HOW plain and conclusive is the Word of God in bringing in all the world guilty before. God. In the first chapter of Romans, from 'the sixteenth verse" to the end, we have it clearly proved as to the heathen world by their evident abominations in the second chapter we have the moral philosopher aptly described, and we have it shown how he is no better than his fellow, although he sits in judgment upon him. For a natural conscience, though it may make manifest evil, never leads to the enjoyment of good; or the possession of a 'better nature; In tile third chapter, we see him who looks for justification by a strict adherence to the moral law, and his guilt is as clearly proved. “For whosoever keepeth the whole law, and yet offendeth in one point, is guilty of all.”
Man seems to think that by leading a moral or a religious life, by living a better life than his fellows, he may at length go to heaven; but, dear friend, consider the sum and substance of man's morality, and man's religion, and tell me, is it not self? Think of the moral man on the face of the earth, standing alone in the presence of an almighty and, sin hating God on the ground of his morality, his religion, his charity; and think how could he pass that searching examination of conduct before Him who has seen his every action from the moment he made his appearance on the earth. Tell me, do you think he could receive any other' verdict than "Guilty," any other sentence than an eternity in hell? Think of yourself so placed, you would have to own yourself as a lost and ruined one, whose very righteousness is but as filthy rags, whose every good deed is but as one of the fig leaves that Adam wore to hide himself from God, wholly insufficient. Yes, dear friend, man lacks the very power to do anything to please God; he has an irremediably bad nature, which is called the flesh, and the Word says, “They that are in the flesh cannot please God." Read, dear friend, that scene of the tribunal of the great white throne, where one day or another, if yet in your sins, you will have to appear.
“And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away, and there was no place found for them. And I saw the dead, both small axed great, stand before God, and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books according to their works,. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and hell gave up the dead which were in them, and they were judged every man according their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire; this is the second death, And whosoever was not found written in the book of life, was cast into the lake of fire” (Rev. 20:11-1511And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11‑15)).
Now picture yourself clothed in the strictest morality, having led the most religious life, in the light of that tribunal, where every idle thought, every foolish word that ever has crossed your brain, that ever has passed your lips, will be manifested.; you will stand self-condemned—you know you will—naked, wretched, and miserable. And time is fleeting fast away; another hour, another minute may show you the stern reality of all I have said.
What, then, shall I do to be saved? Do you ask.
Well, I will tell you, do nothing, for you can do nothing, but God has planned a noble and a gracious scheme by which the vilest sinner may approach Him, the sin-hating and righteous God. God is loving and merciful, as well as righteous, and He in loving pity sent His only begotten Son to bear the penalty of His wrath against sin, as it is Written "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Jesus died that the vilest sinner, coming and owning himself as such, and accepting Him as his Saviour, seeing by faith Jesus having met all God's righteous claims against sin, might have eternal life. He is risen now, and awaits that day when He shall call all His own to be with Him forever; and why Waits He?
For you, poor sinner, for you He waits in hopes that you may yet be led to own Him as your Saviour. " The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness, but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
Then now, before it is too late, come to Jesus, for time is fleeting fast away. How soon, oh, how soon, eternity may dawn upon us no one can tell.
“Behold, now is the accepted time, behold, now is the day of salvation." Salvation, your soul's salvation, dear friend, is a far more important question than any human one; then, before another moment passes, ponder and consider your stated I beseech you, treat not this with ridicule, but consider the question, What shall I do to be saved? how shall I avoid eternity in hell? " G. O.