Are You A "Woke" Christian?

 Today, we examine the topic of being a "woke" Christian. In our culture, the word "woke" means "alert to injustice in society, especially racism."  The popular online resource Urban Dictionary defines "woke" as "being aware of the truth behind things 'the man' doesn't want you to know." Neither of these have direct Biblical support. However, there is a different type of wokeness or being awakened that the Bible does address. It is in this sense that I can affirmatively testify that I am a "woke" or awakened Christian. What do I mean by the idea of being awakened?

"Do you know the beginning of your religion? (Paul did, read Philippians 3:7-11) Was there ever a time in your life when you were awakened as a poor, lost, guilty sinner and the bitter arrows of God pierced your heart and you saw you were under the wrath of God? Can you now say, 'Once I was lost, but now I'm found; once I was guilty, but now I know that Christ was made a curse for me, and I live in Him, because I have been accepted in the Beloved by God the Father and justified by His grace?'"

Notice that if you are an awakened sinner, then you can become a true Christian. It is you who are accepted by God, not the other way around. You don't get saved by "accepting Christ" or "making a decision for Christ," or repeating a prayer for 30 seconds.

The Gospel is the Lord Jesus Christ crucified, buried, and risen (1 Cor.15:1-4). He is the living Lord, and if we confess Him as Lord, and believe in our hearts that God has raised Him from the dead, we shall be saved. Have you obeyed the Gospel? Have you come to know Christ? Have you bowed to Him as Lord?

I was awakened one day to the fact that I was a lost sinner. I responded to His call of grace and God saved me. In that sense, I am a "woke" Christian. If you have never been awakened to your sin and corruption, you are most likely not a true Christian.

Something to think about: "Sin sends every sinner to bed every night ready for damnation." Rev. Paul Dodd 07/2020

Bible Salvation and Popular Religion Part 7: Sabbath Desecration

SABBATH DESECRATION

This great sin is sadly on the increase. We wish to point out what constitutes the breaking of the Sabbath law, and the various forms in which it is done. "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates." "Thus saith the Lord, Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the Sabbath day,-neither carry forth a burden out of your houses on the Sabbath-day, neither do ye any work." "Ye shall keep my Sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the Lord." "Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of rest, an holy convocation: ye shall do no work therein: it is the Sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings." "Ye shall keep the Sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, -- that soul shall be cut off from among his people." "From one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord." "Thus saith the Lord, Blessed is the man that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it;... even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer." "If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable; and shalt honor him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth." From the above and other portions of God's Word, it is clear that any deed, -- not a work of mercy, piety or necessity, -- is not to be performed upon the Sabbath. Buying or selling is not allowed. Yet thousands, who profess religion, think it a small mutter to buy their milk, meat, cigars, Sunday papers, and other things on God's own day! Traffic in such things we have found quite common in the United States, and Canada cannot cast the first stone. "There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish and all manner of ware, and sold on the Sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem." "Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the Sabbath day? Did not your fathers thus; and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the Sabbath."

Sunday visiting and pleasure taking are also condemned. Professors of religion can be frequently seen driving or walking to visit their friends, during the very hours of divine service. We have often been told by such persons, in answer to the enquiry, "Why were you not at church last Sabbath?" "Well, so and so came from a distance to see us; and you know we had not seen them for a long time; and we really did not like to leave them just as they had come to our house." Just as if man were of more consequence than God and His house; and a mere gossip with a friend of more value than the eternal interests of the soul.

Again; there are multitudes who would shudder at the very idea of opening a store for the sale of goods, or driving a team to market on Sunday; yet they can without apparent compunction, do other things equally as bad. What are the writing of business letters, shaving [Not SHAVING on Sunday! In my view, this is much too legalistic! I do not wish to detract from the many good things stated by the author in the book, but this is so rigid that it strikes me as Pharisaical! -- DVM], blacking boots, reading novels, secular papers, taking excursion trips -- very probably using the cars, -- and lounging about half the day, doing nothing? We ask, what is all this. but a gross and wicked violation of the fourth commandment? God once commanded the children of Israel to stone a man to death for gathering sticks upon the Sabbath. Numbers 15:32-36.

But there is yet a more common species of Sabbath-breaking, which, we are sorry to say, is not unknown in Christian circles -- which is looked upon as being quite innocent-but it is in the sight of God tantamount to the most open profanation, we mean the discussion of worldly matters. If a man were seen felling a tree on the Sabbath, there are plenty of people who would be very ready to exclaim, "What a wicked fellow!" And yet these very persons can be heard on the Sabbath discussing politics, the state of the markets, the prospects of trade, and their own probable success or failure. What is the difference between them and the man denounced for felling a tree? None; for if their bodies do not follow the plow, or go to market, their hearts do, In regard to a large number of professing Christians, it is very difficult to detect any difference between their week-day and Sabbath conversation. Ridiculous nonsense, empty trifles, and foolish anecdotes, are not with them exceptional themes. With those who delight in Sunday visiting this is almost universally the case. Religious conversation is not very palatable to them. They do not go to talk of good things, but to have gossip. And thus they commit the double sin of pleasure-taking on God's day, and engaging in worldly conversation. But God often beholds the desecration of His day, when it is invisible to human sight; when it is done not by words or by actions, -- when, not the letter, but the spirit of the fourth commandment is broken. His penetrating eye sees that soul in the pew, or in the chair at home, diligently studying, pondering over his worldly matters, arranging his affairs for the ensuing week, and planning the best schemes for carrying on his secular business. Though his body is not actively engaged about his calling, his mind is. And before the judgment seat of Christ he will be held responsible for having broken the Sabbath.

