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ONLY BELIEVE

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Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 10, 1859

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 14, No. 25.

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ONLY BELIEVE.

THAT is all. Just take the Saviour at his word. Trust his ability, and his willingness to save you; have you not reason to do so? Can you doubt of either?
His ability, can that be questioned? Nay, you do not doubt that. You know that He who could recall the dead to life, and who did it in support of his claim to be acknowledged as the Saviour of men, is such a Saviour. Doubtless "the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins."
Can you doubt his willingness? Is there one of his expressions upon the subject that is suited to excite such a doubt? Is there not every thing in his language and deportment, and in all his actions, to inspire confidence? "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." He has died for you. He bore the insults and the buffetings, the scourge and the thorns and the cross, the unutterable agony, and the inexplicable hiding of his Father's face, to make it possible for you to be saved. And now can you doubt his willingness to give you the benefit? Then believe, "only believe." Give up all your unkind mistrust, your cruel doubting. Take the Saviour at his word, and with perfect simplicity trust your soul unto him.
Be not like the proud Syrian, who thought to be healed of his leprosy by the doing of "some great thing." Learn as he so soon learned, to trust in the simple thing which Christ your Saviour prescribes. Stay not to study out the mystery, to understand the plan. You do not understand the offer.—Forgiveness for the sake of Jesus Christ.
Hope not to merit the priceless favor, try not to work out a justification for yourself. The effort will be for ever vain. There is no salvation, no justification for you, but through Jesus Christ alone.
Question not the freeness of the offer, question not its availability for you. Jesus says, "Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." Is he true? Is he sincere? Is he worthy of confidence? Will you trust him. "Only believe." Full, hearty, simple trust—that is all.—Am. Messenger.