September 25

I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely; for Mine anger is turned away from him. Hosea 14:4.

"Now is the accepted time; now is the day of salvation." "Seek ye the Lord while He may be found; call ye upon Him while He is near," before the night cometh, the night when grace will no longer be offered. Men hear the invitation, but many, steeped in their earthly pursuits, turn a deaf ear to it; some hasten to enter in; some postpone it from one time to another.

Have you sinned, and does your heart long to be reconciled to God? Then remember His grace and mercy in Christ Jesus and never suffer your soul to lose sight of it. Strive to enter in at the strait gate. The open gate is before you. Christ is preached to you. Even to-day He calls you to return to Him, to repent and believe the Gospel. Neglect not His calling. Return now, enter in, and do not put it off for a future time. The longer you tarry, the less will there be a probability of your ever returning and entering in, and when death comes and the door of heaven is shut, it will remain shut.

What must we do? Cast ourselves on the mercy of God, and His mercy we must trust. Though our sins are red like crimson, though they are as numberless as the sands of the seashore, the mercy of God is still greater. No sin can be committed by man which would be so great that the grace of God could not put it away. "He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" The Son of God is more precious than all the treasures of this earth put together, and since God spared not the most precious which He had, how, then, should we doubt His mercy? Do not think yourself too insignificant to be taken notice of by the great God. "He remembereth that we are dust." God does not overlook the dust, He remembers it, and it tends to the glorification of His name among men to raise the humble out of the dust and to adorn them with royal apparel. If you return to Him, He will cover all your sins. His anger is turned from you. His mercy is as high as the heavens.

Prayer.

O my heavenly Father, for the sake of Thy dear Son, my Savior Jesus Christ, receive me again into grace and do not let

His bitter sufferings and death and the perfect, precious ransom which He has paid Thee for my sins be lost upon me poor sinner, but be effectual in me. I am indeed an unworthy sinner, but by Thy grace, for the sake of my Lord and Redeemer I shall not perish, but have everlasting life; for Thy mercy and my Savior's love is more than sufficient to cover all my sins. In eternity I will laud and praise Thee for this Thy grace and love. Amen.

O fallen, yet not lost, Canst thou forget the life for thee laid down, The taunts, the scourging, and the thorny crown? When o'er thee first My spotless robe I spread And poured the Oil of Joy upon thy head, How did thy wakening heart within thee burn! Canst thou remember all and not return?