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Te Hoa Maori 1885-1910: Number 42. 05 October 1895 |
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TE HOA MAORI AND
GOOD NEWS.
" Tena ra, tatou ka korerorero, e ai ta Ihowa, ahakoa i rite o koutou
hara ki te mea ngangana, ka pera me te hukarere te ma ahakoa i whero
me te mea whakawhero, ka rite ki te huruhuru hipi. " Ihaia 1. 18
'• Come now and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your
sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like
crimson, they shall be as wool. " Isaiah 1. 18.
THIS MAGAZINE MAY BE OBTAINED AT
Bible, Bool and Tract Depot—Karangahape Road, Auckland.
,,,, 91, Manchester St., Christchurch.
.,,, Hardy Street, Nelson.
.,,, Cuba Street, Wellington.
PRICE, Payable in advance—One Penny each, or Six Shillings
per hundred. Postage extra.
(
Correspondence to be addressed "Te Hoa Maori, " care of Bible
Book and Tract Depot,. Karangahape Road, Auckland.
The Prayers and interest of the Children of God are affectionately sought
' in connection with this Magazine. John vi. 5-13.
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TE HOA MAORI
AND
GOOD NEWS.
ETAHI WAIMARIETANGA.
" I TAE mai tana waimarietanga ki a ia inapo, otira kihai ia i
tango. " E pera ana te korero a tetahi o nga tangata o
tetahi pooti whakaora-tangata. I korero pera ia i runga ite ahua
o tetahi kapene o tetahi kaipuke kua pakaru i te marangai erua
tekau tangata hoki i mate katoa ratou. I mea atu te kapene o
taua kaipuke ko ia e kaha ana ki te tiaki hei reira ia ka whaka-
korea te mahi a te pooti whakaaro tangata; engari ra ko tona
whakaaro pena he whakaaro pohehe noaiho nona.
Ewhia nga tangata kua riro atu i konei ki te takiwa mutunga-
kore e tika nei kia rite ai te korero mo o ratou ano oranga tonutanga
ki to te korero i runga ake nei mo te kapene o taua kaipuke " I
tae mai tana waimarietanga ki a ia, otira kihai ia i tango. " Ehara
i te mea e pena ana te ahau inaianei anake, kao, ka pera tonu
nonamata mai. Tena me tohutohu ahau kua oti nei te whakaatu
ki roto i te karaipeture.
" Ka rite hoki ki nga ra i a Noa...... e kai ana ratou, e inu
ana, e marena ana, e tukua ana ki te marena, taea noatia te ra i
tomo ai a Noa ki roto ki te aka, a, te putanga o te waipuke, na,
ngaro katoa. " (Ruka 17, 26-27. ) " I turi nei i mua, i te mea e
tatari ana te manawanui o te Atua i nga ra a Noa, i te mea e
hanga ana te aka. " (1 Pita 3, 20. ) I tae mai he waimarietanga
ki a ratou, otira kihai ratou i tango.
"Na ka haere atu a Roto, a ka korero ki ana huaonga, i mare-
natia nei ki ana tamahine, a ka mea atu, Whakatika, haere atu i
konei; ka whakangaromia hoki e Ihowa tenei pa. Otiira ki ta te
whakaaro a ana huaonga, i rite ai ia ki tetahi tangata e hangareka
ana. " (Kenehi 19, 14.; I tae mai he waimarietanga ki a ratou,
otira kihai ratou i tango.
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TE HOA MAORI. 3
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Ka kite a Haimona te tangata mahi makutu te mahi nui a te
rongo pai ki Hamaria; na tana kitenga atu ki tana whakarongo
atu ki ta te kauwhautanga me nga merekara i mahia i oti nei i a
Pirpipi, ka whakaae kau ia ki te tika o aua mea a ka oti hoki ia
te iriiria. Otiira muri iho tera tetahi kupu ana i whakakitea
mai ai te ahua o tono ngakau; kahore tona wahi kahore hoki
tona tunga ki roto i te mea, te take kahore e tika tona ngakau i
te aroaro o te Atua. (Nga Mahi A Nga Apotoro S, 5-24) I tae
mai tana waimarietanga ki a ia, otira kihai ia i tango.
Na, i whakatata a Hura Ikariote ki a te Karaiti pau noa te
toru tau me te hawhe i a Ia e noho ana ki te mahi nui hoki ki
tenei ao. I whakarongo ia ki Tana korero aroha noa, ka kite
kohi ia i Ana mahi miharo, a ka tino matakitaki atu hoki ia ki
te ahua pai o Tona noho i konei, otiira te mutunga iho tana ka
tuku ia i tana Rangatira, a ko ia ka whamomoria i a ia ano. I
tae mai tana waimarietanga ki a ia—aue, te nui o te waimarie-
tanga nei, —otira kihai ia i tango.
