a** tlis Come to Jesus! Conf Pam 12mo #915 D c mi3T5M + COME TO JESUS! BY NEWMAN HALL, B. A. says, "C< "Come." Listen, dear fcllovv-sinncr. How kind, how wonderful an m- vitatiou Ls this ! God speaks, and speaks to thee, The Father ■ k." The Son says, "Come." The Holy Spin! The blessed angels echo the cry, "Come." Many poor sinners who have accepted the call, join their voices in fee appeal, atid ss^y, "Come to Jesus." This little book unites in (he entreaty, poor, sinner, and with all earnestness, plainness, and af- fection, implores tb.ee to "Come to jesus " When he was himself on earth, well kfiowing and full of pity for the sufferings and sins of men, as he looked round on the crowd %hich one day surrounded him, he tenderly said, "Come unto mc, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."— Matt. II : 28-30. What he said then, he says now. The in vital ion he gave to the men of that day, he gives to thee, my fellow-sinner : "Come unto me. " Art thou not heavy-laden with guilt ? O then come to Jesus, and thou shaltfind rest. Come to jesus ; Come to jesus. COME TO JESUS. He promises rest. Hut far better than rest of body is rest of soul. It is wretched to be a slave, to groan, bleed, toil ; but far worse to be Satan's bondman .dragging about an evil conscience and an aching heart. Rest from this cannot be had but by coming to Jesus. And if we come, he will lighten every other load. Are >ou poor ? Come, and he will make you rich forever. Are you sick? Come, and he will cure your worst disease. Are you sad ? Come, and he will wipe away your tears. Are you bereaved? Come, and he will be your brother in adversity, who changes not, and never dies. Is sin a burden ? O then come to Jesus, and he will take it all away. Do you dread the day of death and jndg- ment ? Come, and that day will be the dawn of life and glory. — O then come. To be merely called by sitc/i a persoh should be enough to make us glad. Of a stranger we might say, "Perhaps he intends me no good ;" of a poor man, "He cannot assist me, however willing;" of a selfish rich man, "Who can expect aught from him ?" But if a Howard or a Wilberfoicc said to a mourn- er. "Cokc," he might feel quite sure some kindness was intend* ed. Now He who invites thee, sinner, is both able and willing to help. He has -clothes- for the naked, food fdr the hungry, wealth for the poor, eternal life for all. His very word, "Come,' * is enough to make thee glad. A blind beggar by the way-side, bearing he was passing, cried out, "Mercy, mercy !" The peo- ple told him to fee quiet. ; but he shouted the louder, "Have mer- cy on me!" Jesus invited him ; and then some said, as though he might now be quite sure of a blessing, "Be of good comfort ; rise he calleth thee." They knew Jesus never called and then refus- ed ", and so they told him to rejoice. Sinner, be you of good cheer; the same Jesus called thee*. As the blind man threw off his cloak lest it should hinder him, do you cast otf every sin that would stop y 0U — rush through every crowd of difficulties, and, falling at the feet of Jesus, say, "Have mercy on me ! I am blind, I am lost ; save, or I perish"!" Are you toogreat a sinner ? The more need to come. Have you a guilty conscience? With that giMlty con- science come. Have you a wicked heart? With that wicked heart come. Have you nothing with which to purchase his favor? "Without money" come. Rich and poor, masters and servants, old end young, white man and black, sinners of every class, Com-e. "WHY SHOULD I COME ?" YOU ARE A SINNER ; COME FOR PARDON. Perhaps you do not feel you are a sinner. At least you think you are no worse than others, but better than many. You are no drunkard, thief, adulterer, but keep the Sabbath, read the Bible, and attend the house of God. But have you indeed obeyed all the commandments? Never broken any of them? Always been true, chaste, sober, honest, forgiving, kind ? Never indulged in pride, rnalace, anger, deceit, or lust ? God requires purity of heart as well as of outward conduct, and he knows all our thoughts. — Have youthen never cherished the thought of sin in your heart-, though you have feared outwardly to commit it? Besides, the first and chief command is to love the Lord our God with all our mind and strength. Have you always done this; always been thankful for his mercies, always carefully read his word in order to obey it, always tfied to please him, loved to pray to him, taken delight in his day, his people, his worship, always striven to be " holy as he is holy," to make known his truth, to induce others to love him, aniendeavored in all things to glorify him? If you have always dorle this, you have %till only just done your duty, and have nothing to boast of. But you have not done it. Consci- ence tells you so. You know you have sinned thousands of times. You know you have sought your wown pleasure, and in your best actions you have not been prompted by a desire to please God. • You have lived for yourself; you have sought man's approval, but Godhas uotbeea in all your thoughts, The Bible talis us, " If a man say he hath no sic, he dacaivetn himseif. Tttera is none righteous, no, not one. All have sinned) aaJ com the glory of God." O, my fellow-sinner, is it not. true of thee, " Tne God in vvbose hand thy breatn is, and wnose are ail thy ways, thou hast not glorified? You are a sinner. Guilt, enor- mous guilt, hangs upjn you. In God's D30i all your sins are written down. You cannot get rid of them. Were you to labor for thousandsof years, you couid not atone for the least. All you could do would only be your duty. Paying to-day's debt still leaves yesterday's where it was. And were you to give, ail you possess, or sutfer torture and death, it wou/d not take away sin. The past cannot be recalled. But there is forgiveness, free, full, eternal, for the guilty. Jesus has pardon for thee, sinner, pur- chased with his own Dlood. Come for it Corns to Jesus Christ for it. GOD IS ANGRY— COME TO BE RECONCILED. The Bible says, " God is angry with the wicked every day • He IrnteUi all workers