The Grace of Christ, or,
Sinners Saved by Unmerited Kindness
William S. Plumer, 1853
"We believe it is through the grace of our
Lord Jesus that we are saved." Acts 15:11
THE WONDERS OF GRACE WILL NEVER CEASE
Jonathan Edwards has written an admirable work, called
"The History of Redemption." He who reads it, will be well rewarded. But in
no sense will the history of redemption be complete until the last of the
elect shall be called, justified, sanctified and glorified. And in the
highest sense that history will never be finished, for redemption will
forever be evolving new objects of admiration and thanksgiving. It may well
be doubted whether all the books extant, which record the wonders of God's
love in the application of redemption to the souls of men, possess interest
and variety equal to the rich storehouse of spiritual knowledge, which would
be opened to us, if the religious experience of all living Christians were
perfectly delineated. Indeed the inward life of every child of God is the
history of the application of redemption in epitome. What heights and depths
of religious experience belong to every generation of the people of God! The
thief on the cross was, doubtless, not the last dying culprit, who sought
and found mercy. Saul of Tarsus was not the last blasphemer and persecutor,
to whom the Lord sent salvation. Manasseh was not the last gray-headed
sinner that repented and turned to the Lord, who "was entreated of him, and
heard his supplication." Scores of such are living in every Christian
nation, proving that a man can be born again when he is old.
There are now living and may be seen thousands of people,
who well illustrate the patience of the saints, who are patterns of
meekness, who love Jesus tenderly and strongly, who constantly lament the
sins of their times, who have learned in whatever state they are therewith
to be content, who rejoice in tribulation, who bear all things, believe all
things, hope all things, endure all things, and yet count not themselves to
have attained, neither are they already perfect—but they are striving after
higher attainments, and pressing forward towards the mark for the prize of
their high calling in Christ Jesus.
It is great kindness in God to give to the world, in the
persons of his people of every generation, bright examples of virtuous,
happy poverty; of cheerful submission in affliction; of a noble spirit of
self-sacrifice; of great gentleness of heart; of tenderness of conscience;
and of the true fear of God—so undeniable that even men of the world see and
reverence the power of divine grace. God also from age to age deals with
much patience and gentleness towards timid, feeble-minded, humble souls. Out
of the mouths of babes and sucklings he ordains strength. In times of
vengeance he spares his people "as a man spares his own son that serves
him;" he comforts them as a mother comforts her own child; he is to them a
sun and a shield, a rock of defense and a high tower, a refuge and a present
help in time of trouble. From them he withholds no good thing; he gives them
peace in believing; he is merciful to their unrighteousness; he blots out
their sins; he loves them freely; he accepts them graciously. In them he
shows what his grace can still do; to them he fulfills all the exceeding
great and precious promises of the covenant. The worm Jacob threshes the
mountains. God evinces every day that the race is not to the swift, nor the
battle to the strong. By his grace—the feeble among the saints are yet as
David, and the house of David as the angel of God.
All these things occur from age to age in a manner so
striking as to arrest the attention of all, who have spiritual discernment.
In every generation the God of patience grants to his servants with one
mind, and one mouth to glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ. The oath of the covenant, the blood of Jesus, his intercession in
heaven, and the power of his Spirit achieve these wonders. God is
unchangeable. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The
covenant is perpetual. A promise made to a believer three thousand years ago
is good and true in the case of all believers. "Whatever things were written
aforetime, were written for our learning, that we through patience and
comfort of the Scriptures might have hope."
One of the most remarkable chapters in the history of
God's church has, been furnished by modern missions to the heathen. Wherever
the gospel is preached and takes effect—it produces marvelous results. A
Hindu woman applied for baptism. The servant of Christ told her, as in
fairness he was bound to do, what she must suffer—the loss of caste, the
displeasure of her husband, and many persecutions. She replied: "I know all
this; I considered all that before I came to you. I am ready and willing to
bear it all. I am ready to sacrifice all to my Lord. Surely, sir, I cannot
endure anything in comparison to what he suffered for me." On his death-bed
John Brown of Haddington said: "Here is a wonder—a sinner saved by the blood
of God's Son! There are wonders in heaven, and wonders in the earth—but the
least part of redemption's work is more wonderful than them all."