Preface

Dr. a. J. Gordon has written a stirring Introduction to this Life, prepared by Dr. T. E. Vassar, who sets before us the labors of John E. Vassar in a style that cannot fail to interest deeply, and at the same time to rouse and humble every reader. Come, see a man in real earnest for souls!

Uncle John Vassar was a man who seemed to all who knew him “a living fire.” He appeared every moment under the influence of Peter’s words, “We must be saved!” Night and day and all day long, Men must be saved,” was the uppermost thought of his soul. He knew that God’s rule is to save men by the agency of their fellow-men; and this solemn thought urged him on from one effort to another. The fact that God, in a sense, “suspends the salvation of sinners unsaved upon the exertions of those already saved,” kept him ever watching for souls. Men drawn to the shore out of many waters must be they who rescue others.

Oh, brother! if you who read this book be unsaved still, may som.e lightning flash from the throne of God fling into your conscience this tremendous truth, ‘* We must be saved! we must be saved!”

The apostle Peter used these words upon a remarkable occasion. Ke was looking around upon a great assembly, among whom were those seeking his life; but, filled with pity and intense concern for their souls, his words became more and more earnest, until he wound up in that startling appeal. “We must be saved!” rang through the judgment-hall where sat the Jewish Sanhedrin, that same council who not many weeks before had pronounced the Lord Jesus, the Lord of Glory, guilty of death. “You and I, Caiaphas and Annas! You and I, John and Alexander! You and I, august members of Israel’s Senate, must be saved!”

Now let lis go forth to our fellow-men in this spirit, reminding them of eternal perdition near, and of salvation yet nearer still if they will accept it. Let us tell men that every sin committed pronounces on them the sentence, “Thou shalt die!” Let us warn them, on divine authority, that the death that overhangs the sinner is the hell of which the Lord Jesus says three times in one discourse, “Where their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched,” and that one unpardoned sin places a man among the left-hand company who go away into everlasting punishment. Oh, to be a sinner for ever! what is this? to lie down in misery for ever! to be under God’s wrath for ever! in blank despair for ever and ever! For rem.ember, ‘’Everlasting” is written on the prison walls.

While vre who are saved are too often acting as if the doom of the unsaved were not so fearful and irremediable, sinners die and find out for themselves that the half was not told them. God the Holy Spirit uses us in awakening men to these alarmmg realities, and it is by testimony from us who are saved that he works. God warned Lot out of Sodom, and led him to safety by means of testimony. Two messengers came; they spoke calmly and solemnly; but no external signs were given-no drops of to-morrow’s storm were made to fall-no flakes or gleam of its fiery shower. God testilies by his messengers. As his way has ever been to send men as witnesses to their fellow-men, we go forth and call on them as did Uncle John Vassar in his day.

Christ has brought in everlasting righteousness. Everlasting is on the deed of pardon which he sealed with his blood. Everlasting is on the robe of the prodigal in his Father’s house, and on his shoes, and on his ring. Everlastitig is on the harp and palm and crown of the redeemed. Let us go then, and solemnly assure men of these truths.

This volume will bring before you a man whose soul was evidently set on fire from heaven. He was not a pastor, but a trained missionary and a teacher of the Way of Life, who never tired, and who never seemed to be done working and praying — praying if he was not working — and working if he was not praying. He brings to our mind the description ’ which Myconius, the reformer, gives of Luther in his dream: “A reaper toiling at the sickle with prodigious effort, as if he were determined to reap the whole field himself.” Few of us can throw ourselves into entire sympathy with every congregation we visit, or every town. But when John Vassar came to a place, he at once began to work for that people with might and main, giving them his whole heart and time.

But this is enough. Now let our readers judge for themselves. Oh, to be delivered from spiritual indolence! It is high time to awake out of sleep. The night is far spent; the day is at hand.

ANDREW A. BONAR.
Glasgow.