of iniquity," And has not God much cause to be angry with thee, sinner ? He gava and preserves your lifeand faculties, and bestows all your comforts. Yet you forget him. He has told you his commands ; and these are all intended todoyougooi,yetyou do notregard them. You do not reverence God, but Jive almost as if there was no such Being. Wnat an un- grateful son would you be if thus you treated your parents — if you avoided their company, disliked to think of them, and disregarded their wishes! Hear then what God says: "Hear, O heavens, and be astonished, O earth ! I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. " He is full of love to you, as a tender Father ; but. by _your sins you have griered him. Besides, he is your Creator, King, and righteous Judge, and must and will punish ail sinners. He must act, to those who re- bel, not as a kind parent, but as an angry monarch. It is your own fault, however, that he is angry. You may make him so. Your sins separate between you and God. As iong as you live without repenting of sin, his anger must ever be hot against you, sinner, and you cannot escape or hide from him.' Wherever you are, he is there, and he is ahor?. He "oouapasses your path and your lying down," and he is angry. It depends oo him whether or not you draw your very next breath, and he is a.vgrv, a. better for all the world to be angry with thee than God. Wnat an awful life is yours ! The "wrath of God abideth oa you." How dreadful to feel when going to bed, " God is angry"— to awake and know " God is angry" — wherever you go, and what- ever you do, " God is angry." And O, to die knowing that "God is angry •" and to stand before his judgment-seat, and see that he. is angry. Sinner, he is angry only while you make him so ; he is willing to be your friend ; he sent his Son with this message. " Be ye reconciled to God. " If you will give your heart to that Mes- senger, and trust in him, all this anger will cease. O then, come to Jesus. Be no longer .God's foe, but accept the offer to be his friend. But beware, beware of rejecting Jesus ; for he says, "He that believeth not," that is, does not come to "the Son, shall not see iife,'but the wrath op god abideth on him." HELL AWAITS YOU— COME TO BE SAVED. Hell is not a fable, invented by priests to frighten their fellow- men ;but as sure as the Bible is the word of God, so sure is it that ")he wicked shall be turned into hell, and all nations that forget God." "It is appointed unto men once todie, but after this the judgment." Then all men must give an account of "the deeds done in the body." God will judge the secrets of men. Then aN sinners who have not obtained pardon by coming to Jesus will be on the left hand of the Judge, who will pronounce their dcqpdfjil sentence, "Depart, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." O who can tell the torments to that place ? No more pleasant light of day, no more cheerful voice of friends, no more comforts of home, no more pleasures of the world and sin. The rich man can take none of his wealth with him, the gay man none of his amusements. Conscience will dart its sting ;'past sins will be clearly remembered, and past opport- unities of escape now gone forever. O that one of them might come back ! O for one more Sabbath ! O for one more hour to pray for mercy ! But it will be then too late, too late. Darkness for ever, sin for ever, woe for ever, death forever. Jesus speaks of it as the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone— outer-dark- ness, where there is weeping, and wailing and gnashing of teeth — where the worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched— where the wicked rich man being in torments, cried out, Send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame. There he that is filthy shall he filthy still, and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever. What misery can be greater than what such words as these describe ? How dreadful then, to be in hell! What more horrible ? And every unfoggiven sinner is on his way to it Tow, whose eye now reads this page, if you are not pardoned, you are on your way. Every hour brings you nearer. Once there, "and all hope is gone for ever. But is there no escape? Yes : one way, and one only. Flee to Jesus. He came to save from hell. God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that who- soever believeth in, con*eth to, him should not perSh, but have everlasting life. Nothing can save you, if you will not come; nothing can prevent your^salvation, if you do come. 5 FOR PEACE OF CONSCIENCE, COME. " There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked." Some sinners seem to be at peace, but it is only by refusing to think. They will not consider. But such thoughtlessness is not wor- thy to be called peace. It is like a man in a sinking ship, who will not examine what is the danger ; or like a tradesman, .who fancies all is not going on well, but will not look into his ac- counts, lest his mind should be disturbed. So the sinner fan- cies something is wrong, and, fearing to be made unhappy, he banishes reflection about God and his soul. Yet every sinner thinks sometimes, and then he must be wretched. When death visits a neighbor's house, or enters his own, or threatens him- self, and at many other times, the thought will come, "God is angry ; my soul is in danger ; I am not fit to die." And how must such a thought damp his pleasures, and disturb his repose. No, you cannot be at peace till you have obtained pardon. You may try all the pleasures of the world in turn ; you may seek to drown thought by plunging deeper and deeper into sin, but you cannot be happy. But when we come to Jesus, all our sins are at once forgiven. We still think of them with sorrow, but we need no more think of them with terror. God says to us. " Your sins and your iniquities will I remember no more." He blots out " all tresspasses." He "casts them be- hind his back — into the depths of the sea." They will not be mentioned at the judgment day. " He will abundantly pardon." He