29. Tests For Diamonds
Tests for Diamonds "The Lord trieth the righteous"—Psalms 11:5.
"Try my reins and my heart."—Psalms 26:2. The following letter suggests thought:—"to the editor of the times.
"Sir,—Already a panic seems to have been created by the report in The 'Times' of to-day of frauds in connection with imitation jewelry and diamonds known as the 'Waterkloof.' It may allay much misapprehension if those of your readers who have recently purchased diamonds of which they have any doubt would submit them to a very simple test—viz., the file. By drawing across the surface of any imitation diamond a small steel file, an effect is produced as highly detrimental to the spurious as it is satisfactory to the genuine article. To the uninitiated no better test presents itself. Your obedient servant,
F. W. Streeter.
New Bond-street,
June 6."
True faith in God is a gem more precious than the diamond, but alas! among his many inventions, man has found out how to imitate faith, and he has done it so well that to the external observer it is difficult to tell the spurious article from the faith of God's elect? It can however be known by trial, and the great owner of all the true faith in the world is very careful to apply fitting tests in due time. So sure is he to put all grace to the proof that experienced men have made bold to say that untried faith is not faith at all.
Sometimes the small steel file which the Lord uses is the preaching of the word. Searching doctrines unpalatable to the unrenewed mind are brought forward, and the mere pretender is offended. Our Lord on one occasion uttered certain hard sayings, and the file operated so effectually that many went back and walked no more with him: but his true disciples did not go away, for they said "To whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life." The preaching of a faithful minister will act as a file discerning between the true and the false, as it is written, "If thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth."
False doctrine acts in an opposite way, but with the same result. The superficial professor, whose knowledge is altogether- of the head is carried away with plausible arguments and bewitching words, while the man who is taught of God rejects falsehood with prompt decision. The evil teachers of the age would, if it were possible, deceive even the very elect, and as this is not possible, the elect remain in their steadfastness, and the mere pretenders are driven hither and thither. The file of persecution, which was more largely used in ages past, is still in its measure employed by the great discerner of spirits. Under biting sarcasms and cutting jests, base-born professors soon show that they are made of yielding stuff; their piety is scratched and defaced, and they cease to be numbered among the jewels of the Lord: on the other hand, true faith "endureth all things," and even derives benefit from that which is so detrimental to the hypocrite. The more the genuine child of God is reproached and despised the more does he shine with the brightness of the terrible crystal, and the more fully is he recognised by the eyes of the watchers, and the holy ones, as being precious in the sight of the Lord. The common temptations of life are another file, and in the hand of God serve valuable purposes as tests. The cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, the passions of the flesh, and the suggestions of Satan, soon detect the paste gem, while none of these things operate to the destruction of the real diamond of God. He is of a nature which through divine grace defies the file; he cannot sin, because he is born of God; the evil one toucheth him not. An inward loathing of iniquity, a fear of himself, and a watchfulness wrought in him by the Holy Spirit, enable the Christian to resist the assaults of temptation, and to come off more than conqueror." This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." The ordinary trials of daily life suffice to detect the counterfeit faith of some men. So far from" resisting unto blood striving against sin," they are not able to endure losses and crosses of the most ordinary kind; but the rebellion of their heart is displayed, and they cast off their pretended allegiance to God because they think that he deals hardly with them. Not so the true believer; he endureth trial, for ''many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth him out of them all"; and his beauty is not marred by his adversities, but he comes from under the file altogether unscathed.
Death will operate terribly upon all the imitation jewelry of false religion, utterly destroying its lustre and discovering its worthlessness. The nearness of eternity to the ungodly turns his doubt into despair; apprehension of judgment causes the faith of the hypocrite to give way, and his hope is crushed and utterly ruined; and yet this self-same ordeal only serves to perfect the adamantine solidity of the faith of God's truly regenerate ones. Some of the brightest flashes of the Lord's jewels are seen in the darkest hour, and their reality and infinite worth are proven in the presence of the solemnities of eternity. Then doth the Lord discern between him that feareth him and him that feareth him not. Exulting songs of triumph stand out in solemn contrast to the trembling and alarm of the detected formalist. Do any of our readers question their salvation? Do they desire that their apprehensions may be allayed? Let them apply the file of self-examination. Taking the word of God in their hand, and observing carefully the marks and evidences of the child of God, let them see if their spot is the spot of God's children. Let them enquire whether their faith is resting alone upon the blood and merits of the Lord Jesus Christ; whether it is simple and undivided, having no lingering or hankering after legal hope and carnal confidence. Let them examine whether their faith works by love and purifies the soul; whether it leads them to desire communion with God, and likeness to him, and whether it enables them to seek the glory of the Most High rather than their own selfish ends and aims. Such questions as these will be like the use of the file, and will soon discover the stuff which we are made of." Examine yourselves," says the apostle, " whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" No man should hesitate to apply this file with solemn earnestness; if he dreads the test, his hesitation may suggest a solemn suspicion to his heart. Are you afraid to try yourselves? It is more than probable that you have grave cause for the fear. But are you willing to be tested, and, lest; your own test should he insufficient, do you cry" Search me, O God, and know my heart, try me, and know my thoughts, and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting "? Then the very desire to be searched by the omniscient God may foster the comfortable conviction that you are sincere in heart. Blessed is he who in answer to his Master's question," Lovest thou me?" can answer with Simon, son of Jonas, "Yea, Lord, thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I love thee."