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Te Hoa Maori 1885-1910: Number 40. 03 October 1895 |
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TE HOA MAORI
AND
TE HOKINGA MAI A TE ARIKI,
(He mea tapiri tenei ki nga mea i oti nei. )
MURI iho ka tae mai era wahine, ka mea, E te Ariki, e
te Ariki, uakina ki a matau. Na ka whakahokia e ia,
ka mea, He pono taku e mea nei ki a koutou, kahore ahau a
mohio ki a koutou. " Matiu 25, 11, 12.
Na, tera tetahi mea ki roto i te karaipeture kua oti nei te tuhi-
tuhi i runga ake nei, he mea tera kia whakahaeretia muri iho i
te tangohanga o nga tamariki o te Atua i tenei ao, he mea tera
kihai ahau i ata whakaaturia i roto i nga korero i oti nei te panui,
Otia ko tenei taku e pai ai kia ata korerotia e ahau inaianei i
nga tikanga o taua karaipeture ki aku hoa Maori e ki na nei
ratou e whakapono ana ratou ki te ingoa e te Karaiti.
Ko taua korero ko tenei. Tera he whakaaro taimaha mo aua
wahine kuare o taua karaipeture, ko tenei, ka tino marama ratou
kua mahue rawa ratou ki waho mo te whakawakanga, a ka mohio
hoki ratou i tena i tua mai o te taenga mai o taua whakawakanga
ki a ratou.
Kua tae rawa mai te Ariki ki taua wa kua kore-
rotia e ahau ki runga ake ra:
A ko nga hoa o aua tangata whakapono hanga noa iho, e ki
ana nei e whakapono ana ratou otira e kore e whakapono, a ko
o ratou hoa ka riro katoa ratou ahakoa Pakeha, Maori ranei,
kua toremi katoa ratou. He toremitanga miharo tera. Kahore
nga tangata i mahue atu e mohio ana he rironga pehea ranei he
rironga ki hea ranei o ratou hoa. A, ka tau te mea pouri ki a
ratou. A hei konei ka tino mohio ai ratou he mea tika rawa te
korero o to ratou hoa. A, kua tae mai hoki te Ariki. A, kua
riro atu hoki ratou tahi. Ae ra! kua riro atu ki te noho ki a
Ihu ake tonu atu; engari ko te hunga kua mahue, kua tino he
ratou,
Na, tera etahi kei waenganui o te hunga ma ratou tenei tuhitu-
hinga kei te mohio ratou kahore ano ratou i ata rite ki te whaka-
taki ki te tane marena hon. Otira kei te mahi ratou, ka mahi
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TE HOA MAORI
ratou i runga i o ratou ano kaha, kia tika ai ratou. Ara, kei te
whakamatau ratou ki te hoko i te hinu ! Engari kia ata marama
ai nga tangata ki tenei, i taua wa tonu kua whakatakotoria te
tikanga nui, " A to ratou haerenga atu ki te hoko, ka tae mai te
tane marena hou. "
Kua mutu rawa te wa o te hoko. Kua mahue noa te take kia
mahia ai ratou kia tika, kia rite,
A kahore ano ratou i ata rite.
Heoi ano, " A tomo tahi ana me ia ki te marenatanga te hunga
kua ata rite: a tutakina ana te tatau. "
I te korero i runga ake nei, ko te hunga e kore ratou i ata rite
nei, ka tu ratou ki waho i te tatau, a, e kore rawa ratou i tomo ki
roto, ake tonu atu ! A, ka kore ranei ratou e mohio ana ki
tena?
Ka mohio. Ka tino mohio ai ratou ki tena. Ko to ratou
wahine, o ratou tamariki, matua, o ratou hoa, ka riro atu katoa
ratou, a ka haere nga tangata ki te rapu i a ratou. A, i te rapu-
tanga ka tutaki ki etahi atu o te hunga taihoa e pena ana te rapu
i o ratou wahine, tamariki, matua, ratou ko o ratou hoa. A, ka
haere tonu ki te rapu ka tutaki ki etahi atu ano e rapu ana i te
hunga kua riro atu nei.
