bigotry and narrow-mindedness for ever. The Christians of one
denomination shall find themselves side by side with those of another
denomination. If they would not tolerate them on earth, they will be
obliged to tolerate them in heaven. Churchmen and Dissenters, who will
neither pray together nor worship together now, will discover to their
shame that they must praise together hereafter to all eternity. The very
people who will not receive us at their ordinances now, and keep us back
from their Table, will be obliged to acknowledge us before our Master's
face, and to let us sit down by their side. Never will the world have
seen such a complete overthrow of sectarianism, party spirit,
unbrotherliness, religious jealousy, and religious pride. At last we
shall all be completely "clothed with humility." (1 Pet. v. 5.)
This mighty, wonderful "gathering together," is the gathering which
ought to be often in men's thoughts. It deserves consideration: it
demands attention. Gatherings of other kinds are incessantly occupying
our minds, political gatherings, scientific gatherings, gatherings for
pleasure, gatherings for gain. But the hour comes, and will soon be
here, when gatherings of this kind will be completely forgotten. One
thought alone will swallow up men's minds: that thought will be, "Shall
I be gathered with Christ's people into a place of safety and honour, or
be left behind to everlasting woe?" LET US TAKE CARE THAT WE ARE NOT
LEFT BEHIND.
II. _Why is this "gathering together" of true Christians a thing to be
desired?_ Let us try to get an answer to that question.
St. Paul evidently thought that the gathering at the last day was a
cheering object which Christians ought to keep before their eyes. He
classes it with that second coming of our Lord, which he says elsewhere
believers love and long for. He exalts it in the distant horizon as one
of those "good things to come," which should animate the faith of every
pilgrim in the narrow way. Not only, he seems to say, will each servant
of God have rest, and a kingdom, and a crown; he will have besides a
happy "gathering together." Now, where is the peculiar blessedness of
this gathering? Why is it a thing that we ought to look forward to with
joy, and expect with pleasure? Let us see.
(1) For one thing, the "gathering together" of all true Christians will
be a _state of things totally unlike their present condition._ To be
scattered, and not gathered, seems the rule of man's existence now. Of
all the millions who are annually born into the world, how few continue
together till they die! Children who draw their first breath under the
same roof, and play by the same fireside, are sure to be separated as
they grow up, and to draw their last breath far distant from one
another.--The same law applies to the people of God. They are spread
abroad like salt, one in one place and one in another, and never allowed
to continue long side by side. It is doubtless good for the world that
it is so. A town would be a very dark place at night if all the lighted
candles were crowded together into one room.--But, good as it is for the
world, it is no small trial to believers. Many a day they feel desolate
and alone; many a day they long for a little more communion with their
brethren, and a little more companionship with those who love the Lord!
Well, they may look forward with hope and comfort. The hour is coming
when they shall have no lack of companions. Let them lift up their heads
and rejoice. There will be a "gathering together" by and by.
(2) For another thing, the gathering together of all true Christians
will be _an assembly entirely of one mind_. There are no such assemblies
now. Mixture, hypocrisy, and false profession, creep in everywhere.
Wherever there is wheat there are sure to be tares. Wherever there are
good fish there are sure to be bad. Wherever there are wise virgins
there are sure to be foolish. There is no such thing as a perfect Church
now. There is a Judas Iscariot at every communion table, and a Demas in
every Apostolic company; and wherever the "sons of God" come together
Satan is sure to appear among them. (Job i. 6.) But all this shall come
to an end one day. Our Lord shall at length present to the Father a
perfect Church, "having neither spot nor wrinkle, nor any such thing."
(Eph. v. 27.) How glorious such a Church will be! To meet with
half-a-dozen believers together now is a rare event in a Christian's
year, and one that cheers him like a sunshiny day in winter: it makes
him feel his heart burn within him, as the disciples felt on the way to
Emmaus. But how much more joyful will it be to meet a "multitude that no
man can number!" To find too, that all we meet are at last of one
opinion and one judgment, and see eye to eye,--to discover that all our
miserable controversies are buried for ever, and that Calvinists no
longer hate Arminians, nor Arminians Calvinists, Churchmen no longer
quarrel with Dissenters, nor Dissenters with Churchmen,--to join a
company of Christians in which there is neither jarring, squabbling, nor
discord,--every man's graces fully developed, and every man's besetting
sins dropped off like beech-leaves in spring,--all this will be
happiness indeed! No wonder that St. Paul bids us look forward.