now regards us with love. We need not be afraid of him* He invites us to trust him as a kind friend. Instead of hidiiflf from, him, as Adam did, we may hide in him, as David did, saying, " Thou art my hiding place." what a happy change ! I am a sinner still, but a sinner pardoned, reconciled, saved. And whatever dreadful things conscience may tell me. Jesus says, " Thy sins are' forgiven thee, go in peace." " Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you." Being. Justified by faith, we have peace with God, through m sin, and fit me for heaven." And let your heart throughout the day oftend ascend to God, even while engaged in your necessary labor. " Pray without ceas- ing." If the answer does not seem to come at once, pray on, and success is certain. A praying soul can never be lost. You cannot perish while you are sincerely calling upon Jesus, say- ing, " Lord, have mercy upon me a sinner." IS COME IN THE BOLDNESS OF PfcAYER. It is wonderful that creatures so sinful as we are should be allowed to pray at all. When we consider what we are, and what God is, we may well tremble when we come to him, and fear lest he should reject us. But he has encouraged us to come, even with ''boldness, to the throne of grace." "This does not mean that we are to come without deep reverence and humility, but that we are to pray with a full persuasion that God will an- swer us. There are many examples of answers to prayer. He- zekiah prayed, and the army of Sennacherib was smitten with death* Elijah prayed, and fire came down to consume his sa- crifice. The apostles prayed, and the Holy Ghost descended on them with miraculous gifts. The church prayed, and Peter was delivered from prison by an angel. We are not to expect that all we ask for respecting this life will be given us, for we often desire what would do us harm. We may be sure, how-* ever, that God will give us what is best. But when we prav for blessings for our souls — for pardon, and holiness, and sal- vation — we may be quite certain of being answered', for we are told, that if we ask any thing according to God's will, he heareth us ; and We are also told, that God is " willing that all men should be saved." Jesus said, " Ask, and itshallbe given ; " and, " Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name* that will I do." He prays for us. CJur best prayers are far too unworthy for God to notice, but he listens because Jesus pleads. If you wrote a petition to a king, but none 'in the palace knew you, and you were dressed in rags, and after doing your best, the Writing-was cbvered with blots, would you not fear that you would never be admitted, or if you were, that the petition would not be read ? But suppose the king's son were to come, and say, 'I will present your petition myself, and ask my father to grant it." Jesus does this. He presents our feeble prayers, and says, M For ray sake, bless this poor sinner, and frant his request." And we are told that " him the Father eareth aho&ys." " He ever livetjj* to make intercession." Trembling, mourning sinner, rejoice. You have a Friend at court However unworthy your petitions are, Jesus prays for you, and his prayers always prevail. What more can you need to encourage you? Come then with "boldness to the throne of grace, that you may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need," 19 COME IN FAITH. In the New Testament we read very much about faith. We are said to be "justified by faith, " and "saved by faith, " and are told to " believe in the Lord Jasus Christ, that we may be saved. Faith is confidence, reliance. If I am hungry, and a kind^ friend offers me something and says it is bread, but it is dark, and f cannot see, yet, if I begin at once to eat it, this is faith. I trust in his word. If I am sick, and medicine is given me which I am told will do me good, and I drink it, this is faith. I believe or have confidence in the doctor's skill Jesus came into the world to die for sinners. He says, " Believe in me. I have purchased a full pardon for you, and you may go free. It cost my own blood to obtain it, but you are freely welcome to it. If you will obey my words, and trust in my protection, I will engage to save you from death and hell : I am quite able to do this. Here is bread to eat, which will make you live for ever if you eat it : here is a medicine which will so cure your soul's sickness that you shall never die. Come unto me — believe in me, and you shall be saved." Faith is just trusting to what Je- suti Bays. Faith is simply coming to Jesus. He has died for thee. Believe it, and take the benefit of his dying. He has tipened the prison door for thee. Believe it, and make thine escape. He is willing to bear thy burden for thee. Believe it, and cast thy sins upon him. He has paid all thy debts. Rejoice. He brings salvation to thee, and says, "It shall be thine, if thou art willing." Stretch forth thy hand, and take it with a grateful heart. Like the prodigal in the parable, thou hast wandered far from home; but Jesus has obtained for thee permission to return. Thy father, for his sake, is willing to welcome thee back. Believe it. and say, " I will arise, and go to my Father." You desire to be trusted by your husband, or wife, or children ; you would feel hurt by their doubting your word. So Jesus wishes to be believed when he says, " Poor sinner, I am able and willing to save thee. Come unto me." Do not grieve him by distrusting his word. If you do not come, because you think you are too great a sin- ner, you say, in effect, that he is not able to save you, though he tells us " he is able to save to the uttermost all who come." You make him a liar. Believe that he really will do what he Eromifies. Go to him at once. Say to him, *' Lord, I believe ; elp thou mine unbelief. Thou art able to save to the utter- most — save mL" 20 COME AS A SINNER—JUST AS YOU ARE. ' Feriiaps yousay, u How can I, who am so vile a sinner, ven- ture to come near the'holy Jesus ? Will he permit such ?i wretch to approach him? Must I not wait till I am more fit? " Dear