Katahi ka tau te mohiotanga whakawehe ki a ratou. Ka mohio
ratou inaianei ka tika tonu te kupu a te hunga karaitiana. Kua
tae mai te Ariki, kua riro atu hoki ratou ki a Ia. Aue kua
mahue matou mo te whakawakanga.
" Na, i karanga atu ahau. "
Katahi ka ata rite te kupu kua oti ra te tuhituhi, "Na, i
karanga atu ahau, heoi kihai koutou i pai mai, i totoro atu toku
ringa, a kihai etahi i whai whakaaro mai: heoi whakakahoretia
iho e koutou i aro mai ki taku ako. Na reira ka kata ano ahau
ki to koutou aitua, ka tawai atu ina pa mai te pawera ki a koutou;
... Ko reira ratou karanga ai ki au, a e kore ahau e
whakao atu; ka rapu wawe ratou i a au, otira e kore ahau a kitea
e ratou. " Nga Whakatauki i. 2 2-28.
Ano te ahua rite o taua korero ki to to korero o nga wahine
kuare i a ratou e karanga ana nei, " E te Ariki, e te Ariki uakina
ki a matou. " Engari he korero taimaha tana whakahoki, " He
pono taku e mea atu ki a koutou, kahore ahau e mohio ki a
koutou. "
Na, he mutunga iho pehea te mutunga o nga mea pera ? Me
pehea koe, e taku hoa e korero ana i tenei korero, me pehea koe
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TE HOA MAORI.
mehemea ka hohoro to mohio ki te mea ka mahue atu koe i te
oranga tonutanga, a, heoi te mea ko te whakawakanga me te po e
tatari ana mou ? Ka pera hoki te tikanga mo etahi. Koia ra,
ko te ahua tera o
Te Po ki runga i te ao nei!
Kahore ahau e mohio ana i tetahi whakaritenga ke atu o te
ahua o te po U runga i U aol Ina, ka rite te tangi o nga wahine
kuare ki to te tangi o te iwi kuare o Iharaira a muri, " Kua
pahemo te kotinga witi, kua taka te raumate: ko tatou, kahore
he whakaoranga mo tatou. " Heremaia 8, 20. Otira, ahakoa
ka rite te ahua o tera ki te po ki runga i te ao, he mea hanga noa
iho tera ki to te ahua o te po ki roto i te po ano!!!
Te aue mo te hunga e whakarere atu i nga korero whakatu-
pato, me nga korero mohio hoki inaianei! Engari ka whaka-
rongo marie ki te hunga whakapatipati, ki. te hunga e whakaaro
hanga noa iho te mate, a e ki na hoki ratou, "Ka mau te rongo,
ka mau te rongo; i te mea kahore he maunga rongo. " Here-
maia 8, 11.
Engari ra, e aku hoa Maori, e aha ra te take kia waiho atu tera
mea kino mo koutou ? E aha ra ka totohe koutou ki.
Te hoko i te hinu, ko te Wairua Tapu hoki tena ?
E kore tonu e taea e te tangata ki te hoko i tera, a me pewhea
ka taea e koutou i runga i a koutou kaha ? E aha ra ka pana atu
koutou i a Ia e ki na nei, " Ko taku kupu tenei ki a koe, kia
hokona ki a au he koura mou kua oti te tahu ki te ahi, kia whai
rawa ai koe; he kakaha ma hoki, hei kakahu ki a hoe, kia kaua
ai hoki e kitea te whakama o tou tunga kautanga; pania hoki
ou kanohi ki te rongoa, kia kite ai koe. " Whakakitenga 3, 18.
He whakaritenga to taua rongoa kanohi ki te hinu, ara, ki te
Wairua Tepu. Ko ia hoki e whakakaha ana i a tatau kia kitea i
nga mea o te maramatanga tika hei kona ka tu ai tatou he rama ki
tenei ao. Heoi, ko reira hoki ka whai kaha tatou ki te puretia
te maramatanga, ara, te rama e ka ana mo te hokinga mai o te
tane marena hou ina ka hoki mai ia ki te marenatanga. Ka taea
e Ihu ko ia anake ki te hoko i taua hinu. A e pena ano tana
mahi kia "kauaka he moni, kaoa he utu. " Ka homai noa mai
e Ia te Wairua Tapu ki nga tangata katoa e whakapono ana ki a
Ia, e pena ana hoki te tuhituhi, " A to koutou whakaponotanga
ki a ia, na, hiritia ana koutou e te Wairua Tapu i korerotia mai
i mua. " Epeha 1, 13.
