CHRIST THE REDEEMER; OR, THE PARDONED REBELS.
QUESTION XXI. _Who is the Redeemer of God's elect?_
ANSWER. The only Redeemer of God's elect is the Lord Jesus Christ, who,
being the eternal Son of God, became man, and so was, and continues to
be, God and man, in two distinct natures and one person, forever.
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THE explanations connected with the last lesson made a deep impression
upon the mind of Walter. During the week following, he was unusually
serious and thoughtful, and at length sought his mother's chamber, when
he knew her to be alone, and, with tearful eyes, asked, "How can I be
sure that God has elected me to be one of his children?"
Mrs. Dermott, with deep emotion, replied, "If you are willing to give
your heart to him, and accept Christ as your Saviour, you may be sure
of it, my child."
It was, therefore, with prayerful interest that Mr. and Mrs. Dermott
met their dear children on the evening appointed for the exercise.
Having heard the answer repeated, the father asked, "Helen, who is the
Lord Jesus Christ?"
"He is the Redeemer, the eternal Son of God."
"Do you understand the meaning of that answer?"
Helen shook her head.
"I will answer for you," said her mother. "It means that from all
eternity he sustained the relation of Son to the everlasting Father—
"'Thou art the Son of the living God.'
"Twelve years ago, Walter began to sustain the relation of son to your
father; and so existence commenced with every son of the human race;
the angels also began to be. There was a time when all these did not
exist, and another time when they began to be God's children. Jesus
Christ, as the son of man, began to exist almost two thousand years
ago. But Jesus Christ, as the Son of God, never began to exist. Unto
his Son God said,—
"'Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever. A sceptre of righteousness
is the sceptre of thy kingdom.'
"'And let all the angels of God worship him.'
"These two natures, that of the Son of God, and that of the son of
man," added Mr. Dermott, "he unites in the office of the only Redeemer
of God's elect. These will continue forever."
"I will illustrate some of these sentiments by another parable. We will
suppose, then, that upon a sea-girt isle, there once reigned a great
and good king, who had one only and dearly beloved son, the heir to his
kingdom and great revenues. The son was associated with his father in
every act for the good of the empire, and the most tender, confiding
affection existed between them.
"On one occasion, a large number of men associated together to rebel
against the government. The knowledge of this coming to the throne, the
rebels were tried, found guilty, and expelled from the island.
"Not many months elapsed before a rumor reached the king that these
men were engaged in privateering around the island, plundering and
then setting fire to vessels either approaching or receding from
the shore. This unlawful and wicked course was continued for years,
notwithstanding the utmost vigilance of the officers appointed to
apprehend them.
"At length there arose a great storm, which lasted for several days.
Multitudes of small vessels were driven upon the reefs surrounding the
shore, and were rescued by the kindness of the islanders. Toward the
close of the third day of the terrible tempest, a large vessel was seen
driving furiously toward the rocks. The king, from his palace, gazed
upon the scene with feelings of the tenderest compassion. The surf,
lashing itself into foam, was dashing furiously toward the shore; and
there, at the distance of a mile, lay a noble brig dismasted and in
distress.
"Summoning the prince, the king ascended to the tower of his palace,
where a powerful glass enabled him to view the awful scene with more
distinctness. The distressed mariners were running to and fro on board
the vessel, some lashing themselves to spars or pieces of broken masts;
others were wringing their hands, or raising their arms imploringly to
heaven; while still other's had cast themselves down upon the deck in
an attitude of despair.
"With a pallid cheek and a trembling voice, the king announced to his
son, who stood at his side, that this vessel contained the company
of rebels who had conspired against the throne, and who, for a long
period, had been guilty of plundering the sea.
"'Yes, sire,' answered the prince, after having looked through the
glass. 'It is indeed so. I can distinctly recognize the ringleaders in
the midst of the crew.'
"The king again approached the glass, and gazed in silence upon the
wreck. Then hastening to the shore, accompanied by his son, he offered
large rewards to those who would go to the rescue of the wrecked and
drowning mariners. But no one could be found ready to take his life in
his hand, and venture upon the boiling surf, even to obtain the prize.
"At length the prince came forward among the crowd, and, approaching
his father, said, 'Here am I, sire; send me.'
"The compassionate heart of the sovereign yearned after his guilty
subjects. He longed to rescue them, and restore them to favor.
Withdrawing with the prince from the crowd, he cried, 'Go, my son, and
my love and blessing shall follow you. Go and tell the poor guilty
creatures, I offer them free pardon if they will return to their
allegiance, and become dutiful subjects.'