fellow-sinner, your very sinfulness is your best fitness. What you think to be a hinderance is your best encouragement; for " Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, " and there- fore to save such as you. " I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Not that there are any who are really righteous, but there are many who think themselves so, and such persons will never be received by Christ. We must come to him in our true character, if we come at all. We are great sinners. We have broken God's laws. We have indulged in wickedness in our hearts, as well as in open conduct ; we have quenched the Spirit, and despised the love of Jesus. Everything we do is full of imperfection . We cannot make ourselves pure. And if we come to Jesus pretending we are righteous, we only mock him. Instead of thinking we are "rich, and increased in goods, and have need of nothing, ;; we must come as. those • who are " poor, and miserable, and blind, and naked," Thus we must come to Jesus, and confess our unworthiness. In one of his .parables he spoke of a self-righteous man, who thanked God that he was better than others ; and of a broken-hearted penitent, who did not venture to raise his eyes to heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, "God be merciful to me a sin- ger ! w It was the latter who went home pardoned and saved. And if we Would be accepted by Jesus, roe must go to him in the same spirit, saying, " God be merciful to me a sinner! *' And we must not wait, thinking that we shall ever be more worthy. No, our souls arc stained through and through with sin, and all our washing will never get rid of one dark spot. The blood of Christ alone can make us clean. We can never make ourselves better. We must come to Jesus to make us better; and till then nothing is done. Our very first duty is to come to Jesus. Come then, poor sinner. Wait not another moment, foolishly thinking you will be more fit by and by. You will never be more fit, and never more welcome, than at ' this moment. Jesus knows, far better than even you do, how sinful and vile you are ; yet he does not say, " Wait, P but "Come." Come then, with all your sins and' weakness, and hardness of heart, come to Jesus. Come as a signer, and come just as you are. 21 "BUT I AM NOT WORTHY, AND (3ANNOT COME ARIGHT/' If you imagine that any sinner is worthy of salvation, you quite mistake the nature of the Gospel. It is a free gift, not a reward. No one is worthy. Paul, Peter, John, were not wor- thy. But Jesus is so full of love that, unworthy as we all are, he invites us to come. If he makes our sin no objection, why should we ? .Jesus knows that filthy rags cover you, that a nauseous disease infects you ; yet he says, " Come unto me." On account of these very things, he says, Come. -How unrea- sonable, then, for you to refuse because you are unworthy.- You might as well say you were too hungry to eat, or too poor to re- ceive health, as that you are too unworthy to come for pardon. Your very unworthiness makes you welcome. But you say you cannot come as you ought. Then come as you can. Jesus did not say, " Come unto me running, or walking upright, " but simply, " Come." Come in any manner, and you will be re- ceived. Come creeping, crawling — anyway — only come. You say you do not repent enough. You never will ; for penitence, like all other graces, is evergrowing, and no one's penitence can equal his sins. But we are not saved because we repent enough, but, if we do repent at all, we are saved because Jesus died. You say you have not love enough. You nev^er will have, till you get to heaven. But we are saved, not because we love God, but because he loves us. You say you have not faith enough. True, and every Christian needs to pray, '* Lord, increase my faith." But if you truly look to Jesus for salvation, this is faith ; and, though very weak, none who possess it can perish. But perhaps you say your heart is totally hard, and therefore that your mere cries of distress are not prayers which God can ac- cept. Be encouraged by the case of Simon Magus. His " heart was not right in the sight of God ; " he was " in the gall of bit- terness and in the bond of iniquity ; " yet Peter said, " Pray God, if perhaps the thought of thy heart may be forgiven thee ;" which means, " If you indeed pray to God, your sin will be for- given." Your condition cannot be worse than his ; yet he was encouraged to come to Jesus. Come with a broken heart, that he may heal it ; or as Leighton says, * If thou find it unbroken, yet give it him, with a desire that it may be broken." How- ever unable to come aright, make the effort : come as you can, only come; and Jesus will not, cannot reject you. "BUT I FEAR I AM NOT ONE OF THE ELECT." You have no cause for this fear but your own fancy. Has God, or an angel, or the Bible told you so ? Election, whatever it means, is God's work, not yours. Do not perplex yourself with his secret counsels, but attend to your own plain duties. '.' Secret things belong unto God; but those which are revealed belong unto us, that we may do all the words of this law." We must leave the sacret things, and attend to the revealed. Our duty is to do according to God's law. And. this law is most clear. You are no where told you are not elect ; but you are told that Jesus died for you, and you are invited to come to him. Vex your mind, then, no longer about such difficult subjects as election, but promptly obey what &pd commands. He says, " Cast away from you all your transgressions, and make you a new heart, and anew spirit. Turn ye from your evil ways. Ke* pent and believe the gospel. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved. Ask, and it shall be given you ; seek, and he shall find ; knock, and it shall be opened. