162 IN LUTTERWORTH CHURCH. IN LUTTERWORTH CHURCH. EXTRACT FROM ONE OF JOHN WYCLIF'S SERMONS. my "FIRST: We hold it as part of our faith that as our first parents had sinned, there must be atonement made for sin according to the righteousness of God. For as God is merciful, so He is full of righteousness. But except He keep His righteousness on this point, how may He judge all the world? There is no sin done but what is against God, but this sin was done directly against the Lord Almighty and all rightful. The greater also the Lord is against whom any sin is done, the greater always is the sin -just as to do against the king's bidding is deemed the greatest of offences. But the sin which is done against God's bidding is greater without measure. God, then, according to our belief, bid Adam that he should not eat of the apple, yet he broke God's command. Nor was he excused therein by his own weakness, by Eve, nor by the serpent. Hence, according to the righteousness of God, this sin must be alway punished. It is to speak lightly to say that God might of His own power forgive the sin, without the atonement that was made for it, since the justice of God would not suffer this, which requires that every trespass be punished either in earth or in hell. God may not accept a person to forgive him his sin without an atonement, else He must give free license to sin both in angels and men, and then sin were no sin, and our God no god! Such is the first lesson we take as part of our faith. The second is that the person who may make atonement for the sin of our first father must needs be God and man. For as man's nature trespassed, so must man's nature render atonement. An angel, therefore, would attempt in vain to make atonement for man, for he has not the power to do it, nor was his the nature that here sinned. Since all men form one person, if any member of this person maketh atonement, the whole person maketh it. But we may see that if God made a man of nought or strictly anew, after the manner of Adam, yet he were bound to God after the extent of his power for himself, having nothing wherewith to make DAILY BIBLE THOUGHTS FOR THE MONTH. 163 atonement for his own or Adam's sin. Since then atonement must be made for the sin of Adam, as we have shown, the Person to make the atonement must be God and man, for then the worthiness of this person's deeds, were even with the unworthiness of the sin!" FLOWERS. Miss Ellis wishes to thank all the kind senders of flowers, and to explain to any who have received no acknowledgment, that she has been obliged, in much trouble, to leave 29, Whitehead's Grove. She is therefore obliged, with much regret, to ask kind friends not to send any more at present. ULY 1.-Luke xxiv. 30, 31. In this act the link of intercourse (suspended by His death) was renewed. So revealing to them He was the same Jesus. See the effect of this revelation in verses 33-35. July 2.-Ch. xxiv. 34. One of the first acts of "the Great Shepherd " (Heb. xiii. 20), is to "go after" His wandering sheep. The silence of Scripture about that meeting assures us that Christ never betrays our confidences. July 3.—John i. 14. The Divine took our human nature to make it possible for the human to become partakers of the Divine nature. Both His glory and His goodness were manifested (see Heb. ii. 14-16; 1 John i. 1, 2; Exodus xxxiii. 18, 19; John i. 4). July 4.-Ch. i. 22, 23. The messenger hides himself but makes . 164 DAILY BIBLE THOUGHTS FOR THE MONTH. much of the message. See how he exalts the unrecognised Christ (verses 26, 29, 35). A lesson for us as workers. July 5.-Ch. i. 41, 42. The first result of having been with Jesus is to make Andrew a soul-winner. It needs both courage and love to speak for Jesus in our homes. July 6.—Ch. i. 50. He who begins by "believing" shall go on to "seeing." Christ would make our onward path a series of perpetual surprises. Let us "believe to see" greater things (Prov. iv. 18). July 7.—Ch. ii. 3. Through the discipline of want Christ revealed His wealth. He allowed the obedient servants to convey the fulness of supply. Connect the "whatsoever" of ver. 5 with the "whatsoever " of John xiv. 13. July 8.-Ch. ii. 25. Let us never think Jesus is taken by surprise (as we so often are) at anything we discover in ourselves or others. "He knows all, yet loves us better than He knows." July 9.-Ch. iii. 3. A new life, and not the improvement of our human nature, is the sine que non of entering the kingdom. It is God's gift (Rom. vi. 23), imparted by the Holy Spirit (vers es 5, 6, 8), through faith (John i. 12; see result, 2 Cor. v. 17). July 10.—Ch. iii. 21. A test of sincerity. Do we wish to see our life in His light? We can only walk with Him as we walk in the light, for God is the light, etc. Let us claim Job xxiii. 28, 1 John i. 7, and obey Isa. ii. 5. July 11.-Ch. iii. 30. Note the order of the words. The greater must eclipse the lesser. Is there not a promise enfolded in the words, "He MUST increase"? (see Gal. ii. 20; 1 Cor. xv. 25). July 12.—Ch. iv. 14. “A well of water," this tells of perpetual Supply; "springing up" reminds us water ever seeks its own level; "in him " teaches us how abundantly Christ would satisfy and purify us (see Cant. iv. 15; Isa. lviii. 11). July 13.-Ch. iv. 26. this woman. Mark the twofold revelation Christ made to leads her to know herself, then to know Him, and immediately she becomes "a well of life" (Prov. x. 11) to others (verses 28-30). July 14.