July 10

Will thou be made whole?—John 5:6.

THE question proposed to the man at Bethesda, Jesus proposes to every sinner by his Gospel. But to understand and appreciate it, it is necessary that we be reminded of our naturally diseased condition. Those that are whole need not a physician, but they who are sick. Then we ask, are you sensible of your spiritually afflicted state by sin? That the whole mind is affected by the painful and dangerous malady of iniquity,—that your disease is hereditary, derived from the first human pair,—that it is deep-seated, and has grown up with you, and has been increasing in virulence every year,—that it is wofully dangerous, exposing its wretched victims to the dreadful miseries of the second death,—that it is incurable by human expedients. No man can thoroughly understand it, much less heal it. It is of the greatest importance that you should know and deeply deplore the plague of your own hearts. Then we ask, will you be made whole? A physician there is, a healing balm is provided: nothing but your hearty acquiescence is necessary to effect a perfect cure. This physician is Christ, the balm is his precious blood, in which we have forgiveness, escape, sanctification and eternal life. Will you believe in its efficacious influences, and cordially apply it to your sin-sick soul. "If thou believest with all thine heart, thou shalt be saved,"—if you come trusting in his blood, you shall feel guilt removed, conscience pacified, and you shall have holy access to God in this life, and finally stand in his glorious presence in the life which is to come. Will you then be made whole?—made whole in Christ's way, on Christ's gracious and simple terms, made whole now; "For behold now is the accepted time, and behold now is the day of salvation."