Na e hoa ma, kia mohio ai koutou, ehara tena he mea kia
whiwhi ai e te tangata na tana mahi nui, na tana puku mahi, kao,
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TE HOA MAORI.
engari na te whakaponongia ki te Tangata ki te mahi hoki o te
tatou Ariki o Ihu Karaiti. A ka rere tono taua aroha noa Nona
kia tae rawa ki te wa ka tutakina ai te tatau, hei reira mutu rawa
ake tonu atu.
E te kai-korero, ano te mea nui mou mehemea ka rongo koe
i enei kupu e rima i a koe e noho nei ki tenei ao
* A tutakina ana te tatau. "
Kia matau koutou inaianei e nga Maori; kia whakaakona
koutou, e nga tangata, i whiwhi ai i te tuatahi i tenei whenua a
te Maori. Kihitia te Tamaiti kei riri ia, a ka mate atu koutou
i te ara, ina ka mura tona riri akuanei.
A, me pewhea ma koutou ? Ko koutou kei roto i taua tatau
kei waho ranei ? He mea tena mo amuri ake tonu atu. kei roto
nga mea ahuareka e kore nei e mutu, kei waho nga mea o te
aue tonu e kore nei e mutu!!
Ko taku hiahia tenei ma koutou, e aku hoa Maori, kia ora ai
koutou i nga mate, a ka whiwhi ai koutou i nga ahuareka. Hei
kona ka pupu atu te whakamoemiti ki a Ia nana nei i whakaora i a
koutou i ona toto utu nui, a, mo ake tonu atu.
Otira, ki te kore e pena ana koutou, kia mau mai koutou, kei
te haere mai te wa ka tau iho te matauranga pouri ki ia tan-
gata mo tona ake ahua, ina, ka rapu ratou ki runga i te tino aue
he tomokanga mo ratou ki roto i taua tatau, te tatau nei e
puare ana inaianei otira e kore e taea te take ma reira ka
tutakina ki a ratou ake tonu atu.
KAHORE KAU, KUA TOMURI RAWA!
TERA tetahi kotiro rangatira i waiatatia i tetahi waiata (he
himene nei) i tetahi huihuinga nui o ana hoa; ko tana
waiata he mea hanga tera i runga i nga tikanga o te korero whaka-
rite ki nga wahine kuare ki Matiu 25.
He roa tana mahi totohe ki te rapu he mea papai mana, ara
ma tona hinengaro, ki roto i nga ahuareka o tenei ao, hei kona
ka uru ia ki roto i nga ahuareka katoa. I mua atu i taua hui i
whakaaturia e tetahi ki a ia he mea kaha kore tana ki te pupuri i
nga mea e rua mana, ara, Ko te Karaiti me tenei ao, he mui hoki
te tohe atu ki a ia kia tangohia te Karaiti mana.
Otiira kihai ia i kite i tona ake mate, te ataahua ranei a te
Karaiti, ko ia ka mea atu;
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TE HOA MAORI.
"Maku tenei ao. "
Engari ra ahakoa he he noa tona whiriwhiri kihai te Atua i
whakarere atu i a ia, ka tohe atu te aroha noa a te Atua ki a ia,
a ka tae iho i tona reo ki a ia ki roto i taua waiata i whakaaturia
i runga ake nei. Ka waiatatia taua waiata e ia a tae iho ki nga
kupu whakamutunga e whenei ana te ahua o aua kupu:
•' Kahore ranei tatou i rongo i te pai a te tane marena hou;
E, uakina te tatau ki a matou, ahakoa ko matou kua roa, ki te
kihi i ona waewae !
Kahore kau, kua tomuri rawa koutou, ka kore koutou kia tomo
mai inaianei e !