Ko Pirika te kawana nei, "Ka mea ia kia tikina a Paora, a
ka whakarongo ki a ia ki te whakapono ki a te Karaiti. A i a
ia e korero ana ki nga mea o te tika, ki te hiahia kia pehia, ki te
whakawakanga amua, ka wiri a Pirika, ka mea, Haere inaianei;
kia watea ahau, ka karangatia koe e ahau. " (Nga Mahi A Nga
Apotoro 24. 24-25. ) I tae mai tana waimarietanga ki a ia, otira
kihai ia i tango.
Ko Kingi Akaripa ia i tana whakarongo atu ki te korero nui
a Paora i a ia nei he herehere nona, e mea ana Akaripa, he
wahi iti kua riro atu ia hei karaitiana. (Nga Mahi A Nga
Apotoro 26. 27-28. ) I tae mai tana waimarietanga ki a ia, otira
kihai ia i tango.
Otiia me whakatu ahau inaianei i etahi kua tohungia ki roto i
te karaipeture a te Atua, etahi nei i tae mai ta ratou waimarie-
tan ga ki a ratou, a ka tangohia.
" Na te whakapono a Noa, i tona whakamaharatanga e te Atua
ki nga mea kahore ano i kitea, i oho ai, a hanga ana e ia te aka
hei whakaora mo tona whare: na tenei ano ia i whakahe ai i te
ao, a uru ana ki te tika o te whakapono. " (Nga Hiperu 11. 7. )
I tae mai tana waimarietanga ki a ia, a, ka tangohia.
I kite te Atua te tika o tera i roto i tana whakatupuranga,
engari ko tenei ko Rahapa he wahine purumu ia kahore tona
tika. Engari na tana whakaaro tupato atu ki nga mea kahoro
ano i kitea, ka tiaki pai ia i nga tutai i tomo nei ki Heriko, a ka.
whiwhi hoki ia i tetahi kupu whakaae i a raua. (Hohua 2. ) Ka
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TE HOA MAORI.
whakatika ia i taua kupu ka whakaki i tona whare i ana whauna-
nga, ko ratou anake i ora ai i te takiwa i horo nei te pa. (Hohua
6. 22-23. ) I tae mai tana waimarietanga ki a ia, a, ka tangohia.
I a Ihu e haere atu ana ka kite Ia i tetahi pupirikana, ko
Riwai te ingoa, e noho ana i te whare tango moni: a ka mea ki
a ia, Arumia mai ahau. I tae mai tana waimarietanga ki a ia, a,
ka tangohia.
I a Ihu e haere atu ana ki Hiruharama, ko Ia hoki kia mate
ki reira, i Tana putanga whakamutunga iho mai i Heriko ka
pangia ki a Ia te karanga nui a te matapo e noho ana ki te tono
mea mana. A ki Tana rongo atu ka ata tatari Ia ka whakaaetia
e Ia ka whakaora Ia nga kanohi o te matapo a ka kite atu ia.
I tae mai tana waimarietanga ki a ia, a, ka tangohia.
I a Ihu e haere atu i taua pa ka tutaki ia i a Hakiaha. Kahore
a Hakiaha i wehi i nga tangata nunui, kahore ia e wehe i tona
itinga ranei, engari ko ia ka oma atu ki mua a kake ana ia ki
tetahi rakau kia kite ia i a Ihu. A ka titiro ake a Ihu, ka kite
i a ia, ka haere atu a Ihu hei manuhere mana, a ka mea atu Ia,
No naiannei te oranga i tae mai ki tenei whare. (Ruka 19. 1-10. )
I tae mai tana waimarietanga ki a ia, a, ka tangohio.
I te taenga mai a Paora ki a Piripae ka haere atu ia i te Hapate
ki te taha o tetahi awa ki te wahi e huihui ana ki te inoi atu, ka
korero ia ki nga wahine e huihui ana. Tera tetahi wahine hoko-
hoko taonga ko Riria tona ingoa ka whakarongo ia ki nga korero
a Paora. (Nga Mahi A Nga Nga Apotoro, 16. 13-15. ) I tae mai
tana waimarietanga ki a ia, a, ka tangohia.
I ohotia i tana moe te kai-tiaki herehere e tetahi ru whenua i
taua pa ano. Kua whakahengia tona hinengaro ki te aroaro a te
Atua A ka takato ia ki te aroaro o Paora raua ko Hira, ka mea,
" E hoa ma me aha ka ora ai ahau 1" A ka tae mai ki a ia te
utu pai ki tana patai, ara, Me whakapono ki te Ariki ki a Ihu
Karaiti, ka ora ai koe, koutou tahi ko tou whare. A i taua haora
ano o te po ka koa ia, i a ia kua whakapono ki te Atua, rae tona
whare katoa. (Nga Nahi A Nga Apotoro 16. 22-24. ) I tae mai
tana waimarietanga ki a ia, a, ka tangohia.