O how many hours of the Lord's day are spent in this profane manner? With what anxiety is the question often mentally discussed on that blessed day, "What shall I eat, and what shall I drink; or wherewithal shall I be clothed?" O, reader, if you once give over caring for the Sabbath, before long you will cease caring for your soul. Judge Hale Once said, "Of all the persons who were convicted of capital crimes, while he was upon the bench, he found only a few who did not confess that they began their career of wickedness by a neglect of the Sabbath." He that will not give God his day is not fit for heaven. Therefore, "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy."

Bible Salvation and Popular Religion Part 6: Pride in the Church

PRIDE IN THE CHURCH

And now abideth pride, fashion, extravagance, -- these three; but the greatest of these is pride -- simply because it is the root of the whole matter. Destroy the root and the tree will die. It is useless to make war upon the externals of fashion and extravagance, while the root is suffered to grow. Most persons say that it does not matter how people dress if pride is not in the heart. Very true. But straws show which way the wind blows. A plain exterior befits a plain heart. But depend upon it, a fashionable exterior seldom covers up a holy heart. Some rules work two ways; and some do not. A lady once asked a minister whether a person might not be fond of dress and ornaments without being proud? He replied, "When you see the fox's tail peeping out of the hole, you may be sure the fox is within." Even if jewelery and costly and fashionable clothing could be innocent things in their places, yet when hung on a human form, they give most conclusive evidence of a proud or vain heart. How seldom can one be found -- at this advanced age of refinement -- that dares to write or speak a word against pride and its consequences. The large majority of that class of men died, and they were handsomely buried some time ago. The pulpits have nearly all shut down upon that style of preaching. The truth is, we have passed that age, and we are living in imaginary better times. Our fathers and mothers were far behind the times. They were good enough in their way. But, alas! they would not do now. They wore plain clothes, worshipped in plain churches, and sang old-fashioned hymns. They talked and acted like some old pilgrims that were looking for a better country. When they left the country, they testified to the very last that they were going to a city where there is no night. And it is our deliberate opinion, that the vast majority of them went just where they said they were going.

But they are nearly all out of the way now; and the people have a mind to try a different route. We can be Christians now and do as we like. Yes, indeed! We can have fine churches, cushioned seats, costly carpets, a fashionable preacher, and have all our fiddling and singing done to order. Why, in some of our modern churches the majority of the choir are not even members of the church: and they do sing so sweetly -- perfectly delightful. The music rolls over the heads of the congregation like the sound of many waters. Not a word can be heard, but the sound is glorious! Sometimes one sings all alone for a little while, and then two, and pretty soon the whole choir chimes in until the whole house is filled with most transporting sounds! Now, if this is not singing with the spirit, and with the understanding also, then what is it? -- that's the question. I know that it is a little risky to speak out against pride at this day because the Church is full of it. And hundreds who occupy the pulpits, whose duty it is to point out these evils plainly, are like dumb dogs -- they don't even bark at it. They just let it go; and go it does with a vengeance! And in proportion as pride gains in a church, spiritual life dies out. They will not, cannot dwell together, for they are eternal opposites.

It is a sin and a shame for men and women professing Christianity to spend money the way they do to gratify a proud heart, while five-sixths of the people are yet unsaved; two-thirds have not so much as heard the Gospel of Christ. There are many evils in the land and in the Church, but I doubt if any one evil is doing more harm than pride. It has stolen into the Church by degrees; and it now rules with a rod of iron. Churches that were once noted for their plainness, -- and whose law still stands against pride and fashion, -- are practically powerless to avert the evil. The originators of fashion are kept busy in furnishing fashions enough to satisfy the cravings of the depraved heart. Art old Scotch preacher is reported to have said in a sermon at Aberdeen, "Ye people of Aberdeen get your fashions from Glasgow, and Glasgow from Edinburgh, and Edinburgh from London, and London from Paris, and Paris from the Devil." Now, we cannot say that we get our fashions by that route; but we are tolerably certain that they originate at the same headquarters.

The religion of Christ is pure, peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, and full of mercy. All spiritually alive Christians are baptized by one Spirit into one body -- the body of Christ. They mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Their highest ambition is to honor God with all they have and with all they are. They are not puffed up, nor conformed to this world; but they are transformed by the renewing of their minds. There is no such thing in heaven above nor in the earth below as a proud Christian: there never was -- there never can be.

Pride is of the Devil -- it originated with him -- and he is managing it most successfully for destroying souls. But who is to blame for this state of things in the Church First and prominently, the pulpit is to blame. Men, who profess to be called of God to lead the people to heaven, have ceased to rebuke this soul-destroying and heaven-provoking spirit. But why? -- First for a living, then for popularity. Esau sold his birthright for a dinner of greens. That was a costly morsel for him. But now men sell out "cheap for cash or produce." Churches that were once powerful for good are now well-nigh lost in form and fashions. We may shut our eyes, wink and whine, and cry, "old fogy," and "grandfather," and "Moses and Aaron," -- and all that. But the fact is before us -- pride, fashion and extravagance are eating the very life out of many, deemed the best congregations in the land. The world is running crazy. The rich lead the way because they can; while the poor strain every nerve to keep in sight -- and the Devil laughs to see them rush on. "Pride thrust Nebuchadnezzar out of men's society, -- Saul out of his kingdom, -- Adam out of paradise, and Lucifer out of heaven." And it will shut out of heaven many more who are now prominent in the Church. Neither death nor the grave will change the character of any one. The same spirit that controlled in life will cling to the soul in death, and it will enter with it into eternity. The angels of God would shrink from the society of many a fashionable Christian of this day. A few such souls in heaven would ruin everything. Among the first things they would propose would be a change of fashions. Those pure white robes that the saints wear would not at all suit their taste. In this life they care but little about Christ and spiritual things. They would care no more for them in heaven than they do on earth. If there were two heavens, -- one where Jesus is all and in all, and the other with a Paris in it, -- I presume the road to the Paris heaven would be crowded with fashionable Christians.

