News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1921-05-11

SSSA INK save him. 1t is
after the order of
the man who told John B. Cough,
when he appealed to him to give up
drink, "If l say will, / can" only
dhat man was evidently proposing
| REFORM of habit in the might of his.
own effort and no man ever was or
ever can be saved from his sin in
the exertion of his own effort. There
must be a divine saving in response
to his II WILL" or all is in vain.
God never will allow US to lose
sight of His ability to save as the only
possible ability. He not only wiled
10 DO it, but He provided the way by
which it can be DONE The wear and
tear of human effort to account for.
our blindness and to provide for our
siSht can all be avoided by going to
the Bible for plain facts on the ques-
tlon. There you see that the esti-
mate of sin which God has embraces
all its peril and darkness, but also
that the very origin of sacrifice was
with Him; and that when the cross
of Christ appears it appears as no
afterthOught or suddenly produced in
cident. God was not only merciful
but ready, all ready before you or /
shed the first tear or felt the first
pang of guilt and loss. We were born
In sin, but on salvation ground. The
gospel was here before we arrived.
Now, when we turn to look at the
crisis of the soul on the man-ward
side therefore, there is no shadow of
hint to cloud the fact that all de-
ponds upon the man as to whether he
shall be saved or lost. His loss is
not essentially or directly dependent
upon the deeds of Adam or of any
other. If lost forever it would be due
actually and exclusively tc himself.
His hell or heaven is for him hanging
on a decision entirely in his own
hands. Hence the prevailing gist Of
the gospel is invitation.
Wrongs are not CLOSED over, sin is
not whitewashed here. The need of
being saved is not yelled, but the pos
sibility of it being done hangs upon
the gospel invitation.
Hear it: "Come unto Me-" "Whoso-
ever will let him come" Him that
cometh unto Me I will IN NO WISE
CAST OUT" "Come, for all things
are now ready" "We beseech you, in
Christ's stead, be We reconciled to
God"
And it is presented in such figures
as "a feast" gaining "riches Of
grace" obtaining "an Inheritance"
coming tout of night into day." and
tout of death into life.'
Men, if they refuse it are pro-
nounced foolish, sick, bound, blind,
unclean, diseased lost. But if they
accept it, they are pronounced wise,
healed, free, seeing with the eyes Of
the heart, clean, healthful, and in
Christ. The program, once 1t is fair
ly examined, could hardly be mis-
taken. These statements are open
and evidently intended to be under
stood.
Considering affairs that are purely
mems affairs, we know that the invit-
ed person may do at least one of
three things. He may positively re-
fuse, or he may substitute another
plan, or he may resort to excuses,
.ather than accept. And these very
same schemes may be resorted to for
rejecting the gospel invitation.
Positive refusal-the wonder of it
AN be declared by children. 1t is
BORN of the sin of stubbornness, which
n the Bible is classed with idolatry.
A substituted plan may be a result
# stubbornness, but ingenuity is set
o work to, cover it, that it will not
appear so hideous.
The excuse-making plan is the sub
titute program CLOSED over once
more with deception to relieve it's
Our Lords illustration
# this, in the parable of the great
upper includes three excuses, each
me of which would be absurd. The
nan had bought land. Does he fear
would blow away? He has bought
ken and wants to prove them. Oxen
re not usually bought at such
isk. Prove them, then buy them.
lie has married a wife. Would she
ot enjoy the supper. too? Friend,
ust as Jesus shows here, all excuse
making is absurd.
All three of these methods spell. "T
MI not" The issue must be clean
ut. Will you, or will you not? And,
whatsoever will may come"