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Him that cometh unto ine I will in no wise cast out." Do what God says, and your salva- tion will be^sure. Suppose you were very poor, and a rich man were to announce that he would give a pound to a hundred persons whose names no one knew but himself, but at the same time promised that he would give it to every one who applied for it $ would you say, " I am afraid I am not among the favored number, therefore I will, not ask for the money?" No : you would rather say, " Whether I am among the hundred or not, every one is invited, and therefore I will go." Do the same respecting eternal life. Do not sit still, teasing yourself with useless enquiries whether your name is in God's book. Are you a sinner ? " Oh yes/' Well, then you are invited ; for " Jesus came to save sinners, " and " he is the propitiation for the sins of the whole world." The invitation is universal. " Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." Jesus said not, •' Come unto me, ye whose names are in the book of life," but, "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden." Are you heavy laden with sin ? Then come to Jesus, and your salvation is certain. Come to Jesus, and then you may be sure your name will be found in the book of life. Come to Jesus, and you will be received as one of the elect; but if you stay away, you will perish. « BUT T HA^E NO FATTH." 11 1 do not feel my sins forgiven, and am not sure I am saved. Many say«they know the time when they found salvation, aud that they nave an inward witness that all is right with them. They have found peace; but I have not. 1 am full of doubts and fears, have no faith, and therefore fear Jesus will never re- ceive me." My friend, you confound two things which greatly differ, faith and assurance. You have been speaking of assvr- iuice, not of faith. It is very delightful to feel sure of pardon and heaven ; but it is quite possible not to feel this, and yet to pos- sess faith. Faith is coming to Jesus as a poor sinner, and trust- ing in him alone for salvation. Assurance is feeling certain wp are saved. They are quite different things. Faith is necessary for salvation, but assurance is not. Many people possess an as- surance which is false, while they are destitute of faith; and many also have true faith, but do not enjoy assurance. Suppose you were shipwrecked, and clinging to a part of the vessel over which the waves were furiously breaking. A life-boat comes out to 3-011. It is so well built that it cannot possibly sink. The rowers' are so skillful that they never failed to bring it safe to shore. They invite you to enter. You know that the vessel you cling to will soon he dashed to pieces. You believe the boat will take you safeTto shore. You enter it* But when the hu^e waves toss it up and down, and seem about to overwhelm it, vou are afraid, and perhaps do not loose your fear till\ou reach the shore. Getting into the boat was faith— being afraid while in it was the want of assurance. But, though frightened, you were as safe as the rowers who had no fears. Your terror did not endanger your safety, though it destroyed your peace. We are in a storm. Our sins have raised up the winds and waves of divine justice. The law thundens its curses against, us. Hell yawns below. Jesus is like thelifeboat. He comes out to us, and invites us to forsake all our own refuges, which areas frail as a sinking wreck, and to cast ourselves oh him. Trusting in him alone is faith, though when you think of your sins and in- firmities you may be full of doubts and fears, and often think you are not safe. • Take encouragement, then, trembling be- liever. Do you feel yourself lost without Jesus; and is it your earnest prayer, " Save, Lord, or I perish ? " Then, whatever your gloomy doubts, you do possess failk, saving faith — that faith of which Paul spoke when he said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou sbalt be saved," None can perish who thus come to Jesus. 7E WHO' ARE YOUNG, COME. Youtufjil reader, be persuaded to give your early years to God. There is a special promise f6r you, ' ' Those wko seek me early shall find me." Perhaps you think, "1 am too young to be religious yet; let me enjoy the world a little ; I have plenty of time before me." Too young to be religious ? But you are not too young to sin, nor too young to die, nor too young to be cast jnto hell. You may not live to reach manhood, much less "old age. Multitudes die as young as you. • If you enter a buri- al-ground, how many of the graves are those of young people. Death may be even now preparing to strike you. Oh th en come at once to Jesus. You greatly err, if you think religion will • make you gloomy. -It alon e can render you truly happy. Many young people have tried it, who will ^11 tell you that the plea- sures of piety are better than all the delights ol sin and van- ity .^ You will find that this is true, if you come to Jesus. Is it likely he will let his followers be less happy than theservants ' of the world ? Besides, how can you dare to live a day longer rejecting him ? He commands us at once to believe and obey him. Every day we put off repentence we commit a fresh act of rebellion, and treasure up wrath against the day of wrath. You say you will repent when you arc old. # But we need the Spirit of God to help us to repent ; and if you say, " While I am young I will serve Satan, and not till I am near death will I turn to God," do you think God will give you his holy spirit at all ? Is not this to quench the Spirit? May you not become quite careless, and indisposed to repent? Very few are con- verted when old. If you come not to Jesus when young, it is not likely you will come at all. Habit will fasten strong chains around you, which will be harder to burst asunder every day. While you wait, Satan works. He is busy tying Jcnots. You are his prisoner; and he is making the cords which bind you more and more secure. Wheneveryou sin he ties another knot. Every impression you smotli3r, every hour you delay, adds a fresh knot. If you do not escape now, how can you expect to break loose when you are weaker, and your fetters stronger ? Oh then, " remember now-thy Creator in the* days of thy youth." Come at once to Jesus, if you wish tocomeatall. ' He will be your guide amid the snares, your comfort