JOS. CLARKE by JOS. CLARKE.

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 24, 1874

JOS. CLARKE

By JOS. CLARKE.

Probation.

Could a man who for crime is condemned to a lifetime of close confinement in a dismal dungeon, away from the cheerful light of the sun, be offered the boon of liberty and citizenship on condition of repentance and reform, how eagerly would he embrace the opportunity.

We are prisoners of hope; we are condemned to banishment and the second death; no ray of hope can light up the gloom of that mind and soul which passes the limit of probation.

For a little season we can accept the offer of Jesus’ love and may make our peace with God. To-day we may overcome; to-morrow it may be too late. Precious offer! The gift of redeeming grace was always sweet to the repentant sinner; but these last offers seem more sweet, more precious, than ever before. Oh! miracle of love, that Jesus should condescend to restore the erring, and reclaim the lost.

Line upon line he gives to his people. He will not spare any labor or sacrifice. Not only will he suffer the pains of the crucifixion, and the loneliness of death, but he waits and pleads, and warns and instructs, and forbears.

But mercy has its limit. Soon, too soon for many, he will cease to plead for the sinner. He that is holy will be holy still, and he that is filthy will be filthy still. Then will the poor wanderer value the gift of probation when it is past forever.

But now suns rise and set; moons wax and wane; and scoffers say, “Where is the promise of his coming?” and few value the priceless gift of mercy. We often undervalue our blessings, until they are taken from us. Let it not be so with this.