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present failings； and future judgment； at once he finds out that he
needs something to give him inward rest。 But what can do it？ Repenting；
and praying； and Bible…reading； and church…going； and
sacrament…receiving； and self…mortification may be tried； and tried in
vain。 They never yet took off the burden from anyone's conscience。 And
yet peace must be had！
There is only one thing can give peace to the conscience； and that is
the blood of Jesus Christ sprinkled on it。 A clear understanding that
Christ's death was an actual payment of our debt to God； and that the
merit of that death is made over to man when he believes； is the grand
secret of inward peace。 It meets every craving of conscience。 It
answers every accusation。 It calms every fear。 It is written； 〃These
things I have spoken unto you； that in Me ye might have peace。〃 〃He is
our peace。〃 〃Being justified by faith； we have peace with God through
our Lord Jesus Christ。〃 （John xvi。 33； Ephes。 ii。 14； Rom。 v。 1。） We
have peace through the blood of His cross： peace like a deep
minepeace like an everflowing stream。 But 〃without Christ〃 we are
without peace。
（e） For another thing； to be without Christ is to be without hope。 Hope
of some sort or other almost everyone thinks he possesses。 Rarely
indeed will you find a man who will boldly tell you that he has no hope
at all about his soul。 But how few there are that can give 〃a reason of
the hope that is in them！〃 （1 Pet。 iii。 15。） How few can explain it；
describe it； and show its foundations！ How many a hope is nothing
better than a vague； empty feeling； which the day of sickness and the
hour of death will prove to be utterly uselessimpotent alike to
fort or to save。
There is but one hope that has roots； life； strength and solidity； and
that is the hope which is built on the great rock of Christ's work and
office as man's Redeemer。 〃Other foundation can no man lay than that is
laid； which is Jesus Christ。〃 （1 Cor。 iii。 11。） He that buildeth on
this cornerstone 〃shall not be confounded。〃 About this hope there is
reality。 It will bear looking at and handling。 It will meet every
enquiry。 Search it through and through； and you will find no flaw
whatever in it。 All other hopes besides this are worthless。 Like
summer…dried fountains； they fail man just when his need is the sorest。
They are like unsound ships； which look well so long as they lie quiet
in harbour； but when the winds and the waves of the ocean begin to try
them； their rotten condition is discovered； and they sink beneath the
waters。 There is no such thing as a good hope without Christ； and
〃without Christ〃 is to have 〃no hope。〃 （Eph。 ii。 12。）
（d） For another thing； to be without Christ is to be without heaven。 In
saying this I do not merely mean that there is no entrance into heaven；
but that 〃without Christ〃 there could be no happiness in being there。 A
man without a Saviour and Redeemer could never feel at home in heaven。
He would feel that he had no lawful right or title to be there：
boldness and confidence and ease of heart would be impossible。 Amidst
pure and holy angels； under the eyes of a pure and holy God； he could
not hold up his head： he would feel confounded and ashamed。 It is the
very essence of all true views of heaven that Christ is there。
Who art thou that dreamest of a heaven in which Christ has no place？
Awake to know thy folly。 Know that in every description of heaven which
the Bible contains； the presence of Christ is one essential feature。
〃In the midst of the throne；〃 says St； John； 〃stood a Lamb as it had
been slain。〃 The very throne of heaven is called the 〃throne of God and
of the Lamb。〃〃The Lamb is the light of heaven； and the temple of
it。〃The saints who dwell in heaven are to be 〃fed by the Lamb；〃 and
〃led to living fountains of waters。〃 The meeting of the saints in
heaven is called； 〃the marriage supper of the Lamb。〃 （Rev。 v。 6； xxii。
3； xxi。 22； 23； vii。 17； xix。 9。） A heaven without Christ would not be
the heaven of the Bible。 To be 〃without Christ〃 is to be without
heaven。
I might easily add to these things。 I might tell you that to be without
Christ is to be without fife； without strength； without safety； without
foundation； without a friend in heaven； without righteousness。 None so
badly off as those that are without Christ！
What the ark was to Noah； what the passover lamb was to Israel in
Egypt； what the manna； the smitten rock； the brazen serpent； the pillar
of cloud and fire； the scapegoat； were to the tribes in the wilderness；
all this the Lord Jesus is meant to be to man's soul。 None so destitute
as those that are without Christ！
What the root is to the branches； what the air is to our lungs； what
food and water are to our bodies； what the sun is to creation； all this
and much more Christ is intended to be to us。 None so helpless； none so
pitiable as those that are without Christ！
I grant that； if there were no such things as sickness and deathif
men and women never grew old； and lived on this earth for everthe
subject of this paper would be of no importance。 But you must know that
sickness； death； and the grave are sad realities。
If this life were allif there were no judgment； no heaven； no hell；
no eternityit would be mere waste of time to trouble yourself with
such inquiries as this tract suggests。 But you have got a conscience。
You know well that there is a reckoning…day beyond the grave。 There is
a judgment yet to e。
Surely the subject of this paper is no light matter。 It is not a small
thing； and one that does not signify。 It demands the attention of every
sensible person。 It lies at the very root of that all…important
question； the salvation of our souls。 To be 〃without Christ〃 is to be
most miserable。
（1） And now I ask every one who has read this paper through to examine
himself and find out his own precise condition。 Are you without Christ？