E te kai-korero kei te haere te ra ka tika nei tetahi o aua
korero mou, ara, I tae mai tana waimarietanga ki a ia, a, ka
tangohia e ia; otia ranei i tenei, I tae mai tana waimarietanga
ki a ia, otira kihai ia i tango. Ko tehea o aua mea mou 1 Ka
whakataua tehea o aua mea ki runga i a koe i te ra ka tataua i o
mea i meatia e koe i tau nohoanga i tenei ao 1 Rapua te mea e
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TE HOA MAORI.
koe; rapua te mea inaianei tonu nei kei te whakaae koe kia riro
noa atu i a koe tau waimarietanga.
Mehemea i wakaroa a Noa ka pangia te whakangaromanga ki
a ia pena ka pangia ki te katoa o waho i te aka. Otira kau, ka
hohoro ia ki te mahi te oranga mona, ina kua whakamaharatia ia
e te Atua.
Mehemea i whakaroa a Rahapa ki te homai te mea whero ki
te matapihi o tono whare — he tohu tika tera o te toto o Ihu
Karaiti — ka horo tona whare i nga taiepa o Heriko.
Mehemea i whakaroa a Riwai ki te whakarongo atu ki te
karanga a Ihu tera pea ka mutu te karanga atu ki a ia.
Mehemea i totohe a Paratimiuha mo te moni haunga te aroha
noa i taua wa, kahore pea ia ka kite atu te aroha noa a te ngakau
o te Kai — whakaora kahore pea hoki te Kai-whakaora ka whaka-
rongo mai ranei ki tana karanga amuri. Mehemea i ngaro i a
Hakiaha tana waimarietanga kia kite ai ia i a Ihu tera pea e
kore tetahi atu waimarietanga mana, te take ko te mutunga iho
tera a te haeretanga a Ihu i a Heriko.
E te kai-korero whakarongo mai koe i nga tohutohu tupato o
nga tangata i mua i te waipuke, — ki te huaonga o Rota, — ki a
Pirika, — ki a Akaripa, — ki te kapene o te kaipuke nana nei i
whakakorea he oranga mona i te wa i tae mai te waimarietanga
ki a ia kia ora ai ia ratou ko nga tangata ki tana kaipuke. Engari
ra kia kaha koe ki te tohe kia rite ai tou whakapono ki ta te
whakapono a Noa, a Rahapa, a Riwai, a Paratimiuha, a Hakiaha,
a Riria, a me te Kai-tiaki herehere o Piripai. Koia ra ko tenei he
wa mou, ko tenei ra te wa whakaora. " Hei inaianei ki te rongo
koutou ki tona reo, kaua e whakapakeketia o koutou ngakau.,
Kei mea te tangata mou, " I tae mai tana waimarietanga ki a ia'
otira kihai ia i tango, "
KA PUPUHI AHAU KI TOU RIPEKA ANAKE,
E NUI aku kitenga atu ki tetahi whakaahua kua whakapiringia
ki te taha o nga whare me te whakaatu hoki ki roto i nga
toa hoko taonga. Tera tetahi kupu kua tuhia ki tera whakaahua
ko nga kupu e whenei ana te kupu kua tuhi a iho i runga ake nei.
He whakaaturanga taua whakaahua pea ki te ahua o te tokomaha
o te hunga karakia,
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TE HOA MAORI.
E whenei ana te ahua o taua whakaahua; tera tetahi kotiro e
pupuri ana ki tetahi ripeka kua hanga nei i tetahi kowhatu, ko
te ngaru kino rawa e takato ana i raro iho i a ia.
Ka whenei te ahua o te tikanga o taua whakaahua, na te kaha
a te kotiro ki te pupuri ki taua kowhatu ka ora ai ia. Ka ora ia
i nga wa e pupuri ana ia, otira mehemea ka tukua e ia ko ia ka
ngaro.
Te take ka tohutohu ahau i taua whakaahu e mea ana te toko-
maha, pea, ko taua whakakaahua e whakaatuatu ana nga tikanga o
te Rongo pai.
Ko tenei taku whakahe, tera tetahi e whakaaro ana ka ora te
tangata hara na tana kaha ki te ai tetahi mea mana, ahakoa he
mea iti noa iho te mahi.
I a ahau e tino whakaae ana ki tenei ko te Ripeka koia a te
Karaiti ia te take o nga whakapainga katoa ma te tangata, ahakoa
nomua, no inaianei, mo amuri ranei, he mea tera na te whakaaro
nui a te Atua Tapu, te Atua Atawhai, otira kia kaua e wareware
ki tenei tikanga nui, kua tohutohungia te tangata hara kia titiro
atu ia kia kauaka ki te wahi i oti ai te mahi a nga tikanga o te
whakaoranga otira kia titiro atu ki te Tangata nana nei i whak-
aoti te mahi. Korerotia Hoani 1, 29-36.
