October 25

Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. — ROMANS x. 13.

Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. — MATT. xxi. 31.

IN this parable our Lord points out two classes of men, — manifest sinners and hypocrites. In the first class we have the general reply of the unsaved, "I will not." In the second class we have the declaration of hypocrites, who promise much and do but little. Better not promise at all than to promise and not fulfil. All who openly profess the religion of Christ, say by that act, "I go." I accept of Christ and his religion for all there is in it and all there is of it, — soul, body, and spirit, — all for Christ. But alas, how few comparatively do this! They say, "I go," but go not. Publicans and harlots, the worst of sinners, who have all along said, "I will not," will go into the kingdom of God before such hypocritical professors. A mere profession of Christ's religion will not suffice: there must be an inward conformity to the divine will, and a consecration of the whole being to God. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." It requires all this to be a true follower of Christ. All this is implied in the words, "I go, sir." Our Lord throws a ray of light upon the pathway of the unsaved. Although they have often said, "I will not," yet if they turn to God with an honest, sincere heart and say, "I go," they will find the door into the kingdom of God wide open. "Whosoever will" may enter in.

J. Weaver

Long from thee my footsteps straying,

Thorny proved the way I trod;

Weary come I now, and praying,

Take me to thy love, my God!

RAY PALMER.