(3) For another thing, the gathering together of true Christians will be
_a meeting at which none shall be absent_. The weakest lamb shall not be
left behind in the wilderness: the youngest babe that ever drew breath
shall not be overlooked or forgotten. We shall once more see our beloved
friends and relatives who fell asleep in Christ, and left us in sorrow
and tears,--better, brighter, more beautiful, more pleasant than ever we
found them on earth. We shall hold communion with all the saints of God
who have fought the good fight before us, from the beginning of the
world to the end. Patriarchs and Prophets, Apostles and Fathers, Martyrs
and Missionaries, Reformers and Puritans, all the host of God's elect
shall be there. If to read their words and works has been pleasant, how
much better shall it be to see them! If to hear of them, and be stirred
by their example, has been useful, how much more delightful to talk with
them, and ask them questions! To sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob, and hear how they kept the faith without any Bible,--to converse
with Moses, and Samuel, and David, and Isaiah, and Daniel, and hear how
they could believe in a Christ yet to come,--to converse with Peter, and
Paul, and Lazarus, and Mary, and Martha, and listen to their wondrous
tale of what their Master did for them,--all this will be sweet indeed!
No wonder that St. Paul bids us look forward.
(4) In the last place, the gathering of all true Christians shall be _a
meeting without a parting_. There are no such meetings now. We seem to
live in an endless hurry, and can hardly sit down and take breath before
we are off again. "Good-bye" treads on the heels of "How do you do?" The
cares of this world, the necessary duties of life, the demands of our
families, the work of our various stations and callings,--all these
things appear to eat up our days, and to make it impossible to have long
quiet times of communion with God's people. But, blessed be God, it
shall not always be so. The hour cometh, and shall soon be here, when
"good-bye" and "farewell" shall be words that are laid aside and buried
for ever. When we meet in a world where the former things have passed
away, where there is no more sin and no more sorrow,--no more poverty
and no more money,--no more work of body or work of brains,--no more
need of anxiety for families,--no more sickness, no more pain, no more
old age, no more death, no more change,--when we meet in that endless
state of being, calm, and restful, and unhurried,--who can tell what the
blessedness of the change will be? I cannot wonder that St. Paul bids us
look up and look forward.
I lay these things before all who read this paper, and ask their serious
attention to them. If I know anything of a Christian's experience, I am
sure they contain food for reflection. This, at least, I say
confidently: the man who sees nothing much in the second coming of
Christ and the public "gathering" of Christ's people,--nothing happy,
nothing joyful, nothing pleasant, nothing desirable,--such a man may
well doubt whether he himself is a true Christian and has got any grace
at all.
(1) _I ask you a plain question._ Do not turn away from it and refuse
to look it in the face. Shall you be gathered by the angels into God's
home when the Lord returns, or shall you be left behind?
One thing, at any rate, is very certain. There will only be two parties
of mankind at the last great day: those who are on the right hand of
Christ, and those who are on the left;--those who are counted righteous,
and those who are wicked;--those who are safe in the ark, and those who
are outside;--those who are gathered like wheat into God's barn, and
those who are left behind like tares to be burned. Now, what will your
portion be?
Perhaps you do not know yet. You cannot say. You are not sure. You hope
the best. You trust it will be all right at last: but you won't
undertake to give an opinion. Well! I only hope you will never rest till
you do know. The Bible will tell you plainly who are they that will be
gathered. Your own heart, if you deal honestly, will tell you whether
you are one of the number. Rest not, rest not, till you know!