Tena, kei whea a Ihu i tenei ra 1 Kei roto i te kororia a te
rangi hei tikanga tika tera mo Tana mahi whakautu i mahia e Ia
ki runga i te Ripeka.
Tena, ka haere mai ra i whea te kupu o te orangatanga ki nga
tangata ratou ko nga wahine mate ki tenei ao, kua kino nei i te
hara ? Ka haere mai ra tera
No te torona tonu a te Atua Tonu,
e noho nei a Ihu he Pirinihi he Kai-whakaora hoki.
Engari ra, tera pea tetahi tangata hara e mau ana te mamae
ki tona ngakau, e pouri ana ia mo tono hara, e patai mai pea tera
ki ahau e whenei ana tana patai, Kia kaua nei ahau kia titiro
atu ki te Ripeka nei ?
Na, e taku hoa aroha, e kore rawa a Ihu ki runga i te ripeka
inaianei. Te aha kia kore ai koe kia matau atu ki a Ia i a Ia e
noho nei ?
Kua kautahanga te ripeka, kua kautahanga te urupa. Kua oti
ra te mahi i haere mai a Ihu kia mahia, ai ra kua ou paitia tera
rite tonu ki ta te Atua i pai ai. Ko tenei te tohu o te otinga
pai kua aranga Ia e te Atua i te mate a kua hoatu hoki ki a Ia,
te nohoanga runga rawa, ki te rangi.
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TE HOA MAORI. 7
E korero ana ki a koe i tenei ra nei te kaiwhakaora i maranga
mai i te mate, ko Ia hoki e ora ana, kua kororiatia, ko ia te Toa
o te hara, o te mate, o te po, o te urupa, ko Ia ra te kia-korero e.
korero ngawari ana ki a koe i tena ra. E te rawakore, te tangata
mate wai, te tangata hara, kauaka e whakakorea tana kupu aroha
ki a koe. "Ki te mate wai tetahi, kia haere mai ia ki a au
inu ai" Hoani 7. 37.
E te kai-korero kua whakaaturia ranei koe ki a Ihu ? Kua
otia ranei te here e te Wairua tapu o tou wairu ki a Karaiti te
Tama a te Atua kua maranga mai nei i te mate ?
Mehemea ka matau tou wairua ki a te Karaiti i a Ia e noho
nei, akuenei ka matau hoki koe penei ka rite ano ki tou kaha ki
te hopukia te matauranga o te tikanga nui whakaharahara a te
mahi a te Karaiti ki to te Atua whakaaro.
Heoi tou huarahi ki te matauranga a te utu nui o te Ripeka i
a koe nei e tae atu ki tera
Ma te taha o te Kororia.
E whenei ana te kaha o te toto o Ihu ka kaha tera te horoi
te hara nui rawa o te tangata ki tenei ao te whatikaia hoki ia
kia tu ai ki te wahi tapu ki te aroaro o te Atua. "Ae horoia
ana o tatou hara katoa e nga toto o Ihu Karaiti o tana Tama. "
1 Hoani 1. 7.
Na nga tikanga o te Ripeka ka riro mai ai nga tikanga nui o
te Rongo pai. Ka tika te tangata hara mehemea ka whakapono
ia, a na te utu nui o te toto ka whiwhi ai te orangatanga, a kua
murua ona hara katoa, a kua rite ia kia noho mai nei ki te wahi
marama kua atawhaitia hoki ia ki te aroaro o te Matua.
E te kai-korero ora kore, koia ra ko tera te whakaaro a te Atua
ki a koe inaianei tonu nei mehemea ka tahuri koe ki te titiro atu
me te tamaiti nei e whakaae ana, ki te hono hoki tou ngakau ki
a ia kua karaunatia e te karauna tataramoa i mua, a inaianei hei
Kai-whakaora kua oti nei te whakapainga. Korerotia Epeha 1. 3-7
Mehemea ka whakapono koe ki a ia ka whakatuturutia he
tunga mou
Ki runga i te Kowhatu
e kore e taea te whakanuku ake tonu atu ka tiaki tonu hoki tou
wairua i nga whakangaromanga ka taka iho akuenei ki runga i
tenei ao kino, engari tou wairua e hari ana ka waiatatia te waiata *
te hunga whakaora. " I arohaina nei tatou e ia, i horoia ano,
hoki o tatou hara i ona toto....... waiho atu i a ia te kororia.
me te kaha, ake tonu atu. Amine. " Whakakitenga 1, 5-6. 1
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TE HOA MAORI.
TOU AHUA IMUA, TOU A. HUA INAIANEI ME TOU
AHUA A MURI AKE NEI,
E TORU nga tikanga tuturu enei e pa ana ki a koe e taku
hoa orakore. Kua oti enei tikanga te whakaaturia ki roto
i a Ihaia 64. 6. No reira kua whakakitea mai ai e te Atua tika
tonu, tou ahua i mua, inaianei me a muri ake nei.
