The next day was the Sabbath, the first since the return of our friends
from Viamede. They attended, as usual, the morning services of the
sanctuary, and in the afternoon gathered upon the veranda at Woodburn
for the private, conversational study of some scriptural theme.
"What is to be our lesson for to-day, captain?" queried Mr. Lilburn
when they had seated themselves, each with Bible in hand.
"I have thought of the sacrificial shedding of blood," was the reply.
"Here in Hebrews 9:22, 'And almost all things are by the law purged
with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.' The blood
of sacrifices was typical of the atoning blood of Christ. Paul tells
us, 'Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood
He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal
redemption for us.... So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of
many.' Now let us read in turn texts bearing upon this great subject.
Violet, my dear, will you begin?"
"Yes," she replied. "Matthew, Mark and Luke each tell us of Jesus'
words in giving His disciples the cup of wine at His last supper on
earth; He said to them, 'This is my blood of the new testament, which
is shed for many for the remission of sins.'"
It was now Harold's turn, and he read: "'Then Jesus said unto them,
Verily, verily, I say unto you, except ye eat the flesh of the Son
of man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my
flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him
up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink
indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me,
and I in him.'"
It was now Grace's turn, and she read: "'Take heed, therefore, unto
yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath
made ye overseers to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased
with His own blood.'"
Then Elsie read: "'Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through
faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of
sins that are past through the forbearance of God.'"
Then Ned: "'Much more, then, being now justified by His blood, we shall
be saved from wrath through Him.'"
Grandma Elsie, sitting next, now read from Ephesians: "'But now in
Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood
of Christ.... In whom we have redemption through His blood, the
forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.'"
Then Lucilla: "'Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His
blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal
redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the
ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying
of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through
the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your
conscience from dead works to serve the living God?'"
Then Chester read: "'Having, therefore, brethren, boldness to enter
into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which
He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say His flesh,
of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy
who hath trodden under foot the Son of God and hath counted the blood
of the covenant, wherewith He was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath
done despite unto the Spirit of Grace?'"
Evelyn, sitting next, then read: "'Unto Him that loved us and washed us
from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto
God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever.'"
Then Mrs. Annis Lilburn, sitting next, read: "'And they sung a new
song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book and to open the seals
thereof; for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood
out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation.'"
Walter sat next, and he read: "'These are they which came out of great
tribulation, and have washed their robes and made them white in the
blood of the Lamb.'"
Then Mr. Lilburn, next and last, read: "'And they overcame him by the
blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony.' The one there
spoken of as overcome is, as doubtless you all know, Satan, spoken of
in this chapter of Revelation as the accuser of our brethren, accusing
them before God day and night; but by the blood of the Lamb of God, and
only by that, could they or any one overcome him."
"'Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we,
being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes
ye were healed,'" quoted Grandma Elsie in low, moved tones. "Oh, how
can we help loving Him with all our hearts and serving Him with all our
powers?"
"'For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust,
that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but
quickened by the Spirit,'" quoted the captain, then added: "'The blood
of Jesus Christ His son cleanseth us from all sin.'"
Lucilla followed: "'Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He
loved us, and sent His son to be the propitiation for our sins.'"
Evelyn followed: "'Ye know that He was manifested to take away our
sins; and in Him is no sin.... He is the propitiation for our sins; and
not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.'"
"'And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be
the Saviour of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the
Son of God, God dwelleth in him and he in God,'" quoted Violet with
feeling, then she started a hymn, in which all joined with fervor:
"Come, let us sing of Jesus,
While hearts and accents blend;
Come, let us sing of Jesus,
The sinner's only Friend;
His holy soul rejoices,
Amid the choirs above,
To hear our youthful voices
Exulting in His love.
"We love to sing of Jesus,
Who wept our path along;
We love to sing of Jesus,
The tempted and the strong;
None who besought His healing
He passed unheeded by,
And still retains His feeling
For us above the sky.
"We love to sing of Jesus,
Who died our souls to save;
We love to sing of Jesus,
Triumphant o'er the grave;
And in our hour of danger
We'll trust His love alone
Who once slept in a manger,
And now sits on the throne.
"Then let us sing of Jesus
While yet on earth we stay,
And hope to sing of Jesus
Throughout eternal day;
For those who here confess Him
He will in heaven confess,
And faithful hearts that bless Him
He will forever bless."
That hymn finished, Grandma Elsie started another beautiful one, in
which all joined:
"I love to tell the story
Of unseen things above,
Of Jesus and His glory,
Of Jesus and His love.
I love to tell the story,
Because I knew it's true;
It satisfies my longings
As nothing else can do.
CHORUS:
"I love to tell the story,
'Twill be my theme in glory,
To tell the old, old story,
Of Jesus and His love.
"I love to tell the story;
More wonderful it seems
Than all the golden fancies
Of all our golden dreams.
I love to tell the story,
It did so much for me;
And that is just the reason
I tell it now to thee.
"I love to tell the story;
'Tis pleasant to repeat
What seems, each time I tell it,
More wonderfully sweet.
I love to tell the story,
For some have never heard
The message of salvation
From God's own holy word.
"I love to tell the story;
For those who know it best
Seem hungering and thirsting
To hear it like the rest.
And when, in scenes of glory,
I sing the new, new song,
Twill be the old, old story
That I have loved so long."
Several prayers followed the singing of the hymns, and then the meeting
closed with the singing of the Doxology, in which all, old and young,
took part.