The Tupelo journal., 1903-11-06

Then look! sinner looxi unto Hisn and be
saved,
Unto Him who was nailed to HI tree"
NJ HERE the sinner stands Is hope
w less despair, is soul pollution. Is
soul death, but where Jesus Is may be
found hope, and healing and salvation.
Some n has said that IF there is any
bright side to human sin, it is that 1t
serves as a background on which God
can paint with rainbow brightness the
colors of His grace; it is that it serves
to bring out the beauties in the Divine
character which possibly we could not
know If we had not rebelled against
Him." That leper was only a despised.
repulsive leper before he met Jesus,
but the bright side came when Jesus
spoke the words and bestowed the
touch which removed the disease.
There is nothing but blackness and
pollution in the sinners heart, but
when the presence of Jesus is gained
and in response to the cry Jesus
cleanses from all sin. then the bright
side of sin is found in the experience
Of forgiveness and salvation. Re
prieves," says Matthew Henry, ARE OBJ
tanned for us by others, but not par
dons. These must be sought by our
selves" The leper came to Jesus and
obtained cleansing and the sinner
ml1cf pOma m I0c1c in norSnn If IA
would be saved.
D UT the leper not only came where
u Jesus was, but be threw himself
upon his face at His feet and poured his
poor, afflicted soul out in earnest pray
err. A good many people we obtain
salvation because they are too proud
to kneel. They want salvation, but
they want to get it in what they call
a dignified way. But the soul that
wants deliverance from the conse-
quences and power of sin must want
it bad enough to get right down in the
dust Of humiliation and self-surrender
in order TO get it. Mr.. Moody used to
tell the story Of a boy who was USED
to Methodist ways and who, after a re-
vival meeting, went home to his moth
er and said: Mother, John So-and-so
is under conviction sad seeking peace,
but he will not find It tonight, moth
err" why, William" said she. BE
cause he is only down ON one knee.
mother, and ne will never get peace
until ne gets down on both knees"
And until conviction of sin brings us
down on both knees before the Saviour,
until we are Frustrated in the dust of
humiliation, We cannot obtain from Je-
sus pardon and salvation. But hear
the prayer of the poor ;eper: "Lord,
if Thou wilt, Thou cans make me
clean" There vas faith, there was per-
feet submission. No doubt as to Jesus
power. Willingness to rest his case in
His hands and receive from Him what
was best. And the sinner who is not
willing to place himself unreservedly
in the hands of Jesus does not know
what real faith and submission are.
Perhaps there was some doubt as to
what Jesus might do in the case of the
leper, but in the case of the sinner
there is no doubt, for Jesus came into
the world to ave sinners. He is able
and willing this moment to save. A
young woman in an after meeting was
weeping for her sins, but could not
feel that she was p%ardoned.
Suppose" said the evangelist, that
Jesus was in this room in very physi-
cal presence, what world you do?"
Il would go to Him ~ once" she re-
piled.
And what would you tell Him."
THAT | was a lost aihner."
And what would ypu ask Him."
ooh, l would ask FIR if He would
forgive me-"
And what would JESUS answer"
She hesitated for a n,o1nent, and then
she looked up, smiling through her
tears, for at once she saw it all.
why" she said, "HN would answer
yes And Jesus viii; always answer
yes to the sinners cTy for cleansing
and healing from sin.
DUT HOW long will He keep the sim
II ner waiting? All, Sow long did
Jesus keep the poor, wretched leper in
the dust at His feet? rs quickly as
that gracious hand could be raised and
stretched forth and laid upon that foul
leper, that quickly was IT done. And
as the hand touched, the voice spake:
Il will; be thou clean" And immedi-
ately the leprosy departed from him.
Even as the Gospel invitation is in the
present, so is the promise of forgive
ness and salvation. God never deals in
futures with the sinner. God never says
to the sinner: Tomorrow is the day
of salvation" And He never says to
the sinner when he comes: "To-mor-
row l will consider your case, and
grant your prayer" We cannot con-
ceive of the Lord doing that way. But
God calls to the sinner to-day, and to-
! day Jesus stands ready with cleansing
touch and forgiving word to deliver the
sinner. What if the leper had waited
to present his case to Jesus? Suppose
he had reasoned that tomorrow he
would be better prepared to meet Him?
Perhaps Jesus never passed that way
again, and if he had missed his oppor-
tunity that day it would have been
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