"Ma," said a little girl, "if I should die and go to heaven, should I wear my moire antique dress?" "No, my love, we can scarcely suppose we shall wear in heaven the attire worn on earth." "Then tell me, ma, how the angels would know I belonged to the best society?" In the views of that little girl we have illustrated the spirit of many a would-be Christian of this day. "If ye be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." -- Bishop Weaver.

Fashion not only tortures her votaries, but also commands them to make themselves ridiculous and hideous. One is surprised to see the pains people take, not only to ruin their health, but also to make themselves positively ugly. A girl will go about all day with her hair tied, twisted, and puckered, and pinned upon her forehead, looking like a perfect fright, for the sake of having the privilege at night of combing her tresses in kinky waves, or brushing them down in her eyes in the shape of contemptible frizzes; thus appearing like a guy all the morning, for the sake of looking like a chimpanzee at night; and losing the respect of those who know her best, for the sake of attracting the attention of those who never saw her before, and may never wish to see her again. -- Safeguard.

Imagine a company of fops and flirts and wordlings singing: "O Beulah land, sweet Beulah land," or warbling some song about the "Evergreen Shore," for which they say they are bound, when, if the Bible is true, they know that they are bound straight for perdition. And yet gay and godless worldlings are hired and paid to participate in the worship of God, and sing words which, on their lips, can be nothing less than falsehood, hypocrisy and profanation. -- H. L. Hastings.

Bible Salvation and Popular Religion Part 5: Backsliders

BACKSLIDERS

Many who were once saved are now in a backslidden state. Their condition may be known by the following marks:--

1. Condemnation. Any step of disobedience to the known will of God, any conformity to the world, or living as the greater part of professing Christians do, will bring condemnation on the soul. Justification and condemnation are as opposite to each other as light is to darkness; and while thus condemned you are not in the enjoyment of justifying grace. Do not mistake hardness of heart for absence of condemnation. Some professors of religion are so seared in conscience that they can do almost anything and not feel condemned. Such stand condemned by the Bible, whether they feel it or not. If we are not conscious of condemnation we have confidence in God when we pray. "Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight." Alas! many, when they kneel in prayer, discover that something is wrong with them. They are troubled with darkness, fears and leanness of soul. The trouble is, they are backslidden -- they are in condemnation and bondage. While we walk closely with God there is no condemnation oft our hearts. "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

2. Love of the World. Do not imagine that loving the world merely consists in being a reckless sinner. Many of those guilty of this sin consider themselves as good Christians I A man shows he loves the world when he seeks its wealth, and is continually "laying up treasures upon the earth." Multitudes of professors are just as eager after wealth as any sinner. To get money or land, they will make things bend and twist in any shape; but to get grace to feed their souls -- that scarcely gives them two minutes' thought any day. They are up early and late in their pursuit of Mammon; but they grumble fearfully to spend a few hours in the house of God, or in searching the Scriptures, or in closet prayer at home. They work exceedingly hard to increase their substance, and consider no inconvenience too great to accomplish their purpose; but to labor for God, to visit the sick, to warn the wicked, to reprove sin, and to help pull poor souls out of the fire, they are ready to make any excuse for the neglect of this work. "But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil, which, while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." A professor of religion shows his love for the world by desiring its honors and the praise of men. When he is more anxious to have the good will and commendatory words of men than to do what is right, and obey God; when he is more particular as to what his neighbors and society think and say about him, than to speak the truth and live it; when he preaches, prays, and acts so as to get the commendation of men, and leaves undone a part of his duty in order to avoid their displeasure, or an evil name, he is loving the world. "Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever, therefore, will be a friend of the world, is the enemy of God." A professor of religion shows his love for the world by following its customs and fashions, playing at croquet, cards, checkers, dancing, skating, and the like. Church members today get up festivals, socials, and concerts, and provide as much fun as possible, in order to have the presence of the worldling and obtain his patronage. This sort of thing is relished a thousand times better than a prayer or a classmeeting. Should you succeed in getting these worldly souls out to a prayer-meeting occasionally, they are as mute as dumb animals, and "so weak," they say. Is this to be wondered at, when ministers all over the land indulge in these very things? It was formerly easy to distinguish God's people from the worldling by their plainness in dress; but now who can be thus distinguished? The latest styles are as eagerly sought for by professors as by open sinners. "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world."

3. Absence of the fruit and witness of the Spirit. A justified person has the witness of the Spirit. When he loses that witness, he is no longer a Christian he is a backslider. "The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God." "Now, if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." Those who have the Spirit, have also the fruits of the Spirit, "love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance," etc. The justified person loves everybody, both friends and enemies. He has no hatred to any one, for hatred is one of the works of the flesh, and "they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." Yet large numbers can persuade themselves to believe that they are Christians, while they cherish feelings of resentment and ill-will in their hearts. They may deny having any hatred, but their conduct their sour, backbiting spirit proves it to a demonstration. If such feelings exist in your heart, you are backslidden. Unless you forsake your sin, you will go down to hell. "Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer; and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. If a man say I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar." While you have the Spirit, you will not give way to unholy tempers and passions, and become angry when you are tried and provoked. You will not indulge in outbursts of impatience, and wreak out vengeance upon evil-doers; you Will not return evil for evil, and railing for railing; you will not speak evil of others, and take up a reproach against your neighbor; you will not love the world, or the spirit of it; you will not indulge in intemperance, either in dress, food, or in anything else; for such things are sins against God. Yielding to any one of them, you will lose your justification. Yet the mass of professors are dreaming of heaven, and daily committing these very sins! Their daily lives declare they have not the "fruit of the Spirit," but "the works of the flesh," and consequently they are not in favor with God. "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." Is this your condition, professing to be a Christian, and destitute of these fruits -- having nothing but leaves? -- resting only in the form, and lacking the power? O repent, for you have as much need to be saved as any open sinner. No one can have the salt of the Gospel in his heart, and fail to be a blessing to society in some form or other. His words, deeds, and general deportment, yes, and his very countenance, will tell for good in a variety of ways, and wherever he goes. Yet there are multitudes of professors who are like salt without any flavor -- they have lost their saltiness. No one is blessed under their prayers; no one is edified or lifted up by their conversation; no one is convicted of sin by their walk and conduct. True, they talk about religion, attend the means of grace, and give something away; but there is no salutary influence in their lives. They fail to draw souls toward God -- a sure and plain evidence of a backslidden state. "He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad."

