And now, my young friends, we have finished the survey of our
picture-gallery. We have wandered among these six cities in the old land
of promise. I shall repeat their names once more, that you may remember
them.
KEDESH, _Holiness._
SHECHEM, _Shoulder._
HEBRON, _Fellowship._
BEZER, _Stronghold._
RAMOTH, _Exaltation._
GOLAN, _Joy._
What a complete Saviour! In Him "all fullness dwells." In the case of
some of these Hebrew cities, "not one stone has been left upon another
that has not been thrown down." Owls are screaming amid their ruins, and
jackals prowling for their prey. But not so with HIM of whom they were
types. _Jesus_ ever lives! He never changes. Time and decay cannot
crumble the walls of the Gospel Refuge. He is "the same yesterday, and
to-day, and for ever."[56]
I want, in this last chapter, to say one or two additional things to you
about the Cities of Refuge. Let me ask you to give me your earnest
attention.
The _first_ thing I wish you to remember is, _that all the preciousness
of that_ NAME _of Jesus, and all the security of the Gospel_ REFUGE,
_is derived from the merits of His death for you upon the cross_.
This is the truth of all truths, and one, too, strikingly taught in
these olden types. If you read the Bible account, you will find that the
manslayer had his liberty restored to him _upon the death of the High
Priest_.[57] When the tidings of the decease of this great Head of the
Jewish nation reached these refuge towns, I daresay many of their
citizens would be heard, with wailing cry, mourning the loss of God's
faithful servant. But the intelligence was very different to the captive
Hebrew. It brought him joyful news! For that event enabled him to go
forth from his banishment, and to terminate years of painful separation
from all he loved on earth. The avenger could no longer injure him. He
could return, happy and secure, to the comforts of his long-lost home.
So, dear reader, it is the _death_ of _your_ great High Priest that has
purchased your release from spiritual captivity. The law can no longer
hold you. Justice can no longer threaten you. You can go forth with the
glorious liberty of a child of God, saying, "_Who_ is he that
condemneth?--_It is Christ that died._"[58]
You can picture to yourselves, on the death of the Jewish High Priest,
the Hebrew captive going forth from the city, within whose gloomy walls
he had long been enclosed. You can picture him, with merry heart,
making the valleys through which he hurried to his native dwelling, echo
with songs of joy! And shall not _you_, with happier heart and voice,
sing this song as you journey on to your heavenly home, and see it
gleaming in the distance, on the other side of Jordan--
"When from the dust of death I rise,
To take my mansion in the skies,
This all my hope--this all my plea,
That _Jesus lived and died for me_!"
The _second_ thing I want to say to you is, that _God has made the
gospel City of Refuge easy of access, and has filled it with rich
provision._
He made the way as plain as possible to the manslayer of old. The
cities themselves were generally on a height, so as to be seen at a far
distance. The roads leading to them were carefully kept. They were
broader than others in Palestine, (sixteen yards wide.) The Jewish
magistrates and judges went once every year to inspect them, and to
order repairs. Where streams occurred, there were bridges thrown across.
Where there were angles or by-roads, posts with "_Refuge_" on them were
set up; and as there were no bridges across Jordan, three of the cities
were placed, as I have already mentioned, on one side of the river, and
three on the other; so that all might easily get at them, and none might
have any excuse for not fleeing. The nearest city could always be
reached by the manslayer in half a day. Moreover, we are informed there
were ample stores of provisions laid up in them. They were supplied with
wells of water, and Levites were placed in turn as porters or
gatekeepers, to be ready to welcome every fugitive into these homes of
safety.
