As in the cities of Canaan, so in this glorious Gospel-City of which they were types, there is a Well of living water. What is this? It is the Holy Spirit. He is often in Scripture compared to water. “If any man thirst,” said Jesus, “let him come unto me, and drink. This spake he of the Spirit.”[60] This all-glorious well-spring, moreover, is not like those of the Palestine cities, which were sometimes dried up in seasons of drought, but “springing up unto everlasting life.” Angels, too, are the porters,—the blessed warders that keep the gates of this Gospel-City. “Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister to them who are heirs of salvation?”[61] They love to watch by these gates, and to welcome every wanderer. How gladly they give the word, “Open ye the gates, that the righteous (those made righteous through the righteousness of Jesus) may enter in!”[62]
It is delightful, moreover, to think, that just as the Jewish cities were easily got at from all parts of Palestine, so from all parts of the world, may people go to the Greater and more Glorious Gospel Refuge. Poor Pagan of the far East! cast away your idols; the gates of the Gospel-City stand ready to welcome you. Indian of the far West! cast aside your warrior spear and your offerings of blood, and flee to the portals of mercy and to the blood which cleanseth from all sin. Laplander of the far North, amid your polar snows! Negro of Africa, amid your burning sands! rush to the provided shelter. There is salvation there for you. “The same Lord is rich to ALL that call upon Him.” Happy prospect!—the time will come when the whole world will be found singing together the same song and uttering the same prayer, “Open unto us the gates of righteousness, that we may enter into them, and praise the Lord!”[63]
Will none of my young friends rejoice if they are able, by aiding the cause of missions abroad, to help putting this “new song” into the lips of those who are still “wandering in the wilderness in a solitary way, and have NO CITY to dwell in?”[64]
The third thing I want to say to you is, that no OTHER Refuge will do but Jesus.
I would like you to take as your motto the simple and beautiful words which a Sabbath scholar, I knew well about, lately gone to glory, wrote to his minister. “I am sure I may be very thankful to God for His great mercy toward me.... I must just keep in mind that there is one Refuge to flee to, and that is Jesus.”
There are many other refuges people try to take shelter in. They think they will be as safe in them as in the ONE of God's providing; but these will never stand in that day which will try every refuge of what sort it is.
I have seen some making their own goodness their refuge-city. They imagined they were not so bad as others. They trusted in the falling Siloam-tower of their own righteousness!
I have seen some making God's goodness their refuge-city. They said to themselves, “God is kind. He surely will not deal hardly with sinners at last. Justice, the avenger, will not surely always pursue with her flaming sword. The love of God will surely get the better of his justice.”
Don't let Satan deceive you. There are many of his refuges which appear to be safe enough, but on which God has written “Refuges of lies.”
There were many other towns in Canaan of old which appeared to be as good and as safe as those I have been speaking of. But no city could afford shelter to the manslayer, excepting one of the six God had specially appointed.