How men can stand the partings and separations of this life if they have
no hope of anything better,--how they can bear to say "good-bye" to sons
and daughters, and launch them on the troublesome waves of this world,
if they have no expectation of a safe "gathering" in Christ at
last,--how they can part with beloved members of their families, and let
them journey forth to the other side of the globe, not knowing if they
shall ever meet happily in this life or a life to come,--how all this
can be, completely baffles my understanding. I can only suppose that the
many never think, never consider, never look forward. Once let a man
begin to think, and he will never be satisfied till he has found Christ
and is safe.
(2) _I offer you a plain means of testing your own soul's condition_, if
you want to know your own chance of being gathered into God's home. Ask
yourself what kind of gatherings you like best here upon earth? Ask
yourself whether you really love the assembling together of God's
people?
How could that man enjoy the meeting of true Christians in heaven who
takes no pleasure in meeting true Christians on earth? How can that
heart which is wholly set on balls, and races, and feasts, and
amusements, and worldly assemblies, and thinks earthly worship a
weariness--how can such a heart be in tune for the company of saints,
and saints alone? The thing is impossible. It cannot be.
Never, never let it be forgotten, that our tastes on earth are a sure
evidence of the state of our hearts; and the state of our hearts here is
a sure indication of our position hereafter. Heaven is a prepared place
for a prepared people. He that hopes to be gathered with saints in
heaven while he only loves the gathering of sinners on earth is
deceiving himself. If he lives and dies in that state of mind he will
find at last that he had better never have been born.
(3) If you are a true Christian, _I exhort you to be often looking
forward_. Your good things are yet to come. Your redemption draweth
nigh. The night is far spent. The day is at hand. Yet a little time, and
He whom you love and believe on will come, and will not tarry. When He
comes, He will bring His dead saints with Him and change His living
ones. Look forward! There is a "gathering together" yet to come.
The morning after a shipwreck is a sorrowful time. The joy of
half-drowned survivors, who have safely reached the land, is often sadly
marred by the recollection of shipmates who have sunk to rise no more.
There will be no such sorrow when believers gather together round the
throne of the Lamb. Not one of the ship's company shall be found absent.
"Some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship,--all will get
safe to shore at last." (Acts xxvii. 44.) The great waters and raging
waves shall swallow none of God's elect. When the sun rises they shall
be seen all safe, and "gathered together."
Even the day after a great victory is a sorrowful time. The triumphant
feelings of the conquerors are often mingled with bitter regrets for
those who fell in action, and died on the field. The list of "killed,
wounded, and missing," breaks many a heart, fills many a home with
mourning, and brings many a grey head sorrowing to the grave. The great
Duke of Wellington often said, "there was but one thing worse than a
victory, and that was a defeat." But, thanks be to God, there will be no
such sorrow in heaven! The soldiers of the great Captain of our
salvation shall all answer to their names at last. The muster-roll shall
be as complete after the battle as it was before. Not one believer shall
be "missing" in the great "gathering together."
Does Christmas, for instance, bring with it sorrowful feelings and
painful associations? Do tears rise unbidden in your eyes when you mark
the empty places round the fireside? Do grave thoughts come sweeping
over your mind, even in the midst of your children's mirth, when you
recollect the dear old faces and much loved voices of some that sleep in
the churchyard? Well, look up and look forward! The time is short. The
world is growing old. The coming of the Lord draweth nigh. There is yet
to be a meeting without parting, and a gathering without separation.
Those believers whom you laid in the grave with many tears are in good
keeping: you will yet see them again with joy. Look up! I say once more.
Lay hold by faith on the "coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our
gathering together unto Him." Believe it, think of it, rest on it. It is
all true.
Do you feel lonely and desolate as every December comes round? Do you
find few to pray with, few to praise with, few to open your heart to,
few to exchange experience with? Do you learn increasingly, that heaven
is becoming every year more full and earth more empty? Well, it is an
old story. You are only drinking a cup which myriads have drunk before.
Look up and look forward. The lonely time will soon be past and over:
you will have company enough by and by. "When you wake up after your
Lord's likeness you shall be satisfied." (Ps. xvii. 15.) Yet a little
while and you shall see a congregation that shall never break up, and a
sabbath that shall never end. "The coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and
our gathering together unto Him," shall make amends for all.