amid the sorrows; your guardian amid the dangers of life. Lose not for one day the privilege of possessing such a friend. Say from this mo- ment, " My Father, thou art the guide of my youth." YE WHO ARE ADVANCING IN YEARS, AND YE WHO ARE AGED, COME. With you the morning of life is over. You have reached the mountain top, or are travelling down the valley on the other side. You are rapidly drawing nearer to the tomb. Perhaps vou are still busily occupied in the necessary labors oi* life ;' or in- clination and the love of gain may involve you. in many en- grossing cares. But forget not the "one thing needful." We can do without any thing else, even life itself; but we cannot do without Jesus. The salvation of the soul is the one thing needful. You have been busy for many years in the concerns of this life, but as yet have found no time for religion. Your c7uV/business is not even begun. But what trifles are all things else in comparison. In a few years it will be of no consequence whether we were rich or poor ; but it will be of infinite con- sequence whetlier we come to Jesu9 or not. Multitudes have died around you. Neighbors and friend*, many with whom* you were at school, or started in life, are in their graves. You have been spared. But you might have been cut down as a barren tree — unprepared. God's forbearance may be almost spent. Soon the sentence may be pronounced, " Cut it down ; why cumbereth it the ground ? n Perhaps you are advanced in years. My aged friend, how many solemn warnings bid vou prepare. Your wrinkled features, whitening hair, decay- ing strength, loudly tell you that the end is near. You are tottering on the edge of the grave. The young may live many years, but you cannot. Soon, very soon, you must die. Oh, how dreadful to stand before the judgment-seat of Christ, and give an account of a long life spent in rejecting him ; of thous- ands of Sabbaths, and sermons and privileges neglected. O then come to Jesus now. Lose not a moment. You have not one to spare. You have indeed hardened your heart, and made repentance more difficult by neglecting religion so long ; but if you earnestly implore the help of God's Holy Spirit, he will grant your petition even now. It is not too late. Though you have so long refused to listen to him, Jesus has not ceas- ed to speak to you. Stiil he says, " Come unto me." He loves you still. He is waiting to save you still. Oh, trifle with him no longer. Look back. Death comes striding after you with rapid steps ; he is very near. Judgment is close be- hind, and hell follows. They are on the point of seizing you. Flee this moment to Christ. Come to Jesus. He alone can save. 26 BACKSLIDER, COME. Yours is a peculiar case ; for you have already cume to Jesus, but have wandered from him. You have been near, but now you are afar off. Your sin is very great, You have experien- ced something of the love of Christ, yet have forsaken him. — You have enjoyed clearer light and greater advantages than those who have never known what religion is. You have been admitted within the fold, and tasted tlie sweet pasture with which the good Shepherd feeds his flock, yet you have strayed from the sacred enclosure. Your declension began perhaps in secret, by restraining prayer, and neglecting God's word. Or you yielded to some temptation, but did not go to Christ for pardon, and so you became gradually careless. You may still maintain an oulward profession of piety, but your heart is not right in the sight of God. Perhaps you have plunged into worldly dissipations, and are an example of the saying, " If any man love the world, tfie love of the Father is not in him." — Perhaps even w r orse, you have fallen into open sin, and brought public disgrace on the name of Christian. You have lost all those opportunities of doing good which, had you. not been a backslider, you would have improved. Thus you have robbed God. You h ave discouraged other professors by your coldness and inconsistency, and been a hindrance to many who were en- quiring, " What must I do to be saved?" Instead ot being a blessing to others, you have been a curse. And, what is more, you have grieved the Holy Spirit, have crucified the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. Yet Jesus, the kind Shepherd whose fold you have left, is willing to welcome you back. He seeks the sheep that has gone astray. He says, " O Israel, return unto the Lord thy God. Say unto him, Takeaway all iniquity, and receive us graciously. I will heal their back- slidings', I will love them freely ; for mine anger is turned away. Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslid- ing, for I am merciful. Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God. Turn, backsliding children, saith the Lord." Consider these kind words. Ponden well the parable of the prodigal son. What greater encouragement do you need ? — Though you have wandered from Jesus; you may come to him again. He is as willing to receive you as at first. Stop, then, in your backward career. Return unto the Lord; for " whv' will ye die?" DESPAIRING SINNER, COME. PERHAPS you say, " The mercy of God is for others, uot for rue. I have been too vile. 1 have abused the greatest privile- ges, and stifled thestrongeet convictions. I have fought against God, and committed crimes I shudder to think of. There can be no pardon for me." Listen, sinner; God says, "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow." " As I live, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that he turn and live. Turn ye, turn ye ; for why will ye die?" List- en, siuner : " The blood #t Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin." All sin, and therefore yours. Listen : He is able to save to the uttermost all who come unto God by him, " 'and there- fore you. Listen : " Jesus Christ came into the world to save sihners, of whom I am chief." He eaves the chief of sinners, and therefore can save you. David who had committed mur- der — Peter, who had denied him — the thief on the cross — thousands who cried, " Crucify him" — Paul the