SELECTIONS | AdventAI

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 28, 1857

SELECTIONS.

COME.

"My sheep hear my voice," says the good Shepherd. Like all the rest of the children of Adam, they had gone astray from their birth, and had said to God, "Depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways." Peter beautifully sets forth the condition of believers, before and after conversion, in his first Epistle, chap. ii, 25: "Ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls."

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." And what is his voice to them? It is that sweet word which we have set at the head of this article—"Come unto me." No other word is more expressive of love—not of benevolence merely, but of love, of delight in the object beloved; hence, says Zephaniah, "The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love; he will joy over thee with singing." This is wonderful; and to whom is it addressed? To all who hear and obey, when he says to them, "Come."

God said to Noah, "Come thou and all thy house into the ark." Thus plainly implying that he would be with him there. This, in its general acceptation, is a true gospel invitation: for Christ is our only ark of safety, our refuge, our hiding place, our covert from the tempest, and corresponds with his own, "Come unto me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

"Come, my people, enter into thy chambers, and shut thy door about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be over past." Isaiah xxvi, 20. He does not send them away to find a place of safety, he does not say, Go, but, Come, for the chambers of safety are with him and in him.

"Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye; buy and eat, yea, come, buy wine and milk, without money and without price." Isa. lv, 1. And in the third verse he says, "Incline your ear, and come unto me." How beautifully do the invitations and promises of the Old Testament agree with those of the New! Compare the foregoing with what we find in Rev. xxii, 17. "And the Spirit and the Bride say, Come, and let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come: and whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely."

But it is not enough that Christ invites us to come to him, he also promises to come to us. "In all places where I record my name, I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee." Ex. xx, 24. "I will not leave you comfortless," says Jesus, "I will come unto you." And again, "If a man love me he will keep my words, and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." And again, "Surely I come quickly." And what is the response of the true believer to all this? "Even so, come, Lord Jesus;" and with these blessed words, the volume of inspiration closed.

The sum of the gospel of peace is expressed in two words—"Return, Come." Isa. xxi, 12. The whole subject is so simple and plain that a little child may comprehend it. We all went astray, wandering farther and farther from our Father's house, our Shepherd's fold: and the gospel is his voice calling to us to come back. "Return unto me and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts."

—Preacher and Presbyterian.