1 00:00:05,440 --> 00:00:08,840 We're going to sing the first hymn on the sheet. 2 00:00:09,840 --> 00:00:13,560 There's a lamb that is fairer than die by faith. 3 00:00:13,560 --> 00:00:18,600 We can see it afar, for the Father waits over the way to 4 00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:21,320 prepare us a dwelling place there. 5 00:00:26,520 --> 00:00:34,720 There's a love the decearer than day, and by faith we. 6 00:00:34,720 --> 00:00:43,040 Conceive the. Far for the father waits over 7 00:00:43,200 --> 00:00:50,000 the way to prepare us a. Dwelling place there. 8 00:00:52,080 --> 00:01:03,480 In the sweet I am by, we shall be on that beautiful show. 9 00:01:05,360 --> 00:01:12,720 In the sweet I am high, we. Shall. 10 00:01:12,760 --> 00:01:20,800 Be on that beautiful show. We shall. 11 00:01:20,800 --> 00:01:30,880 Sing on the beautiful shore, love the Lord, Be a song of the 12 00:01:30,880 --> 00:01:37,320 blessed and the spiritual song of the world. 13 00:01:39,560 --> 00:01:44,240 Not the sight for the blessing of rest. 14 00:01:46,320 --> 00:01:57,480 In the sweet by, by we shall meet on that beautiful shore. 15 00:01:59,680 --> 00:02:07,880 In the sweet by, by we shall. Meet. 16 00:02:07,920 --> 00:02:21,600 On that beautiful shore, who are bountiful Father of all, we will 17 00:02:21,600 --> 00:02:31,800 offer the tribute of praise for the glory of skin of His love, 18 00:02:33,920 --> 00:02:41,920 and the blessings that ha Lord has in the sweet. 19 00:02:43,640 --> 00:02:51,640 By and by we shall be on that beautiful shore. 20 00:02:53,480 --> 00:02:55,080 In. The sweet by and by. 21 00:02:59,920 --> 00:03:02,960 We. Shall be on that beautiful 22 00:03:03,640 --> 00:03:10,160 storm. That is bound prayer. 23 00:03:13,960 --> 00:03:19,160 Our gracious God and Father, we bow very humbly this morning in 24 00:03:19,160 --> 00:03:22,240 Thy presence, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. 25 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:27,360 Lord, we come before thy throne this morning with saddened 26 00:03:27,360 --> 00:03:31,400 hearts. We ask thee, our gracious God, 27 00:03:31,400 --> 00:03:36,000 that thou who art the God of all comfort, that Thou would comfort 28 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:40,840 each heart that mourns to die. We bless the Our Gracious God 29 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:45,440 that Thou art not only the God of all grace, but Thou art the 30 00:03:45,440 --> 00:03:49,240 God of all comfort. And so we leave everything and 31 00:03:49,240 --> 00:03:52,000 Thy gracious, tender, loving hands. 32 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:55,160 Amen. We thank the our Gracious God 33 00:03:55,160 --> 00:03:58,560 that Thou art like a Father that pennies your children. 34 00:03:59,480 --> 00:04:03,800 We bless the our gracious God that Thou was promised never to 35 00:04:03,800 --> 00:04:07,920 leave us or forsake us. Does we bow today? 36 00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:13,200 Lord, we realise that our ways are not thy ways and we realise 37 00:04:13,200 --> 00:04:17,880 there are things in life that we cannot understand, but we bless 38 00:04:17,880 --> 00:04:23,040 Thee, Thou will reveal them all and the glory land our gracious 39 00:04:23,040 --> 00:04:24,320 God. Like one of old. 40 00:04:24,320 --> 00:04:28,200 We would say, I would rather walk in the dark with God than 41 00:04:28,200 --> 00:04:31,960 go alone in the light. I'd rather walk by faith with 42 00:04:31,960 --> 00:04:36,720 Him than go alone by sight. And so, Lord, we can leave all, 43 00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:40,720 and I care We remember the doubted sight of Peter so long, 44 00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:43,640 long ago. What I do is know they know us 45 00:04:43,640 --> 00:04:46,520 not, but Thou shalt know hereafter. 46 00:04:47,160 --> 00:04:49,840 And we believe, Lord, the mysteries of life will be 47 00:04:49,840 --> 00:04:53,440 unrolled to us and revealed to us and the other side. 48 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:58,520 And our gracious God there we shall know even as we are known. 49 00:04:59,200 --> 00:05:02,520 We thank Thee for the memory of the one who is departed this 50 00:05:02,520 --> 00:05:05,080 life. We bless thee for the work, 51 00:05:05,080 --> 00:05:07,760 Lord, that thou allowed them to do in thy name. 52 00:05:08,240 --> 00:05:12,280 We thank Thee for the day that would save him Yonder and Newton 53 00:05:12,280 --> 00:05:16,000 Arms and bring them to yourself the way you've blessed them. 54 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:20,880 And Lord, we look back on almost over 50 years of fellowship 55 00:05:20,880 --> 00:05:24,520 together as boys in the same town. 56 00:05:24,520 --> 00:05:30,240 Lord and as preachers of the old fashioned gospel, Lord, we we we 57 00:05:30,240 --> 00:05:34,520 bless thee for those memories and ask the our gracious God 58 00:05:34,520 --> 00:05:38,560 that I would help us to keep through to thee and these dark 59 00:05:38,560 --> 00:05:40,560 days. We we look to thee for thy 60 00:05:40,560 --> 00:05:44,200 blessing. Lord remember Mary and the boys 61 00:05:44,200 --> 00:05:47,360 and all the rest of them. We ask thee that all been near 62 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:51,120 them, and that will bless them and help help them Lord, at this 63 00:05:51,120 --> 00:05:55,920 time, and and just granted that comfort thy need, that Thy will 64 00:05:56,040 --> 00:05:58,800 comfort them with it at this time. 65 00:05:59,280 --> 00:06:01,920 Shall Lord undertake and bless and help? 66 00:06:01,920 --> 00:06:05,000 We pray and glorify your name through it all. 67 00:06:05,000 --> 00:06:08,960 We beseech of Thee for Christ our Saviour's sake. 68 00:06:09,560 --> 00:06:09,960 Amen. Amen. 69 00:06:12,640 --> 00:06:20,320 Amen. Going to read the 103rd Psalm. 