Cain"s countenance changed; the tears rolled down his cheeks. He took the money with many thanks, became a quiet man, and was not heard to swear again.
PEACE, GRACE AND GLORY.
So there is a great deal of difference between law and grace. "Being justified by faith we have peace with G.o.d through our Lord Jesus Christ; by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of G.o.d." There are three precious things here: peace for the past; grace for the present; and glory for the future. There is no peace until we see the finished work of Jesus Christ--until we can look back and see the Cross of Christ between us and our sins. When we see that Jesus was "the end of the law for righteousness;" that He "tasted death for every man;"
that He "suffered the Just for the unjust"--then comes peace. Then there is "the grace wherein we now stand." There is plenty of grace for us as we need it day by day, and hour by hour.
Then there is glory for the time to come. A great many people seem to forget that the best is before us. Dr. Bonar says that everything before the true believer is "glorious." This thought took hold of my soul; and I began to look the matter up, and see what I could find in Scripture that was glorious hereafter. I found that the kingdom we are going to inherit is glorious: our crown is to be a "crown of glory;" the city we are going to inhabit is the city of the glorified; the songs we are to sing are the songs of the glorified; we are to wear garments of "glory and beauty;" our society will be the society of the glorified; our rest is to be "glorious;" the country to which we are going is to be full of "the glory of G.o.d and of the Lamb." There are many who are always looking on the backward path, and mourning over the troubles through which they have pa.s.sed; they keep lugging up the cares and anxieties they have been called on to bear, and are forever looking at them. Why should we go reeling and staggering under the burdens and cares of life when we have such prospects before us?
If there is nothing but glory beyond, our faces ought to shine brightly all the time. If a skeptic were to come up here and watch the countenances of the audience he would find many of you looking as though there was anything but glory before you. Many a time it seems to me as if I were at a funeral, people look so sad and downcast. They do not appear to know much of the joy of the Lord.
Surely if we were looking right on to the glory that awaits us, our faces would be continually lit up with the light of the upper world.
We can preach by our countenances if we will. The nearer we draw to that glory-land, where we shall be with Christ--the more peace, and joy, and rest we ought to have. If we will but come to the throne of grace, we shall have strength to bear all our troubles and trials.
If you were to take all the afflictions that flesh is heir to and put them right on any one of us, G.o.d has grace enough to carry us right through without faltering.
Some one has compiled the following, which beautifully describes the contrast between law and grace:
The Law was given by Moses.
Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
The Law says--This do, and thou shalt live.
Grace says--Live, and then thou shalt do.
The Law says--Pay me that thou owest.
Grace says--I frankly forgive thee all.
The Law says--The wages of sin is death.
GRACE says--The gift of G.o.d is eternal life.
The Law says--The soul that sinneth, it shall die.
Grace says--Whosoever believeth in Jesus, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth in Him shall never die.
The Law p.r.o.nounces--Condemnation and death.
Grace proclaims--Justification and life.
The Law says--Make you a new heart and a new spirit.
Grace says--A new heart will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you.
The Law says--Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
Grace says--Blessed is the man whose iniquities are forgiven, whose sin is covered; blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute iniquity.
The Law says--Thou shalt love the Lord thy G.o.d with all thy heart, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength.
Grace says--Herein is love: not that we love G.o.d, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
The Law speaks of what man must do for G.o.d.
Grace tells of what Christ has done for man.
The Law addresses man as part of the old creation.
Grace makes a man a member of the new creation.
The Law bears on a nature p.r.o.ne to disobedience.
Grace creates a nature inclined to obedience.
The Law demands obedience by the terror of the Lord.
Grace beseeches men by the mercies of G.o.d.
The Law demands holiness.
Grace gives holiness.
The Law says--Condemn him.
Grace says--Embrace him.
The Law speaks of priestly sacrifices offered year by year continually, which could never make the comers thereunto perfect.
Grace says--But this _Man_, after he had offered _one_ sacrifice for sins forever . . . by one offering hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.
The Law declares--That as many as have sinned in the Law, shall be judged by the Law.
Grace brings eternal peace to the troubled soul of every child of G.o.d, and proclaims _G.o.d"s_ salvation in defiance of the accusations of the adversary. "He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment (condemnation), but is pa.s.sed from death unto life."
"Whence to me this tranquil spirit-- Me all sinful as I am?
Is it thus descends the merit Of the sin-atoning Lamb?
Grace, all power to deliver, Gift of a Creative Giver, Like a full, refreshing river, Ever flowing.
Over all my course of sinning Spread its waters without bound, Cleansing, fertilizing, winning For the Lord the barren ground.
Lavish from the heavenly treasure, Fountains of a Father"s pleasure, All the marks of human measure Overflowing.
Not my virtue or repenting Earned the precious boon for me.
Thine, my Saviour, the relenting, Thine the pangs which set me free-- Gift of grace beyond all knowing, From the heart of Jesus flowing, Ever flowing, overflowing, Flowing freely."
CHAPTER VI.