should take occasion to invite all sinners to come and partake of these provisions, this bread of heaven. Our text says, he that cometh shall never hunger, he that believeth shall never thirst; and again it is added, him that cometh I will in no wise cast out. All things are ready, the Spirit both in the written word, and by his secret influences says come; the Bride-the church by her ordinances, her services, her ministers says come; and all who hear may repeat and press the invitation and say also come, and take of this bread freely. No other question then is of equal importance, as this, Who are those that come ?-for to such and such alone is the promise made. Coming to Jesus, clearly means believing on him; and it is faith in the promise which is styled eating this immortal bread. Our need of the Savior, gives us no right to the benefits of his obedience and death, any more than poverty and hunger confer on me a title to enter your larder or to sit at your table. Our diligent pursuit of Christ and his salvation, is not the ground or condition of our acceptance, although as resulting from faith in the promise, it is the means of acquisition. Let it then be well remembered, that the free and sovereign promise of Divine mercy, is the only warrant for our belief. We may hunger, the table may be spread, but the invitation is that 66 which justifies our participation. To accept this invitation is coming to the Savior; to believe this gracious promise, is to eat the bread of life. "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. Wherefore do you spend money for that which is not bread? and your labor for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, "and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline 66 66 66 66 66 your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul "shall live; and I will make an everlasting "covenant with you, even the sure mercies of "David."* Unless you eat of this bread you shall have no life in you. "Ho, all ye hungry starving souls, "That feed upon the wind, "And vainly strive with earthly toys, "Eternal wisdom has prepared, "And bids your longing appetites, * Isaiah, Iv. 1-3. "Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but "for that meat which endureth unto everlasting "life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: ❝for him hath God the Father sealed."* Let me now ask you, my hearers, on what you are feeding? husks, such as swine eat? O come to your right mind; remember that here, is bread enough and to spare, and yet you perish with hunger. Reflect on the misery of your condition; hunger and thirst but feebly shadow forth your present infelicity, or your approaching torment. Consider the aggravated guilt you are contracting-not only starving, but self starved; committing suicide with the most studied deliberation. You add to all your other offences, the stubborn sin of unbelief. Return then to your Father's house; be assured of a cordial welcome. You have taken the hallowed resolution-your tears, your sighs, your desires, all testify your belief and expectation of a welcome; and prove you have determined to arise and go to your Father and, as the prodigal in the parable, say unto him, “ Father, I "have sinned against Heaven, and before thee, and "am no more worthy to be called thy son: make "me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, 66 * John, vi. 27. "and came to his father. But when he was yet a 66 great way off, his father saw him, and had com“passion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed ❝ him. And the son said unto him, Father, I "have sinned against Heaven, and in thy sight, "and am no more worthy to be called thy son. "But the father said to his servants, Bring forth "the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring “on his hand, and shoes on his feet and bring "the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: for this my son was dead, and is alive "again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry." 66 Secondly. Let me remonstrate with those of you who have tasted this heavenly bread, and yet have again wandered in pursuit of lying vanities. "What hast thou to do in the way of Egypt, to "drink the waters of Sihor? or what hast thou to "do in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of "the river? Thine own wickedness shall correct "thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: "know therefore, and see, that it is an evil thing " and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy “God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the "Lord God of hosts,"t Return to him from * Luke, xv. 18-24. † Jeremiah, ii. 18, 19. whom you have backslidden, or you will be stricken again and again, and then in your affliction you will seek him early, but with many painful doubts as to acceptance. Finally. How happy are those who have eaten of these heavenly provisions and are full! In the strength of this bread they travel through this wilderness, and although the journey is great, they rejoice in the guidance of God, of Jehovah-jirah, who provides both for their bodies and spirits in every time of need. Exercising faith in Him, they passed over Jordan, with their staves in their hands; their garb, their language, their progress, declared plainly that they were pilgrims, and strangers on the earth. Meeting with dangers and distress, they cried unto God and he was intreated of them, he rained down manna upon them to eat, and gave them of the corn of heaven, they ate angel's food, he gave them meat to the full. And now that they have nearly completed their earthly sojourn, they call us to them, to tell us the wonders of God, to recount what he did for them in their days, and they bless, each their posterity before their departure, saying: "The God "which fed me all my life long until this day, the "angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless you, "let my name be named on you, and grow into a "multitude in the midst of the earth." |