XX
THE GREAT SEPARATION
"_Whose fan is in His hand, and He will throughly purge His
floor, and gather His wheat into the garner; but He will burn
up the chaff with unquenchable fire._"--Matt. iii. 12.
The verse of Scripture which is now before our eyes contains words which
were spoken by John the Baptist. They are a prophecy about our Lord
Jesus Christ, and a prophecy which has not yet been fulfilled. They are
a prophecy which we shall all see fulfilled one day, and God alone knows
how soon.
I invite every reader of this paper to consider seriously the great
truths which this verse contains. I invite you to give me your
attention, while I unfold them, and set them before you in order. Who
knows but this text may prove a word in season to your soul? Who knows
but this text may help to make this day the happiest day in your life?
I. Let me show, in the first place, _the two great classes into which
mankind may be divided_.
There are only two classes of people in the world in the sight of God,
and both are mentioned in the text which begins this paper. There are
those who are called _the wheat_, and there are those who are called
_the chaff_.
Viewed with the eye of man, the earth contains many different sorts of
inhabitants. Viewed with the eye of God it only contains two. Man's eye
looks at the outward appearance:--this is all he thinks of. The eye of
God looks at the heart:--this is the only part of which He takes any
account. And tried by the state of their hearts, there are but two
classes into which people can be divided:--either they are wheat, or
they are chaff.
_Who are the wheat in the world?_ This is a point which demands special
consideration.
The wheat means all men and women who are believers in the Lord Jesus
Christ,--all who are led by the Holy Spirit,--all who have felt
themselves sinners, and fled for refuge to the salvation offered in the
Gospel,--all who love the Lord Jesus and live to the Lord Jesus, and
serve the Lord Jesus,--all who have taken Christ for their only
confidence, and the Bible for their only guide, and regard sin as their
deadliest enemy, and look to heaven as their only home. All such, of
every Church, name, nation, people, and tongue,--of every rank, station,
condition, and degree,--all such are God's "wheat."
Show me people of this kind anywhere, and I know what they are. I know
not that they and I may agree in all particulars, but I see in them the
handiwork of the King of kings, and I ask no more. I know not whence
they came, and where they found their religion; but I know where they
are going, and that is enough for me. They are the children of my Father
in heaven. They are part of His "wheat."
All such, though sinful and vile, and unworthy in their own eyes, are
the precious part of mankind. They are the sons and daughters of God the
Father. They are the delight of God the Son. They are the habitation of
God the Spirit. The Father beholds no iniquity in them:--they are the
members of His dear Son's mystical body: in Him He sees them, and is
well-pleased. The Lord Jesus discerns in them the fruit of His own
travail and work upon the cross, and is well satisfied. The Holy Ghost
regards them as spiritual temples which He Himself has reared, and
rejoices over them. In a word, they are the "wheat" of the earth.
_Who are the chaff in the world?_ This again is a point which demands
special attention.
The chaff means all men and women who have no saving faith in Christ,
and no sanctification of the Spirit, whosoever they may be. Some of them
perhaps are infidels, and some are formal Christians. Some are sneering
Sadducees, and some self-righteous Pharisees. Some of them make a point
of keeping up a kind of Sunday religion, and others are utterly careless
of everything except their own pleasure and the world. But all alike,
who have the two great marks already mentioned--_no faith and no
sanctification_,--all such are "chaff." From Paine and Voltaire to the
dead Churchman who can think of nothing but outward ceremonies,--from
Julian and Porphyry to the unconverted admirer of sermons in the present
day,--all, all are standing in one rank before God: all, all are
"chaff."
They bring no glory to God the Father. "They honour not the Son, and so
do not honour the Father that sent Him." (John v. 23.) They neglect that
mighty salvation which countless millions of angels admire. They disobey
that Word which was graciously written for their learning. They listen
not to the voice of Him who condescended to leave heaven and die for
their sins. They pay no tribute of service and affection to Him who gave
them "life, and breath, and all things." And therefore God takes no
pleasure in them. He pities them, but He reckons them no better than
"chaff."
