Ye men and women thronging this busy world’s highway,
Will ye not stop and listen (1) to what God has to say?
Will ye not pause a moment in the hurry and the strain,
In the wild pursuit of pleasure,(2) in the frantic greed of gain,
To hear the twofold message of justice and of love(3)
That comes to rebel sinners from the great God above?
He made you and redeemed you, and ye are not your own;
(4) He claims true homage from you, before his heavenly throne,(5)
Where is the service owing to your Maker and your King?
What duty(6) do ye offer? What praises do ye sing?
(1) Matthew 11:1515He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. (Matthew 11:15); (2) Isaiah 55:22Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labor for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. (Isaiah 55:2); (3) Job 33:2424Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom. (Job 33:24); (4) 1 Corinthians 6:1919What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? (1 Corinthians 6:19); 1 Peter 1:18,1918Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (1 Peter 1:18‑19); (5) 1 Corinthians 6:2020For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. (1 Corinthians 6:20); Isaiah 55:33Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. (Isaiah 55:3); (6) Luke 17:1010So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do. (Luke 17:10).
Alas! ye have deserted, gone over to the foe.
The devil gets your service; oh, that it should be so!
That beings formed for glory should follow him to hell,
And grieve(7) the God of heaven, who loves them, oh, so well!
God says “The soul that sinneth shall die”;(8) oh, heed His voice!
For ye are guilty sinners, have not made Him your choice;
Have scoffed at His commandments, and would not hear His word,
Sinful or foolish pleasures have constantly preferred.
Death is the wage of sinning(9), eternal, hopeless death;
Oh, turn ye,(10) turn ye sinners, while God still grants you breath! (11)
Awaken to your danger, your life speeds fast away,
Now(12) is your chance for pardon, now is your time to pray.
(7) Ephesians 4:3030And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30); (8) Ezekiel 18:44Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die. (Ezekiel 18:4); (9) Romans 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23); (10) Proverbs 1:2323Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. (Proverbs 1:23); Ezek. 8:30-32; (11) Job 12:1010In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind. (Job 12:10); Psalms 95:1010Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways: (Psalm 95:10); (12) 2 Corinthians 6:22(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2).
So long He has been waiting(13) to hear your word of prayer,
So ready is to meet you, to make you clean and fair.
(14)For God so loved you, sinner, that He gave His Son to die,
That whosoever willeth may reach His home on high.
May have his sins forgiven, and blotted out for aye,
(15)And by His Holy Spirit may learn to praise and pray,
May spend his life rejoicing(16) in Jesus Christ his King,
Till when that life is ended his happy soul takes wing
To where God’s servants serve Him(17) forever day and night,
Where all is holy gladness,(18) all measureless delight.
(13) Isaiah 65:22I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts; (Isaiah 65:2); Revelation 3:2020Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20); (14) John 3:1616For 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); (15) Ezekiel 36:25-2825Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. 26A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 27And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. 28And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God. (Ezekiel 36:25‑28); 1 Thessalonians 5:17,1817Pray without ceasing. 18In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (1 Thessalonians 5:17‑18); (16) Philippians 3:11Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. (Philippians 3:1) and 3; 1 Thessalonians 5:1616Rejoice evermore. (1 Thessalonians 5:16); 1 Peter 1:66Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: (1 Peter 1:6) and 8; (17) Revelation 22:33And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: (Revelation 22:3); Revelation 7:1515Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. (Revelation 7:15); (18) Psalms 16:1111Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. (Psalm 16:11); 1 Cor. 2:99But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. (1 Corinthians 2:9).
E. T. I.