THE MENNONITE BROTHERHOOD IN RUSSIA (1789 - 1910), P. M. Friesen, 1911

d, atoning for his greed of honor, as He stands arrayed in a purple robe with a crown of thoms on His head. And before the eyes of the sensualist will I present the martyr form of Him who hangs upon the cross, with nail-pierced hands and feet, dripping blood and endures the terrible pain because of our evil lusts. In this way shall the Word of the Cross bring the sinner to a halt in his sinful ways, that he may consider in this his time, what serves for his peace. Christ shall become his wisdom. 6. But once the conscience of the sinner has been awakened, once he perceives the bottomless pit that opens itself at his feet, once he dares no longer even to raise his sinful eyes to a grieved God, and once the world, which till now beguiled him to sin and served his evil desires, abandons him heartlessly to his agony, then it is that I point him to Jesus Christ, the crucified, who alone can help him , who gave His life for the redemption of the sinner, and shed His blood for the forgiveness of sins. To such I speak comfort: Peace, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:1) and His blood cleanses humbled, repentant, returning sinners from all sin (John 1:7). What else could I think of, what more effective remedy could I find in heaven and on earth, for the contrite and such as are troubled about their eternal salvation, than the Word from the Cross? O, how I shall rejoice with the angels in heaven if I can lead such a sinner to stand beneath the cross and can say to him, “Look, you poor sinner, so deserving of death, there the Son of God dies for you, and your debt is now paid!” And how I will exult with such a sinner when he commences to sing: Christ’s own blood and righteousness My beauty are, my glorious dress. Accepted in them before God I shall stand, When eternally I dwell in that heavenly land! Yes, Christ’s own blood and righteousness, indeed! That is what a poor sinner needs. And I shall present Him, who by God Himself has been made our righteousness, to all poor sinners. 6. But justified sinners also need nothing more urgently than a Savior, who has died for them. The daily stumblings, that take place in the life of one who is bom again, can only be forgiven through the blood of the Crucified (and He is also) the only One in whose strength daily sanctification progresses. Does the fear of loss lead you to be unfaithful Pastor Wuest 217 to truth, making a lie seem advisable, then I will point you to the One, who, before Caiaphas and Pilate, gave a testimony concerning the truth and bled for it. Does your love want to grow cold because of the thanklessness and hatred that you experience, and as your feelings suffer keenly under insult do your ears become dull to the command of the Lord: “Bless them that curse you; do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you” (Matt. 5:44), then I will point you to Him, who did not thre