So God has done everything for _you_, to make the Gospel Refuge
accessible. Your parents and ministers--your Bibles and churches
and good books--are all, just like these refuge signals, pointing
away from the cross-roads and by-roads of human reason, and human
error, and self-righteousness, to the Lord Jesus Christ, and
saying, "Flee! flee! flee for refuge to lay _hold_ on the hope
set before you!" _Jesus_, too, the true Gospel Refuge, is full of
rich provision. "Ye are complete in Him." He, as the true Joseph,
gives forth out of the storehouses in His "treasure-cities," to
all His needy people. What are some of these provisions? There is
pardon--peace--justification--adoption--sanctification,--strength for
the hour of weakness,--grace for the hour of temptation,--and the good
hope of everlasting life for the hour of death. No wonder that he says
to every poor sinner seeking admission within these gates, "_I am the
bread of life: he that cometh unto me shall never hunger._"[59]
As in the cities of Canaan, so in this glorious Gospel-City of which
they were types, there is a Well of living water. What is this? It is
the Holy Spirit. He is often in Scripture compared to water. "_If any
man thirst_," said Jesus, "_let him come unto me, and drink. This spake
he of the Spirit_."[60] This all-glorious well-spring, moreover, is not
like those of the Palestine cities, which were sometimes dried up in
seasons of drought, but "springing up unto everlasting life." Angels,
too, are the porters,--the blessed warders that keep the gates of this
Gospel-City. "_Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to
minister to them who are heirs of salvation?_"[61] They love to watch
by these gates, and to welcome every wanderer. How gladly they give the
word, "_Open ye the gates, that the righteous_ (those made righteous
through the righteousness of Jesus) _may enter in_!"[62]
It is delightful, moreover, to think, that just as the Jewish cities
were easily got at from all parts of Palestine, so from all parts of the
world, may people go to the Greater and more Glorious Gospel Refuge.
Poor Pagan of the far East! cast away your idols; the gates of the
Gospel-City stand ready to welcome _you_. Indian of the far West! cast
aside your warrior spear and your offerings of blood, and flee to the
portals of mercy and to the blood which cleanseth from all sin.
Laplander of the far North, amid your polar snows! Negro of Africa, amid
your burning sands! rush to the provided shelter. There is salvation
there for _you_. "The same Lord is rich to ALL that call upon Him."
Happy prospect!--the time will come when the whole world will be found
singing together the same song and uttering the same prayer, "_Open unto
us the gates of righteousness, that we may enter into them, and praise
the Lord!_"[63]
Will none of my young friends rejoice if they are able, by aiding the
cause of missions abroad, to help putting this "new song" into the lips
of those who are still "wandering in the wilderness in a solitary way,
and have NO CITY to dwell in?"[64]
* * * * *
The _third_ thing I want to say to you is, that _no_ OTHER _Refuge will
do but_ JESUS.
I would like you to take as your motto the simple and beautiful words
which a Sabbath scholar, I knew well about, lately gone to glory, wrote
to his minister. "I am sure I may be very thankful to God for His great
mercy toward me.... _I must just keep in mind that there is one Refuge
to flee to, and that is Jesus._"
There are many other refuges people try to take shelter in. They think
they will be as safe in them as in the ONE of God's providing; but
these will never stand in that day which will try every refuge of what
sort it is.
I have seen some making their _own goodness_ their refuge-city. They
imagined they were not so bad as others. They trusted in the falling
Siloam-tower of their own righteousness!
I have seen some making _God's goodness_ their refuge-city. They said to
themselves, "God is kind. He surely will not deal hardly with sinners at
last. Justice, the avenger, will not surely always pursue with her
flaming sword. The love of God will surely get the better of his
justice."
Don't let Satan deceive you. There are many of _his_ refuges which
_appear_ to be safe enough, but on which God has written "_Refuges of
lies_."
There were many other towns in Canaan of old which _appeared_ to be as
good and as safe as those I have been speaking of. But no city could
afford shelter to the manslayer, excepting one of the six God had
specially appointed.
What would have happened if the fugitive of old, in fleeing from the
avenger, had said to himself, "What is the use of my going so far away
as to Hebron or Golan? I would rather flee to a nearer place. I will go
to Jericho, the old city of palm-trees; or to Bethlehem, in the hills of
Judah; or, better still, I will go to Jerusalem, the capital of the
nation, where the temple of Zion is, and the palace of the King. Surely
I shall be safer far within its lofty walls and bulwarks than in one of
these little cities of the Levites. Is it not said that '_God is known
in all her Palaces for a Refuge?_'"
If he had done so, he would undoubtedly have perished. Neither King nor
Priest, nor Golden gate nor Beautiful gate, nor wall nor bulwark, could
have saved him from the avenger's sword. The refuge-towns appointed in
the olden time may have been "the least amid the cities of Judah." But
they were God's selection, God's ordering, and that was enough. In them,
and in them only, was the manslayer safe from the avenger of blood.
And so it is with our Gospel Refuge. "_Neither is there salvation in any
other._" Rejecting Jesus, we are lost for ever. All other refuges,
however good or great or strong they may _appear_ to be, will prove only
Babel-towers, that will fall on the poor builders, and crush them in
their ruins.
