And yet do not our own hearts and
consciences tell us that it is so? That it is more base, and more
presumptuous likewise, to turn away from one who speaks with love,
than one who speaks with sternness; from one who calls us to come to
him, with boundless condescension, than from one who bids us stand
afar off and tremble?
Those Jews of old, when they refused to hear God speaking in the
thunders of Sinai, committed folly. We, if we refuse to hear God
speaking in the tender words of Jesus crucified for us, commit an
equal folly: but we commit baseness and ingratitude likewise. They
rebelled against a Master: we rebel against a Father.
But, though we deny Him, He cannot deny Himself. We may be false to
Him, false to our better selves, false to our baptismal vows: but He
cannot be false. He cannot change. He is the same yesterday, to-
day, and for ever. What He said on earth, that He says eternally in
heaven: If any man thirst, let him come to Me and drink.
Eternally, and for ever, in heaven, says St. John, Christ says, and
is, and does, what Isaiah prophesied that He would say, and be, and
do,--I am the root and offspring of David, and the bright and morning
star. And the Spirit and the Bride (His Spirit and His Church) say,
Come. And let him that is athirst, Come: and whosoever will, let
him take of the water of life freely. For ever He calls to every
anxious soul, every afflicted soul, every weary soul, every
discontented soul, to every man who is ashamed of himself, and angry
with himself, and longs to live a soberer, gentler, nobler, purer,
truer, more useful life--Come.
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