"From his previous knowledge of their character, and of the agencies to
be exerted on them, he then told his son who would accept this pardon
and be induced to return with him, and, having embraced and blessed
him, followed him to the life-boat.
"He then hastened back to the tower, where his eagle eye watched the
bark as it floated over the seething, crested waves. Suddenly he cried
out in the anguish of his soul. A great wave had struck the frail boat,
and it was ingulfed in the angry waters.
"But no; there presently appeared a little speck in the distance. With
what intense, breathless anxiety he watched the scene!
"Wiping his dim eyes, he at length perceived that his son had buffeted
the waves, and was clinging to the bottom of the boat. But he had
hardly begun to breathe more freely, before the same thing occurred
again and again. So that when the prince reached the wrecked vessel, he
was scarcely able to mount the deck, to which the boat was made fast by
means of a long rope.
"The prince made his way along the deck, which was covered with broken
pieces of timber, and made known his errand. With the earnest love
which had led him to encounter so much danger for their sakes, he now
besought them to leave their wrecked and ruined brig, and accept his
father's offers of mercy. Those whom the king had mentioned to his
son, threw themselves, without reserve, into his arms, surrendering
themselves, and all they had, to his will. But the others refused to
comply, even preferring to remain on board their craft, which was
fast going to pieces. Every tender persuasion was of no avail; and at
length, with the chosen few, the prince sadly entered the life-boat to
return to the shore.
"But before cutting the line which would destroy the last hope of the
poor outlaws, he stretched out his arms toward them, beseeching them,
as they valued their own lives, and the sacrifice he had made for them,
to lay down their arms in token of their submission to his authority,
that he might have the unspeakable pleasure of presenting them all to
his father as the fruits of his suffering.
"But all these tender entreaties only made the wrath of the guilty
pirates more terrible. With loud cries they bade him begone, hurling
their weapons in defiance at the boat, and refusing longer even to
listen to his words of love.
"Those who were accompanying the prince, being made willing to accept
his mediation with the king, bowed their heads in shame at the insolent
conduct of their late companions; scalding tears of anguish and remorse
ran down their cheeks as they remembered how recently they had joined
in this wicked rebellion. The language of their hearts was, 'O, with
what a wonderful love hath he drawn our guilty hearts to himself! What
boundless goodness that we are not only saved alive, but pardoned and
restored to all the privileges of the kingdom!'
"As they drew near the shore, their emotions increased, and they cried
aloud, 'How can we appear in the presence of our justly offended
sovereign? Our iniquity seems too great for him to forgive. O, why
did we never, till now, view ourselves as vile and guilty before him!
Surely our sins have rendered us blind to our own unworthiness, as well
as wanting in obedience toward him.'
"'Comfort yourselves, my dear friends,' exclaimed the prince; 'my
father has accepted my sufferings and labors as a sacrifice for your
guilt, and your pardon is free and entire. Forget, then, the things
that are past, and endeavor, by your zeal in his service, to show your
gratitude for the favors you have received.'
"When the life-boat, with its precious freight of souls, drew
toward the land, many stood back with fear, as they recognized the
outlaws; but this emotion was instantly changed to joy, as the prince
accompanied them to his father, and presented them as the reward of
his toil. 'Here am I, sire, and the people who have been redeemed
from death by my agonizing exertions. In your name I have promised
that the sentence pronounced against them should be reversed, and
that, accepting me as their ransom, they should be admitted to all the
privileges of children of a merciful sovereign.'
"Here the pardoned rebels cast themselves down at the feet of the king,
confessing their hatred of themselves and the life they had pursued
since they departed from his requirements, resolutely declaring their
determination henceforth to live lives of obedience and integrity,
that they might in some humble degree express their gratitude and love
toward him who had been willing to give his life a ransom for theirs.
"When the multitude, who had been crowding near, heard these words,
there arose one long-continued shout of rejoicing, in which might be
heard these words: 'Our glorious Prince! May he reign over us forever
and ever! For his sake we joyfully, exultingly, welcome home those whom
he has so loved, and who will help to swell the song of praise to his
name forever and ever.'"
While Mr. Dermott had been speaking, Walter's tears silently trickled
down his cheeks. He evidently was applying the parable to his own case.
After a moment's pause, the gentleman continued: "We are the rebels
against God, the king. Jesus Christ is our prince, who has offered his
life a sacrifice for our sins, that we may obtain pardon and peace.
Those of us who receive him as our Saviour are his elect, whom he
carries in the life-boat of salvation to the kingdom of his Father in
heaven."
Dear children, who have all of you violated God's holy law, and are
living afar off, having incurred his displeasure, will you not confess
and forsake your sins, joyfully embracing his Son as your Prince, your
Saviour, and Redeemer?