p. 218 | Untitled article by DANIEL ANDRE

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, March 17, 1868

FromReview and Herald, Vol. XXXI, No. 14

AN INVITATION.

By DANIEL ANDRE

Jesus says, Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Matt. xi, 28.

Here is an invitation to all mankind. Whosoever will, may come and find rest in Jesus.

Dear reader, have you heeded this precious call? Have you repented of your sins, and accepted pardon through the blood of the Lamb?

If not, what excuse have you for staying away? What reasons have you for turning a deaf ear to his precious call, and saying by your actions, if not by words, go thy way for this time?

Do you want to seek a little longer after the pleasures of this world before you can obey the Saviour's call? Has not your past experience been sufficient for you to see that there is nothing real and substantial in the pleasures of earth? and that if we bestow our affections upon it, we shall meet with disappointments? As we are living down in the closing-up scenes of this world's history, amidst the perils of the last days; and as life is short, and uncertain, and its pleasures intermingled with pains and sorrows; we should not delay in cutting loose from the world, and fleeing to Christ now. Very soon it will be too late.

“To day the Saviour calls, For mercy flee; For all the guilty soon Must guilty be.”

And still he pleads. Yes the good Shepherd with outstretched arms is still calling for the wandering sheep. Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. Blessed Jesus! Lovely Saviour! How good thou art to poor mortal man! Not willing that any should be lost, thou didst suffer and die that he might have life, eternal life in the kingdom of God. Thou didst wear a crown of thorns, but will with thine own hand place a crown of gold upon the heads of all that will come to thee.

Oh! that every one might realize the importance of coming to Christ now. Now our calling and election may be made sure. But in a little from this the momentous work of man's redemption will be finished. Jesus will then and forever cease pleading with his Father for poor sinners. Solemn thought! and yet how true! The filthy must then and forever remain filthy. O poor sinner, what will you do in that day? You can come to Christ now and he will accept you. Mercy yet lingers, and Jesus yet intercedes. He still waits to be gracious. Oh! will you come? Some will come when it will be too late, after pleadings of mercy have ceased; and Christ will say to all such, Depart from me, I know you not. Then will we realize what it is to be forever cast away from the presence of the Lord. Reader, will it be you, will it be I, that will be found wanting in that great day? Let us see to this all-important work now, while it is called to-day, and the rich glory and surpassing loveliness of Heaven will be ours to enjoy eternally. DANIEL ANDRE.

Lisbon, Iowa.