come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. John v. 24. Hence we are to look unto Jesus for pardon, sanctification, eternal life-all the blessings of salvation; ask, that we may receive; seek that we may find. Matt. vii. 7, 8. But, in the fifth place, who are invited to look to Christ for salvation? All the ends of the earth-all the world— all the nations of the earth-all the people of the world. There is a coincidence between this invitation and the commission of our Saviour to his ministers: Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark xvi. 15. The commission extends to all the world, and every creature in it; and so does the invitation. Nor is this the only unlimited call which the Saviour makes: Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters. Isa. lv. 1—3. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. Rev. xxii. 17. If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. John vii. 37. Let all the ends of the earth, those who are far off and those who are nigh, look unto Jesus Christ and be saved. This invitation is free. It implies no merit on the part of those to whom it is given, nor does it admit of any. Salvation is offered as a free gift, and there is no merit in accepting a gift. Rom. vi. 23. "He makes no hard condition, The invitation is general. It is not given to any particular class; it extends to all classes, ranks, and conditions; and no one need think himself excluded. The gospel call excludes no one, and why should any one exclude himself? The invitation is universal. It covers the wide world; it reaches to every nation and tribe; to every family and every individual. Reader, you are as distinctly invited to look to Jesus Christ and be saved, as if you were the only person in the world! The Lord Jesus never And the invitation is sincere. trifles. He means just what he says. His sincerity is seen in his agony in the garden; in his groans upon the cross; in all he said and did. He was in earnest when he undertook the work of human redemption; and he is sincere when he says to the ends of the earth, Look unto me, and be ye saved. The invitation is carnest and pressing. He who gives it seems unwilling to take any denial. He presses his claims in various forms; he urges every motive; he uses every variety of expression in order to engage attention and persuade poor miserable sinners to accept of the benefits he offers them. He warns them of eternal death; he holds up life, eternal life, and inquires, Why will ye die? Ezek. xxxiii. 11. Again he says, Behold, 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. Rev. iii. 20. And this invitation includes every period of life and every variety of character. Sinners of every age and of every grade are here invited to look to Jesus and be saved. Are you young? He says to you, Look and live! Are you old? He says to you, Look and live! Are your sins many? are they great? He is a great Saviour; and he says to you, poor sinner, to you, Look and live! But you ask, Why should I look to Jesus? The reply has been anticipated in part, still it is worthy of further attention. He says, I am God, and there is none else: hence you should look to him because there is none else to whom you can look. You may search creation over-you may go to the ends of the earth-you may ascend up into heaven-and you can find no other Saviour-no other being who can help-none else who can save. He, and he alone, is able to save. "None but Jesus Can do helpless sinners good." And he is willing to save. He has given abundant proof of his willingness. He waits to be gracious. He stands ready to receive you. He invites the needy and perishing to look and be saved, You are needy-you are perishing -will you look? or will you die? This subject teaches us the connection between faith and 8 THE GOSPEL CALL; OR, LOOK AND BE SAVED. salvation. They who look are saved; they who do not look cannot be saved. Hence the propriety of calling faith a saving grace. Where faith is, there is salvation begun; and where there is no faith, there death reigns. You see, then, the necessity of faith: look, believe, if you would be saved. Again; every one who hears the gospel is authorized to believe it. The gospel is good tidings of great joy to all people. Luke ii. 10, 11. Jesus says to all, Look and be saved. The gospel call extends to every creature. Every one who hears should believe, look to Christ by faith and prayer, trust in him as his Saviour, and thus appropriate to himself the general offer and make his own calling and election sure. 2 Pet. i. 10. But though all are invited to Christ, and all who hear are authorized to believe in him, yet all are not saved by him; not because he is unable or unwilling, nor because of any defect or deficiency in his satisfaction, but because they will not look unto him for salvation. John v. 40. A universal offer implies not universal salvation. A general invitation does not benefit those who do not accept it. Though Christ invites all, yet many perish in their sins; and it is clear that they who perish under such circumstances, are without excuse. They do not reject the atonement because of its definiteness, but because of their wickedness. They will not come unto Christ for life. Reader, shall this be your condemnation ? The Lord forbid! O hear when Jesus invites. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. Look that you may be saved! Believe, that you may live! THE END. WHAT IS FAITH? A LETTER TO A FRIEND. MY DEAR FRIEND-Your letter is received, and I hasten to answer it. You feel yourself a sinner. You have some conviction of what your heart is, as well as of what it should be. You are sensible that it is unfit for heaven, and that it must be made new, or you cannot be saved. Hence the propriety of earnest prayer for a new heart and a right spirit. But rest not on your prayers, for there is nothing meritorious in them. Neither make it your aim to seek for peace. This is often a mistake of the anxious. They are distressed; and instead of surrendering to Jesus Christ, yielding to his Spirit, embracing him by faith, and doing their duty, they are seeking relief from their distress. Now so long as this course is pursued, true and lasting peace cannot be found. That is the fruit of faith: and so long as faith in Jesus Christ is not exercised, it cannot be enjoyed. Hence the sinner's first duty is, to come to Christ. The business of salvation is between Christ and the soul. It is with the Saviour that you have to do. Religion is a personal concern. Therefore be much alone. Read the Bible; examine yourself; meditate; pray; but above all, and first of all, believe in Jesus Christ. But you ask me," What is it to believe? What is faith?" I reply, fully to understand it, you must put forth the act, and believe for yourself: you must know what it is by experience, fully to comprehend it. Still, that I may try to help you, let me say, 1. Look at yourself. Review your life; search your heart; call to mind your past offences; array your sins in order before you; compare yourself with the law of God, with the whole Scriptures, and endeavour to realize what you are how corrupt, how vile, how miserable, how helpless, how undone, how hopeless, how perishing, how ill-deserving, how hell-deserving! 2. Then look at the Saviour. Consider his person, character, offices, and work: how wonderful, how excellent, how glorious! What abundant provision is here; what fulness in his atonement; what efficacy in his blood; what sufficiency in his righteousness; what prevalency in his intercession! God is just, but his justice is satisfied by the atoning Saviour; the law of God condemns us, but Jesus came to deliver us from the curse; the Holy Spirit convinces of sin, and takes of the things of Christ and shows them unto us. John xvi. 7-15. He leads us to feel our need of Christ; and as you are convinced of your sins, and feel your need of an interest in the Saviour, you are under his influences. The Spirit is striving with your heart. Beware that you resist him not. Grieve him not away. He would draw you to the cross. He would lead you to look to the Saviour, and flee unto him. 3. Then consider not only the sufficiency of the Saviour but his willingness to save; yes, his willingness to save you. He makes a full and free offer of himself; he invites sinners to come unto him; and he does not exclude you from his gracious invitations. You are persuaded of his ability to save; you know he is able; why not credit his willingness as well as his ability? Why not take him at his word? Is he not worthy of confidence? And hath he not said, "Him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out?" John vi. 37. "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters :" Isa. lv. 1. "Whosoever will let him come.” Rev. xxii. 12. “If any man thirst, let him come.” John vii. 37. Then you may come. Jesus Christ is willing to save; he is waiting to be gracious; he is ready to receive you. Such is the testimony of Scripture. 4. Then "What is faith? or, What is it to believe?" As it respects God, it is to credit his word, the record he has given of his Son, and then to act accordingly, and receive his Son as he is offered in the word and trust in him. it respects the Saviour, it is to credit his promises, his invitations, his offers of himself, his ability and willingness As |