When God told the children of Israel to sprinkle their lintels and
door-posts with blood, they might have been foolish enough to say, "No;
we shall do better. We shall not be content with doing so trifling a
thing; we shall rather build up great walls around our houses, so that
the destroying angel may not get in." Do you think, if they had done
so, their first-born would have been saved? No; there would have been
death in every such household; these high walls would have proved
useless. Nothing but the red mark on the doorway of the dwelling would
be of any avail in warding off the fell stroke.
So it is with the sinner. All the walls which pride, and
self-righteousness, and good works can rear, will do nothing to keep out
the sword of avenging Justice. But _the sprinkled blood of covenant
mercy will_; for "_the blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanseth_ (and
alone cleanseth) _from_ ALL SIN!"[65]
I remember, many years ago, attending the deathbed of a young man in
E----. He told me, one day, he had dreamt of being in a shop in ----
Street, which seemed to be hung round with armour and coats of mail. A
number of people in the shop were girding these on; while a man was
standing with a drawn sword in his hand outside the door, ready to slay
them as they passed into the open street. One after another he cut
down;--the armour was no protection to them--their bodies were lying
dead and wounded on the pavement. In great fear and terror, the young
man said, his turn seemed at last to come, when he, too, must try to
cover himself with the same armour, and rush out by the fatal door. He
knew not what to do. In looking around him, he observed, in the
uppermost shelf, something resembling a web of coarse linen, lying
apparently neglected. He resolved to take it down, and wrap himself in a
portion of it, instead of the unavailing sheaths of iron and steal.
Covering his head and body, he darted out, following the footsteps of
the others. The sword descended; but it bounded back again. It was
unable to pierce the linen covering. He alone was safe in that crowd of
dead and dying.
Beautifully did this youthful dreamer apply his own "vision of the
night." It was:--How vain are all the boasted sheathings of the armour
of self-righteousness; and how safe and glorious is that "white linen"
covering of the righteousness of Jesus! To the eye of reason, the
panoply of iron and steel seems the best, and strongest, and securest.
Many will not "submit themselves to the righteousness of God," and
persist in using the others. But they will be a poor protection against
the sword of God's avenging justice. Happy are those who have been led
to look _above_ for another righteousness, and who have listened to the
Divine injunction, "_Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ!_"[66]
Reader, let me ask, is this your case? Don't think, because you are
young, and have committed few sins, that you are safer than those who
have committed many, and that you have not the same urgent need to flee
to Jesus for refuge. In Canaan of old, the manslayer was in danger of
his life, whether he had killed one or several. One single life, like
one single sin, exposed him to the fury of the avenger.
Nay, more. The Hebrew fugitive _might elude_ his avenger! He might
manage, for days, or weeks, or years, to screen himself from his wrath.
He might go, as David did to avoid Saul, to some cave of Adullam; he
might hide in the gloomy recesses of some forest;--amid the oaks of
Bashan, or the rocky gorges of the Jordan, or amid the cedar-heights of
Lebanon;--in the words of Ezekiel, "dwelling safely in the wilderness,
and sleeping in the woods."[67] But it is different with the sinner and
_his_ Avenger:--"_Vengeance is mine; and I_ WILL _repay, saith the
Lord_."[68] Who can escape _His_ glance? Who can hide from _His_
all-seeing eye?
"If I should find some cave unknown,
Where human foot had never trod,
Even there I could not be alone--
On every side there would be GOD.
"He smiles in heaven, He frowns in hell,
He fills the air, the earth, the sea;
I _must_ within His presence dwell,
I cannot from His anger flee."
The _fourth_ thing I want to say to you is:--That _many young and old_
HAVE _fled to Jesus, the Gospel City of Refuge, and have found
themselves safe and happy there_.
How delightful it is, year by year, to trace the footsteps of those,
whether young or old, rich or poor, who have repaired to that blessed
shelter! I shall close this little volume by telling you of _two_ such,
now inhabitants of the better _celestial City_. Very different they were
in years, in country, in outward position. But they were alike in
this,--that they fled in life to the gates of the Gospel Refuge; and to
both _the_ NAME _of_ JESUS was specially precious.
