“ Dost thou believe on the Son of God?” flow direct, how pointed, how personal is the Lord’s appeal to the heart in these words. Not, do we, or they, but Post thou? The answer too, must be direct and personal. A Yes, or a No. Hesitation, indecision, silence, means no, so far, at least as man is concerned. “ For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Rom. 10) The righteousness which is by faith of Jesus Christ is for God; the confession of the mouth is for man. Christ is preached for the simplest to believe on Him with the heart, and to confess Him with the mouth. “ If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hall raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Here confession is put first; not because it is the more important, for without the heart it would be good for nothing, but because it leads both angels and men to celebrate the praise of Jesus. How often the evangelist turns away with a heavy heart from closed. lips—from sullen silence, which alas, too often bespeak an inward lighting against the truth; but how bright his praise, when with a beaming countenance Jesus is confessed as Savior and Lord.
Again, dear reader, we would press as a parting word at the close of another year, this deeply solemn question, ‘‘ Post thou,” for thyself’, of thyself, believe on the Son of God?” Thy eternal interests—the joys of heaven, or the miseries of hell, hang on thy yes or no. Thou must answer for thyself, and answer to the Savior. Surely there is wondrous love in this appeal. The blessed Jesus, as it were, looks straight in thy face, stands before thee, reveals Himself to thee, and says, “ Post thou believe on Me? Wilt thou give thine heart to Me? Wilt thou take up thy cross and follow Me?” What then, dear reader, wilt thou say, or hast thou said? Canst thou adopt the language of the man to whom Christ had given sight? “ Lord, I believe;” and so saying, fell at his feet, and worshipped Him? The Lord in mercy grant that this may be thy happy place, thy blessed portion, thy eternal joy. How simple it all is! only believe and praise the Lord; and still praise Him. But thou knowest the direful consequences of unbelief—no Savior, no salvation, no heaven, no happiness, but banishment from the presence of God and the Lamb, from the holy and the good, and doomed to dwell in the depths of despair, within the barred gates of hell forever and forever. May the Holy Spirit now lead thee from the heart to say, “ Lord I believe; and worship Jesus as Savior and Lord.” John 9:3838And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him. (John 9:38).