Tasting.

From: Good News for Young and Old: Volume 17 (1875)

Is not an abundance of varied kinds of fruit, tastefully arranged in a fruiterer’s shop, a pleasant sight? But, look at it as long as you may, the mere sight of it will not please or satisfy the palate, will it? Agreeable as it is to the eye, I think, my young friend, that you would prefer to have a taste of some of the fruit, even though it were only one ripe plum or mellow pear. You would tell me, perhaps, that fruit only looks nice to eat. And I agree with you.

Suppose that I had eaten a juicy apple, or a delicious peach or apricot, I should of course know the taste of it; and, if I were to give one to a child who had never had one before, I might say, “Oh, do taste it! you have no idea how nice it is.” And I think that I should not have to offer it twice, for the child would only be too glad to take and eat it at once.

Now, I want to speak to you cheerfully, but seriously, about something far better and sweeter than the most blooming fruit that ever grew in the garden or orchard. It is about Jesus, the precious Saviour, the Son of God. I am happy to be able to say that, as regards myself, I have not only heard and read of the great love of God in giving His dear Son to die upon the cross for sinners, but that, because the Holy Spirit has brought the good news home to my heart, I can truly say that I “have tasted that the Lord is gracious” (1 Peter 2:3³If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. (1 Peter 2:3)). And oh, how sweet is the taste to the heart of one that trusts in Him! Listen to what I now say to you, my young friend: “O taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psa. 34:8⁸O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. (Psalm 34:8)). Read as much as you like about the love of God, and the loveliness of Jesus, as taught in the Scriptures, and explained to you in the many interesting books and magazines which are written expressly for the young, but do not rest content, I beseech you, with merely hearing and reading about the Lord. No, but let me entreat you to taste that He is gracious. Oh! do trust Him. Do come now to Him. See His arms outstretched to receive you, and to lay you in His bosom of sweet and eternal love.

Then, when you have indeed tasted His love, you will be able to say to your young friends as I have said to you, “O taste and see that the Lord is good!” And who can tell whether they may not be inclined to heed the gracious invitation which God gives to all to come to Him, in the name of His beloved Son, and thus, believing, taste His love and grace for themselves? And would not that be joyful?

There is another precious truth which I want to tell you. When you have come to the Lord, and proved His love, you will have a new taste given to you for everything that He loves. You will then be able to say in truth, “How sweet are Thy words unto my taste; yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Psa. 119:103¹⁰³How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! (Psalm 119:103).) There is a beautiful passage in the Song of Solomon (2:3), “I sat down under His shadow with great delight, and His fruit was sweet to my taste.” Now, just think how delightful it would be on a bright, sunshiny day to be sitting beneath a leafy tree plucking and partaking of the delicious fruit with which its branches were covered! This is a sweet picture of the rest and delight of a soul that is happy in the Lord, and in the enjoyment of communion with Him. May it be your portion, my dear young friend, whoever you may be.

SALVATION through Christ Jesus,

Endearing, precious sound!

Shout, shout the word “salvation”

To earth’s remotest bound;

Salvation for the guilty,

Salvation for the lost,

Salvation for the wretched,

The sad and tempest-tossed.

Salvation for the aged,

Salvation for the young,

No less for little children,

Proclaim with joyful tongue;