The one was C---- T----, a little girl thirteen years old--the age, I
daresay, of some whose eyes are falling on these pages. I saw her when
she was bright and happy in her adopted home in England--a sweet spot in
the county of Kent, on one of those wooded heights or uplands which
command an extensive prospect of the Thames, as he winds along, hearing
on his lordly bosom the commerce of the world. Little did any then
dream, that that little life, so full of promise, was to be early
taken--her sun going down before it was "yet day!" So, however, the will
of God was; her summons came suddenly, unexpectedly. Her disconsolate
parents saw "the desire of their eyes taken away by a stroke." The dear
child herself was naturally of a timid, reserved disposition; she felt
more than she said. Her kind, unselfish heart delighted in devising
plans of usefulness and carrying them out. The entire of her
pocket-money was latterly spent in the purchase of little books for the
infant-school children--all of whom loved her much--or in publications
for loan among the elder Sunday class. She won the affections of old as
well as young. "The little lady who used to speak so prettily to us,"
was the description given, with full eyes, by more than one of the
villagers who had known her loving ways, and heard her loving voice. In
another neighbourhood still more familiar to her, she used to go to the
cottages with her Bible, and offer to read to the inmates who most
needed it; always putting her little hands together first, to ask for
God's blessing, and then making some simple remarks she thought might be
of use. Those whose hearts most sorely mourned her, had the fullest
assurance that the grace of God had been early poured into their dear
child's heart. But on thinking, too, on the past, they began at times to
wonder whether these pleasing traits of character and efforts to do
good, were really prompted by love to Jesus, or whether they might be
rather the effect of habit and the imitation of others. They anxiously
searched among her little books and desk-treasures to see if they could
find anything to confirm their fondest thoughts regarding this. I
believe it was even made the subject of earnest prayer to God, that some
such precious testimony might be found. After all her other books had
been examined in vain, imagine what were the feelings of delight and
thankfulness, when, as one day she who loved her best was taking the
cover off her Bible, the two following letters dropped from it on the
ground:--
"B. PARSONAGE, _August._
"MY DEAREST PAPA AND MAMMA,--I am going to write this in
case I should go to that _happy_ land where sorrow is not
known, suddenly; and that you may have _no_ fears about my
soul. I know my state, and that my _precious_ Saviour has
called me, and I humbly accept this _glorious_ invitation
as a poor WRETCHED sinner. I _strive_ not to expect
redemption by my own poor merits. I have no comparative
fear of death, but as a passage from a wicked world to a
happy, happy home. Though I am by nature very wicked, it
is all washed away by my Saviour's blood. The Holy Spirit
has taught me what to pray for, and how to pray. I hope all
my dear friends will forgive me if I have been angry when
they have spoken to me about my faults. I should like,
dearest parents, whatever little money and things I have,
to be given to the Church Missionary Society and the Bible
Society. My dear Saviour has forgiven me all my INNUMERABLE
sins, and so, dear parents, you need not fear about my
soul. I believe my Saviour will _not_ forsake me if I trust
in Him, and I know that all my righteousness is as filthy
rags.--I remain, dearest parents," &c., &c., &c.,
"C. M. T."
The other paper that was found, was probably intended for her brothers
and sisters. It is as follows:--
"When you are in trouble, go to God and tell Him all about it. The
Saviour who called little children to come to Him will listen to you, no
matter what the subjects be, if you be but in earnest and need His help.
If you have a difficult lesson to learn, a hasty spirit to subdue, an
unkind word to bear, a proud spirit to humble--whatever your difficulty,
take it to God in the name of Jesus, and He _will_ help you. If even we,
who see so little beneath the surface, are not pleased with outward
appearances without good qualities within, how much less is the great
God who searches the inmost recesses of the heart? 'The Lord seeth not
as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord
looketh on the heart.' What we require is a new heart cleansed by the
Holy Spirit, full of all the graces mentioned in St. Paul's Epistle to
the Galatians, (chap. v. 22.) Oh! go then to JESUS and ask of Him in
earnest prayer to pardon your sins, and to confer upon you the blessed
gift of a new heart."
My young friends, have _you_ fled like C---- T---- to an all-gracious
Saviour? Is the "_name_ of Jesus," so sweet to _her_, equally precious
to you? Does it "soothe your sorrows," "heal your wounds," and drive
your tears and fears all away? Can you say, in the spirit of her
beautiful and comforting letter,--
"Till then I shall His love proclaim
With every fleeting breath;
And may the music of His _NAME_
Refresh my soul in death."
Having told you of one recently "fallen asleep in Jesus," who had early
repaired to the shelter of the Gospel Refuge, I shall now tell you of an
aged servant of Jesus who has, more recently still, entered on her
glorious rest.