Katahi ka whakarere iho te whakaaro nui ki a ia. Koia ra !
ko ahau tena! Akuanei ka tika rawa tena i ahau. Ka hohoro
tana haere ki waho o taua hui, ka haere ake ia ki tana ruma, a e
mau tonu te awangawanga me te pouri ki tona wairua.
E rima tonu nga ra ka mau tonu taua ahua pouri ki a ia, a
muri iho ko ia ka rongo i tenei kupu, " A ki te haere mai tetahi
ki au, e kore rawa e ponga e ahau ki waho. " A, katahi ka whiti
mai te marama me te rangimarie ki roto i tona wairua.
No naianei ka tu ia mo taua i rana atu nei e ia i te tuatahi, a
katahi ka taea e ia ki te ki atu;
•' Kua tau tuturu toku wairua ki a koe e te Atua ora tonu
Ae, kua tuturu ki a Kou;
Kua otia taku whiriwhi mo ake tonu atu,
E, Ko te Karaiti maku!"
Koia ra, hei kona kua whakakitea te aroha noa a te Atua ki a
ia, ahakoa ko ia kei te pakeha.
E! Kua oti ranei tau whiriwhiri ? He aha ra ?
HAERE MAI!
E te kai-korero, haere mai ki te Ariki ko Ihu;
Te Take: -
Kua whakaitia tou haere mai: —
"Kia tanohia noatia ano te wai ora e te tangata e hiahia ana. "
Whakakitenga 22. 11..
Kua karangatia koe: —
" Haere mai ki ahau, e koutou katoa e mauiui ana, e taimaha
ana, a maku koutou e whakaokioki. " Matiu 11. 28.
Ka tohe te karanga atu kia haere mai koe: —
"Na he karere matou na te Karaiti, me te mea ano ko te
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TE HOA MAORI
Atua tenei kei roto i a matou e karanga ana; ko matou he
whakakapi mo te Karaiti ki te tohe atu, kia houhia ta koutou
rongo ki te Atua. " ii. Koriniti 5. 20.
Kua whakahau koe kia haeremai; —
" Ko tana ture tenei, kia whakapono tatou ki te ingoa o tana
Tama o Ihu Karaiti. " i. Hoani 3. 23.
Kua whakatuturutia te oranga tonutanga ki a
koe inaianei tonu mehemea ka haere mai koe:
"Koia ano te aroha o te Atua ki te ao, homai ana e ia tana
Tama kotahi, kia kahore ai e ngaro te tangata e whakapono ana
ki a ia, engari kia whiwhi ai ki te oranga tonutanga. " Hoani
3, 1 6.
A ki te kore koe kai haere mai ka tino ngaro koe
ake tonu atua: —
" Na te tangata e kore e whakapono, ka meinga kia mate. "
Maka 1 6, 16.
TE MURUNGA HARA,
Tera he murunga hara,
Me perowhea Ma murua oku hara?
KI te kahore he ringihanga toto, kahore he
murunga hara. '' Nga Hiperu 9, 22.
''Na tenei Tangata te murunga hara e kauwhautia nei ki a
koutou. " Nga Mahi A Nga Apotoro 13, 3s.
" He kai-whakaatu nga poropiti katoa mona, ma tona ingoa ka
whiwhi ai ki te murunga hara nga tangata katoa e weakapono ana
ki a ia. " Nga Mahi A Nga Apotoro 10, 43.
Awhea ra ka whiwhi ai ahau te murunga hara?
" Kei roto nei i a ia to tatou whakaoranga i runga i ona toto,
ara, te murunga o nga he. " Epeha 1, 7.
" Na te Atua i hohou nei i te rongo ki a koutou i roto i a te
Karaiti. " Epeha -i, 32.
" Ka tuhituhi atu nei ahau ki a koutou, e nga tamariki nonohi,
no te mea kua murua o koutou hara, he whakaaro hoki ki tona
ingoa. " i. Hoani 2, 12.
Otiia tera tetahi
E kore rawa ratou e whiwhi i te murunga hara,
Maka 3 29.
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8 TE HOA MAORL
E te kai-korero, kia tupako koe, kei uru koe kei roto i taua
hunga mate.
