An All-sufficient Savior

      A poor Christian had been brought to the gates of death by disease of the heart--but, contrary to all expectation, he rallied, and was once more able to attend to his secular duties, and enjoy his Christian privileges. Just at this time his wife was seized with rheumatic fever, and laid helpless on her bed. During his own illness he had enjoyed the presence of his God, and all was peace. But now his mind became dark and confused, his soul was troubled; he could not rest on the promises, or enjoy the privilege of prayer. The sun was gone down, and gloom brooded over his soul. He cried--but there appeared to be none to help; yes, to the Lord--but he answered him not. This continued for a season, until one night, in the room where his afflicted wife lay, he felt that he must wrestle with God until he prevailed. He stood, he pleaded, he prayed. Time glided away--but there he was still pleading the name of Jesus. At length, as if some angel of mercy had come into the room, and stood at his side, it seemed as if a sweet voice whispered these words into his ear, "AN ALL-SUFFICIENT SAVIOR!"

      He recognized, not the voice of an angel--but the voice of the Holy Spirit; and, in an moment, darkness fled, gloom departed, trouble ceased, and joy, peace, love, and gratitude, filled his soul. One sweet thought after another rolled into his mind, he fed on the hidden manna, he sat down under his Savior's shadow with delight, and his fruit was sweet unto his taste. How precious was Jesus now! How light was his affliction now! He could take up his cross and carry it, not only with quiet patience--but with songs of joy. "Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness." The Lord still loves the poor, and despises not his prisoners. He never said to the seed of wrestling Jacob "Seek my face in vain?" but he says, "Call unto me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things which you know not!"

      Is my reader one of the Lord's tried ones? Are you in affliction, or temptation, or under some dark cloud? Despair not! Despair not! Look up! Plead with God. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently. Hope in God, for you shall yet praise Him. Remember this glorious truth, JESUS IS AN ALL-SUFFICIENT SAVIOR! Your faith may be weak, your fears may be strong, your troubles may be great, your trials may be many--but Jesus is your Savior! He has all you need--and has it for you. He is all you can want--and he will glorify himself in you. Keep the eye fixed on him. He loves hearty, importunate prayers.

      He will appear, for he has promised to do so. He must answer you, for his word is pledged. Blessed forever be his dear name, he will be with us in trouble; in six troubles will he deliver, and in seven he will not forsake us!

      The Lord Jesus is a refuge for the afflicted, a refuge in the times of trouble. His eye is upon his tried ones, and his ears are open unto their cry. The righteous cry, and the Lord hears them, and saves them out of all their troubles! To the sinner, who is for the first time seeking mercy; and to the believer, who has proved his power and his pity a thousand times, he is alike AN ALL-SUFFICIENT SAVIOR! Holy Spirit, speak home these precious words to our hearts, and unfold them to the eyes of our understanding, that we may be filled with all joy and peace in believing!

      The blood of Jesus is an all-sufficient atonement for our sins. It pays the full penalty. It expiates forever all our guilt. Through it God looks down on us in love, and is propitious to us. However great, however numerous our sins, if we receive the atonement which Jesus has made, if we rely on it alone for our acceptance with God, if we plead it at the throne of grace--our sins are all forgiven, and our iniquities are blotted out! This precious blood of Jesus, who is God's dear Son, cleanses us from all sin!

      The obedience of Jesus is an all-sufficient righteousness. It goes to the end of the law. It meets all the requirements of God as the righteous law-giver. It is sufficient to justify any sinner, and every sinner, who receives it by faith, as it is presented in the everlasting gospel. We need nothing more to satisfy the requirements of divine justice, to silence the accusations of Satan, and to give us a title to everlasting life! The one obedience of Jesus makes many righteous. Faith in him justifies us from all things, and, being justified by faith, we have peace with God.

      The grace of Jesus Christ is all-sufficient to enable us to live a godly life. Without Jesus, we can do nothing; but we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. His grace was sufficient for Paul, and it is sufficient for us. Through divine grace--he could endure afflictions with patience, suffer persecutions with joy, bear privations with contempt, triumph over the love of life, and meet death with courage and with comfort.

      So we, if we come boldly and daily to the throne of grace, shall find grace to help us in time of need! Grace to sanctify our trials, and sustain us under every load. Grace to conquer our foes, and contentedly carry our cross, be it what it may. Grace to make us useful in life, and peaceful and happy in death. The grace that is in Jesus, if received from Jesus through faith and prayer--will conform us to Jesus, even before we depart to be with him. We can do anything through grace, or bear anything through grace--though we can do nothing without it!

      The love of Jesus is an all-sufficient source of comfort and consolation! Love is always sweet and soothing--but the love of Jesus is exquisitely so! To be loved by Jesus is the highest honor we can possess. To enjoy the love of Jesus is the sweetest pleasure we can realize. If his love is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit--we can be happy anywhere, happy under any circumstances!

      Not only so--but believing that his love is set upon us, knowing that he is unchangeable in his nature--we can rejoice, even when we do not taste its sweetness in our souls. To know that Jesus loves me, pleads for me with his Father, is preparing a place for me in heaven, and will soon come and receive me unto himself, cheers me in the stormiest day, and comforts me in the darkest night. I know that I may hang on his arm, lean on his shoulder, and cast all my burdens on his back. He will never forsake me. As the eternal God, he is my refuge; underneath me are his everlasting arms, which arms will take me up, bear me on, and, at last, place me before his glorious face forever! O Jesus, let me trust in your atoning blood, plead your spotless righteousness, rely on your glorious grace, and rejoice in your tender, constant love!

      Reader, JESUS IS AN ALL-SUFFICIENT SAVIOR! He is sufficient for you. I know not who you are. I care not what you are. Be you who you may, be you what you will--I recommend Jesus to you. If you wish to be saved from hell--if you desire to ascend to heaven--if you want a friend that will never leave you--if you want a fullness that will always supply you--if you wish to be provided for in life--if you wish to be prepared for death and eternity--I recommend Jesus to you. He will do for you, exceedingly and abundantly, above all that you can ask or think. He will bestow upon you more than human eye has ever seen, more than mortal ear has ever heard, more than the most capacious intellect of man has ever conceived of! His fullness is illimitable. His mercy is from everlasting to everlasting. His faithfulness is like the great mountains. He is in one mind, and none can turn him. Whom he once loves--he loves unto the end.

      If you have never given your heart to Jesus, if you have never made proof of his love, if you have never felt the efficacy of his blood, if you have never tasted the sweetness of his grace--come to him at once--come now--he will receive you graciously, he will love you freely!

      But if you are a believer in Jesus, if you know his name and trust in him, if you have received his word, and embraced his righteousness; then, however it may be with you, whatever may be the state of your mind, whatever the circumstances in which you are placed, still cleave to him with full purpose of heart. He may hide his face--but he will never forfeit his word. He may not shine upon you--but he will never cease to love you. The mountains may depart, and the hills be removed, yet his kindness shall not depart from you, nor the covenant of his peace be removed.

      Let the sinner come to Christ, and let the believer cling to Christ, and both saint and sinner shall prove, in life and in death, in sickness and in health, in sorrow and in joy, in plenty and in poverty, in time and eternity--that he is AN ALL-SUFFICIENT SAVIOR.

      Had I ten thousand gifts beside,      I'd cleave to Jesus crucified,      And build on him alone;      For no foundation is there given,      On which to place my hopes of heaven,      But Christ the corner-stone!

      Possessing Christ, I all possess;      Strength, wisdom, sanctifying grace,      And righteousness complete:      Bold in his name I dare draw near,      Before the ruler of the sky,      And all his justice meet.