GOD’S WORD.

Hoa Maori, Issue 20, 1 April 1891, Page 1

GOD’S WORD.

1* &$& OD, who at sundry times and in •W>?*H§jf divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son." —Hebrews 1. 1,2. Friends, listen to me. I have somewhat to say abont a most important and interesting matter—it is about everlasting life. In the beginning God made a man and a woman. They were perfect; without sin or blemish. They dwelt in a place provided them by God. God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth." (See Genesis 1. 28.)■ But they did not obey —they sinned. Therefore God drove them out of the garden. Nevertheless, God did not withold His love from them. No, He clothed them with skins and pointed them to one who should come. ''-, After this man multiplied on the earth, and wickedness increased 'also. Every

thought and imagination of the heart was only evil continually. There was then only one righteous man : his name was Noah, and he was a preacher of righteousness. Did the people listen to his preachings ? No, certainly no. Then God detetmined to destroy the earth. Every living thing breathing on the earth was destroyed by a flood; There were only eight persons saved in the ark ; these were Noah and his wife and family. God remembered Noah and his family and caused the waters to go off the earth ; the land became dry and Noah and his family came forth out of the ark again. Then God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth." (Genesis 9, 1. This was, you see, a blessing like unto the blessing wherewith God blessed Adam and Eve. But with what result ? Did Noah and his family fear God and walk according to His will ? No! They too failed; and as man increased on the earth so wickedness increased also. Then God separated for Himself a man from among the tribes; his name was Abraham. God blessed him and his descendants. God dwelt in the midst of the people and destroyed their enemies on every side' God led them into a goodly land and established them there, and said to them, If ye will obey my words ye shall dwell here in safety, and none of your enemies shall prevail against you. There were also many other gracious promises which he made unto them. But did they hearken ; did they obey ? Again most certainly, No ! Here too man failed. Notwithstanding God sent His prophets to them, whether a Moses, Joshua, Samuel, Isaiah, or whoever it might be saying unto them, Turn unto the Lord, hear and live. Ho, every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money : come ye, buy, and eat: yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and withoutprice." (Isaiahss,l.)Manyothergracious promises and messages which He sent unto them, but they did not and would not hear, they departed farther and farther from God. Then God sent His Son, saying, they will reverence my Son.—Mark 10. 11, 6. Friends? Gaze upon Jesus, the sinless, spotless one— Son of God. He is the

one by whom God is speaking as you see in the word at the commencement. " Hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son." Heb. 1,2. And these are His words. " The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord." Luke 4. 18, 19. Now, are not these precious words to you all of us ? If you wish to hear the gospel of the grace of God, this surely is a word to you. So also, " Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life."—John 5, 24. These are also His words, "He that believeth on me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me, shall never die. Believest thou this?"—John 11, 25, 26. Do you wish to know the way 1 "lam the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by —John 14, 6. Are you poor, have you nothing to give f Do you however wish your sins forgiven? " The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin."l. John 1, 7. Do you seek peace ? " He is our peace." (Eph. 2, 14.) He made peace through the blood of His cross.—Col. 1, 20. Do you say, is this the only word ? My answer is, No. There are many more in the scriptures. Search and see. Here is one, "There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." — 4, 12. < Friends, do not boast yourselves like those of old who said "We will not have this man to reign over us." (Luke 19, 14.) Because it is written, " That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in i heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth: and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the Glory of , God the Father." (Phill. 2, 10, 11.) There-

fore is it not better to bow the knee now in this accepted time ? : Or will you wait until that day when you stand before the Great White Throne ? Remember, there will be no salvation for you- there, if you refuse this great salvation now. • Do not delay, for God “ Now commandeth all men everywhere to repent: because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in , righteousness by that man whom He hath ordained ; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised him from the dead.” Acts 17, 30, 31 Header ! Will you hot hear ? ■