70 00:06:20,320 --> 00:06:34,400 Psalm 103. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and 71 00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:38,000 all that does within me. Bless his holy name. 72 00:06:39,520 --> 00:06:44,360 Bless the Lord, O my soul. Forget not all his benefits. 73 00:06:45,400 --> 00:06:49,440 Who forgiveth all thy iniquities, Healeth all thy 74 00:06:49,440 --> 00:06:52,960 diseases? Who redeemeth thy life from 75 00:06:52,960 --> 00:06:55,920 destruction? Crown of thee with loving 76 00:06:55,920 --> 00:07:00,960 kindness and tender mercies. Satisfieth thy mouth with good 77 00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:04,960 things, so that thy youth is renewed like the eagles. 78 00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:10,200 The Lord executeth righteousness and judgement for all that are 79 00:07:10,200 --> 00:07:14,000 oppressed. He made known as we as unto 80 00:07:14,000 --> 00:07:17,240 Moses, and his acts unto the children of Israel. 81 00:07:18,560 --> 00:07:23,240 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slew to anger and 82 00:07:23,240 --> 00:07:27,520 plenteous and mercy. He will not always chide, 83 00:07:27,520 --> 00:07:29,520 neither will he keep his anger forever. 84 00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:35,880 He hath not dealt with us after our sins, nor rewarded us 85 00:07:35,880 --> 00:07:40,680 according to our inequities. For as the heaven is high above 86 00:07:40,680 --> 00:07:46,080 the earth, so great as His mercy toward them that fear Him, as 87 00:07:46,080 --> 00:07:50,680 far as the East is from the West, so far hath He removed our 88 00:07:50,680 --> 00:07:55,720 transgressions from us. Like as a father petteth his 89 00:07:55,720 --> 00:08:01,360 children, so the Lord petteth them that fear Him, for He 90 00:08:01,360 --> 00:08:06,080 knoweth our frame. He remembereth that we are dust 91 00:08:07,480 --> 00:08:11,160 As for man, as deers are as grass. 92 00:08:11,160 --> 00:08:15,320 As the flower of the flee feels, so he flourisheth, For the wind 93 00:08:15,320 --> 00:08:19,320 passeth over it, and it is gone. The place thereof shall know it 94 00:08:19,320 --> 00:08:23,440 no more. But the mercy of the Lord is 95 00:08:23,440 --> 00:08:29,240 from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his 96 00:08:29,240 --> 00:08:33,039 righteousness unto children's children. 97 00:08:33,880 --> 00:08:37,559 And we know God well, for He always does honours and blesses 98 00:08:37,559 --> 00:08:55,280 His own precious word. We're going to call upon our 99 00:08:55,280 --> 00:09:00,840 brother, Mr William Weatherall to sing by special request of 100 00:09:00,840 --> 00:09:02,960 our late departed brother Willie. 101 00:09:03,440 --> 00:09:11,440 The storm is passing over. This was a particular favourite 102 00:09:11,440 --> 00:09:13,920 of Pastor Mullins. Now, if you know the chorus, 103 00:09:14,440 --> 00:09:17,240 will you please join in? Without music may be a wee bit 104 00:09:17,240 --> 00:10:51,720 difficult. Angry way and the storm is 105 00:10:51,720 --> 00:10:56,120 passing over. Hallelujah, 106 00:11:06,520 --> 00:11:15,120 Hallelujah, Hallelujah. The storm is passing over 107 00:11:17,280 --> 00:11:23,280 Hallelujah. Stars. 108 00:11:23,280 --> 00:11:28,320 Disappear and distant lights grood in. 109 00:11:30,200 --> 00:11:40,400 My soul is filled with fear. The seas are breaking in. 110 00:11:41,000 --> 00:11:46,520 I hear the master cry. Be. 111 00:11:47,160 --> 00:11:57,800 Not afraid, his eye and the storm will soon be over. 112 00:11:59,320 --> 00:12:20,080 Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, the storm will soon 113 00:12:20,080 --> 00:12:24,680 be over. Hallelujah. 114 00:12:30,040 --> 00:12:37,800 Now he has reached that distant shining shore. 115 00:12:39,160 --> 00:12:44,920 Praise God. Free from all of the storms, 116 00:12:45,200 --> 00:13:00,080 he'll rest forever more safe within the Vale beyond all 117 00:13:01,240 --> 00:13:07,720 earthly Gale and the storm for him. 118 00:13:39,840 --> 00:13:44,120 Is older. Hallelujah. 119 00:13:50,980 --> 00:14:04,740 Praise God, Amen. We meet today in very sad 120 00:14:04,740 --> 00:14:12,180 circumstances indeed and this for us is a tragic hour. 121 00:14:14,060 --> 00:14:21,200 An eminent, honoured and much used servant of Christ. 122 00:14:23,240 --> 00:14:29,880 Perhaps one of the most eminent and most honoured and most used 123 00:14:29,880 --> 00:14:37,640 servant of Christ in this generation, has died in 124 00:14:37,640 --> 00:14:42,360 mysterious and alarming circumstances. 