CHAPTER XXI.

CHRIST THE REDEEMER; OR, THE PARDONED REBELS.

QUESTION XXI. _Who is the Redeemer of God's elect?_

ANSWER. The only Redeemer of God's elect is the Lord Jesus Christ, who, being the eternal Son of God, became man, and so was, and continues to be, God and man, in two distinct natures and one person, forever.

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THE explanations connected with the last lesson made a deep impression upon the mind of Walter. During the week following, he was unusually serious and thoughtful, and at length sought his mother's chamber, when he knew her to be alone, and, with tearful eyes, asked, "How can I be sure that God has elected me to be one of his children?"

Mrs. Dermott, with deep emotion, replied, "If you are willing to give your heart to him, and accept Christ as your Saviour, you may be sure of it, my child."

It was, therefore, with prayerful interest that Mr. and Mrs. Dermott met their dear children on the evening appointed for the exercise.

Having heard the answer repeated, the father asked, "Helen, who is the Lord Jesus Christ?"

"He is the Redeemer, the eternal Son of God."

"Do you understand the meaning of that answer?"

Helen shook her head.

"I will answer for you," said her mother. "It means that from all eternity he sustained the relation of Son to the everlasting Father—

"'Thou art the Son of the living God.'

"Twelve years ago, Walter began to sustain the relation of son to your father; and so existence commenced with every son of the human race; the angels also began to be. There was a time when all these did not exist, and another time when they began to be God's children. Jesus Christ, as the son of man, began to exist almost two thousand years ago. But Jesus Christ, as the Son of God, never began to exist. Unto his Son God said,—

"'Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever. A sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.'

"'And let all the angels of God worship him.'

"These two natures, that of the Son of God, and that of the son of man," added Mr. Dermott, "he unites in the office of the only Redeemer of God's elect. These will continue forever."

"I will illustrate some of these sentiments by another parable. We will suppose, then, that upon a sea-girt isle, there once reigned a great and good king, who had one only and dearly beloved son, the heir to his kingdom and great revenues. The son was associated with his father in every act for the good of the empire, and the most tender, confiding affection existed between them.

"On one occasion, a large number of men associated together to rebel against the government. The knowledge of this coming to the throne, the rebels were tried, found guilty, and expelled from the island.

"Not many months elapsed before a rumor reached the king that these men were engaged in privateering around the island, plundering and then setting fire to vessels either approaching or receding from the shore. This unlawful and wicked course was continued for years, notwithstanding the utmost vigilance of the officers appointed to apprehend them.

"At length there arose a great storm, which lasted for several days. Multitudes of small vessels were driven upon the reefs surrounding the shore, and were rescued by the kindness of the islanders. Toward the close of the third day of the terrible tempest, a large vessel was seen driving furiously toward the rocks. The king, from his palace, gazed upon the scene with feelings of the tenderest compassion. The surf, lashing itself into foam, was dashing furiously toward the shore; and there, at the distance of a mile, lay a noble brig dismasted and in distress.

"Summoning the prince, the king ascended to the tower of his palace, where a powerful glass enabled him to view the awful scene with more distinctness. The distressed mariners were running to and fro on board the vessel, some lashing themselves to spars or pieces of broken masts; others were wringing their hands, or raising their arms imploringly to heaven; while still other's had cast themselves down upon the deck in an attitude of despair.

"With a pallid cheek and a trembling voice, the king announced to his son, who stood at his side, that this vessel contained the company of rebels who had conspired against the throne, and who, for a long period, had been guilty of plundering the sea.

"'Yes, sire,' answered the prince, after having looked through the glass. 'It is indeed so. I can distinctly recognize the ringleaders in the midst of the crew.'

"The king again approached the glass, and gazed in silence upon the wreck. Then hastening to the shore, accompanied by his son, he offered large rewards to those who would go to the rescue of the wrecked and drowning mariners. But no one could be found ready to take his life in his hand, and venture upon the boiling surf, even to obtain the prize.

"At length the prince came forward among the crowd, and, approaching his father, said, 'Here am I, sire; send me.'

"The compassionate heart of the sovereign yearned after his guilty subjects. He longed to rescue them, and restore them to favor. Withdrawing with the prince from the crowd, he cried, 'Go, my son, and my love and blessing shall follow you. Go and tell the poor guilty creatures, I offer them free pardon if they will return to their allegiance, and become dutiful subjects.'