WHAKAPONO KI A IA.
Nana nei i tono mai.
TERA he maha nga karaipeture e whakaatu ana koia ko
\_ tenei anake te huarahi ki te whakapainga, engari ka mutu
taku tohutohu atu ki nga mea e rima anake.
" Ko ia e whakapono ana ki a ia, e kore e tau te he ki ia. "
Hoani 3, 18.
" Na tona ingoa ka whiwhi ai ki te murunga hara nga tangata
katoa e whakapono ana ki a ia. " Nga Mahi A Nga Apotoro
10, 43.
"Kia ai te whakapono ki a te Karaiti hei tika mo tatou. "
Karatia 2, 16.
" Me whakapono ki te Ariki ki a Ihu Karaiti, ka ora ai koe. "
Nga Mahi A Nga Apotoro 16, 3.
" Ko ia e whakapono ana ki te Tama, he oranga tonutanga tona. "
Hoani 3, 36. [
Na reira ka kite ai tatou, ko te whitinga mai i te whakawhiu, te
whiwhitanga o te murunga hara, te whakatikaia i nga whakahe
katoa, te whiwhitanga hoki o te oranga tonutanga, he mea katoa
ratou ka riro mai ai ma te whakapono ki a Ihu, te Karaiti, te
Tame o te Atua.
EHARA I NGA MAHI.
KORE rawa tetahi mea i marama atu i ta te Atua kupu, ara,
\_ ka ora matou i waho i nga mahi katoa. E wha nga ahua
mahi i korerotia ki roto i te Karaipeture. A e marama ana aua
mea ki te katoa, he mea era hei katia matou i te Atua, ara:
NGA MAHI HE Noa MAHI TIKA I MAHIA
(Korohe 1, 21. ) E TATOU (Taituha 3, 5. )
NGA TUBE MAHI NGA MAHI MATE
(Karatia 2, 21. ) (Nga Hiperu 9, 14).
E tino marama ana te kupu ki Epiha 2, 9,
" Ehara I Nga Mahi,
kei whakamanamana te tangata. " Ano hoki ki Roma 4, 3-6 ka
oti te ki nei, " E pehea ana hoki te Karaipeture ? I whakapono a
Aperama ki te Atua, a ka whakairia mai hei tika moua. Na he
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TE HOA MAORI. 9
tangata e mahi ana, e kore e kiia te utu mona he mea aroha noa
engari he mea mo tana. Tena
He tangata kahore e mahi
engari e whakapono ana ki te kai whakatika i te tangata karakia
kore, ka whakairia tona whakapono hei tika. Pera hoki me ta
Rawiri i ki ai mo te hari o te tangata, ka whakairia nei e te
Atua he tika ki a ia
Motu ke i nga Mahi.
Ano hoki ki Taituha, 3, 4, " Otira i te mea ka puta mai nei te
tikanga ngawari me te aroha o te Atua o te tatou kai whakaora,
Ehara i te mea na nga mahi tika i mahia e tatou,
engari na tana mahi tohu i whakaorangia ai tatou e ia, he mea-
tanga na te horoinga o te whanautanga houtanga na te whaka-
houtanga a te Wairua Tapu. "
Ehara i te mea ka ora tatou i nga mahi, engari i te mahi
kotahi, ara:
Te mahi i oti na te Karaiti.
" Ko ta te Atua mahi tenei, kia whakapono koutou ki taua i
tono mai ai. " Hoani 6. 29.
Ehara hoki i te mea ka ora tatou i a tatou mahi raua ko te
Karaiti, ehara hoki i te Karaiti raua ta tatou mahi (he mea tapiri
nei) engari ra ko te Karaiti anaki. Nga mahi tika mahi pai ki ta
te Atua titiro koia enei, ko te hua o te whakapono ki a Ia.
" Waihoki ko te whakapono ki te kahore ana mahi, he mea mate,
ko ia anake hoki. " Hemi 2. 17. Ko te whakapono e whai hua
ana ki te kororia o te Atua.