125 00:14:43,440 --> 00:14:52,200 Circumstances that have shaken us all and have cast a gloom 126 00:14:52,880 --> 00:15:00,480 over all our province and over all parts of the world in which 127 00:15:00,480 --> 00:15:09,080 our beloved brother's name and ministry was known as God's 128 00:15:09,080 --> 00:15:14,920 servant. Today I must honestly face the 129 00:15:14,920 --> 00:15:23,240 facts, and so must we all. We cannot run away from these 130 00:15:23,240 --> 00:15:30,160 facts, but as God's people, thank God we can meet them with 131 00:15:30,160 --> 00:15:37,880 the Bible in our hand. And this Bible has a message in 132 00:15:37,880 --> 00:15:43,720 the darkest hour. It has a light in the most 133 00:15:44,040 --> 00:15:51,720 difficult of circumstances, and it has sustaining promises in 134 00:15:51,720 --> 00:15:59,280 the hour of our deepest need. I want first of all, to deal 135 00:15:59,280 --> 00:16:04,800 with the human circumstances surrounding the death of our 136 00:16:04,800 --> 00:16:10,240 beloved brother, and then I want to glean from the Scriptures 137 00:16:10,680 --> 00:16:18,360 some lessons that God would have us learn at this solemn and 138 00:16:18,400 --> 00:16:24,480 testing hour. Our beloved brother had been 139 00:16:24,560 --> 00:16:31,360 passing during the past weeks through a period of deep 140 00:16:31,960 --> 00:16:37,080 physical, mental, and spiritual turmoil. 141 00:16:38,320 --> 00:16:44,440 Those of us who knew him knew about the effects of physical 142 00:16:44,440 --> 00:16:47,160 sickness, A punished human freedom. 143 00:16:48,400 --> 00:16:54,440 He had a stroke, and there were accumulating circumstances in 144 00:16:54,440 --> 00:17:00,480 his body which were dangerous signals that our brother's 145 00:17:00,480 --> 00:17:04,280 physical constitution was breaking up. 146 00:17:05,200 --> 00:17:11,119 In fact, to two of his brethren he sat and wept and he said no 147 00:17:11,119 --> 00:17:19,000 one knows how really sick I am. And a few days ago he had some 148 00:17:19,160 --> 00:17:26,280 long conversation with Mr TF Thompson, TB Thompson of Garba, 149 00:17:26,720 --> 00:17:32,000 and he talked about his need to have hospitalisation and to have 150 00:17:32,000 --> 00:17:37,760 a period of complete rest. Those of us who knew our brother 151 00:17:38,240 --> 00:17:43,120 knew that he didn't talk like that when he was at his usual 152 00:17:43,200 --> 00:17:48,240 self. His buoyancy, his courage, his 153 00:17:48,240 --> 00:17:55,000 joy, his zeal for the Lord were two prominent characteristics of 154 00:17:55,000 --> 00:17:58,960 his life. But with those physical 155 00:17:59,120 --> 00:18:06,520 disabilities, those dangerous signals that signified his 156 00:18:06,680 --> 00:18:15,160 physical anguish, he had great mental and spiritual anguish as 157 00:18:15,160 --> 00:18:19,840 well. He had a great fear of bodily 158 00:18:19,840 --> 00:18:24,520 attack. That was why he always had his 159 00:18:24,520 --> 00:18:29,960 loaded shotgun beside his bed. And that was why, no doubt, he 160 00:18:29,960 --> 00:18:36,120 carried that gun to that little study the day of his passing. 161 00:18:37,200 --> 00:18:42,760 I have been tremendously struck with a unique parallel between 162 00:18:42,760 --> 00:18:47,600 the death of our beloved brother Willie and the death of a great 163 00:18:47,600 --> 00:18:53,200 Servant of God in the past century, Q Miller, one of the 164 00:18:53,200 --> 00:18:58,400 founding fathers of the Free Church of Scotland, the close 165 00:18:58,400 --> 00:19:05,320 associate of Thomas Chalmers and of Robert Murray Mcsheehan and 166 00:19:05,320 --> 00:19:10,320 the Bonner brothers. Humiler died in similar 167 00:19:10,320 --> 00:19:13,240 circumstances to our beloved brother. 168 00:19:13,880 --> 00:19:18,320 His health broke, and he died, like our brother, by a shot from 169 00:19:18,320 --> 00:19:23,680 his own gun, discharged by his own hand. 170 00:19:24,680 --> 00:19:30,440 Now, even although our brother's mind and health was reading, yet 171 00:19:30,440 --> 00:19:35,440 in the bewildering hour through which he was passing, and the 172 00:19:35,440 --> 00:19:39,720 horror of the terrible darkness which was descending upon his 173 00:19:39,720 --> 00:19:47,400 spirit, his faith in his Saviour still held, and amidst the ruin 174 00:19:47,400 --> 00:19:53,440 of his intellect, his tender heart for the Lord remained 175 00:19:53,720 --> 00:19:58,600 unbroken. I have in my hand a very 176 00:19:58,680 --> 00:20:05,560 precious document. It is a silent and eloquent 177 00:20:05,560 --> 00:20:09,280 witness. To what I have just said, that 178 00:20:09,280 --> 00:20:17,920 our brother's tender heart and faith in Christ was unshaken to 179 00:20:17,920 --> 00:20:22,880 the very end. During the past weeks, our 180 00:20:22,880 --> 00:20:27,920 brother has been dwelling upon Psalm 69. 181 00:20:28,840 --> 00:20:32,560 I want to direct your attention to that, Sam. 182 00:20:33,600 --> 00:20:41,120 It gives us a comment upon our departed brother's feelings, the 183 00:20:41,120 --> 00:20:46,360 spiritual strains and stress that he was under. 184 00:20:47,000 --> 00:20:52,640 And many of these stresses and strains came as a direct result 185 00:20:53,080 --> 00:20:58,520 of his labour of love for the Lord and his commitment to God's 186 00:20:58,600 --> 00:21:06,680 truth and service for Christ. This Psalm he told his sons that 187 00:21:06,680 --> 00:21:11,960 he was dwelling on continually. Let me read some of its 188 00:21:11,960 --> 00:21:18,360 tremendous verses. See of me, O God, for the waters 189 00:21:18,360 --> 00:21:26,960 are come in unto my soul. I sink in deep mire where there 190 00:21:26,960 --> 00:21:33,800 is no standing. I am come into deep waters where 191 00:21:33,800 --> 00:21:41,360 the floods overflow me. I am weary of my crying. 