Life and Labors of Elder John Kline, the Martyr Missionary Part 12

"I have, thus far," replied the king, "been willing to listen to you, and believe what you say; but now I _know you lie_."

So it may be with some who read or hear the story of the children of Israel. They may think it all reasonable and fair enough, until they come to the pa.s.sage through the Red Sea: there faith stumbles and falls. But we must never forget that all things, not self-contradictory, are possible with G.o.d. It is just as possible and easy for him to crystallize the billows of an ocean as to freeze a drop of dew on a blade of gra.s.s. At the command of Moses they enter this avenue through the deep, walled by the waves, and roofed by the sky. Surely no eyes but theirs ever witnessed so sublime a sight.

"Water to right of them; Water to left of them; Water in front of them;"

while over their heads pa.s.sed the cloud of Jehovah's presence and glory to follow in their rear; at once to hide them from the sight, and to s.h.i.+eld them from the attack of the enemy that was pursuing them. I can hardly ever read this simple statement without a tear. The kindness, the _love_ of the Lord in thus placing himself between his children and their enemies, like as a tender father would s.h.i.+eld his offsprings from danger, always melts my heart. But this is just the way the Lord always does. If his own dear people will but shelter under his wings, the devil will never be able to get one of them.

Some of you may wonder why the Lord did not close up the way behind them, after they were all in, so that Pharaoh and his hosts would be compelled to stay back. But G.o.d knew best. He is wiser than men. He allowed the Egyptian army to enter. They followed just as close behind the Israelites as the Lord would let them come. The way was still open, and Pharaoh, no doubt, thought the way as free for him, and quite as safe too, as for Moses. His intention was to slaughter the whole camp of Israel as soon as his army got through. But see how he failed! The salvation of Moses was the destruction of Pharaoh. When the children of Israel had all reached the land in safety they ascended the hills on the sh.o.r.e to look back at the long train of Pharaoh's host. But what did their eyes behold! All at once the walls of water broke down; and the sea closed over them.

It seems strange to us now that Pharaoh would venture to follow the Israelites. We now think he might have known it would prove his own destruction. But this is one example of the folly of which Satan is always guilty. At the very time he thinks victory is within his grasp disappointment and defeat overtake him. Let me show you another instance of this.

For some time he had been plotting the destruction of our Lord Jesus Christ. One time he tried to have him cast down a very steep place on the side of a hill. But he failed. At another time he tried to have him stoned to death. But the Lord escaped out of his hands. At last, however, he succeeded in having him put to death. He entered into the heart of a man by the name of Judas, and made arrangements with him to betray our Lord into the hands of his enemies. The plot was successful, and when Satan saw our Lord expiring on the cross he felt jubilant over the victory he had gained, in the belief that he had now rid the world of its most dangerous foe to his kingdom. But you see how it turned out. The resurrection and glorification of our Lord have given such a deathblow to Satan's power that, after awhile, the eyes of all heaven will see that old Serpent, the devil, and Satan cast into the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.

After the children of Israel all got through the Red Sea they formed a camp on its eastern sh.o.r.e, and each family prepared the food they had brought with them to eat. But the supply soon gave out, and as there was none to be had in the desert where they were encamped they began to fear that they must all starve. They complained to Moses, and he carried their complaints to the Lord. Very soon the manna began to fall in abundance.

THE MANNA.

This was a kind of bread which fell all over the ground at night, and looked like h.o.a.r-frost. They gathered it every morning, except the morning of the Sabbath day. It was just what they needed to satisfy their hunger and impart health and strength to their bodies.

The Lord also caused a great spring of fresh water to burst out of a solid rock near the camp; and thus they were supplied with water.

We can hardly see how these people could ever turn against the Lord and become unthankful and disobedient toward him after he had been so kind and done so much for them. But they became so. They even went so far as to make a golden calf to wors.h.i.+p instead of Jehovah, who had brought them through the Red Sea. For this they were sorely punished.

After awhile Moses died, and Joshua led them into the land of Canaan, after they had wandered about in the wilderness under Moses for the s.p.a.ce of forty years. The land of Canaan was a good land, flowing with milk and honey, and if they had been willing to serve the Lord by obeying his commands they would have found rest and peace. But they never found either rest or peace, because they were never able to drive their enemies from the land. They found many enemies in the land when they entered it, and on account of their disobedience to the Lord they were unable to rid the land of Canaan of them. This is what is meant by the verse that next precedes my text: "_For if Joshua had given them rest, the Lord would not have spoken of another day_."

But as Joshua failed to do this, on account of their disobedience, we have the words of the text: "_There remaineth therefore a rest unto the people of G.o.d_." But where is that rest? In the beautiful lines of Montgomery we ask:

"Oh, where shall rest be found?

Rest for the weary soul: 'Twere vain the ocean's depth to sound; Or pierce to either pole.