persecutor- were all saved. Aud He who saved them is able to saveyou. — Do you fear you have committed the unpardonable sin ? Your anxiety is a sure proof you have not committed it. Whatever that sin is, it is certain that if any one were to commit it, he would never feel any true penitence for it. For the Bible in every page tells us, that all who repent shall be forgiven, that all who seek mercy shall find it; and Jesus says, " Him that cometb unto me I will in no wise cast out, " that is, on no ac- count whatever. So.that we may be quite sure that no penitent sinner who comes to Jesus for pardon, has committed sins .which cannot be forgiven. God is bound by his promise and oath to "abundantly pardon " every sinner who comes to • Jesus for salvation: but still you may say, " I am a lost sinner." A brother of the celebrated "Whitefield was at tea with Lady Huntingdon, -who endeavored to cheer his despairing soul by speaking of the infinite mercy of Christ. " My lady, " he said, " it is true; I see it clearly: but there is no mercy for me ; I am a ^wretch entirely lost." " I am glad to hear it, glad at'my heart that you are a lost man, " was her reply. * What, mv lady ; glad that I am a lost man? " " Yes, Mr. White- field, truly glad, for Jesus Christ came into the world to save the lost." That word cheered his soul. He believed In Jesus, and soon after died in peace. Sinner, rejoice ; Jeaua came to save the lost — to save thee. 28 ' CARELESS SINNER, COME. What, a rebel against God— hastening to wards death— doom- ed to hell — yet careless ? Reader, are you one of those who are so busy with the trifles of this world as to pay no attention- to the eternal realities of the next ? Listen to the startling ques- tion of Jesus. Ponder it. " What shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and loose his own soul?" Suppose, you saw a crowd walking along a meadow, at the end of which was a terrific precipice. They pass on merrily, plucking flowers, till, as they reach the edge, one after anotner falls over, and is dashed to pieces. Would you not call to them, "Stop, stop! as you value your lives, turn back?" You are strolling onwards to a far more terrible fate. Yawning be- neath you is the lake of fire and. do you still go forward? 'Je- sus calls to you, " Turn ye, turn ye ; why will ye die V But you see not the danger. You feel happy, and hope it will be all right with you hereafter. Have you never seen how smooth the stream is just before it leaps down the cataract ? Such is your peace, soon to be broken by a fatal plunge into endless woe. Many poisons are pleasant to the taste, and soothe those who drink into sweet slumbers ; but from these slumbers they never awake. You are quaffing Satan's cup of death. What you think pleasant drink is deadly poison ; and your uncon- cern about religion is the sign how dreadfully it is operating on your soul. Beware, lest you wake up in the flames of hell. Before it is too late, shake off this lethargy. Your house is on fire ; the roof will soon fall in and crush you. But you sit at ease, amused with trifles, and neglecting every warning.-.— Many cry, " Fire, fire — fly for your life ;" but you pay no at- tention to the alarm. Jesus offers himself as a refuge, but in vain. Yet, though you regard it not, you are in danger. In danger you draw every breath. Danger is your travelling companion when you journey, and danger haunts your home. Danger hovers over you during the bustle of day, and danger peeps between your Curtains amid the silence of night. You may be prosperous, beloved, flattered, and thoughtless ;* but you are in danger. You may drown reflection in business, or by plunging deeper aud deeper into worldly dissipation and sin ; but- you are in danger — danger of wrath, death, hell. Oh flee to Jesus. There only we ar* safe. Escape ^y the door of salvation, while it is yet open ; for it will soon be shut and then you will knock in vain. « 29 COME NOW: IT MAY BE HARDER WORK TO-MORROW. Perhaps you think it will be as easy to repent at any future time as to-day. This is a most dangerous delusion. Impresions of all kinds wear away by repetition, unless they are made per- manent by being acted upon. If you ever lived near a noisy mill, a roaring river, or the sea, you have found that the sound, which at first disturbed you, was afterwards scarcely noticed. Just so the truths of religion may deeply impress the mind ; but if those impressions are not cherished, by acting in accordance with them, those truths will affect the mind less and less, till they are heard with total indifference. Jesus says, 'Behold, I stand at the door and knock.' He knocks by sermons, books, conversations, conscience, solemn warnings. The sound startles you ; but if you do not rise and open the door, it will startle you less to-morrow, till at length yeu will not hear it at all. How many who once felt deeply about religion, now feel nothing, and are quickly and quietly travelling down to hell. On the narrow ledges of the steep cliffs of the Yorkshire coast multi- tudes of sea-fowl lay their eggs, by gathering which some per- sons obtain a perilous livelihood. It once happened that a man, having fixed in the ground his iron bar, and having low- ered himself down by the rope which was fastened to it, found that, in consequence of the edge of the cliff" bending over the part below, he could not reach the narrow ledge where the eggs were deposited, without swinging himself backwards and far- wards. By this means' he at last placed his foot on the rock, but in so doing lost his hold of the rope. His situation was most dreadful. The see roared hundreds of feet below. It was impossible to climb either up or down. He must soon perish from want, or fall and be dashed to pieces on the rocks. The rope was his only way of escape. It was still swinging to and fro; but, when it settled, it would be out of reach. Every time it approached him it was farther off than before. Every mo- ment he waited his danger increased. He made up his mind. The next time the rope swung