4. An unbridled tongue. Here are some of the marks of an unbridled tongue: (1) Excessive conversation. "In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin; but he that refraineth his lips is wise." (2) Exaggerated discourse. "But let your communication be Yea, yea; Nay, nay; for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil." (3) Gossip. "A prating fool shall fall." (4) Foolish talking and jesting. "Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient, but rather giving of thanks." (5) Controversy. "Doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings," etc. (6) Backbiting or slander. "Speak evil of no man." "To be no brawlers." "Speak not evil one of another, brethren." (7) Idle words. "But I say unto you, that for every idle word that men shall speak they shall give an account in the day of judgment." (8) Lying. "And all liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone." (9) A religion that does not bridle the tongue is a vain delusion. His heart is deceived, his profession is worthless. "If any man among you seemeth to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain." "Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbor, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor." From the above we see that the government of the tongue is placed among the things essential to our gaining heaven.

5. Backslidden in heart. (1) The person in this state may have a good clear theory. If he is a preacher he can give a sermon as correct in doctrine as anyone. (2) He may be very straight and exact, and talk a great deal against the popular sins of the day -- yes, and denounce them with considerable vehemence. He may love the truth to a wonderful extent. (3) He may be very spirited in his testimonies, prayers, etc.; yes, and very courageous. There is a great difference, however, between mental zeal and spirituality. (4) He may sometimes get touched by the Spirit. It is the blessed work of the Holy Spirit to call back the wandering one. To bring this about, he sometimes comes with melting, convicting power upon the lukewarm soul. The backslider in heart will consider these visitations as evidence of his acceptance with God, and say, "God wonderfully blesses me." He thus mistakes the operation of the Spirit, taking His striving for His indwelling. But how great the difference between these two operations, every truly saved soul knows. O, lukewarm soul, the trouble lies within. You have lost that warmth of feeling in your soul towards God, which you had at the time of your conversion. You have lost that burning zeal, and those strong desires you then felt within you. You have lost that joy and blessed relief you then tasted; and now you feel lukewarm, easy and indifferent. Your spiritual appetites are no longer keen and strong, so that the means of grace are often dry and insipid to your taste. You no longer feel that deep anxiety to grow in grace and become more and more heavenly-minded. Ah, no! You have left your first love; you have turned away from God. The only way to retain your justification is to be eagerly desiring and pressing on for the whole will of God to be done in the soul. One of the chief causes of backsliding among Christians, is their neglect to obey the Spirit in earnestly seeking after the entire sanctification of their natures. When you were brought to God, did you not hunger and pray for this? But you ceased to groan for it, and now you are not panting after God at all. Hear the word of the Lord! "Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you; for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth." "He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." Cold-hearted professors say to young converts: "You will not always feel like this; you will not always have this joy and flaming zeal; you will settle down and become quiet." Oh, what damning advice! If the Devil can get souls to believe that they can be destitute of joy, zeal and power, and still have Christ in the heart, he is satisfied. "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot, I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth." Oh, think of being spued out of the mouth of God before an assembled universe! "Woe to them that are at ease in Zion." "Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the Lord, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty." Here is an awful curse pronounced against the people -- not for any outward sin -- but because they did nothing, they were easy and indifferent. Notice some characteristics of a backslider in heart: (1) He is greatly blind to his real condition. "The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways." "Yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth it not." "He walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth." Hence, when spoken to about his condition, he is much surprised, and enquires, "Why, what have I done? What have I to repent of?" (2) Indefinite testimonies. He exhorts others; thanks God for His goodness, and for the good desires he has; but he never testifies to a present experience of saving grace. It is often the case, that after such persons have been talked to about their state, they become troubled, and excusing themselves they say, "Well, if I have no religion, I never had any." Then they will tell Mr. Smooth-the-conscience how discouraged they feel. The advice they get is, "Do not throw away your confidence." This is soothing. They then tell the person who has been dealing faithfully with them: "There, I thought you were too hard on me." 3. The remedy. Such a one is all wrong, because his heart is wrong; therefore, he must repent of his backsliding, and turn to God, or be lost. "Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember, therefore, from whence thou hast fallen, and repent, and do thy first works, or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent."

Perhaps the following spiritual thermometer, or scale of the progress of sin and grace, as given by the Lutheran Almanac, slightly altered, may be profitable at this point:--

20 -- Glory, And Eternal Blessedness.

19 -- Desiring To Depart And Be With Christ.

18 -- Patience In Tribulation; Glorying In The Cross.

17 -- Sanctification; Advancing In Holiness.

16 -- Ardent Love For The Souls Of Men; Zeal To Do Good.

15 -- Desiring Daily Communion With God.

14 -- Deadness To The World By The Cross Of Christ.

13 -- Frequent Approaches To The Lord's Table.

12 -- Love Of God Shed Abroad In The Heart.

11 -- Meeting For Prayer And Christian Experience.

10 -- Delight In The Company Of The Pious.

09 -- Justifying Faith; Peace With God.

08 -- Godly Sorrow For Sin; Penitently Looking To Jesus.

07 -- Love Of The Means Of Grace Confirmed.

06 -- Vain Company Wholly Given Over.

05 -- Evangelical Light Increased; Hope Springing Up.

04 -- Frequent Attendance At Public Worship.

03 -- Daily Perusal Of The Bible; Meditation.