She was a former parishioner of mine. Her home was a lowly cottage in
one of the loveliest villages of Scotland. Poor in this world, and an
almost constant sufferer, she was rich in faith,--one of "Christ's
jewels;"--her life was "hid with Christ in God." If I could venture to
name two peculiarities in her spiritual being which distinguished her
more than others, it would be these: Love for _the_ NAME _of_ JESUS,
and a _Life of_ PRAYER. "His _name_," to her, was "like ointment poured
forth."[69] Often have I delighted to sit with her in her cottage, with
her Bible on her knee, and hear her speak of "the _name_ which is above
every name;" walking about these six Refuge-Cities, "telling all the
towers, marking the bulwarks, and considering the palaces." She had
herself long before, in early life, fled to the Gospel stronghold. I
think her favourite city would have been GOLAN, "Joy." Her heart seemed
ever to be filled with "peace and _joy_ in believing."
Doubtless much of this calm serenity and joy she derived from her life
of _prayer_. It is no small matter for the writer of these pages to
know, that there was not a day for upwards of sixteen years in which he
was not personally and specially remembered by this lowly saint at a
throne of grace.
One forenoon during this past year, she had entered her cottage,
carrying a pitcher of water down from the well in her garden. It was the
last time she crossed her threshold. When her door was opened, she was
_found alone on her knees_; BUT _her spirit had fled_! PRAYER, as it had
been her ever fond delight in life, had been her solace and comfort in
death. Her last act was drawing water out of the better "_wells of
salvation_." She began with _prayer_, but ended in _praise_! She began
her prayer on earth, and "finished it with the angels!"
Reader! when you come to die, could _you_ be equally happy, equally
safe? Would you be able thus to rejoice and triumph in the _name of
Jesus_? Could you declare, with either of these two glorified spirits,
before God "took" them, "_We_ HAVE _a strong city; salvation hath God
appointed for walls and for bulwarks_?"[70] Has the Holy Spirit taught
you, as it taught them, that you are sinners by nature, and in a state
of condemnation? Have you heard God's voice behind you, declaring that
"He can by no means clear the guilty?"[71] And are you able now
joyfully to say, "I heard Thy voice, and I was afraid, because I was
naked, and _I hid myself_?"
Are you, like them, really "hid" _within_ the gates? The manslayer of
old required to be _within_ the refuge-city. Even if he were but one
footstep without, the avenger of blood could cut him down. It did not
matter _how_ near he was, if he was not _inside_ the portals!
And so it will avail you nothing to know about Christ, and hear about
Christ;--to survey the strength of the city's walls, the glory of its
battlements, and the beauty of its palaces. It is "_the righteous who_
RUNNETH _into it_," who alone is "_safe_."
What more, in closing, have I to say, but to repeat the solemn word,
"_Haste thee, flee for thy life_!" Every hour you put off, the time is
shorter; the avenger is nearer; the chances of escape are fewer. There
is no time for delay. I say this to the very youngest. I say more. As
young feet can run fastest, so it is with young souls. You will never go
to Jesus so easily as now. Let nothing keep you back. It is said that on
digging up the ruins of Herculaneum, (the city that was buried under the
lava of Mount Vesuvius,) the body of a man was found in an upright
posture, in the act of running out of the door of his house to escape
destruction. He had a bag of gold in his hand. Others had escaped in
safety. But this miser loved his gold more than his life. He had
returned to fetch it, thinking he would have time enough to escape the
terrible doom; but the burning stream overtook him. He was encased in a
living sepulchre.
It was one, too, of the saddest incidents connected with these Cities of
Refuge of old, when some poor, breathless, panting fugitive--just when
he was in sight of the city--when he had almost reached the gate, sank
exhausted. Or perhaps the case of some other who had lain down weary to
sleep, but who had been startled by the avenger at his side, and the
drawn sword gleaming before his eyes;--years after, the pile of stones
marking the spot where his blood had been shed.
But, oh, sadder, sadder far, for any, young or old, to perish within
sight of Christ! To suffer the love of sin, or the love of pleasure, or
the love of the world, to make them "too late!" To be _almost_, but not
_altogether_ saved! To be cut down by the sword of wrath, or overtaken
by the fiery stream, with heaven in view!
God grant that this may not be the case with any one of _you_!
I shall conclude with a happier picture:--The citizens in these
Refuge-cities of old, were sometimes seen clustered on the top of the
walls, watching the approach of the manslayer, and cheering him on when
faint and exhausted. So, think of the happy citizens of the New
Jerusalem: Patriarchs, prophets, saints, departed friends, who are now
safe within its gates, watching you from these glorious heights,
beckoning to you not to tarry, but to be "followers of them who, through
faith and patience, are inheriting the promises." "Verily I say unto
you, There is joy in heaven among the angels of God over every sinner
that repenteth."