GOOD NEWS.

Hoa Maori, Issue 38, 1 January 1896, Page 10

GOOD NEWS.

[The foregoing Articles are free Translations of the following.]

THE LORD'S COMING,

{Continued from last issue.) H FTrVHE Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven, with His A mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey hot the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.” 2 Thess 1, 7-9. We may now speak a little about the other side of the Lord’s Coming ; that is to say, His coming in judgment. How solemnly are the warnings of the word of God told out yet, how little are they heeded ! God is long suffering, not willing that any should ■ perish ; because of this men do not believe that He will call them to account at all. “ Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily therefore the hearts of the sons of men is fully set in them

to do evil.” Eccles. 8, 11. So it has been with the British law, in connexion with some notable Maoris. For a long time they were guilty under that law, hut the British did nob wish to put the law into force :—but at last there was an end of this long-suffering, and the law was enforced and these Maoris declared bankrupt. God Will also enforce every jot and tittle of His word in its time. Oh, be warned 1 The Lord IS coming to judge the living nations upon earth ! What happens after Sod’s children are gone ? When the saints are caught away by the unseen power of God, as we saw in our last, then will come a short period of time when men will think they are to get things after their own mind, and that the “ good time,” as they speak, is coming ; but during this time things will be ripening for judgment. Left without God and His people, and under the influence of Satan in a much more powerful way than before, wickedness will spring up rapidly and come to a head under the devil's man, The Antichrist. “ Woe to the inhabiters of the earth for the devil is come down unto you having great wrath, because he khoweth that he hath but a short —Rev. 12, 12. Then when all is ready, and man thinks he is just about to have everything his own way ; when all things seem to indicate he has just reached the end he has in view ; then, The heavens are opened, and the rejected, despised, and hated Jesus shall appear, seated upon a white horse, and his name as given of God, 1 Faithful and True,’ to judge and make war in righteousness, (see Rev. 19, 11 to end.) This scripture and the one at the head of our paper run together. It is at this time that the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven in flaming fire, to execute judgment upon the living nations. His mighty angels will be with Him as seen in 2 Thes. 1, and the saints which have been caught up to heaven, as seen in Rev. 19. A grand, heavenly, military procession. Coming in the calm dignity of almighty power in flaming fire, taking vengeance,—to execute judgment, and make war in righteousness. Who are the subjects of this vengeance 1 This righteous judgment 1 Two classes are mentioned in 2 Thes. 1, 8. 1. Taking vengeance on those who know not God

All those who have refused the testimony given in such abundance to the true God, and have bowed kown to those, who, though they be called gods, are no gods,— there is but One. Satan has taken advantage of the religious sentiment of man, and has become the object of worship in the hearts of the mess of mankind. They do not know God, whatever else they may know. Such was the Maori nation before the truths of Christianity were sounded out amongst them. But it would be well for our Maori friends to distinguish between these truths, and the civilization which has gone hand in hand with it. Civilization has lifted the race out of barbarism, and Christianity has brought the true knowledge of Christ Jesus as Saviour, to many individuals of the race. Yet if there still be those amongst them who know not God, such will be the subjects of divine judgments when the Lord Jesus Christ shall appear. 2, Those who obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ are also the subjects of this vengeance. Now this testimony has been sounded forth among the Maoris, whatever the defects, through the human agents. God has been gracious, and at the end of the days, and just before the door of mercy is closed, this grace of salvation through faith of Christ Jesus is preached among them. Who will obey it? It is preached for the obedience of faith among all nations, and now in God’s providence it has reached you. Every true believer in the blessed Lord Jesus is saved, His precious blood cleansing from all sin. But they who obey not this gospel are the subjects of judgment. So that in one way or another, every unsaved Maori will be brought in guilty when the Lord comes in judgment. 1 ' What will become of them? They “ shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power.” No appeal from that judgment. No escape from those eyes as a flame of fire. All shall be discerned ! All at last condemned ! All self-convicted ! No quaking earth: no rending rocks shall hide from the wrath of the Lamb. Mercy despised. Opportunities lost; longsuffering sinned away. • What will anyone have to say against this manifestly righteous judgment? But yet a little while remains, even if but the moment you read these lines. Dear Maori friend own that you are righteously the subject of this judgment.

If such he the case, and you with the Philippian jailor cry out, How shall I escape it 1 The answer is nigh I hee ; “ Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.”

G.J.S.