02 -- Conviction; Retirement For Private Prayer.

01 -- Consideration; Concern For The Soul; Alarm.

[Everything Above Is Progressively Better]

00 -- Indifference -- [The Dividing Point]

[Everything Below Is Progressively Worse]

01 -- Family Worship Only On The Lord's Day.

02 -- Private Prayer Frequently Omitted.

03 -- Family Religion Wholly Declined.

04 -- Levity In Conversation.

05 -- Worldly Fashions Adopted With Delight.

06 -- Luxurious Entertainments Frequented.

07 -- Associations With Carnal Company.

08 -- Love Of Novels And Romances.

09 -- Attendance At Theaters, Balls, Dances.

10 -- Parties Of Pleasure Frequent.

11 -- House Of God Forsaken.

12 -- Taverns And Dram Shops Attended.

13 -- Deistical Company Delighted In.

14 -- Private Prayer Wholly Neglected.

15 -- Parties Of Pleasure On The Lord's Day.

16 -- Revelling; Drunkenness; Fornication; Adultery.

17 -- Infidelity; Lewd Songs; Gambling.

18 -- Cursing; Swearing; Pleading For Sin.

19 -- Scoffing At Religion; Persecuting The Pious.

20 -- Disease; Misery; Guilt; Death -- Punishment In Endless Perdition

The reader must peruse this from the middle upward, or downward, until he reaches the degree at which he now stands. Let him be careful of the first descent in the scale of sin; for it is as the letting forth of a flood -- we see the beginning, but not the end; it is hid in darkness. "But the path of the just is as the shining light, which shineth more and more unto the perfect day."

Bible Salvation and Popular Religion Part 4: Compromising Preachers

COMPROMISING PREACHERS

Who is to blame for the shallow experience of many professing Christians? We reply, the men under whom they are professedly saved. If these deluded souls were taught the whole counsel of God by ministers and editors, they would see their unsaved condition, and spurious religion would not spread so rapidly. As it is, a vast multitude are made to believe a lie under the teachings of these men. Milk-and-water papers publish their testimonies; and thus this terrible delusion is spread far and near. Many of the holiness journals are laden with just such shuffling testimonies. We have read them until we are perfectly disgusted with such sham holiness. We ask, can one wonder at such hollow testimonies, when so many holiness (?) teachers are doing shoddy work? Like begets like. These men say they let the Holy Ghost show the people in regard to dress, Masonry and tobacco, etc. Now, if it is right to leave to the Holy Ghost the work of showing the people these sins, it is equally right to let the Holy Ghost preach pardon and holiness. Paul says, "I have not shunned to declare unto you the whole counsel of God." Both he and Peter did show the people in regard to pride in dress, and many other popular sins. So will every true ambassador of the Cross.

In exposing the compromising character of a certain holiness paper, the Rev. H. H. Hinman thus writes in the Cynosure: "Bro. _____, in his paper, _____, makes complaint against certain reformers who insist that the holiness teachers shall espouse their Special reforms, and declares that their work is to teach holiness and leave the application of its principles to every man's conscience. He says: 'Devotion of time and energy to these so-called reforms seems to be an attempt in the wrong direction, a good thing urged from an impracticable standpoint. God's order is first to get the man's heart right with Him. When this is done the old, outer life is sloughed off by the force of the new life inside, like old bark from a live hickory tree.'

"On this I remark: First, that Bro. _____ utterly discards his own theory. If he were to publish a religious paper which discussed general principles only, and never insisted on their application, it would be a singular paper indeed. No man ever did or ever could preach such a religion without becoming a laughing-stock to bad men and devils. The first article in the above-mentioned paper is a remonstrance against the sins of some who profess holiness. All through this and every other number he continually applies his principles to specific sins. The only exception is when the sin is popular and powerful. When, serpent-like, it has thrust itself into the house of the Lord, and entwines itself around His altar; when it cries as did the devils of old, 'Let us alone;' 'What have we to do with thee?' it is then that Bro. _____ would have us keep quiet, and trust to the expulsive power of Gospel grace.

"Second. The theory itself is utterly unreasonable and unScriptural. Confucius taught abstract moral purity. The doctrines of Buddha are replete with holy admonitions, but the practical result is abominable heathenism. Sixty years ago the Gospel was preached and holiness insisted on as clearly and fully as today, and yet holy men continued to use intoxicating drinks until their attention was called to the practice as a sin. Forty years ago it was in order for holy men to hold slaves. The great mass of the professed Christians were on the side of the oppressor. Judgment was turned away backward. It was 'he that departed from evil' who was declared unholy and profane. It was only by the faithful preaching of God's command to 'undo the heavy burdens; let the oppressed go free;' and 'break every yoke,' that the churches were brought to partial repentance.

"Third. From first to last the Scriptures teach just the opposite of the editor of the The Lord said to Isaiah, 'Cry aloud and spare not. Show my people their transgressions, and the house of Jacob their sins,' Isa. 58:1; and the whole chapter is an enumeration of the specific sins of those who professed to be a holy people. So all through the Prophets, the Evangelists, and the Epistles. ]Everywhere and always the holy men of old were rebukers of specific sins. Oh, that our modern Isaiah had the same holy boldness!

"Fourth. There is great need of just such preaching today. One of the leading holiness writers in this same number of the ____ makes himself disgusting to his brethren by the use of tobacco. Here in this city there are preachers of holiness who profess absolute heart purity, that advertise their Freemasonry in religious assemblies, and flaunt it in the faces of their brethren with an impudence that is unspeakable. When any seeks after real holiness, repents of this iniquity -- as some have done -- and humbly makes his confession, he is browbeaten, insulted, and, if possible, frightened into silence. 'They hate him that rebuketh in the gate, and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly.' Amos 5:10.

