Some years ago a servant of Christ was preaching in a large public square formed by lofty and elegant buildings, in one of our manufacturing towns. Very earnestly he told out the glad tidings of God, and in the fervor of his spirit shouted out at the top of his voice those well-known and precious words, "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life." As he paused, there was heard following his words the very distinct echo—"hath everlasting life.”
Some deem it presumption on our part when we say we have everlasting life, and think if we said that we hoped to have it eventually, or that we trusted it might be so, it would be more becoming. What false humility! It is pride and presumption to dare to call in question the word of the God that cannot lie; it is true humility to receive and believe it with the simplicity of a child. Ought the echo to have altered the words of the preacher into, "may hope to have everlasting life"? Surely not. An echo returns the words exactly as they are pronounced; and just so simply should our hearts respond to the word of God.
"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life." Has the word come home to you, dear reader, laden with all the love of God's heart, the love which led Him to give His well-beloved, His only begotten Son, that you might not perish, but have everlasting life? If it has, then echo it back to Him, laden with all the joy of your own heart in the realization of the blessed fact—"hath everlasting life.”