WHAKAPONO,
NA, te whakapono, he tangomanga tena o te wairua o to te
\_, Atua whakaatu mai. He whakaaetenga o te wairua ki to
te Atua kupu. I a ia e ki mai nei, ka tino ngaro koe. " Ko
tenei tama aku i mate, e kua ora,: i ngaro, a kua kitea. " Ruka
15. 24. Na, e whakaae ana ahau ki tena. He mea whakapono
tena naku. I a ia e ki mai nei, " He pono te korero, a e pa ana
kia tangohia rawatia, I haere mai a Karaiti Ihu ki. te ao ki te
whakaora i te hunga hara, " Timoti 1. 15. Na, e whakaae ana
ahau ki tena. He mea whakapono tena naku. 1 a ia e ki mai
nei, " Ko ia e whakapono ana ki te Tama, he oranga tonutanga
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10 GOOD NEWS,
thou. " Hoani 3. 36. Na, e whakaae ana ahau ki tena. He mea
whakapono tena naku. Na, ma runga i te whakapono ka mohio-
tia ai ahau kua ngaro ahau. I haere mai te Karaiti ki te whaka-
ora, a, i ahau e whakapono ana ki a Ia ka mau tonu ki ahau te
oranga tonutanga. He mea marama noa iho te whakapono.
Ehara i te mea he mea mo te tinana tangata kia rongo ai.
GOOD NEWS.
[The foregoing Articles are free Translations of the following. ]
THE LORD'S COMING.
(Continued from a previous issue. )
" AFTERWARDS came also the other virgins, saying, Lord,
Lord, open to us. But He answered and said, Verily I
say unto you, I know you not. " Matt. xxv. 11. 12.
There is something in the above Scripture, which takes place
after God's children are taken away from earth, which we
did not touch upon in our previous issue. I should like now to
present this to those among our readers who profess the name
of Christ.
It is the solemn thought, that the foolish virgins of the parable
will have it forced upon their consciences that they are left be-
hind hopelessly for judgment, even before the judgment is
actually poured out upon them.
At the moment of which we speak
THE LORD HAS COME;
and the friends and companions of these mere professors, —
whether Pakehas or Maoris who were real Christians are gone.
All have suddenly and mysteriously disappeared; they know not
how or whither. This fact will force itself upon their hearts with
sorrow, and so bring conviction to their consciences that it is as
these friends had said. The Lord has come and they are gone.
Gone to be with their Lord for ever; and they themselves are
left behind, condemned, undone.
Now amongst those for whom this is written are some who are
conscious that they are not ready to meet the bridegroom. But
they are doing their best to make themselves ready. That is they
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GOOD NEWS. 11
are trying to buy the oil. Let it be noted that in the parable, it
is exactly at this point the whole scene is closed. " While they
went to buy the bridegroom came. "
Here evidently is an end of all buying. The event for which
they are trying to prepare themselves is past, and
THEY ARE FOUND UNREADY,
Only, " They that were ready went in with Him to the mar-
riage, and the door was shut. "
In our text the unready are on the outside of that closed door,
and NEVER enter in: Will they not know it ?
Yes, surely! They will miss their wives, their children, their
parents, their friends, and will set about to seek them As they
seek they will meet others, who like themselves intended to be
ready, seeking their wives, children, parents, friends And fur-
ther on others also on the same fruitless search.
Suddenly it must burst upon their stricken consciences, —It is
as they said ! The Lord has come and taken them away, and we
are left for judgment ?
"BECAUSE I CALLED"
Then shall come to pass that which is written, " Because I have
called and ye refused, I have stretched out my hand, and no man
regarded; but ye have set at nought all my counsel and would
none of my reproof; I also will laugh at your calamity, and will
mock when your fear cometh......... Then shall they call upon Me
but I will not answer, they shall seek me early, but they shall not
find me. " Prov. i. 24-28.
How like to this is the saying of the foolish virgins when they
turn to seek ! " Lord, Lord, open to us! " But how solemn His
answer, "Verily I say unto you, I know you not. "
What must the result of such a condition of things be 1 How
would you feel my reader if you should suddenly wake up to the
consciousness, —as some must do. —that you were too late to be
saved, and that nothing but judgment and hell awaited you!