"Fifth. Silence in reference to prevalent and popular sins is practical complicity with them. This is especially true of those who have been involved in and have full knowledge of such iniquities. God required that the sin of secret and profane oaths should not only be confessed but exposed. Concealment is a sin. 'If a soul sin, and hear the voice of swearing, and is a witness, whether he hath seen or known of it, if he do not utter it, then he shall bear his iniquity.' Lev. 5: 1, also verses 4-13. I feel bound in Christian fidelity to rebuke this brother for this sin. He has, I believe, been in the lodge, has taken and heard its profane oaths, and joined in its unholy rites. He does not expose or rebuke its iniquities. He does not like to have others do so He once intimated to me that this was the work of the devil. He doubtless thinks that his Lodge covenant is binding. But hear the word of the Lord, 'Because ye have said we have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through it shall not come unto us, for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves. And the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.' Isa. 28:15-17."

The reason why these compromising preachers avoid the work of exposing the sins of the people, is because they are afraid of hurting the feelings of the people and of stirring the devil in those guilty of these practices. And in many cases, to expose these things would be to expose themselves. O! what such men need is a thorough work of salvation in their own souls. This would effectually cure them of daubing with untempered mortar. "Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood."

The Apostles were radical reformers. They thoroughly opposed all sin. They rooted out; they pulled down; they destroyed; they threw down; they built; and they planted. See Jer. 1:10, 17, 19. They feared not to proclaim all that God commanded them. Evil-doers of all kinds were in league against them, but the mighty God continually gave them the victory. One says, "Apostolic preaching always acts like the broom in Pilgrim's Progress -- agitating and wonderfully stirring up the dust of sin. But daubing with untempered mortar packs down sin, and men become 'at ease in Zion.'"

Says Wesley: "But how terrible is this! when the ambassadors of God turn agents for the Devil! -- when they who are commissioned to teach men the way to heaven, do in fact teach the way to hell. If ever asked, 'why, who does this?' I answer, ten thousand wise and honorable men; even all of those, of whatever denomination, who encourage the proud, the trifler, the passionate, the lover of the world, the man of pleasure, the unjust or unkind, the easy, careless, harmless, useless creatures, the man who suffers no persecution for righteousness' sake, to imagine he is in the way to heaven. These are false prophets, in the highest sense of the word. These are traitors both to God and man. These are no other than the first-born of Satan; the eldest son of Apollyon, the destroyer. These are far above the rank of ordinary cut-throats; for they murder the souls of men. They are continually peopling the realms of night; and whenever they follow the poor souls they have destroyed, 'hell shall be moved from beneath to meet them at their coming.'"

Says Gath-Rimmon, "God have mercy on us, and cut short in righteousness this cringing, time-serving, mercenary race of editors and preachers, and send us a host of Boanerges, at the thunderings of whose voices sinners in Zion may be made to quake, and all the inhabitants of the land, from Dan to Beersheba, may be made to think they have been thunderstruck." Amen.

We fear that the condition of many preachers of the Gospel is illustrated in the following minister's dream:

I sat down in my arm-chair wearied with my work. My toil had been severe and protracted. Many were seeking the salvation of their souls, and many had found what they sought. The church wore an aspect of thrift; and prosperity and joy, and hope, and courage, were the prevailing sentiments on every hand. As for myself, I was joyous in my work; my brethren were united, my sermons and exhortations were evidently telling on my hearers; my church was crowded with listeners. The whole community was more or less moved with the prevailing excitement, and as the work went on I had been led into exhausting labors for its promotion.

Fired with my work, I soon lost myself in a half-forgetful state, though I seemed fully aware of my place and surroundings. Suddenly a stranger entered the room without preliminary "tap" or "come in." I saw in his face benignity and weight of character. But though he was passably well attired, he carried about his person measures, chemical agents, and instruments which gave him a very strange appearance.

The stranger came toward me, and extending his hand, said, "How is your Zeal?" I supposed when he began the question, the query was to be for my health, but was pleased to hear the final word; for I was quite well pleased with my zeal -- and doubted not the stranger would smile when he should know its proportions.

Instantly I conceived of it as a physical quantity; and putting my hand into my bosom brought it forth, and presented it to him for inspection. He took it, and placing it in his scales, weighed it carefully. I heard him say, "One hundred pounds." I could scarcely suppress an audible note of satisfaction. But I caught his earnest look as he noted down the weight, and saw at once that he had drawn no final conclusion; but was intent on pushing his investigations.

He broke the mass to atoms, put it in a crucible, and put the crucible in the fire. When the mass was thoroughly fused, he took it out and set it down to cool. It congealed in cooling, and when turned out on the hearth exhibited a series of layers, or strata, which all, at the touch of the hammer, fell apart, and were severally tested and weighed; the stranger making minute notes as the process went on. When he had finished, he presented the note to me, and gave me a look mingled with sorrow and compassion as without a word, except "May God save you,"' he left the room.

I opened the note and read as follows:

Analysis of the zeal of Junius, a candidate for a crown of glory.

"WEIGHT IN MASS, 100 POUNDS.

  Of this analysis there proves to be:

Bigotry  -- 10 parts

Personal Ambition -- 23 parts

Love Of Praise -- 19 parts

Pride Of Denomination -- 15 parts

Pride Of Talent -- 14 parts

Love Of Authority -- 12 parts

Love To God, Pure -- 4 parts

Love To Man -- 3 parts

I had become troubled at the peculiar manner of the stranger, and especially at his parting look and words; but when I looked at the figures, my heart sank as lead within me. I made a mental effort to dispute the correctness of the record, but I was suddenly started into a more honest mood, by an audible sigh, almost a groan, from the stranger (who had paused in the hall), and by a sudden darkness falling upon me, by which the record became at once obscured and almost illegible. I suddenly cried out, "Lord, save me," and knelt down at my chair, with the paper in my hands and my eyes fixed upon it. At once it became a mirror, and I saw my heart reflected in it. The record was true; I saw it, felt it, confessed it, deplored it, besought God to save me from myself with many tears; and at length with a loud and irrepressible cry of anguish I awoke. I had prayed in years gone by to be saved from a hell, but my cry now to be saved from myself was immeasurably more fervent and distressful.

