In reading the New Testament now you need not wonder why the word GRACE is so often met with.  It means just what Jesus has brought into the world—­love for sinners.  “He came not to condemn the world, but to save the world.”  But notice, he brought not only love but truth with it, and truth is neither more nor less than the forms or manifestations of true love.  Let me illustrate this.  You love your brother.  But he does not know it until you manifest your love by the thousand ways that are open for this in your associations and dealings with him.  Every manifestation of this love is a truth by which you prove that you do love him.

How does our Lord prove that he loves sinners?  By the TRUTH that manifests or shows it.  In the first place he went about doing good, in the way of healing the sick, giving sight to the blind, cleansing the lepers, making the lame to walk, the deaf to hear, and the dead to come to life.  In the next place he showed his love by the meekness and patience with which he bore the scoffs and sneers, and persecutions of the opposing Jews.  In the next place, by the promises of eternal life and salvation which he gave to the very worst of sinners, on the easy terms that they repent of their sins, by turning to God and living a life of faithful obedience to his Word.  In the next place,—­and all the other proofs culminate in this,—­by dying upon the cross, by which he atoned for the sins of the whole world.  In this, his last temptation, he conquered sin, death and hell; and as a mighty Conqueror he has become the Captain of our salvation and the Author of eternal life to all them that obey him.

But light will not enter the eye that is closed; neither will the words of grace and truth enter the heart unless there be a will to take them in.  Some here present, I feel sure, have taken the words in, and ye rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  Yours is the joy that no man taketh from you.  Yours is an unfailing treasure in the heavens.  Yours to sing: 

  “Should earth against my soul engage,
    And fiery darts be hurled;
  Now I can smile at Satan’s rage
    And face a frowning world.

  “Let cares, like a wild deluge, come,
    And storms of sorrow fall,
  So I but safely reach my home,
    My God, my heaven, my all.

  “There shall I bathe my weary soul
    In seas of heavenly rest;
  And not a wave of trouble roll
    Across my peaceful breast.”

But I am sad to think how many there are who have never yet “tasted that the Lord is gracious.”  May I not induce some to look to him to-day?  There is life in a look when it springs from love and is followed by obedience.  “Look unto me, saith the Lord, and be ye saved, all ye ends of the earth.”  Sinner, thou art one of these ends.  Look and live.

BAPTISMAL SCENE AT BENJAMIN BOWMAN’S, SUNDAY, AUGUST 29.