This world can never give The rest for which we sigh."

Where may be found that favored spot in whose delightful shade the soul may fold her wings and be at rest? I imagine that some of you are now saying to yourselves, "_This rest is in heaven_." In this you are right, in one sense. Heaven is a place of rest to those who are prepared for it. But let me say to you in all candor and love that _heaven_ is rest only to those who first find rest here in our Lord Jesus Christ. He is now calling to every sin-burdened sinner: "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and _I will give you rest_." The hardened unbeliever could no more be happy in heaven, even if allowed to enter there, than a fish could be happy out of water.

Heaven is not the sinner's element. Besides, an unconverted sinner can never get there.

"Those holy gates forever bar Pollution, sin, and shame; For none can find admittance there, But followers of the Lamb."

Rest must first be found in Jesus by coming to him, accepting his yoke, and working in his service. And to encourage all to do this he himself says: "_My yoke is easy, and my burden is light_." If you want to find out how easy his yoke is, and how light his burden, take it upon you, and see if it does not give your soul rest.

I sincerely believe that Charles Wesley, long ago, gave expression to feelings similar to those of some in this house, in the lines of a beautiful hymn, a part of which I will repeat. See if it does not find an echo in your soul:

"O, that my load of sin were gone!

O, that I could at last submit, At Jesus' feet to lay it down!

To lay my soul at Jesus' feet!

"Rest for my soul, I long to find: Savior of all, if mine thou art, Give me thy meek and lowly mind; And stamp thine image on my heart.

"Break off the yoke of inbred sin: And fully set my spirit free: _I cannot rest till pure within:_ Till I am wholly lost in thee."

You will realize the truthfulness of every one of these lines by coming to Jesus and fully consecrating your life to him. But rest does not necessarily imply _inactivity_. It means a heart and mind at peace. It means a heart filled with love to G.o.d and his people. It means a life of good works, wrought in righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. This is the rest that remaineth unto the people of G.o.d. It begins here; it goes on eternally in the heavens.

THE YELLOW SPRINGS (at present Orkney Springs).

This health and pleasure resort is near the head of Stony Creek, in Shenandoah County, Virginia. It is now universally known by the name of "Orkney Springs." It is beautifully situated near the eastern base of the Church mountain. From the yellow color of the sediment, left by its chalybeate waters, it first got the name of Yellow Springs.

It was, for many years, a favorite health resort for the German population of Rockingham and Shenandoah Counties in Virginia. Almost every Sunday during the "spring season," there would be preaching there by the ever earnest German Baptist Brethren. Attentive audiences would a.s.semble under the shade trees, and on rustic seats listen to the plain but earnest sermons of such men as John Kline, Peter Nead, Samuel Wampler and others. All was quiet and order. But the G.o.ddess of fas.h.i.+on soon found her way to this lovely spot, and a long train of wors.h.i.+pers at her shrine, robed in rustling silks and sparkling with jewels, followed her leadings. In a few years not only the character, but the very name of the place was changed. It is at this time a very popular pleasure resort for the rich and fas.h.i.+onable.

On SUNDAY, August 19, Brother Kline delivered a very interesting and instructive discourse at the above-named place. It is with profound emotions of grat.i.tude that I report this sermon. I was there myself and heard it. Whilst I do not retain in memory much of the substance of it, being at the time very young, I do well remember the feelings of veneration and regard for the preacher with which his earnest manner and kind looks impressed me. Little did I then think that fifty-five years from that date I would be expanding that discourse, and thus preparing it for the eyes of the world, from the leaflets of the Diary that was then being faithfully kept by that good man.

_Sermon by Elder John Kline._

_Preached at Orkney Springs, Sunday, August 19._

TEXT.--Whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely.--Rev. 22:17.

In view of our surroundings and the attractions that have drawn so many of us to this quiet and beautiful mountain retreat, I feel that the subject selected for to-day suits the occasion.

When I look at a mountain spring and see the wavelets playing on their pebbly beds, or chasing one another down their steep descent, I am ever led to think how free from all the taints of sin these innocent drops of water are! Not one of them has ever transgressed the divine law of its being. Not one has ever failed in a single point to fulfill its mission. Are you thirsty? They never refuse to quench your thirst.

Does your field need rain? They never refuse to wet the ground. Always ready, they cheerfully serve the behests of G.o.d and man.

The diversity of the applications and uses of water, the variety of its forms--its frozen state in that of ice, its fluid state in that of a liquid, its aeriform state in that of clouds and other modes of atmospheric suspension--all these, together with its transparency and cleansing power make it a most appropriate emblem of DIVINE TRUTH. As such, water is much spoken of by the prophets in the Old Testament, and by our Lord in the New. I will here quote some pa.s.sages from each:

"_Then with gladness shall ye draw waters out of the wells of salvation._" Isaiah 12:3. What can be meant by the "wells of salvation," but the _fountains of truth_ in G.o.d's Word?