-Ch. iv. 34. To do the Father's will was a joy (Psa. xl. 8), a necessity (Luke ii. 49), and refreshment and strength to Christ. Are we serving Him in the same spirit? July 15.-Ch. iv. 47. Notice the growth of faith in this nobleman, First, faith in the power which brought him to Jesus; faith in the Word (verse 50); and faith in the Person of Jesus (verse 53). DAILY BIBLE THOUGHts for the Month. July 16.-Ch. v. 6. "Jesus saw 165 and knew." These words tell us how fully He understands both the nature and extent of the trial. When he was helpless and hopeless then the blessing came in an unexpected way (Psa cxlii. 4). July 17.-Ch. v. 24. How simple the conditions of life everlasting! To hear, to believe, to have (for to believe is to have), and a present salvation is what Christ offers-" Is passed from death unto life" (see 1 John v. 11-13). July 18.-Chap. v. 30. Surely Christ gives us in these words the secret of having a "right judgment in all things." Let us become as selfless and dependent as He was, then we shall be "guided on every side" (2 Chron. xxxii. 20, 22; Psa. xxv. 9). July 19.-Chap. vi. 6. See how Christ trains His disciples. He suggests a difficulty to bring out Philip's faithlessness, and Andrew's latent faith (verse 9). Let us remember in every circumstance He is never at a loss what to do. July 20.-Chap. vi. 26. Jesus reads the hidden motives which lead us to seek Him. Do we think more of His gifts than of Himself the Giver? See the true heart's experience (Psa. lxiii. 1). July 21.-Chap. vi: 32. "The true bread" is the Father's continuous gift, but before He could become "bread" for us He had to yield His own life (John xii. 24; Isa, xxviii. 28 with Isa. liii. 10). No need to "perish with hunger" when we may be "satisfied with the bread of heaven" (Luke xv. 17; Psa. cv. 40). July 22.-Chap. vi. 56, 57. As we receive life by eating the true bread, so the same light is sustained by our continuing to feed on Him n our hearts by faith with thanksgiving. July 23.-Chap. vi. 67. In these words we read how much Jesus felt the turning back of some of His followers. Are we ready to answer, "Lord, to whom shall we go?" (Rom. viii. 35). July 24.-Chap. vii, 5. "Wounded in the house of His friends." See how He resisted the temptation to act independently and to vindicate Himself. As the dependent Son recognising that even His time was not at His own disposal (see Psa. xxxi. 15; xxxvii. 23). July 25.-Chap. vii. 17. Too many are so occupied with wishing to know. But they will not begin to do the will of God. July 26.-Chap. vii. 37, 38. Do not let us be satisfied with having our own thirst quenched. Christ would have us enjoy the privilege of blessing and refreshing others (see Ezekiel xlvii. 5, 9). July 27.-Chap. viii. Christ came to condemn sin, but not the sin 166 SCRIPTUREe reading UNION. ner. His free forgiveness became the motive power to lead a new life (see Rom. vi. 1-14). "Saved to be holy." July 28. Chap. viii. 29. Christ's fellowship with the Father was of necessity an unbroken one because His obedience was perfect. He has given us the same condition of abiding in His love (John xv. 10; 1 Jno. iii. 22). 1 July 29.-Chap. viii. 36. Compare Romans vi. 22; vii. 6; viii. 2; Luke i. 74. It is "a glorious liber ty" He has purchased for us-let us claim it (Gal. v. 1). July 30. Chap. viii. "He sent me." Each person of the blessed Trinity became a seeker after man. The Father's love "devised means" (2 Sam. xiv. 14), the Son fulfilled, and the Spirit strives to win. July 31.-Chap. ix. 3. Every affliction permitted by God may become an opportunity for Him to manifest His glory as here (also John xi. 4; 2 Cor. xii. 9). "LIVING WATERS AT THE RAILWAY; STATIONS. -We have received a few new names of stations to be supplied, but we shall not print a list for a month or two, when we shall hope to have a nice number to add. See page 141 last month. "CHRISTIAN PROGRESS" SCRIPTURE READING UNION. 1. Every MEMBER reads daily the same Chapter of the Old Testament and a short Evening Portion of the New. ASSOCIATES read only the New Testament Portion, any time during the day. 2. Persons of all ages and all denomiations may join. All readers of LIVING WATERS are invited to join this Union, either as Members or Associates and to ask their friends to do so. They should send their full names and addresses (stating whether Rev., Esq., Mr., Mrs., or Miss) to The Secretary, Christian Progress Union, 21, Exeter Hall, London, W.O. One stamp must be enclosed, and a card of Membership will be forwarded. OFFICE: 21, Exeter Hall, Strand, London, W.C. OFFICE HOURS: 9.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, 9.30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Our increase during the last month has been below the average, but still much to be thankful for, viz., 561 new Members and 332 Associates, making a total addition of 893 for the month... On July 1st, the Union commences its ninth year of existence, having been started on July 1st, 1876. We hope that all will work to add to our numbers, and write to the Secretary (address as above) for invitation papers to distribute amongst their friends. They will be sent to any address post free. Those who are going away for a holiday, either in England' or abroad, should take a supply, as they will be able thus to introduce the Union to many whom they may meet who have never heard of it. SUBJECT FOR PRAYER FOR JULY. For blessings on the labours of Members and Associates who are working for the Lord in foreign parts. |