friends, believe these statements; do let them sink down among the settled convictions of your souls; do act upon them and follow the blessed example of the saints and martyrs of old. Be persuaded that there is still a world, (however its forms and its fashions may have changed) a world of which Satan is the god,' and from which you are called to come out and be separated," because its "friendship is enmity with God" " -because it is not your true rest"in this life," and because, "hereafter it shall destroy you with a sore destruction." Do this and you will have taken the first step towards realising, in your own experience, the example of Ruth the Moabitess. 2 4 2. "LOOK UNTO JESUS," as your appointed DELIVERER from "this present evil world," and "from the wrath to come.' 995 Naomi was the only person who could introduce Ruth to the knowledge of the true God, and to the enjoyment of his people's blessedness. Had she never known her, or had she sepa 1 2 Cor. iv. 4. 2 James iv. 4. 3 Mich. ii. 10. + Gal. i. 4. rated herself from her company, she would have perished with proud, careless, ungodly Moab. It was her love to Naomi which enabled her to break through all other ties— her love of self, of kindred, and of country, and caused her to choose rather to be a houseless pilgrim to the land of Israel with her than to find rest "and all other worldly advantages in her mother's house." JESUS is the only Saviour of sinners, the only “ Deliverer from the present evil world," as well as "from the wrath to come"-the only Mediator between God and man-the only Guide to glory. "I am the true and the living way," said he of himself, "No man cometh unto the Father but by me." ،، If a man love me, he will keep my words, and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him and make our abode with him."2 You must know Christ by faith, as Ruth knew Naomi by sense, and you must love Christ in spirit, as Ruth loved Naomi after the flesh, and thus he will be to you what Naomi was to Ruth--the magnet that drew her from earth to heaven, from sin to holiness, from Satan to God. YOU MUST KNOW HIM BY FAITH, and that faith will wORK BY LOVE. It is not knowing him by the understanding only, or through the instrumentality of men's teaching that is a saving knowledge of Christ. This is like knowing a person only by report. Had Ruth only known Naomi thus, her affection for her would not have been so strong as to lead her to forsake all and follow her. She knew her with that intimate knowledge which arises from close relationship and daily intercourse. She had personal experience of her amiability and goodness, and thus the knowledge she had of her first begat, and afterwards strengthened her love for her. And the dearer she loved her the closer was the intimacy to which she was admitted. And thus her love enlarged her knowledge, and her knowledge told upon her love, until it grew so strong and deep and fervent, that she was ready to break forth into the passionate exclamation, "Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried; the Lord do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part thee and me." one You cannot attain this knowledge of the Saviour by personal intercourse, but is it therefore unattainable? So far from it, that the Apostle gives the preference to that knowledge of Christ which is by faith over that which is by sense only. "Yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.' 99 1 And in what character did they know him? As "who died for them and rose again." And what was the effect of this knowledge upon their hearts and lives? "The love of Christ constrained them to live no longer to themselves, but unto HIM." 2 You must know him first by what he has done for you. "He loved you and gave himself for you." What a starting point is this for acquainting yourself with Christ! Naomi gave no such proof of love to Ruth. The dearest friend you have--was he crucified for you? The utmost you can say of him is, he saved my life at the risk of his own." And most likely it was under the impulse of some sudden emergency. But Christ has actually "laid down his life for you," and done so with the "calm presage" of love that is "from everlasting to everlasting." Go to the garden of Gethsemane, the hall of judgment, the mount of Calvary. Hear him. saying, "My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death." Behold him crowned with thorns, and stretched on the accursed tree. And when your soul is filled with the emotions that arise from witnessing his "agony and bloody sweat-his cross and passion" let the swelling tumult sink down. into your own breast with the thought, "He loved ME and gave himself for me.' But Christ not only "died;" he also "rose again." And here lies the peculiar claim that the Lord Jesus has on our affections. Others may have died for us in some sort, but their memory is all that is left to us. We love them, and our love prompts the wish, "Oh! that they would return to me, or that I might go to them." But Jesus "died and rose again." After having given the strongest proof of love for his friends Gal. ii. 20. |