By way of describing the _abundance_ of the supply of truths from this source I will here quote from the forty-first chapter of Isaiah, as follows: "_I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water: ... that they may see, and know, and consider, and understand_." One man is a _hillside_; another is a _valley_. One man is a _desert_; you think he never can be made to produce anything. But he shall be supplied, and thus be made to blossom as the rose. Others are _dry land_ of a general character; but there is water enough to make all fruitful: so that instead of the thorn, the myrtle; and instead of the thistle, the fig; and instead of the deadly upas, the olive shall grow.

In Jeremiah's description of the departure of the Jews from the TRUTHS of G.o.d's Word we find the following complaint against them from the mouth of the Lord himself, recorded in Jer. 2:13, "_My people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water_." This can mean nothing, spiritually, but a departure from the TRUTH of G.o.d as revealed, and subst.i.tuting in its place some false doctrine of man's own invention.

Jesus said: "_If any man thirst, let him come to me, and drink_." For, said he: "_My words are spirit, and they are life_." His words are the water of life. This explains my text.

It might surprise some of you if I were to point to that spring yonder and say, "There flows the water of life." But would I not tell the truth? Can man or beast live one moment without it? Let us think a little. What is your blood? It is water, holding in solution the various elements with which your bones, and sinews, and muscles, and nerves, and other tissues of your body are to be supplied and nourished. Can man or beast live a moment without blood? Then they cannot live a moment without water. Can trees and plants live a moment without sap? They cannot, because their sap is their blood. But the water of that spring, indispensable as it is to your bodily life, ceases as to its uses in this respect when this end is met; and if man had no life other than that of mere corporeal or animal existence, no other water would ever be demanded by him. In that case there would be no need of the invitation given in the text.

But every human being has a twofold nature. He has a _spiritual_ body as well as a _natural_ body. Paul says: "If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body." Man's natural or physical organization consists of _flesh and blood_. Paul calls this the "_outer man_." This is man's animal or sensuous nature. Man's spiritual body consists of _will_ and _understanding_. Paul calls this the _inner man_; because it is the interior, "hidden man of the heart." This is capable of becoming the higher, n.o.bler, better part of man, because it is the "house" of his affections and thoughts, of his loves and enjoyments.

There is a wonderful difference between the two natures; and yet the one corresponds to the other so perfectly that in all of man's experiences, in all that pertains to his life in this world, the two natures make _one man_. Whilst this is so, we must not forget that our natural bodies are _mortal_; they will soon die. But our spiritual bodies are _immortal_; they will never die. This is quite as true of the evil as of the good. The spiritual bodies or souls of men will live on, after the death of their natural bodies, through the countless ages of eternity,--the good, in the enjoyments of ineffable bliss; the evil, in the sufferings of deepest woe.

And is this true? Can it be that one or the other of these experiences is sure to be realized by every one present here to-day? Can it be so?

Or am I here just beating the air to make you and me hear myself talk?

I solemnly protest that I am not here for that purpose. I have a higher aim, a n.o.bler end. But let me point you to my authority for what I say, and show you the Rock on which my faith is built. All the authority which any man dare claim on this subject is found in G.o.d's revealed Word. I will here quote a few pa.s.sages:

"When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit on the throne of his glory: and before him shall be gathered all the nations; and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats.... Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you.... Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire.... And these shall go away into everlasting punishment; but the righteous into life eternal."

These words are the words of our Lord Jesus Christ; he here portrays, in one grand view, the good state of the righteous in the next world and the evil state of the unrighteous. In the very inmost of my heart I believe what our Lord here says, and out of the abundance of my heart my mouth now speaks. I also sincerely believe, friends, that every one here to-day can most surely determine for himself, even while living in this world, whether he will be happy in heaven forever, or miserable in an everlasting h.e.l.l. You may justly ask, "How can this be determined?"

I answer that a man's life in this world determines this for every individual, as surely as the fruit of a tree makes the quality of the tree known. Notice these pa.s.sages from Paul's writings: "He that soweth to his flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." "To be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." "G.o.d will reward every man according to his works."

Every intelligent man can know with certainty what kind of seed he is sowing. Is he sowing the seeds of love and good will to his neighbor, the seeds of peace, and order, and comfort, the seeds of faith, and hope, and love? He surely can know what his _will_ is, at least; and if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted of a man according to what he hath; and if he does his all it is the widow's mite in G.o.d's eye. Every intelligent man can know with certainty whether he loves G.o.d or loves him not. His readiness to keep his commandments is the proof of this both ways. I tell you, friends, there is no getting around this. Your obedience to our Lord is the unquestionable and undeviating test of your love. "He that loveth me, keepeth my words.