towards him he sprang forward, seized it, and reached the top in safety. . Sinner, your salvation is farther off every moment you wait. Hell is below. Death will soon cast you down. But Jesus is near to save you. He invites you to lay hold on him. It is your only hop-i. Grasp him by faith. You cannot miss your hold, tie will hold you, and draw you up to heaven. But the difficulty and danger are greater every moment you delay. Come to Jesus w>m - • ■ 30 COME NOW; TO-MORROW MAY BE TOO LATE. You have perhaps decided to come to Jesus, but notjustnow. Like Felix, you say , "Go thy way for this time ; when I have a convenient season,' I will call for thee." Satan knows that if you put religion off, he is likely to keep you captive for ever. God 'says, " To-day if you will hear my voice, harden not your hearts : behold now is the day of salvation.'' Satan whispers, " Not to-day, but to-morrow." He promises you shall give to God all your future day if only he can secure for himself the present. Oh, beware of to-morrow Souls are generally lost, - not because they resolve never to repent, but because they de- fer it till some future time, and still defer it till it is too late. To-morrows have crowded hell. Perhaps you think you will wait till disease assails you. Bat a sick bed is the very worst f>lace for repenting. Your n\ind may be so distracted by de- irium, fever, or pain, or may so share in the weakness of the body, as to be unable to think. The peace in which multi- tudes seem to die is only the apathy of disease. Many who when ill have professed to repent, on recovery have become more careless tnan before. It was not true conversion ; and had they died,. they would have been lost. There is little hope of salvation in sickness. But such a season may never come. You may die without a moment's warning. Though in health to-day, you may be, dead to-morrow. And are you ready, when life is so uncertain, putting off salvation? A prisoner is under sentence of death. He knows not the fatal hour, but is told, that if before it strikes he petitions the governor, his life may be spared. He says, "I send to-morrow." And when to-morrow comes, says again, V Oh, there's time enough yet; I'll wait a little longer." Suddenly his door opens, and — be- hold the sheriff and the executioner ! " Oh, wait, and I'll write the petition." " No," they say, " the clock has struck — it'a too late— you must die." Poor sinner, you are con- demned. You know not when you may die. It may be this very day. You put off repentance till to-morrow ; but to-mor- row you may be in hell. Christ knocks to-day ; but, remem- ber, death may knock to-morrow. Though you keep your best Friend outside, death will burst in, and hurry you away to the Judge. Come to Je3us to-day. ! He is willing to save to-day. Heaven's gate is open to-day, Tomorrow may be too late. • 31 YOU MUST PERISH, IF YOU DO NOT COME. 1 Whht must I do to be saved'!" ' Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.' ' What must I do to be lost?' • Neglect so great sal- vation. 7 It is not necessary to do anything. We are lost al- ready. jTesus offers to save us ; but if we reject his offer, we remain as we were. If a man were bitten by a deadly serpent, but refuses to apply the only remedy, he must die. The goR- pel is the only cure for the soul ; and if we neglect it, sin kills us. You need not be a thief or a murderer to lose your soul. You may conform to all the outward ordinances of religiou, but if you come not to Jesus you are lost. Consider the solemn words, ' How shall we escape if we neglect so great salva- tion?' Escape is impossible if we neglect the only means of safety. A boat is drawn by the current of a river near to the foaming cataract, where it must perish ; but there is one soli- tary projecting rock near whicji it passes, where some men are waiting with a rope. Suppose the crew neglect to catch it — how can they escape ? Neglect is their ruin. Jesus alone can save the soul. " Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Oh sinner, your damnation is sure, if you re- ject Jesus. And how great will be your guilt and punishment! 'There remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fear- ful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries, He that despised Moses' law died without mercy ; of how much sorer punishment shall he be thought worthy who nath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace ?' "jVhat delu- sion has seized thee ? Dost thou think God will not execute his threatenings, that thou wilt escape his piercing eye, or that the rocks will cover thee? Vain hopes. There is no escape but by coming to Jesus, and simple neglect is. certain perdition. — 1 JBecause I called, but you refused, I also will laugh at your ca- lamity, I will mock when your fear cometh. Then shall they call, but I will not answer; they shall seek me, but shall not find me*; for they did not choose the fear of the Lord, and des- pised all my reproof sinner, escape this awful threatening. Jesus now stands with open arms. He entreats you to come and be saved. Refuse his grace no longer. Come with all your sins and sorrows — come just as you are — come at once. He will in no wise cast you out. Come to Jesus. Come to Jesus. I WILL GOME TO JESUS. Just as I am, without one plea But that thy blood was shed for me, And that thou bidst me come to thee, Lamb of God, I come ! Just as I am, and waiting not To rid my soul of one dark blot — To thee whose blood can cleanse each spot Lamb of God, I come ! * Just as I am — poor, wretched, blind — Sight, riches, healing of the mind, Yea, all I need, in thee to find, Lamb of God, I come ! Just as I am — though tossed about With many a conflict, many a doubt, Fightings within and /cars without, Lamb of God, I come ! Just as I am, thou wilt receive, Wilt welcome, pardon., cleanse, relieve, Because thy promise I believe.: O Lamb of «God, I come! Just as I am : thy Ipv e unknown Has broken every bar rier down ; Now to be thine, yea, thine alone, Lamb of ( tod, I come ! C^i Hollinger Corp. pH8.5