hearers would learn something that night of the risen Lord by the voice of His Apostle, John, that John upon whom such great cruelties were practised, and who was finally banished to the Isle of Patmos, whence he sent the message from which she had read a chapter that night. This wns a matter of ancient history which no sceptic could deny. The word of Christ was as powerful new as ever it was, and His holy name was interwoven with civilisation everywhei c. John, in the chapter read from th.3 Eevelations, said that ho was in the spirit on the Lord's Day, and that he saw a pictuio, not of the persecuted Christ, but of Jesus in glory. Mrs Hyapsm thea

dwelt upon the glowing description given by John of the things he witnessed in the spirit, things so wonderful that he fell down as though in death. But the Lord raised him up, and declared.that He .was Alpha and Omega, who was dead, but lived for ever, and held the keys of Heaven. The door of Heaven would never open for her hearers or any of their loved ones except the key was turned by the pierced hand. Then messages were sent to the seven churches by John, and one of those messages — " Behold I stand at the door and knock " (words to be found in the 20th verso of the 3rd dhapter) had coAe direct to the theatre that night. • ' Her hearers would not for the world allow a beggar to, stand outside the door and knock without attending to him, yet' they kept Christ outside the door wilfully, though He continually made • himself heard. No doubt this message was primarily sent to Christians, and she would ask all, from pastor downwards, whether they ever heard Christ asking for admission to the door' of their hearts — whether they were so busy preaching or studying, or trying to benefit other people, that their own inner life had no risen Saviour. Did thejr love what Christ had given them more' than themselves ? Christ should be their happiness, tli eir wealth, and their all. Of those who should be as stars in His right hand, Christ was very jealous,' and sbughf'.their passionate love and attachment. Let those who were in the' front of the mission see that the glory of Christ laid at the basis of everything they said or did. ' But she would speak to those- 'of the congregation \\>ho had' felt- the effect 'of the mission on' their souls, . yet were resisting ones, and who should 'be compelled to stand' and see the 'attitude of Jesus, and their own souls. Even those who were Christians knew' that they had often given Him but the corridors and the outer places of 'their* hearts, arid had kept to themselves their loves and pursuits. Speaking to the unsafe ones, she would say that as nothing 'but lawlessness could break open a door before it was unlocked, so the door ■which kept' Jesus out was one he'weuld riot' break though he continued to' knock; They could not say that they were self-deceived men and women, for Jesus pointed the barrier out to them, and if they asked him to do so would help them to break it down. If they cried to him to loose it or smash it, then Samson who took the gates ' of Gaza was not one' thousandth part as- strong as the Samson' Christ, who ■ could break down the barriers for them that night— making an' entrance for himself, and the blessings He brought -with him. Of course they all knew that there were barriers of sin, high-froWning Bin, such as drunkenness, Sabbath-breaking and so on ; but there were others more subtle and harder to find and deal with. These ■had' that- week resisted Christ and His spirit, when the frowning ■ barriers had been- broken down by the precious blood. There was a church-going barrier, which 'applied the sayings of condemnation to other people and shut out the word which said to each one of themselves "Thou art the man." Those who put on religion as a cover; -who went to ■ church and were not swearers or Sab-bath-breakers, should remember that oh the very backs of their Bibles God was knocking. • The Bible' 'might' be known from back to back, without the door' being opened to receive Christ. She would ■ ask those •■ who • shut themselves- vp 1 -with ' abstract doctrines to hear Jesus, who stood outside that barrier and knooked. He had knocked at the human heart since it first erected barriers. He had knocked so loudly that the whole universe had been shaken and kings and potentates had trembled. God knocked once in London and they called it the plague ; in Liverpool, and they termed it the cholera. He had knocked in families and had laid fathers, mothers, anl . children prostrate. That week He had come, not with the voice 'of judgment, but with the xncture of Himself standing outside their hearts, describing what He had done for them and iniploriug-them not to 'keep Him out. To do so meant ruin, and loss 6i influence in this life, and far worse in the next. God was dealing with the t immortal part of man -when He sought admission to their hearts. She ,had not told all the homers — .there was that, for, / example,, ,bf shame and.. fear which; had ' covered .many that week and entrenched them. in.it. But if. any man were ashamed of .Christ, .of him. would Christ, be aßhamed hereafter. Then there .was the' trembling terror which made a man shrink back when he saw his hard heart laid bare before him. But that barrier also must be broken down, and they must do it themselves. ■Men often kept Christ out, thinking he was a frowning enemy when he was their friend,|who Jhad all they needed, and could give the nourishment and help their hungry souls were longing for. Give but one touch to' the barriers, which kept them from Jesus and His love and salvation, and He would do the rest, for to those who received Him he would .give. -power. They- could not touch an evil -habit, or snap a besetting sin, until Jesus came to their hearts and broke the power which enslaved them. Mrs Hampsbn'then spoke of a man who was willing to cut off his right arm, if by doing bo he could have, subdued his love : of intoxicating drink. But men's own blood could do' nothing, they must' admit Christ to their soul, who would ; emancipate them, raise them to the dignity, of- manhood, and feed their starving .souls. Mrs Hampson then graphically expounded the : parable of the rich man. who built him barns and. stored them with food that his soul might eat, drink, and be merry. That man was not to blame for building •barns or amassing wealth, but for think- , •ing to 1 feed his soul with them. Thej hungry and thirsty soul must let Jesus in i and he would give them the satisfying; viands of patience, longsuffering, and' meekness, to . bring them that pleasure which. the drunkard, the formalist, the hypocrite, or the. sceptic never oould know.. Jesus understood what souls required, and would give it, but they must let him in. ■ There was desire and longing on the part of Jesus, as their ehler brother, as well as hunger and thirst on their own. He would come in and sup with them on equal terms, for he would enjoy the response which they. .would give him in their souls. Jesus said, " I will come in," and upon that. "I will" thoy could rest their eternity. But Jesus did not promise to stop at the door, and when they opened it thoy might find that He had gone. That week had been one of standing and knocking, and of testifying for the Holy Ghost, and she would say that, unless they opened their doors, Jesus would close the door of His house against them, [and they would knock- in vain for entrance. Jesus would say that he knew them not, even though perhaps they had been class leaders and elders, and had even stood in the pidpit. He would bid them depart as workers of iniquity. Beliove in him whom God had sent, and that was opening the door. The ■ Bible truths and ordinances would fall into the right place. ■ The Lord would know-the hearts that were His and those that trnsted in him. In conclusion she urged her hearers not ! to delay opening the door till the last minute, but to admit Jesus that very , night._ Though God's door might be swinging on its hinges to-day, to-morrow it might be closed for ever. • A final hymn was sung, and a part ; of the audience left the theatre, the remainder catering the inquiry room,