192 00:21:42,080 --> 00:21:51,960 My throat is dried, mine eyes filled while I wait for my God. 193 00:21:52,880 --> 00:21:58,400 They that hit me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine 194 00:21:58,440 --> 00:22:01,960 head. They that would destroy me, 195 00:22:02,320 --> 00:22:05,120 being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty. 196 00:22:05,800 --> 00:22:10,320 Then I restored that which I took not away. 197 00:22:11,280 --> 00:22:18,560 O God, thou knowest my fallaciousness, and my sins are 198 00:22:18,560 --> 00:22:23,320 not hid from Thee. Let not them that we are in 199 00:22:23,320 --> 00:22:26,960 Thee. O Lord God of hosts, be a shame 200 00:22:26,960 --> 00:22:32,200 for my sake. Let not those that seek thee be 201 00:22:32,200 --> 00:22:40,760 confounded for my sake, O God of Israel, because for thy sake I 202 00:22:40,760 --> 00:22:46,320 am borne reproach. Shame hath covered my fears. 203 00:22:47,080 --> 00:22:54,520 I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and of an alien unto 204 00:22:54,520 --> 00:23:00,320 my mother's children. When I wept, and chasing my soul 205 00:23:00,680 --> 00:23:04,120 with fasting, that was my reproach. 206 00:23:04,800 --> 00:23:10,920 I made sackcloth also my garment, and I became a proverb 207 00:23:11,080 --> 00:23:15,800 to them. They that sit in the gate speak 208 00:23:15,800 --> 00:23:22,360 against me, and I was the song of the drunkards. 209 00:23:23,520 --> 00:23:28,880 And that Sam goes on with these terrible words. 210 00:23:29,520 --> 00:23:35,520 Deliver me out of the mire. Let let me not sink, let me be 211 00:23:35,520 --> 00:23:40,200 delivered from them that hit me. And out of the deep waters. 212 00:23:40,840 --> 00:23:46,080 Let not the water flood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow 213 00:23:46,080 --> 00:23:52,280 me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me. 214 00:23:53,000 --> 00:23:57,480 Hear me, O Lord, for thy loving kindness is good. 215 00:23:58,280 --> 00:24:03,760 Turn unto me according to the multitude of Thy tender mercies, 216 00:24:04,400 --> 00:24:09,000 and hide not thy fears from Thy servant. 217 00:24:09,640 --> 00:24:14,400 And that was a verse he quoted so often to his two sons. 218 00:24:14,840 --> 00:24:22,480 Hide not thy fears from Thy servant, for I am in trouble. 219 00:24:23,120 --> 00:24:29,560 Deliver me speedily. And in this little card that he 220 00:24:29,560 --> 00:24:37,200 carried about in his in a little book during his past days, he 221 00:24:37,200 --> 00:24:42,120 made his last outline, an outline on Psalm 69. 222 00:24:43,400 --> 00:24:52,040 The man, the mire, the midnight. And no one knows what the mire 223 00:24:52,040 --> 00:24:58,240 was like for William L No one knows what that midnight was 224 00:24:58,240 --> 00:25:05,400 like for Willy Mullen. The magnet, the moments, the 225 00:25:05,400 --> 00:25:10,840 marks, the melody, and the mystery. 226 00:25:11,800 --> 00:25:15,600 He being dead, brethren, yet speaketh. 227 00:25:16,400 --> 00:25:20,720 And he speaketh today to all our hearts. 228 00:25:21,920 --> 00:25:27,680 Just for a few minutes, as I meditated upon our brother's 229 00:25:27,680 --> 00:25:34,000 passing, the Lord brought to my mind those verses that Jim has 230 00:25:34,000 --> 00:25:39,320 read for us. Like as a father pitieth his 231 00:25:39,320 --> 00:25:44,760 children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him. 232 00:25:46,120 --> 00:25:51,320 He knoweth our freedom. He remembers us that we are 233 00:25:51,320 --> 00:25:56,240 thus. There are three things that I 234 00:25:56,240 --> 00:26:02,240 want to draw your attention to in that great and wonderful 235 00:26:02,240 --> 00:26:07,840 promise. First of all, there's the Lord's 236 00:26:07,960 --> 00:26:14,640 mercy. Let's get our feet firm on this 237 00:26:14,640 --> 00:26:23,040 rock granite today, like as a father pity of his children, so 238 00:26:23,040 --> 00:26:31,320 the Lord piteous them that fear him, the Lord's mercy, them that 239 00:26:31,320 --> 00:26:36,200 fear him. The fear of the Lord is the 240 00:26:36,200 --> 00:26:41,400 beginning of wisdom. And one day on that field 241 00:26:42,080 --> 00:26:47,320 outside Newton Ards, having listened to Doctor Tucker 242 00:26:47,800 --> 00:26:53,840 preaching upon the great day of God's rocks, Willie Mellon, by 243 00:26:53,840 --> 00:26:59,880 the grace of God, began to fear the Lord. 244 00:27:00,520 --> 00:27:07,320 And God did a work of triumphant, sovereign, eternal 245 00:27:07,320 --> 00:27:12,120 grace in his heart. But he was born again for all 246 00:27:12,200 --> 00:27:16,840 eternity. God saved him by the precious 247 00:27:17,040 --> 00:27:21,840 blood of the Lamb. And let me say today, amidst the 248 00:27:21,840 --> 00:27:29,440 darkness and the mystery that God's mercy is from everlasting 249 00:27:29,440 --> 00:27:34,040 to everlasting upon all of those that fear him. 250 00:27:34,800 --> 00:27:39,920 We have not only God's mercy in this text, but thank God, we 251 00:27:39,920 --> 00:27:47,560 have God's mind in this text. He knoweth our freedom. 252 00:27:48,520 --> 00:27:55,600 God knows our freedom because he himself framed us. 253 00:27:56,400 --> 00:28:03,840 He made the body this mysterious bit of flesh and blood. 254 00:28:04,120 --> 00:28:08,360 God formed it. But there's something that man 255 00:28:08,840 --> 00:28:15,120 cannot understand, and that's the spiritual part of man's 256 00:28:15,120 --> 00:28:21,000 being. The doctor with the body and the 257 00:28:21,000 --> 00:28:25,720 slab can dissect the briam, but he cannot understand the mind. 258 00:28:26,480 --> 00:28:32,600 That's beyond human dissection. And let me say today we thank 259 00:28:32,720 --> 00:28:37,120 God that God's mind is. He knows our freedom. 260 00:28:37,880 --> 00:28:43,080 Oh God, thou dost know how frail I am. 261 00:28:43,720 --> 00:28:49,200 God knows the frailty of the human freedom, and then we of 262 00:28:49,200 --> 00:28:54,280 God's memory, He remembereth that we are dust. 263 00:28:54,800 --> 00:28:58,600 There are things today that God doesn't remember. 