I was discouraged also about the work in which I had been engaged; for there was evidently an imperfection about it.  I observed that some people over whom I rejoiced as converted, went back to their former worldliness, which perplexed and troubled me more than I can describe.  I knew from my own experience that conversion was necessary to salvation and a new life; but when people professed to be saved, and did not live a new life, I was sure there was something wrong.  My dear friend, Mr. Aitken, said, “My brother, this work is the Lord’s; you must go to Him and ask what is wrong.  Lie on your face before Him till He shows you His will about the matter!”

This I did; for, shutting myself up in the church, I cried to the Lord till I felt that an answer would come in due time.  Soon after, I was led to preach from the text, “Through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him all that believe are justified from all things” (Acts 13:38, 39).  This opened my eyes to see that the proclamation was twofold-that through Christ Jesus, pardon was offered to any and every sinner as such, and moreover, that by the same Christ Jesus, every believer—­that is, every one who had received the forgiveness of his sins—­was justified from all things.

Those who know how old familiar texts flash upon the mind with new meaning, will understand my surprise.  God was speaking to me in answer to my inquiry.  I had been preaching forgiveness and salvation through the blood-shedding and death of Christ; and confining myself to this, as if salvation were all.  I now saw that I had not preached about Justification to believers, as fully as I had dwelt on the subject of pardon to sinners; indeed, that I had preached to believers the same Gospel which I preached to them before they were converted; that is, that Christ died for their sins, but not the “yea rather, that is risen again.”  No wonder they did not stand, if their standing-place before God their Father was not simply and plainly put before them.  Believers having been brought from death unto life, from the cross to the resurrection-side of Christ’s grave, should be led to the Throne of Grace, where Christ sits at the right hand of God, making intercession for them.  Once enlightened on the subject, it was easy to see that this truth was set forth all through the Bible.

For instance, when the prodigal son received pardon, immediately his father called the servants and said unto them, “Bring forth the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet.”  Here, besides pardon, is standing—­union—­strength; and over and beyond these, the feast of rejoicing.

When the children of Israel were brought out of Egypt, it was not that they should escape from bondage only, but that they should be led, and even carried, by God through the wilderness.  Moses illustrated this in a simple yet comprehensive figure, when he wrote, “As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings:  so the Lord alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him” (Deut. 32:11, 12).