Nor did I rest or pause until the refining fire came down and went through my heart, searching, probing, melting, burning, filling all the chambers with light, and hallowing up my whole heart to God. That light and that love are in my heart today; and when the trial and tears of my pilgrimage are at an end, I expect to kneel in heaven at the feet of the divine Alchemist and bless Him for the revelation of that day, that showed me where I stood, and turned my feet into a better path.

That day was the crisis of my history; and if there shall prove to have been in later years some depth and earnestness in my convictions, and searching and saving pungency in my words, I doubt not eternity will show their connection with the visit of this Searcher of hearts, at whose coming I was weighed in the balance and found wanting. -- Selected.

Matthew Study Six: Parables of the Kingdom

 Today's lesson comes from Matthew 13: 6-50. This chapter of Matthew is filled with parables. Matthew is the only New Testament writer to use the phrase "kingdom of heaven." He also used the phrase "kingdom of God" five times. The other gospel writers used only the phrase "kingdom of God." There are four parables in this lesson. The first and the last are similar. The second and third are also similar. 

Jesus used parables to teach people. Think of parables as stories with an instruction on some spiritual truth. The parables in this lesson comprise one fourth of all the recorded parables of Jesus. The last three, the parable of the treasure, the parable of the pearl, and the parable of the net, are recorded only in the book of Matthew. The parable of the sower is recorded in all three of the Synoptic Gospels. It was given to the multitude. The last three parables were given in a house and no to the multitude. 

The first section is "The Harvest." vv. 36-43 The first parable in today's lesson is given only to the disciples. The multitude have been sent away. The sower is Jesus Christ and the good seed are the children of the kingdom. The parable looks to the final harvest. There are wheat (believers) and tares (false believers) growing together in the field (which is the world). The enemy has sowed the tares into the world to battle against the church. Jesus will send His angels to separate the wheat from the tares. The tares will be bound and cast into hell fire. The wheat shall enter into the glories of heaven and be with the Trinity for all eternity. The Roman church believes that the field is the church (not the world) and therefore there would not be a need to cast out tares. Paul in his writings makes clear that discipline is necessary in the church.We need discipline to keep the church holy and be ready for the Holy Bridegroom. We should remember that we need not worry about the tares as God will take care of them in His time. This parable taught the disciples about the work of Satan to plant tares, the ultimate judgment and torment of the tares, and the final blessings for those who walk in holiness and righteousness.

The next section is "The Hidden Treasure." v. 44 This parable is about salvation. Notice the following:

1. The gospel is hid. Only those that receive God's grace can come to Him. (John 6:37, 44). Only those called can find the treasure.

2. While salvation is free, it costs you everything. The finder sold all he had to possess the treasure. Jesus calls His disciples to deny themselves, pick up their cross and follow Him. 

3. Making a decision or praying a formula prayer saves no one. People are saved when God awakens them to their sinful condition, they see themselves as lost in need of a Savior, and they repent and come to the cross for salvation pleading the blood and not any righteousness of their own. 

4. The treasure is hidden because it is not found where many seek it. It is not found in empty confessions, praying the "sinners prayer," being baptized, or working for the church. It is found by simple obedience to the truth.

The third section is "Holiness." vv. 45, 46 This parable speaks to the subject of seeing holiness. The parable speaks of a person who knows there is something more and better than he possesses. Then he discovers the "pearl of great price." This will cost him everything, but it is worth it. He will have to die to himself, give up all rights to himself, and truly submit his all to the Lord. It would be like an estate sale that was selling the house and all the possessions inside. The person who died no longer needed the property. In the same way, we must abandon ourselves, all we have and all we desire to the Holy Spirit. This is what it takes to obtain the "pearl of great price." 

Holiness is a "pearl." It is worth all we have to pay to obtain it. Holiness will take you through adversity, storms, and persecution. It will cause you to be triumphant as you walk through the temptations of this life. You don't stumble into holiness, you must seek it. This treasure should be carefully guarded at all cost. Remember, what it takes to get the "pearl" is what it will take to keep it.

The fourth section is "Heaven or Hades." vv. 47-50 The net of the gospel has been cast into the world. When all those foreknown to God have been drawn into the net, the end will come. Think of a dragnet bringing all kinds of fish, some good and some bad. They may be church members, members of some religious group, or just an individual who loves the Lord. In the end, there will be a separation. No one enters heaven on someone's else religion. There will be "wailing and gnashing of teeth" when the lost are cast into hell. When the separation comes, where will you be? Whose side are you on?

The Golden Text is "Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father." (Matt. 13:43) The text speaks about the future. The best comes to those who have the patience to wait. Our greatest rewards are eternal, not earthly. One day, we will truthfully exclaim, that it has been worth it all to suffer for Christ and to be with Him forever.

My summary points:

1. You don't need to worry about the false professors, God will take care of them in the end.

2. You don't stumble into holiness, you must seek it.

3. Holiness is worth everything you have to give up to get it.

4. The wicked will be cast into a fiery hell.

Next week, "Peter Blessed and Rebuked." (Matthew 16:13-28)

Please read the Sunday School Beacon for inspiration and encouragement.