264 00:28:59,440 --> 00:29:04,840 Thank God He doesn't remember our sins, for they're cleansed 265 00:29:04,840 --> 00:29:08,400 away in the blood of the Lamb forevermore. 266 00:29:09,320 --> 00:29:15,680 Out of the memory of God are the sins of God's redeemed people, 267 00:29:16,240 --> 00:29:22,240 but he remembers that we are but dust and all we could dwell 268 00:29:22,240 --> 00:29:27,360 today upon the mercy of God. It's unfeeling, it's 269 00:29:27,360 --> 00:29:32,200 unclimbable. The foot of man has never stood 270 00:29:32,720 --> 00:29:38,200 on the summit of the everlasting hills of God's mercy. 271 00:29:38,520 --> 00:29:44,720 The mercy of God is unreachable and unclaimable. 272 00:29:45,000 --> 00:29:51,880 I believe in mercy higher than the heavens today, thank God. 273 00:29:51,880 --> 00:29:55,640 The mercy of God is unfathomable. 274 00:29:56,080 --> 00:30:01,440 There's not a Plumb line a man's making or imagination can 275 00:30:01,440 --> 00:30:07,280 measure the infinite depths of the mercy of God. 276 00:30:07,880 --> 00:30:13,360 And thank God, today the mercies of God are inexhaustible. 277 00:30:14,000 --> 00:30:20,720 And in that little study, in the darkness, in the tragedy, in the 278 00:30:20,720 --> 00:30:26,080 sorrow and in the mystery, there was one thing that still was 279 00:30:26,080 --> 00:30:29,400 there. It was the mercy of Almighty 280 00:30:29,400 --> 00:30:32,560 God. Mercies that cannot feel. 281 00:30:32,880 --> 00:30:38,520 No circumstances condemn them, no power of hell can quench 282 00:30:38,560 --> 00:30:42,960 them, no force of the devil can overthrow them. 283 00:30:43,240 --> 00:30:47,840 They stand triumphant in every circumstance. 284 00:30:48,160 --> 00:30:53,880 The mercy of Almighty God. And today, as a father pity of 285 00:30:53,880 --> 00:30:58,160 his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. 286 00:30:58,640 --> 00:31:02,480 He knoweth our friend. He knew our brother's friend, 287 00:31:03,080 --> 00:31:06,120 and he remembered that he was only dust. 288 00:31:07,120 --> 00:31:10,760 There are some lessons that we need to learn today. 289 00:31:11,760 --> 00:31:17,760 We need to learn this lesson that the best of man at their 290 00:31:17,760 --> 00:31:24,720 best are only men at the best. You know, sometimes God's people 291 00:31:25,200 --> 00:31:30,480 commit a terrible sin and they think that God's servants are 292 00:31:30,480 --> 00:31:33,880 Superman. They think that they have some 293 00:31:33,880 --> 00:31:39,640 sort of distinguishing gifts that raise them above the 294 00:31:39,640 --> 00:31:45,960 temptations and the trials and the distresses and the 295 00:31:45,960 --> 00:31:50,360 disappointments of their ordinary fellow human beings. 296 00:31:51,800 --> 00:31:57,320 God had only one son and He made him a minister, and when He made 297 00:31:57,320 --> 00:32:00,520 him a minister, He sent them down to this earth to be 298 00:32:00,520 --> 00:32:06,160 attempted at all points like as we are, yet without sin. 299 00:32:07,080 --> 00:32:13,680 And let me tell you today that every man, the most honoured, 300 00:32:14,280 --> 00:32:19,760 the most anointed, the most used, there's only a man of the 301 00:32:19,760 --> 00:32:23,000 best. And the scriptures teachers that 302 00:32:24,080 --> 00:32:30,200 what of old father Abraham, what a man he was a man that 303 00:32:30,200 --> 00:32:35,560 staggered not that the promises of God through unbelief, but was 304 00:32:35,560 --> 00:32:39,360 strong in faith giving glory to God. 305 00:32:40,680 --> 00:32:44,480 But we read abide us failures and God doesn't cover them up. 306 00:32:45,280 --> 00:32:52,040 God records them so that if we may take warning and not only 307 00:32:52,040 --> 00:32:57,920 take warning but be encouraged as we read of these great men of 308 00:32:57,920 --> 00:33:01,960 God. I was thinking today of one of 309 00:33:01,960 --> 00:33:08,560 the greatest of them all, the prophet of fire, Elijah, the man 310 00:33:08,720 --> 00:33:14,360 that confronted Ahab, the man that confounded the prophets of 311 00:33:14,360 --> 00:33:18,080 Beal, the man that challenged the nation. 312 00:33:18,960 --> 00:33:22,000 And then he ran away from Jezebel. 313 00:33:22,560 --> 00:33:28,080 He lay down under the tree and he said, Lord, let me die. 314 00:33:29,000 --> 00:33:32,600 Lord, let me die commenting on that. 315 00:33:32,600 --> 00:33:40,560 The Holy Ghost said he was a man subject to light passions as we 316 00:33:40,560 --> 00:33:46,120 are, so I could go on. What of the mighty Samson 317 00:33:46,120 --> 00:33:53,920 himself Yonder, standing in the cathedral of the Philistines, 318 00:33:54,480 --> 00:33:59,640 the shrine of their worship? And he was prepared to take his 319 00:33:59,640 --> 00:34:05,600 own life in order that the lives of the enemies of God might come 320 00:34:05,600 --> 00:34:09,120 to an end. But when we turn to the New 321 00:34:09,120 --> 00:34:13,639 Testament, there are steps out in the great chapter of faith. 322 00:34:14,480 --> 00:34:18,960 That man Samson. Many people would have judged 323 00:34:18,960 --> 00:34:24,360 him in his day, but when the chapter was finally written, he 324 00:34:24,360 --> 00:34:29,719 stands vindicated by the God of heaven. 325 00:34:30,320 --> 00:34:32,040 Brethren, let's learn the lesson. 