Kauaka koe e mahi e penei ana me te tangata e tata ana ki
tona pekaraputanga ka noho mataku ki te tirotiro iho ki roto
i ana pukapuka kia mohio ai ia i tana peheatanga; ki nga tangata
ranei e moe ana e kore ano hoki e pai kia whakaohotia puta noa
kia tae mai te whakangaromanga.
Na, i te tuatahi ka korerotia mai e te Atua ki runga i nga
tikanga o tou ahua i mua E mea ana Ia he ahua kino tou ahua
mua ki Tana titiro. Ka mea Ia
He mea poke koe,
ara, e whenei ana te tikanga o taua kupu e kore e tika koe kia
tu mai ki Tona aroaro. Kati ra, kauaka koe e tahuri atu me te
ki ano ki a koe ano, aeha, ehara ahau i te kino atu i etahi. Ehoa,
kohore kia whakaae he kai-whakawa o tenei ao ki tou korero pena,
ara mehemea he tika tana mahi. A me pewhea, " E kore ranei
e tika te mahi a te Kai-whakarite wakawa mo tu ao katoa ?"
Tera pea e ki na koe, E tika, e whakaae ana ahau he ahua he
toku i mua, engari kei te tohe ahau inaianei ki te mahi ke. E te
kai-korero taua ka titiro atu ki tou ahua inaianei kia penatia ta
taua titiro me ta te Atua titiro. Na, e mea ana Ia
"A matou tika katoa me te mea he kakahu rukenga. "
Tena te kakahu pai nei mo te tutakitanga ki te Atua.
Tena ko tenei, ko te tuatahi e mea ana ehara tou ahua i te
ahua tika kia tae atu koe ki te aroaro o te Atua; koia ano ko te
kupu tuarua e whakaaturia mai ana i tenei tikanga, e kaha kore
koe ki te whakatika i a koe ano. Na, mehemea kua ata whaka
ritea o mahi pai atu e Ia ki to te kakahu rukenga me pehea aua
moa i mahia e koe e whakaae ana hoki e koe ehara aua mea he
mea tika kia kitea e te Atua!
Tera ano tetahi mea tika mea taumaha hoki e pa ana ki a koe.
Ahakoa e kore ano koe e tika mo te atua titiro iho, ahakoa he
kaha kore koe ki te. whakatikaia i a koe ana, tenei ano tetahi mea
ke atu, ara, e mohio ana tatou e kore e taro ka tae atu tatou ki
Tona aroaro ka whai take hoki ki reira te take
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TE HOA MAORI.
" Kua memenga nei matou katoa ano he rau rakau. '
Tera pea kua karangatia etahi o ohoa kia haere atu i roto o enei
nga ra etoru noa iho o tenei tau kua pau iho nei. A me pewhea
mehemea ko koe te mea tata kia haere atu ai ?
Tera te mea tuawha, te mea tuturu, te mea pona, ara kua
tawhiti atu koe i te Atua inaianei, a mehemea ka haere koe i tou
ahua whenei he mea tuturu tera mou mo a muri ake nei.
" Kei te hau te rite o a matou kino e kahaki ne
i a matou, "
he pono ra ka rongo koe te kupu, "Mawehe atu i a au. "
Tera pea e whenei ana tou patae, Kahore ranei he tumanako-
tanga 1 Kahore kau ki a koe, engari kei roto i a te Karaiti te
oratanga me nga manaakitanga katoa.
He mea poke koia ahau ? E mea ana te kupu a te Atua, "A e
horoia ana o tatou hara e nga toto o Ihu Karaiti o tana Tama.
1 Hoani 1. 7.
He mea kore noa iho ranei toku tika? E mea ana te Atua
kua tau Tana tika (haunga to tatou kakahu rukenga. ) "Ki te
hunga katoa mo te hunga katoa e whakapono ana. " Roma 3. 22.
Ka mate ranei ahau 1 E hara tera i te mea kua whakatau
tuturu tera ki te tangata mehemea ko ia he tangata whakapono.
Te take kei te haere mai te Karaiti, " E kore tatou katoa e moe
ana. " (1 Koriniti 15. 51. ) Te take hoki kua karangatia te
mate a te karaitiana he mea moe.
Kia tu tawhiti atu ranei ahau i te Atua 1 Kahore. Ko te
take kua whakatata inaianei te tangata whakapono. " Kua
meinga e nga toto o Ihu Karaiti kia tata. " (Epeha 2. 13. ) " Kia
noho tonu tatou ki te Ariki. " (1 Teharonika 4. 17. )
Ma te Atua kia whakaha koe kia kite ai koe i o mahi i mua, e
aha koe inaianei, me nga mea i Otia e Ia me e aha hoki Ia.
