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Then they told him that
thousands of poor people, men, women, and children,
slaked their thirst at this fountain; and he smiled
and said, that he was little troubled by the
critic's observation, only he hoped that on some
sultry summer's day the critic himself might fill
the cup, and be refreshed . . .
Here is my fountain, and here
is my cup: find fault if you please; but do drink of
the water of life. I only care for this. I had
rather bless the soul of the poorest road-sweeper,
or rag-gatherer, than please a prince of the blood,
and fail to convert him to God.
He who spoke and wrote this
message will be greatly disappointed if it does not
lead many to the Lord Jesus. It is sent forth in
childlike dependence upon the power of God the Holy
Ghost, to use it in the conversion of millions, if
so He pleases. No doubt many poor men and women will
take up this little volume, and the Lord will visit
them with grace. To answer this end, the very
plainest language has been chosen, and many homely
expressions have been used. But if those of wealth
and rank should glance at this book, the Holy Ghost
can impress them also; since that which can be
understood by the unlettered is none the less
attractive to the instructed. Oh that some might
read it who will be used of God to spread the
message of His incredible love!
Who knows how many will find
their way to peace by what they read here? A more
important question to you, dear friend, is this . .
. Will you be one of them?
Reader, do you mean business in
reading these pages? If so, we are agreed at the
outset; but nothing short of your finding Jesus and
Heaven is the business aimed at here. Oh that we may
seek this together! I do so by dedicating this
little book with prayer. Will you not join me by
looking up to God, and asking Him to bless you while
you read? Providence has put these pages in your
way, you have a little spare time in which to read
them, and you feel willing to give your attention to
them. These are good signs. Who knows but that this
time might prove to be a high point in your life?
At any rate, The Holy Spirit
says, "Today, if ye will hear his voice, do not
harden your hearts."
What Are We On About?
I HEARD A STORY; I think it
came from the North of England: A minister called
upon a poor woman, intending to give her help; for
he knew that she was very poor. With his money in
his hand, he knocked at the door; but she did not
answer. He concluded she was not at home, and went
his way.
A little after he met her at
the church, and told her that he had remembered her
need: "I called at your house, and knocked several
times, and I suppose you were not at home, for I had
no answer."
"At what hour did you call,
sir?"
"It was about noon."
"Oh, dear," she said, "I heard
you, sir, and I am so sorry I did not answer; but I
thought it was the man calling for the rent."
Many a poor woman knows what
this meant. Now, it is my desire to be heard, and
therefore I want to say that I am not calling for
the rent; indeed, it is not the object of this book
to ask anything of you, but to tell you that
salvation is all of grace, which means, free,
gratis, for nothing.
Oftentimes, when we are anxious
to win attention, our hearer thinks, "Ah! now I am
going to be told my duty. It is the man calling for
that which is due to God, and I am sure I have
nothing wherewith to pay. I will not be at home."
No, this book does not come to
make a demand upon you, but to bring you something.
We are not going to talk about law, and duty, and
punishment, but about love, and goodness, and
forgiveness, and mercy, and eternal life. Do not,
therefore, act as if you were not at home: do not
turn a deaf ear, or a careless heart. I am asking
nothing of you in the name of God or man. It is not
my intent to make any requirement at your hands; but
I come in God's name, to bring you a free gift,
which it shall be to your present and eternal joy to
receive. Open the door, and let my pleadings enter.
"Come now, and let us reason together."
The Lord himself invites you to
a conference concerning your immediate and endless
happiness, and He would not have done this if He did
not mean well toward you. Do not refuse the Lord
Jesus who knocks at your door; for He knocks with a
hand which was nailed to the tree for such as you
are. Since His only and sole object is your good,
incline your ear and come to Him. Hearken
diligently, and let the good word sink into your
soul. It may be that the hour is come in which you
shall enter upon that new life which is the
beginning of heaven.
Faith cometh by hearing, and
reading is a sort of hearing: faith may come to you
while you are reading this book. Why not?
O blessed Spirit of all grace,
make it so! |