326 00:34:32,600 --> 00:34:37,560 And if ever you need to pray for God's servants, you need to pray 327 00:34:37,560 --> 00:34:40,639 for them today. They're in the front line of the 328 00:34:40,639 --> 00:34:45,000 battle. They're meeting an onslaught 329 00:34:45,360 --> 00:34:49,880 that you know nothing about. There is one thing about every 330 00:34:49,880 --> 00:34:54,800 preacher, and it's this, that he walks a lonely path. 331 00:34:55,600 --> 00:35:00,560 There are paths that no one can accompany him along, and there's 332 00:35:00,560 --> 00:35:05,960 experiences that he must endure alone. 333 00:35:06,880 --> 00:35:10,760 Let us ever remember that. The second lesson we need to 334 00:35:10,760 --> 00:35:15,360 learn today. It's not what a man does before 335 00:35:15,360 --> 00:35:19,320 he's converted. It's not what a man does after 336 00:35:19,320 --> 00:35:23,960 he's converted that has anything to do with the salvation. 337 00:35:24,360 --> 00:35:32,640 That salvation is in Christ and of Christ alone, and we need to 338 00:35:32,640 --> 00:35:38,280 emphasise that today. We need to get our feet on the 339 00:35:38,280 --> 00:35:45,040 solid granite of the Lord. The Lord is our salvation. 340 00:35:45,560 --> 00:35:51,200 He doesn't change. No pellets from a shotgun can 341 00:35:51,200 --> 00:35:56,040 wipe out eternal life. That's in the soul of a man 342 00:35:56,320 --> 00:35:58,800 that's redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. 343 00:35:59,440 --> 00:36:04,560 Brethren, these are practical truths that we need to emphasise 344 00:36:04,560 --> 00:36:09,480 today. I give unto my sheep eternal 345 00:36:09,480 --> 00:36:15,960 life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man 346 00:36:16,520 --> 00:36:20,200 pluck them out of my Father's hand. 347 00:36:20,760 --> 00:36:28,200 We need to learn today that grace is a free, undeserved, 348 00:36:28,560 --> 00:36:34,040 unmerited fever of God. And if I'm ever going to get to 349 00:36:34,040 --> 00:36:38,880 heaven, it will be on free grace alone. 350 00:36:39,520 --> 00:36:44,400 And there was no man preached that truth and revelled in that 351 00:36:44,480 --> 00:36:48,040 truth more than our brother Willie Mullen. 352 00:36:48,440 --> 00:36:56,120 I remember him saying many times in my pulpit, how many sins did 353 00:36:56,120 --> 00:37:00,880 the Lord atone for? And they didn't atone for them. 354 00:37:01,040 --> 00:37:06,360 All that of a lost soul. But thank God alone that we're 355 00:37:06,360 --> 00:37:11,560 all future. When Jesus died, he atoned for 356 00:37:11,560 --> 00:37:15,840 every one of them. But he used to say, remember 357 00:37:15,840 --> 00:37:22,720 this as a family text. The Lord has laid on him the 358 00:37:22,720 --> 00:37:28,840 iniquity of us all. All our iniquities were laid on 359 00:37:28,840 --> 00:37:31,560 Jesus. Let's learn that truth today. 360 00:37:32,000 --> 00:37:38,480 Let's learn today that we're not see it by works before or after 361 00:37:38,480 --> 00:37:41,360 conversion. Many people would say, you're 362 00:37:41,360 --> 00:37:44,480 right. We're not see it by works before 363 00:37:44,520 --> 00:37:47,400 it. But then, having begun in the 364 00:37:47,400 --> 00:37:51,440 Spirit, they would try to perfect themselves in the flesh. 365 00:37:52,120 --> 00:37:58,960 But today we are seeing by the free, undeserved, unmerited 366 00:37:59,080 --> 00:38:04,640 grace of God alone. That's the granite on which we 367 00:38:04,640 --> 00:38:08,040 stand. That's the impregnable rock of 368 00:38:08,040 --> 00:38:13,720 holy ages, the rock Christ Jesus upon which we build. 369 00:38:14,760 --> 00:38:21,280 Then let us learn finally this great truth that God's purposes 370 00:38:22,000 --> 00:38:29,240 and ways are not known to man, that God works out His own will 371 00:38:29,760 --> 00:38:34,840 after the counsel of His old heart, that He's absolutely 372 00:38:34,840 --> 00:38:41,440 sovereign in all His workings. None can stay his hand or say to 373 00:38:41,440 --> 00:38:48,640 him, what do us now that He's the God who works his own way 374 00:38:49,520 --> 00:38:55,000 after His own counsel. And one day when it's all 375 00:38:55,000 --> 00:39:02,200 finished, we poor frail mortals of the dust shall learn in the 376 00:39:02,200 --> 00:39:10,560 Chronicles of God's eternal purpose how God planned it all. 377 00:39:11,720 --> 00:39:13,880 Our brother had a favourite hymn. 378 00:39:14,760 --> 00:39:20,880 It was a hymn of Richard Baxter. I want to read you a few verses 379 00:39:20,880 --> 00:39:24,080 of it. It was a great blessing to him 380 00:39:24,400 --> 00:39:29,080 in these past few days. He used to read it to his sons. 381 00:39:29,840 --> 00:39:36,000 Lord, it belongs not to my care whither I die or live. 382 00:39:36,800 --> 00:39:42,920 To love and sure Thee is my share, and this Thy grace must 383 00:39:42,920 --> 00:39:45,520 give. If life belong. 384 00:39:45,520 --> 00:39:52,600 I will be glad that I may long obey, if short yet why should I 385 00:39:52,600 --> 00:40:00,000 be sad to welcome endless day? Christ leads me through no 386 00:40:00,000 --> 00:40:03,960 darker rooms than he went through before. 387 00:40:04,720 --> 00:40:10,640 He that into God's Kingdom comes, must enter by this door. 388 00:40:11,480 --> 00:40:17,600 Come, Lord, when grace hath made me meet, Thy blessed feast to 389 00:40:17,600 --> 00:40:21,040 see. But if thy work on earth be 390 00:40:21,040 --> 00:40:28,400 sweet, what will thy glory be? My knowledge of that life is 391 00:40:28,400 --> 00:40:35,480 small, the eye of fear is dim, but tis enough that Christ knows 392 00:40:35,480 --> 00:40:42,640 all, and I shall be with him. And brethren, that is the 393 00:40:42,680 --> 00:40:45,800 message that I would like to leave with you. 394 00:40:46,960 --> 00:40:49,080 There is one portion of Scripture. 