HE MEA KAWE MAI TE MAHI A TE RONGO PAI,
EHARA I TE TONOTONO
KOIA ano te hare o te hunga e mohio ana te tuwheratanga o
\_\_ \_ te whare herehere o nga wharau. Nohea ka taea e nga
mea o tenei ao te whakaatu ki te tangata te nui o te pai o te
rongo pai me nga mea papai e apitiria ana ki tena..
Tera tetahi heramana ka pangia he aitua ki a ia a ka rere noa;
ia ki runga i te moana mo e whia nga ra, kahore he wai maori
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10 GOOD NEWS.
mona he iti hoki tana kai. Tera te meana ki nga taha katoa ona,
heoi e taunu ana tera ki tona mate wai. A ka tata tonu ia ki te
hemo katahi ia ka kite i tetahi, kaipuke he, mea ma ona ra, e rere
ana i te takiwa tawhiti atu. Katahi ka hoki mai tana mana-
wanui ki a ia. Ka hoki mai tona kaha ano ki a ia. Ka rapu ia
i tetahi tikanga kia titiro mai ai nga tangata o taua kaipuke e
rere ana mai. Mutunga iho kua kitea ia e ratou a, utaina ki
taua kaipuke. A kua ora ia. Ka haere mai te rongo pai ki
te tunga o te hunga ngaro: ki te kawe mai te oranga-
tanga. He mea kua ata rite tera mo nga aitua o te hunga hara.
He kupu tera a te oranga, a te rangimarie, a te kaha, a te wete-
kina i te here, a te rangi; te take na te Atua ano te kupu.
E te kai-korero ka whiwhi ranei koe te manawanui o te kaha
o te Bongo pai ? Mehemea ka kore heoi ra kotahi anake taku
patai atu ki a koe, koia ko tenei, "He pehea ra te whakamutunga
ki te hunga e kore e tahuri ki te rongo pai o te Atua ? 1 Pet. 4, 17.
GOOD NEWS.
[The foregoing Articles are free Translations of the following. ]
CHANCES,
O E got his chance last night, but he didn't take it!" said a
member of a lifeboat crew, with reference to the captain
of a ship which was wrecked, with the loss of twenty lives. The
lifeboat's help had been declined, as the captain hoped to save
his ship, but his nope of attaining safety by his own efforts
proved vain.
Of how many souls who have passed into eternity may it not be
said, with reference to SALVATION, " he got his chance, but he
didn't take it ? " Not only is this the case to-day, but it was so
of old. Let me give you a few instances from Scripture.
" As it was in the days of Noe... they did eat, they
drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until
the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and
destroyed them all. " (Luke xvii. 26, 27. ) "Which sometime
were disobedient, when once the long-suffering of God waited in
the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing. " (1 Peter iii.
20. ) They got their chance, but they didn't take it,
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"And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons-inlaw, which
married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place.
for the Lord will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that
mocked unto his sons-in-law. " (Gen. xix. 14. ) They got their
chance, but they didn't take it. Judas Iscariot was the close
companion of Christ during the three-and-a-half years of His
wondrous life of service on earth. He heard His words of grace,
beheld His acts of power, and was an eye-witness of His whole
manner of life, but, after all, he betrayed his Master, and de-
stroyed himself. He got his chance — and what a chance — but he
didn't take it.
Simon the sorcerer was a witness of the great revival in
Samaria; and was himself so impressed by the preaching of Philip,
and the miracles he performed, that he yielded mental credence
to the truth, and was baptized. But a word afterwards shewed
that he had neither part nor lot in the matter, for his heart was
not right in the sight of God. (Acts viii. 5 — 24. ) He got his
chance, but he didn't take it.
Felix, the governor, " sent for Paul, and heard hira concerning
the faith in Christ. And as he reasoned of righteousness, temper-
ance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, (io
thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will
call for thee. " (Acts xxiv. 24, 25. ) He his chance but he didn't
take it.
King Agrippa, moved by the pressing appeal of the same apostle
when his prisoner, was almost persuaded to be a Christian. (Acts
xxvi. 27, 28. ) He got his chance, but he didn't take it.
And now, on the other hand, let me give you a few examples
from the Word of God of some who got their chance, and took, it
" By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet
moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house by the
which he condemned the world, and became heir of the right-
eousness which is by faith. " (Heb. xi. 7. ) He got his chance,
and took it.
Unlike the last, whom God found righteous in his generation,
Rahab was a poor harlot; but, being also moved with fear of
things not seen as yet, she harboured the spies who entered
Jericho, and having obtained a promise from them of security
(Josh, ii. ), acted upon it, and filled her house with her relatives,
who were the only persons spared when the city was taken..
(Josh. vi. 22, 23. ) She got her chance, and took it.