Yes! you may have rare intellectual gifts and high mental attainments:
you may sway kingdoms by your counsel, move millions by your pen, or
keep crowds in breathless attention by your tongue; but if you have
never submitted yourself to the yoke of Christ, and never honoured His
Gospel by heartfelt reception of it, you are nothing in His sight.
Natural gifts without grace are like a row of cyphers without an unit
before them: they look big, but they are of no value. The meanest insect
that crawls is a nobler being than you are: it fills its place in
creation, and glorifies its Maker with all its power, and you do not.
You do not honour God with heart, and will, and intellect, and members,
which are all His. You invert His order and arrangement, and live as if
time was of more importance than eternity, and body better than soul.
You dare to neglect God's greatest gift,--His own incarnate Son. You are
cold about that subject which fills all heaven with hallelujahs. And so
long as this is the case you belong to the worthless part of mankind.
You are the "chaff" of the earth.
Let this thought be graven deeply in the mind of every reader of this
paper, whatever else he forgets. Remember there are only two sorts of
people in the world. There are wheat, and there are chaff.
There are many nations in Europe. Each differs from the rest. Each has
its own language, its own laws, its own peculiar customs. But God's eye
divides Europe into two great parties,--the wheat and the chaff.
There are many classes in England. There are peers and
commoners,--farmers and shopkeepers,--masters and servants,--rich and
poor. But God's eye only takes account of two orders,--the wheat and the
chaff.
There are many and various minds in every congregation that meets for
religious worship. There are some who attend for a mere form, and some
who really desire to meet Christ,--some who come there to please others,
and some who come to please God,--some who bring their hearts with them
and are not soon tired, and some who leave their hearts behind them, and
reckon the whole service weary work. But the eye of the Lord Jesus only
sees two divisions in the congregation,--the wheat and the chaff.
There were millions of visitors to the Great Exhibition of 1851. From
Europe, Asia, Africa, and America,--from North and South, and East and
West,--crowds came together to see what skill and industry could do.
Children of our first father Adam's family, who had never seen each
other before, for once met face to face under one roof. But the eye of
the Lord only saw two companies thronging that large palace of
glass,--the wheat and the chaff.
I know well the world dislikes this way of dividing professing
Christians. The world tries hard to fancy there are _three_ sorts of
people, and not _two_. To be very good and very strict does not suit the
world:--they cannot, will not be saints. To have no religion at all does
not suit the world:--it would not be respectable.--"Thank God," they
will say, "we are not so bad as that." But to have religion enough to be
saved, and yet not go into extremes,--to be sufficiently good, and yet
not be peculiar,--to have a quiet, easy-going, moderate kind of
Christianity, and go comfortably to heaven after all,--this is the
world's favourite idea. There is a third class,--a safe middle
class,--the world fancies, and in this middle class the majority of men
persuade themselves they will be found.
I denounce this notion of a middle class, as an immense and soul-ruining
delusion. I warn you strongly not to be carried away by it. It is as
vain an invention as the Pope's purgatory. It is a refuge of lies,--a
castle in the air,--a Russian ice-palace,--a vast unreality,--an empty
dream. This middle class is a class of Christians nowhere spoken of in
the Bible.
There were two classes in the day of Noah's flood, those who were inside
the ark, and those who were without;--two in the parable of the
Gospel-net, those who are called the good fish, and those who are called
the bad;--two in the parable of the ten virgins, those who are described
as wise, and those who are described as foolish;--two in the account of
the judgment day, the sheep and the goats;--two sides of the throne, the
right hand and the left;--two abodes when the last sentence has been
passed, heaven and hell.
And just so there are only two classes in the visible Church on
earth,--those who are in the state of nature, and those who are in the
state of grace,--those who are in the narrow way, and those who are in
the broad,--those who have faith, and those who have not faith,--those
who have been converted, and those who have not been converted,--those
who are with Christ, and those who are against Him,--those who gather
with Him, and those who scatter abroad,--those who are "wheat," and
those who are "chaff." Into these two classes the whole professing
Church of Christ may be divided. Beside these two classes there is none.