395 00:40:49,680 --> 00:40:55,240 And when I heard of my dear brother's passing, this verse of 396 00:40:55,240 --> 00:41:00,040 Scripture arose with great power in my soul. 397 00:41:01,040 --> 00:41:07,160 And I want just to finish today by reading these few words of 398 00:41:07,160 --> 00:41:11,160 Scripture to you. They are, of course, the lament 399 00:41:12,360 --> 00:41:18,600 of David over Jonathan, and what a lament they are. 400 00:41:19,600 --> 00:41:24,960 And as I thought about our brother's passing, I thought how 401 00:41:25,360 --> 00:41:33,480 appropriate these words were to all our anguish and to all our 402 00:41:33,480 --> 00:41:41,440 grief, because nothing has gone into our soul like the death of 403 00:41:41,440 --> 00:41:47,680 our dear brother. Tell it not in Gaths. 404 00:41:48,880 --> 00:41:57,480 Publish it not in the streets of the Philistines, lest the 405 00:41:57,480 --> 00:42:00,560 daughters. Tell it not in the streets of 406 00:42:00,560 --> 00:42:07,400 Ascalon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest 407 00:42:07,680 --> 00:42:11,360 the daughters of the uncircumcised triumphs. 408 00:42:12,520 --> 00:42:18,520 Ye mountains of Gulpoa, let there be no Jew, neither let 409 00:42:18,520 --> 00:42:22,200 there be rein upon you, nor fields of offerings. 410 00:42:23,240 --> 00:42:29,280 For there the shield of the mighty is vilely castaway, the 411 00:42:29,280 --> 00:42:35,160 shield of soul, as though we had not been anointed with oil from 412 00:42:35,160 --> 00:42:40,440 the blood of the slave, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of 413 00:42:40,640 --> 00:42:45,000 Jonathan. Turn not back, and the sword of 414 00:42:45,000 --> 00:42:51,440 Saul returned, not empty. Saul and Jonathan were lovely 415 00:42:51,440 --> 00:42:56,320 and pleasant in their lives and their in their death. 416 00:42:56,840 --> 00:43:01,320 They were not divided. They were swifter than eagles. 417 00:43:01,880 --> 00:43:07,200 They were stronger than lions. Ye daughters of Israel, we were 418 00:43:07,200 --> 00:43:13,000 Saul, who clothed you in scarlet with other delights, who put on 419 00:43:13,000 --> 00:43:16,720 ornaments of gold upon your apparel. 420 00:43:17,600 --> 00:43:21,760 How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle? 421 00:43:22,600 --> 00:43:28,680 Oh, Jonathan, thou was slain in thy high places. 422 00:43:29,800 --> 00:43:35,040 I am depressed for thee, my brother Jonathan. 423 00:43:35,960 --> 00:43:39,160 Very pleasant hast thou been to me. 424 00:43:39,960 --> 00:43:44,960 Thy love to me was wonderful. Passing the love of woman. 425 00:43:45,800 --> 00:43:49,880 How are the mighty fallen and the weapons? 426 00:43:51,240 --> 00:43:56,600 A war perished, if there be any here today. 427 00:43:57,640 --> 00:44:04,840 And you know not the Lord Jesus Christ could I say to you today, 428 00:44:05,640 --> 00:44:12,680 you need them. You need them in time, you need 429 00:44:12,680 --> 00:44:17,760 them in death, you need them at the judgement bar. 430 00:44:18,320 --> 00:44:25,080 You need them for all eternity. Soon the place that knows you 431 00:44:26,120 --> 00:44:32,840 will know you no more forever. We are going down the valley 1 432 00:44:32,840 --> 00:44:38,720 by 1 with our faces toward the setting of the sun. 433 00:44:39,600 --> 00:44:45,320 Dear unsaved one, dear christless one, dear 434 00:44:45,360 --> 00:44:52,880 unregenerate one, this day come to Christ, close with the 435 00:44:52,880 --> 00:44:55,960 Saviour. Call upon his name. 436 00:44:57,280 --> 00:45:05,640 Thank God, He will save you. Hallelujah, He will save you. 437 00:45:05,640 --> 00:45:08,880 Now. May God give us all grace, and 438 00:45:09,800 --> 00:45:16,160 whatever our need may meet it in the inexhaustible treasures of 439 00:45:16,160 --> 00:45:21,640 that mighty grief. We're going to sing a very 440 00:45:21,640 --> 00:45:27,120 appropriate hymn. Her brother Donnie found this 441 00:45:27,120 --> 00:45:32,040 hymn. That's number written in a 442 00:45:32,040 --> 00:45:33,800 little note that our brother left. 443 00:45:35,360 --> 00:45:42,200 And I know that this sums up the desire and the joy and the goal 444 00:45:42,800 --> 00:45:47,920 of our brother Willie. When my life's work is ended and 445 00:45:47,920 --> 00:45:51,240 I cross the swelling tide. Amen. 446 00:45:51,560 --> 00:45:56,400 Where my life's? Work is ended and. 447 00:45:57,760 --> 00:46:03,480 I cross the swelling. When the right and Lord this 448 00:46:03,520 --> 00:46:11,320 morning I shall see, I shall know my Redeemer. 449 00:46:11,320 --> 00:46:19,120 When I reach the other side, and his smile will be first to 450 00:46:19,120 --> 00:46:28,360 welcome me, I shall know Him. I shall know Him. 451 00:46:29,000 --> 00:46:38,600 I'd still redeem by his side. I shall stand, I shall know him. 452 00:46:39,720 --> 00:46:48,240 I shall know him by the print of the nails in his hand. 453 00:46:51,880 --> 00:46:58,720 Oh the soul thrilling rapture when I view his blessed face, 454 00:46:59,280 --> 00:47:06,640 and the lustre of his kindly beaming on all my full. 455 00:47:07,560 --> 00:47:11,360 Heart will. Praise Him for His mercy, love 456 00:47:11,360 --> 00:47:18,040 and grace that prepares for me a mansion in the sky. 457 00:47:20,040 --> 00:47:27,120 I shall know Him. I shall know Him. 458 00:47:27,120 --> 00:47:31,720 I should retain by His heart. I shall stand. 459 00:47:33,680 --> 00:47:44,480 I shall know Him. I shall know Him by the fruit of 460 00:47:44,480 --> 00:47:53,800 the nails in His hand. Oh, the dear ones in glory are 461 00:47:53,960 --> 00:48:01,000 they beckon me to come, and are parting at the river, I recall. 