HELL UPON EARTH !
We can think of nothing like this that so sets forth what
hell upon earth must be ! When the foolish virgins will take up
the cry of the foolish nation of Israel in a still future day; —
" The harvest is passed, the summer is ended, and we are not
saved. " Jer. viii. 20. But like as this may be to hell upon
earth; what is it to what hell in hell must be !!!
Alas for all those who refuse all the overtures and warnings of
wisdom now ! Who listen to the folly of those who slightly heal
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12 GOOD NEWS.
their wounds, and say, —" Peace, peace, when there is no peace. "
Jer. viii. 11.
But why should this be for my Maori readers? Why still try
to buy
THE OIL WHICH IS THE HOLY SPRIT.
This can never really be bought at all, how much less by your
own effort ? Why refuse Him who still says—I counsel thee to
buy of Me gold tried in the fire that thou may'st be rich, and
white raiment that thou may'st be clothed, and that the shame of
thy nakedness do not appear; and to anoint thine eyes with eye-
salve that thou may'st see. " Rev. iii. 18.
This eyesalve answers to the oil, and is the Holy Spirit. He
who enables us to see everything in a true light, and so to become
a light in this world. Thus only shall we be able to sustain light
for the bridegroom when He shall return to the marriage. Jesus
alone can sell this oil, and this He does, " without money and
without price. " He GIVES the Holy Spirit to all who believe on
Him, as it is written, —" In whom, having believed, ye were
sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, " Eph. i. 13.
Now, note dear friend that this is the result of no laborious
works, no long continued efforts, but simply the result of faith in
the Person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ. This blessed
grace on His part continues right up to the moment of the shut-
ting of the door of grace, but then it ceases for ever.
What a moment for you my reader if in your lifetime those
five simple solemn words ring out. —
"AND THE DOOR WAS SHUT?
Be wise now therefore, Oh, ye Maoris; be instructed ye origi-
nal proprietors of Maori-land Kiss the Son, lest He be angry
and ye perish in the way when His wrath is kindled in a little
while.
Which will it be with yon 1 Will you be inside or outside of
that closed door. All your eternity hangs upon this. Inside
are eternal joys 1 Outside are eternal woes !!
Our wish for you dear Maori friend is that you may escape the
woes, and ensure the joys. So shall your life be filled with praise
to Him' whose precious blood redeemed you for ever.
But if this is not the case remember, that the moment comes
when the truth of the condition of all such, will be forced upon
them, as with anguish of heart they seek admission at that door,
which—though wide open now—shall then be closed for ever
against them. G. J. S.
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GOOD NEWS. 13
NO, NO. TOO LATE!
IN a large company of friends and acquaintances a young lady
was singing a well-known sacred song, founded upon the
parable of the wise and foolish virgins. (Matt, xxv. )
She had been long seeking to satisfy her heart with the gaieties
of the world, and had plunged into excitement of every kind.
Sometime before it had been pointed out to her that she could
not have Christ and the world, and she had been pressed to make
her choice for Christ.
Her eyes saw neither her needs, nor His beauty, and she said:
" I CHOOSE THE WORLD. "
But God's grace pursued her in spite of her sinful choice, and
as she sang the song amid her friends, its voice spoke to her of
her dreadful danger. She had come to the closing lines, which
run: —
" Have we not heard the Bridegroom is so sweet;
O, let us in, though late, to kiss His feet!
No, no. too late ! Ye cannot enter now. "
The thought flashed into her mind, " That is just my case—it
will be true of me. " Hurriedly leaving the company, she retired
to her room in bitterness of spirit and deep concern of soul,
For five days she was in much distress, but at length the words
" Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out, " shed their
light and comfort into her soul.
Now her decision was for Hira who hitherto had been slighted,
and she could say: —
" My heart is fixed, Eternal God,
Fixed on Thee;
And my immortal choice is made,
Christ for me ! "
Thus the mercy of God was exhibited to her in spite of herself.
Is your choice made 1 What is it?
COME.
READER, come to the Lord Jesus; for—
\_. 1. You are permitted to come: " Whosoever will let him
take of the water of life freely. " Rev. xxii. 17.