Jesus as He passed along, "saw a publican named Levi, sitting
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12 GOOD NEWS.
at the receipt of custom: and He said unto him, Follow Me.
And he left all, rose up and followed Him. " (Luke v. 27, 28. )
He got his chance, and took it.
While on His way to Jerusalem to die, Jesus, passing through
Jericho for the last time, was arrested by the importunate cry for
mercy of a blind beggar, and, at his desire, gave him his sight.
(Luke xviii. 35—43. ) He got his chance, and took it.
Passing out of the same city, He was met by Zaccheus, who,
not to be deterred by the thronging crowd through his small ness of
stature, ran before, and climbed a tree to see Jesus. Jesus looked
up, saw him, went to be his guest, and pronounced the words,
"this day is salvation come to this house. " (Luke xix. 1 — 10. )
He got his chance, and took it.
Paul, having come to Philippi, went out on the Sabbath to a
river-side, where prayer was wont to be made, and spoke to the
women that resorted thither. A certain tradeswoman, named
Lydia, attended to that which was spoken of by Paul. (Acts xvi.
13—15. She got her chance, and took it.
Awakened out of his sleep by an earthquake, a gaoler, in the
same city, with his conscience deeply convicted before God, fell at
the feet of 'Paul and Silas, and said, " Sirs, what must 1 do to be
saved T He received the blessed answer, ' Believe on the Lord
Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house'; and " the
same hour of the night' he rejoiced, believing in God with all
his house. " Acts xvi. 22—34. ) He got his chance, and took it.
The day is coming, my reader, when one of these two will be
truly said of you—" He got his chance, and took it, " or. "he got
his chance, but he didn't take it. " Which will it be 1 In the
day that your earthly history comes to be summed up, will the first
or the second, have to be said of you ? See to it, and see to it
now, that you are not letting your chance escape you.
Had Noah delayed, destruction would have overtaken him as
it did all outside the ark. But, directly Noah was warned of God,
he set about securing the means of salvation.
Had Rahab delayed to put the scarlet line in her window—fit
emblem of the blood of Jesus, the sinner's only refuge—her house
would have fallen with the remainder of Jericho's walls.
Had Levi postponed responding to the call of Christ, he might
never have had another.
Had blind Bartimteus continued calling for money, and not
called for mercy when he did, he would never have had another
chance of reaching the Saviour's ear and heart. Or had Zaccheus
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GOOD NEWS. 13
lost his chance of seeing Jesus, he would never have had another.
For that was His last journey through Jericho.
Take warning then, dear reader, from the men before the flood,
from Lot's sons-in-law, Simon the sorcerer, Felix, Agrippa, and
from the captain of that ship who refused to be rescued when he
might have been landed, with his crew, in safety. Imitate the
faith of Noah, Rahab, Levi, Bartimaeus, Zaccheus, Lydia, the
Philippian gaoler. Now is your time, for " now is the day of Sal-
vation. " " To-day, if ye will hear His voice, harden not your
hearts. " Let it not have to be said of you, "He got his chance,
but he didn't take it. " W. G. B.
SIMPLY TO THY GROSS I CLING,
have frequently observed, hanging on cottage walls
.. and exhibited in shop windows, a picture with the above
words inscribed upon it, which appears to describe the views of a
large class of the religious community.
A. young maiden is represented, clinging to a rock in the
form of a cross, while underneath her surges the foaming
breakers.
The point of the picture is evidently to show that her security
depends upon
her hold of the pock
While she clings she is safe; if she relinquishes her hold she is
lost.
Our reason for calling attention to the picture is, that many
look upon it as a true representation of the gospel.
What we take exception to, is the thought of a sinner's salva-
tion being dependent in the slightest degree upon his own efforts,
While we hold tenaciously to the fact that the Cross of Christ
is the basis oi every blessing, whether past, present, or future, pur-
posed for man by an infinitely Holy and Gracious God, we would
not forget that the sinner's gaze is directed, not to the place where
redemption was effected, but to the Person by whom it was accorn-
plished. Read John i. 29-36.
Where, then, is Jesus to-day ? In heavenly glory as the result
of His atoning work on the Cross.
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14 GOOD NEWS.
And from whence comes the message of salvation to dying men
and women in this sin blighted world ? From
the very throne of God Himself,
where Jesus sits, a Prince and a Saviour.
" But must I not look to the Cross ?" says some burdened, sin-
sick soul.
Dear friend, Jesus is no longer on the Cross. Why not make
his acquaintance where he is ?
The Cross is empty, the grave is vacant; the work which Jesus
came to do is finished to God's entire satisfaction; the proof of
which is, that God has raised Him from the dead and given Him
the highest place in heaven.
It is a risen, living, glorified Savour, the triumphant Conqueror
over sin, death, hell, and the grave, who speaks to you in gracious
accents to-day. Needy, thirsty sinner, do not slight His loving
message. "If any man thirst, let him come unto life, and drink. "
(John vii. 37. )
Have you thus been introduced to Jesus, reader ? Has the
living link been formed by the Holy Ghost between your soul and
the risen Son of God ?
