“IF any man thirst (said Jesus), let him come unto ME, and drink.” (John 7:3737In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. (John 7:37).) “To him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” (Rom. 4:55But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (Romans 4:5).)
COME! all oppressed with sin and care,
Who weary and much laden are,
Cease from your works and REST.
By faith in God’s life-giving SON—
Who for your guilt did once atone,
Now bids the outcast find a home
Of refuge in His breast.
Who thirst for life’s free waters, come!
Drink now and be refreshed.
You’ve naught to do, for ALL is DONE!
That work’s complete which Christ begun,
Only on it depend.
You’ve naught to pay, for ALL is PAID!
Without your help salvation’s made,
God is no debtor to your aid,
Christ’s works you cannot mend.
BELIEVE on Him your sins were laid,
Then “doubts and fears” will end.
Will He take pleasure in your cries,
If you His finished work despise,
And trust to “tears” or “prayer”?
Thus want a Saviour of your own!
Christ and good works, not Christ alone!
TWO Saviours, then! God offers ONE!
He’ll not His glory share,
Add to His work or take therefrom,
Sinner, you may not dare.
DEAR READER, —The cry has gone forth “Behold the Bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet Him,” calling forth this response from the hearts of those who are looking for the “blessed hope” and the “glorious appearing” of Him who is also to them “the bright and morning star,” and who says, “Surely I come quickly. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”
Those who anticipating that time, and the joy of meeting “the Lord in the air,” and so being ever with Him, can sing new the song of victory, “Unto Him who loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood.”
Reader, may I ask, Do you belong to this class, or to that which on the other hand having heard of, yet have neglected this great salvation, and whose only cry when the Lord appears in His glory will be to the “mountains and rocks” to fall and hide them, and the hopeless wailings of despair?
Be sure that if you despise the blood of the Lamb now, you cannot escape from the just wrath of the Lamb then. You must either see Him now, with the eye of faith, with its present “joy and peace in believing,” or you will assuredly see Him in another way then; for “Behold He cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see Him... and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him.” In the meanwhile, “The Spirit and the bride say, COME. And him that heareth say, COME. And let him that is athirst COME. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life FREELY.” (Rev. 22:1717And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. (Revelation 22:17).)
THE Christ is in Christ before God, and Christ in him down here. What characterizes the Christian is that he delights in Christ.