May 15

"Harden not your hearts."—HES. iii. 8.

ALL down the ages, God has been calling loudly and earnestly to men.

When this Epistle was written, and Jerusalem was within a few years of her tremendous death-struggle, and the Church of Jesus Christ was rising fair and strong on the ruins of the old dispensation, the Heavenly Voice rang out, Choose ye now whom ye will serve.

When Nero and Marcus Aurelius and Diocletian persecuted the Christians, and the sheep of the Good Shepherd dwelt "amid ignominy, death, and tombs," and no one could predict what an hour might bring forth, God said, Cast not away your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.

When the new life was stirring in Germany in Martin Luther's time, and men were learning that they could come for themselves to the throne of the Lord, the Holy Spirit entreated them not to miss so rich and golden an opportunity.

When the great Revival brought a fresh day-dawn to the England of last century, and from Cornwall to Cumberland sleeping souls were roused under John Wesley's preaching and George Whitefield's, it was another season of heaven on the earth when violent men took the Kingdom by force.

Oh, this reiterated cry of God! This unflagging perseverance of His! This invitation which He extends to everyone within sound of the gospel! Is there anything so wonderful or so gracious? I, too, am better acquainted with His voice than with the voice of father or wife or child. Have I yielded to it and to Him? Let me beware of the evil heart of unbelief.