The woman hesitated a moment, then arose, uttered a shriek, and, crossing her arms over her breast, fell sobbing and laughing across the lap of the woman next her. Again she arose, staggered a short distance, and again fell at the feet of the matron of the prison, burying her head in the matron's lap. The excitement was so intense that Mr. Moody would not do more than make a very brief application of the scene to illustrate God's offer of pardon and peace.
Afterward he said that should such interest or excitement be manifest in connection with any of his meetings — when men and women accepted the pardon offered for all sin — he would be accused of extreme fanaticism and undue working on the emotions. Strange that men prize more highly the pardon of a fellow-man than the forgiveness of their God ! ^
(2) We see it also in the sandification of the soul. — We are saved by Christ not merely from ruin, but into a surpassing per- fection of life. The Psalmist prayed: "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean : wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." What is whiter than snow ? We have white clouds, flowers, foam, shells ; but in the whole realm of nature we know nothing whiter than snow. Are we then to dismiss the Psalmist's aspira- tion as so much Oriental rhetoric ? The highest poetry contains the deepest truth, and we must seek lovingly for great meanings in expressions which are really a Divine rhetoric. Is not the truth here, that grace gives our spirit a perfection beyond all per- fection found in nature? Science declares that in things most perfect there is some imperfection, that there is an ideal perfec- tion which nature rarely or never reaches, that the most exquisite organs lack theoretical harmony and finish. Rude matter does not attain all the delicacy of the Divine thought, and the naturalist
1 W. R. Moody, The Life of Dwight L. Moody, 281.
PSALM XXIII. 5 489
with the Psalmist complains: "I have seen an end of all per- fection." But the human spirit aspires to a truthfulness, purity, and beauty beyond that of the physical universe, it pants to be whiter than snow ; and this sublimest aspiration of our being is destined to attainment in Jesus Christ.
(3) There is, last of all, boundless provision in Christ Jesus. — History tells that an ancient king granted pardon to some criminals under sentence of death, but when these discharged malefactors applied for relief at the palace gates the king refused them, protesting: "I granted you life, but did not promise you bread." This is not the theory of the Gospel ; Christ not only saves from destruction, but opens to the soul sources of rich strengthening and endless satisfaction. " In this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined." This prediction is grandly accomplished in Him in whom " dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." The Gospel of Christ is not a scheme meeting a certain dreadful exigency and then of no further significance ; it is the fullest revelation of the Divine truth and love and holiness, on which the spirits of the just shall feed and feast for ever.
Heart of Christ, 0 cup most golden,
Taking of thy cordial blest. Soon the sorrowful are folden
In a gentle healthful rest: Thou anxieties art easing, Pains implacable appeasing: Grief is comforted by love; 0, what wine is there like love?
Heart of Christ, 0 cup most golden,
Liberty from thee we win: We who drink, no more are holden
By the shameful cords of sin; Pledge of mercy's sure forgiving, Powers for a holy living, — These, thou cup of love, are thine; Love, thou art the mightiest wine.^ ^ " It passeth knowledge." It overflows the heart. The saint sometimes cries with Fletcher: "Lord, stay Thine hand, or the
^ T. T. Lynch, The lUvulet, 87.
490 ENTERTAINMENT, ENRICHMENT
vessel will break." As in certain parts of Australia the abund- ance of flowers fills the air with sweetness until it becomes pain- ful to the senses, so does the saint sometimes so vividly realize the grand all-encompassing love of God that the soul is over- whelmed with the mingled pain and bliss, and only finds vent in adoring tears.
Joy through our swimming eyes doth break, And mean the thanks we cannot speak.^
^ Annually when the ice breaks up in Eussia the Czar goes in state to drink of the Eiver Neva ; and, having drunk, it was long the custom for the Czar to return the cup to his attendants full of gold, but year by year the cup became so much larger that at length a stipulated sum was paid instead of the old largesse. But however large the vessel we bring to God, and however much it increases in capacity with the discipline of years, God shall still make it to overflow with that peace and love and joy which is better than rubies and much fine gold. Let us pray
Open the fountain from above. And let it our full souls o'erflow.*