If you learn Christ where he is in the faith of your soul, you
will presently learn, in the measure in which you are able to take
it in, the stupendous value of the work of Christ in God's estimation
You can only learn the true value of the Cross as you reach it
by way of the glory.
The efficacy of the blood of Jesus is so great that it can cleanse
the vilest of the human race, and make him fit for God's Holy
presence. "The blood of Jesus Christ His son cleanseth us from
all sin. " (I. John 1-7. )
The Gospel is the blessed outcome of the Cross. The sinner,
who believes, is by virtue of the blood saved, cleared from every
charge of guilt, and set down in unclouded acceptance in the
Father's presence. Read Ephesians i., 3-7.
Unsaved reader, this is what God proposes to do for you, this
very moment, if, in childlike faith, you turn your eyes and heart
to the once thorn-crowned, but now exalted, Saviour. Acts xiii.
38-39.
Believing on Him your feet will then be planted
on the Rock
that can never be moved, your soul safely sheltered from the over-
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GOOD NEWS. 15
whelming floods of judgment that will presently burst upon this
guilty world, while your happy heart will be able to join the
triumphant song of the redeemed: — " Unto Him that loved us,
and washed us from our sins in His blood... be glory and
dominon for ever and ever, Amen. " (Rev. i. 5-6. ) G. F. E.
YOUR PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE,
FOUR solemn facts for you to face, dear unsaved reader, are
\_ presented in Isaiah Ixiv. 6, wherein your past, present, and
future are portrayed by the unerring hand of God Himself !
Be not like a man who, afraid to look into his books, goes on
till the fatal crash overtakes hira, as the result of his folly in not
facing things in time; nor like men asleep in a vessel drifting
to destruction, who will not be awakened till it is too late.
First, then, God tells you that your past is a bad one. In His
sight you are
"as an unclean thing, "
that is, in other words, you are unfit for His presence. Do not
turn away, saying to yourself, " I am not worse than others. "
That plea would not be admitted by an earthly judge seeking
to do justice, and " Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right T
Perchance you are saying, "I admit my past, but I 'am seeking
to be different. " Let us look, my reader, at your present as God
sees it. He says
"all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. "
What a covering to meet God with !
If the first statement tells you that you are unfit for His Holy
presence, the second brings out this fact: you cannot make your-
self fit, for if your best deeds (righteousnesses) are counted by the
One with whom you have to do as "filthy rags, " what about
those things which your own conscience tells you are unfit for the
eye of God ?
But there is another solemn reality for you to face. Besides
being unfit for God, and unable to make yourself fit, we learn
that soon we must be in His presence, and have to do with Him,
-
or
"we all do fade as a leaf"
Perhaps some of your friends have been called away even dur-
ing the little time that has elapsed this year, and what if your
turn should come next?
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GOOD NEWS.
Then the fourth solemn fact, which is true now of you morally
—that you are far away from God—would be true alas! eternally:
" our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away, "
for you must hear the words, "Depart from Me. "
Is there no hope, do you say ? None in you, but salvation
and every blessing is found in Christ.
Am I an unclean thing 1 God's Word tells me " The blood of
Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin. " (1. John i. 7. )
Is my righteousness no good ? God declares that His righteous-
ness (instead of our filthy rags) is " upon all them that believe. "
(Rom. iii. 22. )
Shall I die 1 Not necessarily if I am a believer, because Christ
is coming, and "we shall not all sleep. " (1. Cor. xv. 51. ) For a
Christian death is simply called sleeping.;
Am I to be at a distance from God 1 No, since even now the
believer is " made nigh by the blood of Christ" (Eph. ii. 13), and
he will be for ever " with the Lord. " (1. Thess. iv. 17. )
May God show you what you have done, and what you are,
and also what He has done, and what He is. P. W. D.
THE GOSPEL BRINGS, NOT DEMANDS.
HOW favoured are those who know the joyful sound of liberty
to the captives ! Earthly figures are so poor that they fail
to describe the gospel and its attendant blessing. A wrecked
mariner had been floating upon the open ocean for several days,
without fresh water and with little food There was the ocean
all around him, but it only mockd his raging thirst. When almost
dying he observed a white sail in the distance. Hope entered his
breast. Strength re-entered his frame. He devised means to
attract the notice of the approaching ship. He was seen at
length, and was taken on board. He was saved! The gospel
comes where lost men are: it brings salvation. It is exactly suited
to the necessities of sinners. It is the word of life, of peace, of
power, of liberty, of heaven, because it is the word of God.
Dear reader, have you experienced the power of the gospel 1 "If
not, I will only detain you to ask you one question: " What shall
the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God ? I. Peter iv. 17.