2. You are invited to come: " Come unto Me, all ye that
labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. "
Matt xi. 28.
3. You are entreated to come; " Now then we are ambassa-
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14 GOOD NEWS,
dors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us; we pray
you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. " 2 Cor, v. 20.
4. You are commanded to come: "This is His commandment,
that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ. "
1 John iii. 23.
5- You are assured of a present and certain salvation if you
come: " God so loved the world, that He gave His only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish
but have everlasting life. " John iii. 16.
6. You will be lost for ever if you do nut come: " He that
believeth not shall be damned. " (Mark xvi. 16).
FORGIVENESS,
THERE IS FORGIVENESS. "
How may I be forgiven?
"Without shedding of blood is no remission " (forgiveness. )
Heb. ix. 22.
" Through this Man" (the Lord Jesus) "is preached unto you
the forgiveness of sins. " Acts xiii. 38.
' To Hira give all the prophets witness, that through His name
whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins. "
(Acts x. 43. )
WHEN may I be forgiven 1
"In Whom" (Jesus Christ) "we have redemption through
His blood, the forgiveness of sins. " (Eph. i. 7. )
" God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. " (Eph. iv. 32. )
"I write to you little children, because your sins are forgiven
you for His name's sake. " (1 John ii. 12. )
Some have
"NEVER FORGIVENESS. " (Mark iii. 29. )
Reader, beware lest you be numbered among them.
"BELIEVE ON HIM WHOM HE HATH SENT,
"
MANY Scriptures show that this is the alone road of
blessing, but I quote five passages only.
"He that believeth on Him is not condemned. " (John iii, 18)
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GOOD NEWS. 15
" Whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins. "
(Acts x. 43. )
" We have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified. "
(Gal. ii. 16. )
" Believe ou the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved. "
(Acts xvi. 31. )
"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life. " (Jno. iii. 36.
From these we see that to escape condemnation, to obtain the
remission of sins, to be justified from every charge, to be saved,
and to have everlasting life, we must believe on Jesus the Christ,
the Son of God.
NOT OF WORKS,
NOTHING can be plainer in the Word of God than that we
are saved apart from our works altogether. There are
four kind's of works spoken of in Scripture, and manifest on all
hands which all alike shut out from God. viz.:
WICKED WORKS SELF-RIGHTEOUS WORKS
(Col. 1. 21. ) (Titus 3. 5)
LAW WORKS DEAD WORKS
(Gal. 2. 21. ) (Heb. 9. 14. )
Ephesians 2, 9 distinctly tells us that it is
" Not of Works,
lest any man should boast. '"' Again in Romans 4. 3-6, we read,
" For what saith the Scripture? Abraham believed God, and it
was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to that worketh
is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But
To him that Worketh not,
but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is
counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the
blessedness of the man unto whom God imputeth righteousness
Without Works. "
And again in Titus 3, 4, " But after that the kindness and
love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
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1. 6 GOOD NEWS.
Not by Works of Righteousness which we have done,
but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of re-
generation, and renewing of the Holy Ghost., '
We are not saved by works, but by one work, and that
The finished Work of Christ.
" This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He
hath sent. ", John 6. 29,
Neither are we saved by our works and Christ, nor by Christ
and our works, but by Christ alone. Good works, acceptable to
God, are the fruit and evidence of faith in Him. " Faith, if it
hath not works is dead, being alone. " James '2. 17. Faith pro-
duces good works to the glory of God.
FAITH,
FAITH is the soul's reception of a divine testimony. It is
\_ my heart simply assenting to what God says. When He
says, I am utterly lost " This, my son, was lost and is found, "
Luke 15, 24. I believe it. That is Faith. When He says,
" It is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ
Jesus came into the world to save sinners, '' 1 Timothy 1. 15.
I believe it. That is Faith. When He says, " He that believeth
on the Son hath everlasting life" John 3. 36. I believe it.
That is Faith. So then by faith I learn I am lost that Christ
came to save, and that believing Him I have eternal life. Faith
is a very simple thing. There is no question of feeling.
W. T. P. W.