THE FAMILY ALTAR

September 20.

"Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines; for it

is a good thing that the heart be established with grace." Heb.13:
9.

The great dividing line between the Christian religion and all

other religions is the doctrine of salvation by grace. All other

religions ascribe to -sinful man some merit in gaining favor with

God and being saved; the Christian religion alone gives all glory-

to God by teaching that we sinful mortals are saved by the free,

unmerited grace of God, which was won for us by God's incarnate

Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and which is offered and given to us

for His sake as a free gift of God's love in the Gospel. When

this doctrine of free grace lives in your heart, it preserves you from

falling a victim to the many "divers and strange doctrines" that

mislead countless souls nowadays. For this doctrine is like the

wonderful flower known as touch-me-not, that closes its petals when

any one touches it. So this doctrine of salvation by free and un-

merited grace at once closes the heart against any and all false

teaching that would in any way detract from Christ's saving merit

or from our being saved by His grace alone. Thus this doctrine

establishes the heart, building it securely on the Rock of Ages.

It is also an unerring light for explaining the Scriptures and de-

tecting the most subtle false doctrine. Let us thank God for re-

storing this blessed doctrine to us through the services of Luther,

and let us say with the dear Eef ormer : aIn my heart there reigns

alone, and ever shall reign, this one article, namely, faith in my

dear Lord Christ, which is the beginning, middle, and end of all

my religious thoughts that I have day or night."

By grace! this ground of our salvation,

As long as God is true, endures:

What saints have penned by inspiration,

What God by His own Word assures,

What all our faith must rest upon,

Is grace, free grace, through His dear Son.

By grace the timid hearts that languish

Find access to the Father's heart,

When conflicts fierce and bitter anguish

Bid all their joy and hopes depart.

Where, ofttimes, should 1 strength obtain,

Did grace my anchor not remain!

By grace! on this in death I'll rest me,

Rejoicing, e'en though feeling naught;

I know my sin — it oft oppressed me —

But Him, too, who salvation brought.

My heart exults — grief flees apace —

Because my soul is saved by grace.