TO-DAY by Jos. Clarke

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 13, 1876

FromThe Review and Herald, Review and Herald, Vol. 47, No. 15.

TO-DAY

By Jos. Clarke

“VERILY I say unto thee to-day, shalt thou be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43.

I make this promise unto thee to-day, while I am suffering the pains of the crucifixion. And at this moment, while the visible church and its wise men and its prelates are adding to my burdens and pains by their scorn and abuse, thou, a poor penitent criminal, art causing in my heart an unalloyed joy, and a holy pleasure, in the midst of my dying agony, as I realize in anticipation the ineffable joys I shall confer upon thee, and such as thou art, penitent, and made free in my future kingdom. In the sweet language of confession, thy words, just falling from thy lips, convey to my heart an infinite pleasure and comfort; they seem an earnest of other scenes in the future, when the truth shall reach distant nations, and future ages and untold numbers, shall, like thee, repent in sorrow and bitterness and pain; and, like thee, shall reap a rich harvest, in my future kingdom; therefore, to-day I do promise unto thee a place in paradise.

Yes, on this memorable day, the last of my earthly life, a day made memorable by the woes and pains I suffer, and by the crimes of my murderers, some of whom, like thee, will repent and find mercy, to-day I promise to thee a place in paradise.

To-day, while forsaken of my friends, and tormented by my foes, and almost forsaken of my God, almost alone, on the terrible cross, my hands and feet pierced by the cruel nails, and my spirit bowed down beneath the sins of a world, yes, to-day, it affords me an infinite pleasure to give pardon and peace to a repentant sinner.

To-day, as the earthquake rends the solid mountains, and darkness vails the sun, and earth hides her face in the darkness from the strange scene; to-day, while the Son of God suffers the agony of the atonement, and while wicked men and vile spirits gather around to insult and wound their Redeemer, thou, O penitent thief, art, in this thine hour of trial, a model of sincere and godly repentance; thou art free, and wise, and upright, in this thy final judgment and conclusion; therefore, to-day I set thee free from thy load of sin, and assume thy case at the bar of the Judge of the universe.

To-day, the last day of the Mosaic dispensation, to-day, as I by my death rend the vail, and abolish the forms and ceremonies of the earthly temple, and assume the priesthood in my own person, I begin the work by an act of pardon and clemency to thee, O repentant and dying sinner. “Turn you to the strong-hold, ye prisoners of hope; even to-day do I declare that I will render double unto thee.” Zech. 9:12.

Jos. CLARKE.