The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1921-06-16

| ASlutl, IL our l@OIu JtSuS VI thC ANN"'
i. And what hands are these that
so patiently plead with men2
j. They are almighty hands. 1t Is
TO the Son that the words in Heb.
10 are addressed: 1.-The heavens are
the works Of thine hands," and OF Him
II is written in John 3 80, THE Father
loveth the son, and hath given all
things into his hand"
o soul, when with rapturous gaze
you behold those heavens and are lost
i'm wonder and amazement, do not for
get that the hand that spread them
out above you and sprinkled them
with their dust of stars, holding every
one in Its appointed place, is the hand
that beckons now TO you in love
2. They are pierced hands. "They
pierced my hands and my feet" was
written of Him thousand years be-
fore He was born. But who pierced
them? o mar, let me tell you 1t
was your sins that did IL! Your sins
that held Him there upon the nails
your need, more than all the legions
of the Roman army, that prevented
His escape and kept all the hosts Of
heaven from breaking through to His
relief.
Those piercGu hands tell of mighty
transaction that He has finished for
you, of that awful death In which He
was made sin" for you and me, and
In which He barred His own breast to
the Judgment stroke that was your
due and mine. They tell of something
that has been done for you, not Of
something that you must do for Him,
and proclaim the everlasting peace
made by Him between ali offended
God and every soul that will receive
Him. Peace be unto you: and when
he had so said, he showed unto them
his hands" John 20: 20).
3. They are sheltering hands, for
He hath said, give unto them eternal
life; and they shall never perish,
neither shall any man pluck them out
of my hand" John 10 :2S). They are
saved and safe who fall into those
almighty, pierced hands o blessed
shelter . safe retreat! Is II yours?
A few more steps upon the road,
| few more risings and settings of the
sun, and you shall be face to face
with the need of this infinite refuge.
| God help you TO accept 1t now
4. They are pleading hands. More
eloquent than the silveriest speech are
they of the compassionate heart, OF
| the wooing love, Of the welcoming
mercy, of the reconciling, saving grace
and keeping power of the Savior. For
hearken-it has been put into the
| feeble language of men: Now then
are we ambassadors for Christ, as
though GOD DID BESEECH BY US:
WE PRAY YOU IN CHRIST'S
| STEAD, be We reconciled to God"
(U Cor. 5 :20).
III. Unto whom arc those hands
stretched fOrth2 To His foes For
whether we like il or not, this Is what
sin has made Of every one. Enemies
when we were enemies. we were
reconciled TO God by the death Of his
Son" (Rom. 5:10). And, THE carnal
mind is enmity against God" (Rom.
SD.
III. How longl "AlI day All
through this heightened period he
,alls "today"-this day of privilege
! and grace TO sinners; this day of "the
| tungsuffering OF our Lord which is
salvation" All through these days
and hours of your sin, of your joyless
pursuit of pleasure, of your setting at
nought OF things worth while for
trifes lighter than air, or your dis
regard of Him and His great salvation.
But the day shall close. 1.-THE night
cometh"-night to which no dawn sue
ceeds. The outstretched hands shall
be withdrawn. Too late
Nv. oh, the bitter end of your I'M
needing Because / have called, and
We refused; | have stretched out my
hand, and no man regarded; but We
have set at nought all my counsel,
and would none of my reproof / also
will laugh at your calamity; / will
mock when your fear cometh; when
your fear cometh as desolation, and
your destruction cometh as whirl-
wind; when distress and anguish
cometh upon you. Then shall they
call upon me- but | will not answer;
they shall seek me early, hut they
shall not find me-" prov. / 2+2S).
Alas for that awful cry in the lat
ter day; that bitter, heart-rendIng
cry, when men find the welcoming
hands withdrawn.
Blessed now 10 fall into those saw
ing hands, but then-"It is a fearful
thing 10 fall into the hands of the
living God"