Magyar Egyház, 1958 (37. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1958-11-01 / 11. szám
8 MAGYAR EGYHÁZ MAGYAR CHURCH Christian Instructions and Prayers by GEORGE SZIKSZAY Translated by PAUL FERENCZY The “Christian Instructions and Prayers”, so often called “The Old Szikszai” has been a favorite devotional book of Hungarian Reformed people ever since its publication in 1785. It has' been reprinted many times, the last one being its Pittsburgh edition in 1955. Now the Rev. Paul Ferenczy undertook the task of rendering an English version of this book for the benefit of those who love and appreciate the faith of their fathers but don’t know their language anymore. We feel that Rev. Ferenczy did a fine work especially in matching the devotional style of György Szikszai. “Magyar Church” will be happy to print these “Christian Instructions and Prayers”. Rev. Ferenczy will supply us with chapters always appropriate to the season of the church year. ADVENT The days of Advent were decreed to warn Christians about the approach of the feast to commemmorate the birth of Christ and to prepare themselves through deliberation curbing all bad habits and pleasures, and to regenerate themselves through prayers and meditations. Nay, more than that, to think especially about that wonderful and miraculous act of God when He endowed His only begotten Son with a human body, and sent Him into this world to be our Liberator and Redeemer for which act, we are bound to take our duties more seriously. You, too, fellow Christian, therefore, consider these things during the days of Advent: — 1. Who is it who sent the Redeemer and for whom was he sent? The One who sent the Redeemer is the majestic and glorious God, who is perfect, who is in need of no one, whom no one can help nor anyone can benefit and whose happy condition no one can increase nor decrease. Those for whom He was sent are earthly miserable creatures, sinners who fell into evil, who deserve eternal death and damnation and, if all would perish, He would neither suffer nor benefit any loss or gain. For such men, God sent a Redeemer. 2. Consider — whom He sent for a Redeemer? Not a pious man, not one of His angels, but His only begotten Son whom He loved the most and who was equal with Him in glory and happiness. He was sent into this world in human flesh, in miserable, humiliating condition, placed under painful suffering, disgrace and death. Even if He would have sent Him in glory to redeem and liberate the miserable sinners, it would have been an immeasurable grace and wonder, but He sent Him to become a man and to suffer and die for them. What an extreme benevolence and unfathomable love it was! 3. Consider — that the Son of God was sent not by force nor reluctantly but He came voluntarily and with joy. How? So, that He left heaven, descended from the heavenly happy condition into this vale of tears in His endowed human flesh, suffered greatly, and finally was crucified. Thereby, the incessant gracious God became a miserable, shameful man, nay, He became the son of death. He did all these voluntarily, with joy, so that the miserable sinner have redemption. 4. Consider — what would have happened to you and to all sinners if the Son of God would not have come and would not have been sent for the redemption of our souls? We all would have remained in our corruption and in a loathsome condition before God; we would have remained the enemies of God; everyone would have wallowed under His curse, anger and terrible punishment: we would have been forever excluded from the communion in heaven and would have been cast into eternal damnation. 5. Consider — on the other hand, what great benefit have we obtained through the sending and coming of the Son of God? A definite way has been opened to us to be cleansed from our sins, to obtain forgiveness, to conduct a life pleasing in the sight of God, and to become participants of all His spiritual and physical grace, and after this life to see Him face to face and share the happiness and glory in heaven. If the favour is considered greater and more precious when it turns away great evil and gives more benefit, oh! how unfathomable is the benefit of the sending and coming of the Son of God which saved us from extreme evil and enriched us with everlasting good. 6. Consider — under what conditions did God made His Holy Son your Liberator and Redeemer? That you believe in Him, as it is revealed: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) He did not tie something impossible to redemption on account of which you may be lost, He just wants you to believe in His Holy Son. Whatever would be hard or impossible for you to do, He all placed it on His Son and made Him do it for you; He does not require anything else from you just to believe in Him who was sent for your redemption; that is: — accept Him as your Redeemer and endeavor to live a holy life. So cheaply He gives it, nay, He is giving redemption free for the sinners because the immeasurable price was paid by His Son. Oh! inexhaustible depth of grace and love! Thinking over all these, consider, also, what does this goodness and grace of God constrain you to do? 1. You may easily see, indeed you may feel, that after all these you may quicken to bless, praise and glorify God and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, with devotion and thanksgiving. Really, if we would have a thousand tongues, and all would be angelic tongues, even then it would not be sufficient to acknowledge this love and grace of God. 2. You may see and feel, also, that through all these