"From his previous knowledge of their character, and of the agencies to be exerted on them, he then told his son who would accept this pardon and be induced to return with him, and, having embraced and blessed him, followed him to the life-boat.

"He then hastened back to the tower, where his eagle eye watched the bark as it floated over the seething, crested waves. Suddenly he cried out in the anguish of his soul. A great wave had struck the frail boat, and it was ingulfed in the angry waters.

"But no; there presently appeared a little speck in the distance. With what intense, breathless anxiety he watched the scene!

"Wiping his dim eyes, he at length perceived that his son had buffeted the waves, and was clinging to the bottom of the boat. But he had hardly begun to breathe more freely, before the same thing occurred again and again. So that when the prince reached the wrecked vessel, he was scarcely able to mount the deck, to which the boat was made fast by means of a long rope.

"The prince made his way along the deck, which was covered with broken pieces of timber, and made known his errand. With the earnest love which had led him to encounter so much danger for their sakes, he now besought them to leave their wrecked and ruined brig, and accept his father's offers of mercy. Those whom the king had mentioned to his son, threw themselves, without reserve, into his arms, surrendering themselves, and all they had, to his will. But the others refused to comply, even preferring to remain on board their craft, which was fast going to pieces. Every tender persuasion was of no avail; and at length, with the chosen few, the prince sadly entered the life-boat to return to the shore.

"But before cutting the line which would destroy the last hope of the poor outlaws, he stretched out his arms toward them, beseeching them, as they valued their own lives, and the sacrifice he had made for them, to lay down their arms in token of their submission to his authority, that he might have the unspeakable pleasure of presenting them all to his father as the fruits of his suffering.

"But all these tender entreaties only made the wrath of the guilty pirates more terrible. With loud cries they bade him begone, hurling their weapons in defiance at the boat, and refusing longer even to listen to his words of love.

"Those who were accompanying the prince, being made willing to accept his mediation with the king, bowed their heads in shame at the insolent conduct of their late companions; scalding tears of anguish and remorse ran down their cheeks as they remembered how recently they had joined in this wicked rebellion. The language of their hearts was, 'O, with what a wonderful love hath he drawn our guilty hearts to himself! What boundless goodness that we are not only saved alive, but pardoned and restored to all the privileges of the kingdom!'

"As they drew near the shore, their emotions increased, and they cried aloud, 'How can we appear in the presence of our justly offended sovereign? Our iniquity seems too great for him to forgive. O, why did we never, till now, view ourselves as vile and guilty before him! Surely our sins have rendered us blind to our own unworthiness, as well as wanting in obedience toward him.'

"'Comfort yourselves, my dear friends,' exclaimed the prince; 'my father has accepted my sufferings and labors as a sacrifice for your guilt, and your pardon is free and entire. Forget, then, the things that are past, and endeavor, by your zeal in his service, to show your gratitude for the favors you have received.'

"When the life-boat, with its precious freight of souls, drew toward the land, many stood back with fear, as they recognized the outlaws; but this emotion was instantly changed to joy, as the prince accompanied them to his father, and presented them as the reward of his toil. 'Here am I, sire, and the people who have been redeemed from death by my agonizing exertions. In your name I have promised that the sentence pronounced against them should be reversed, and that, accepting me as their ransom, they should be admitted to all the privileges of children of a merciful sovereign.'

"Here the pardoned rebels cast themselves down at the feet of the king, confessing their hatred of themselves and the life they had pursued since they departed from his requirements, resolutely declaring their determination henceforth to live lives of obedience and integrity, that they might in some humble degree express their gratitude and love toward him who had been willing to give his life a ransom for theirs.

"When the multitude, who had been crowding near, heard these words, there arose one long-continued shout of rejoicing, in which might be heard these words: 'Our glorious Prince! May he reign over us forever and ever! For his sake we joyfully, exultingly, welcome home those whom he has so loved, and who will help to swell the song of praise to his name forever and ever.'"

While Mr. Dermott had been speaking, Walter's tears silently trickled down his cheeks. He evidently was applying the parable to his own case.

After a moment's pause, the gentleman continued: "We are the rebels against God, the king. Jesus Christ is our prince, who has offered his life a sacrifice for our sins, that we may obtain pardon and peace. Those of us who receive him as our Saviour are his elect, whom he carries in the life-boat of salvation to the kingdom of his Father in heaven."

Dear children, who have all of you violated God's holy law, and are living afar off, having incurred his displeasure, will you not confess and forsake your sins, joyfully embracing his Son as your Prince, your Saviour, and Redeemer?