Bible Salvation and Popular Religion Part 3

SPURIOUS HOLINESS

For some time past we have been painfully made aware that spurious holiness is largely on the increase. When examined in the light of God's Word, the experience of thousands who profess this great blessing does not measure up to justification; and a large number of them are not so much as "truly awakened." Some time ago a sister wrote for us her experience, in which she stated that, previous to her obtaining holiness, she was troubled with snuff-taking, novel-reading, and light talking, but that holiness had brought her deliverance from these things. We immediately replied, and told her that if she had been indulging in those sins up to the time of her attainment of that blessing, she was mistaken in supposing it was holiness; it was simply justification, or perhaps only a state of conviction. A writer in the Banner of Holiness says: "It was quite a number of years after I had sought and obtained a pure heart before I received the light and conviction that God required me to stop using tobacco." Just imagine a man sanctified by the blood of Christ, and his body a temple of the Holy Ghost, indulging in the wasteful, filthy, ill-scented habit of tobacco-using! What a deception! Again he says: "When light came, then it became sin for me to use it." Of course it did. But previous to this moral change, the abstract act was wrong, and a conscious guilt must have been felt, proportionate to the degree of light possessed. Does the brother think that God would justify and sanctify soul, and allow him to go on for years, before showing him the sin of such a habit? Such an idea is preposterous. According to this theory, God would be justifying a person in sin one minute, and condemning him for it the next. This brother is greatly mistaken in supposing that he had no light, all that time, on the subject of tobacco-using. He had all the light he needed, and that light was in God's Word. That Book told him, "Cleanse yourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit." "Whether, therefore, ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." "Glorify God in your bodies and spirits, which are his." "Defile not the temple of God." To say, in the face of all these plain commands, that he had no light, during all those years, revealing the uncleanness in which he indulged, is to affirm what is not truth, and it reveals his terrible darkness and deception. Another writer in the same paper says: "I then laid all on God's altar -- pipes, tobacco, gold chains, foolish talking and jesting -- with many other things and habits by which I had been conforming to the world." Two points in this experience deserve to be

noticed:--

1. Notice the sins in which he indulged, previous to his obtaining holiness, "tobacco, gold chains, foolish talking and jesting." See 1 Peter 3:3-4; 1 Timothy 2:9; Eph. 5:4. Here you see that the wearing of gold, and foolish talking and jesting, are expressly forbidden, as well as all conformity to the world. It is simply impossible for any one to remain justified who lives in disobedience to God's plain commands. At the very threshold of a religious life all such disobedience must be renounced. Thousands of Christians testify that before God pardoned them they had to abandon all the sins mentioned above, as well as wickedness in general. Now, does God offer salvation on easier terms to some than to others? Does He show partiality to some, by allowing them to hold on to a few of their idols He does, if this brother's experience is true; but the whole company of prophets and apostles say NO. The unerring Book declares that "God is no respecter of persons." "He that saith I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." -- 1 John 2:4. "Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple." The conditions of salvation are the same to one as to another. All have to take the humbling, self-denying, cross-bearing road, if they would gain eternal life. This brother's justification, previous to his obtainment of that blessing, was certainly not the kind taught in the Bible.

2. Our brother says that he put all these things upon the altar! If he did, then God sanctified a heap of sin -- uncleanness, pride, and worldly conformity; for "whatsoever toucheth the altar shall be holy." We are bold to say that God never took this offering; it would be blasphemy to say He did. He takes what belongs to Him, and what He can use, and nothing else. "Render, therefore, unto CÊsar the things that are CÊsar's, and unto God the things that are God's." God will not take sin; it belongs to the Devil. All that is sinful and worldly in our conduct must be put away, and not consecrated. If this is the extent of the brother's consecration, he made no consecration at all. He simply gave up his sins and received justification.

Another writer in the same paper stated some time ago that he consecrated his "prejudice," and another says that he consecrated his "unbelief." Just think of "unbelief" and "prejudice" being sanctified! The broth of swine on a Jewish altar would have been just as appropriate.

In these testimonies the writers show clearly: (1) That they are greatly ignorant of the nature and conditions of full salvation; (2) that they are woefully deceived.

Rev. G. D. Watson says: "If God should let a red-hot, sanctified, John Brown sort of a man burst upon society -- a man that would strike as much terror into the dead pulpits of the Church as into the dens of iniquity -- it would be the thing we need." You ask, "Was not Moody such a man?" I answer "No." Moody's work was entirely too shallow; it did not possess the earthquake attribute. We have had for years a Y. M. C. A. surface revival work that has consisted mostly in loose theological truth -- bouncing up for prayers, and retiring to a private room and simply professing Christ died for you. God did the best He could with the kind of doctrine used. Many of these revivalists held the ruinous error that depravity is never extirpated from the soul, but only covered up by the imputed robe of Christ's personal holiness. That doctrine has no earthquake power in it; it is a poetical device of the Devil; for he loves to be covered over with the borrowed costume of Christ, provided he can retain a niche in the heart. O, no; in the revival I mean, the carnal mind is never repressed under borrowed garments, but torn out root and branch; a revival in which no one ever rises for prayers, but where they fall and pray for themselves, and weep and mourn, and make the doctor think they are insane; a revival that will make preachers forget their manuscripts and burst out and weep in the pulpit. I declare, in the presence of God and His hosts, I am ready for just such a moral scene. Nothing is so alarming as the utter absence of alarm in the churches. Nothing is so dreadfully terrific to my mind as that sinners have no terror! O that God would so baptize with fire a thousand people, as to make them incomprehensible amazements of power! O for a few men so dead to all things but God, and so filled with Him, as to make them more than a match for the rest of mankind! O thou Triune God of Sinai, Calvary, and Pentecost! art thou not now nursing, under the horizon, the lightning and thunder and rain of an amazing holiness revival? Lord, let it come! Let it strike our nation, though it may blow the steeples of our abominable church pride in the dust; though it may thrust our philanthropic fairs and festivals in the gutter, blow the French music out of our choirs, and the feathers out of our bonnets; though it should confound all the wise ones, and be understood by no one but Thy divine self -- let it come! Thou art the master of Thine own tempests. O send us a storm from the Holy Ghost before Thou sendest the storm of the Judgment!