462 00:48:03,040 --> 00:48:09,160 To the sweet veils of Eden I shall sing my welcome. 463 00:48:09,160 --> 00:48:21,480 O but I long to me, my Saviour, first of all I shall know Him, I 464 00:48:21,480 --> 00:48:27,600 shall know Him, I shall retain by his heart. 465 00:48:28,240 --> 00:48:42,000 I shall stand, I shall know Him. I shall know him by the print of 466 00:48:42,000 --> 00:48:51,560 the nails in his heart. Throw the cakes of that city in 467 00:48:51,600 --> 00:48:53,960 a rope. Of spotless light. 468 00:48:54,360 --> 00:48:58,560 He will lead me where no tears shall ever fall. 469 00:49:00,840 --> 00:49:06,320 In the clouds of. Ages, I shall mingle with thee 470 00:49:06,320 --> 00:49:14,400 light, but I long to meet my thy Saviour first of all. 471 00:49:14,800 --> 00:49:24,320 I shall know him, I shall know him, I sweetened by his heart. 472 00:49:25,000 --> 00:49:38,240 I shall stand, I shall know him. I shall know him by the print of 473 00:49:38,240 --> 00:49:44,400 the nails in his heart. Oh, that will. 474 00:49:44,400 --> 00:49:54,240 Be glory for me, glory for me, glory for me. 475 00:49:55,560 --> 00:50:02,400 Oh, and by his grace I shall look on his face. 476 00:50:02,920 --> 00:50:09,320 That will be glory. Be glory for me. 477 00:50:15,200 --> 00:50:21,720 Father in Heaven, we thank Thee for thy presence, the presence 478 00:50:21,720 --> 00:50:29,520 of God day that has brought comfort and help and assurance 479 00:50:30,080 --> 00:50:38,000 and healing to our hearts. We thank Thee today that God is 480 00:50:38,000 --> 00:50:44,480 a God that pityeth his children, that he pity of all of those 481 00:50:44,760 --> 00:50:48,560 that fear Him. He's our Father. 482 00:50:49,160 --> 00:50:57,680 Thank God we have seen thy mercy in the book, we have seen thy 483 00:50:57,680 --> 00:51:03,400 mind in the book, and we have seen thy memory in the book. 484 00:51:04,240 --> 00:51:10,560 And our hearts are refreshed. Our souls are blessed, we can go 485 00:51:10,680 --> 00:51:18,720 out and face the future knowing that it is well with our brother 486 00:51:19,120 --> 00:51:23,720 and bless God it is well with my soul. 487 00:51:24,400 --> 00:51:29,080 Bless our sister Miri. Put your loving arms around her. 488 00:51:29,680 --> 00:51:33,160 Help her to hear the still small voice. 489 00:51:33,840 --> 00:51:38,000 Help her to know the touch of the neo pierced hand. 490 00:51:38,760 --> 00:51:41,400 Bless Donnie and Michael here in your presence. 491 00:51:42,000 --> 00:51:46,680 Thank God they're your children. Thank God they know their 492 00:51:46,840 --> 00:51:50,800 father's God and they love their mother's saviour. 493 00:51:51,280 --> 00:51:55,400 And we thank thee that they're not on their way up Science 494 00:51:55,400 --> 00:51:57,960 Hill. Bless their dear wives. 495 00:51:58,360 --> 00:52:02,320 Bless the little ones today, the grandchildren. 496 00:52:02,800 --> 00:52:09,040 And oh God, we thank thee that blessed are the dead that die of 497 00:52:09,040 --> 00:52:13,640 the Lord. Yes, have this, for they rest 498 00:52:13,680 --> 00:52:18,160 for their livers and their works to follow them. 499 00:52:18,720 --> 00:52:23,760 We thank Thee for the great multitude of sea of man and 500 00:52:23,760 --> 00:52:28,240 woman that came to Christ through the ministry of our 501 00:52:28,240 --> 00:52:32,520 brother. He that with us souls is wise, 502 00:52:33,000 --> 00:52:36,640 and our brother was wise in the winning of souls. 503 00:52:37,040 --> 00:52:42,400 And those that turn many to righteousness shall shine as the 504 00:52:42,400 --> 00:52:47,440 stars forever and ever. And bless God, there's a shining 505 00:52:47,440 --> 00:52:53,520 star in the firmament of heaven today, a brother that's gone in 506 00:52:54,000 --> 00:52:59,400 to see the King and his beauty. And the trumpets have sounded on 507 00:52:59,400 --> 00:53:02,760 the other side. Lord bless us as we leave her 508 00:53:02,760 --> 00:53:07,200 here below. Keep us fearful, keep us strong, 509 00:53:07,800 --> 00:53:13,320 keep us true until the day comes when we cross the river. 510 00:53:13,880 --> 00:53:17,800 Friends, I am there that I have loved long ago. 511 00:53:18,240 --> 00:53:22,520 And we think of our brother today and countless more that 512 00:53:22,520 --> 00:53:26,480 are in the glory land. We're going to meet them again 513 00:53:27,000 --> 00:53:31,640 in this sweet pie and pie. We'll see them. 514 00:53:32,040 --> 00:53:39,000 But best of all, we'll see Jesus and sing and shout the victory. 515 00:53:39,560 --> 00:53:43,720 As we travel to the burying ground, go with us and around 516 00:53:43,720 --> 00:53:47,560 the grave give us a word to men and women. 517 00:53:47,560 --> 00:53:53,680 We pray and grant that this day God's signal, blessing and 518 00:53:53,680 --> 00:53:58,320 divine benediction may be upon us and upon the people of God. 519 00:53:59,680 --> 00:54:07,320 O spread thy covering wings around till all our wandering 520 00:54:07,360 --> 00:54:11,760 seat. Then at our fathers plestable, 521 00:54:12,520 --> 00:54:19,920 we'll all arrive in peace. And now unto Him who is able to 522 00:54:19,920 --> 00:54:24,360 keep you from falling, and to present you without a flaw 523 00:54:24,800 --> 00:54:29,480 before the glory of His presence, with exceeding joy, to 524 00:54:29,480 --> 00:54:36,480 the only wise God, our Saviour, the glory, majesty, dominion, 525 00:54:36,480 --> 00:54:45,200 and power, now and forevermore. And the people of God sent and 526 00:54:45,200 --> 00:54:49,520 shouted Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.