CALL AND GRACIOUS INVITATION TO ALL SINNERS FOR SALVATION. THE VOICE OF THE GOSPEL OF GOD.

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.—Isaiah i. 18.

Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the Lord? and there is no God else besides me; a just God, and a Saviour: there is none besides me. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is none else.-Isaiah xlv. 21, 22.

Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.—Isaiah lv. 1, 6, 7.

Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?-Ezekiel xxxiii. II.

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.—Matthew xi, 28.

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.-Mark xvi. 15.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life.--John iii. 16.

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.—2 Cor. v. 20, 21.

This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.-I Timothy i. 15.

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.—Revelation xxii. 17.

CALLING, EFFECTUAL, IS OF GOD'S GRACE-IS THE WORK

OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.-Ezekiel xxxvi. 26, 27.

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.—Acts ii. 38, 39.

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the first-born among many brethren. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called; and whom he called, them he also justified; and whom he justified, them he also glorified.-Romans viii. 29, 30.

But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood.-Galatians i. 15, 16.

The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power.-Ephesians i. 18, 19.

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ; (by grace ye are saved).—Ephesians ii. 4, 5.

Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.I Timothy i. 9.

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.-Titus iii. 5.

Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things ye shall never fall.— I Peter

IO.

"CANNOT"-A SIGNIFICANT WORD, WHICH OFTEN INDICATES WHAT IS IMPOSSIBLE. IMPORTANT LESSONS.

But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built !—2 Chron. vi. 18.

Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him on the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him.—Job xxiii. 8, 9.

Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee.-Job xxxvi. 18.

God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.-Job xxxvii. 5.

Thou compasseth my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.—Psalm cxxxix. 3-6.

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.-Matt. vi. 24.

And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.-Luke xiv. 27.

But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.-Luke xvi. 25, 26.

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.-John iii. 5.

For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.—Rom. viii. 6-8.

CHARACTER AND UNGODLY CONDUCT OF THE WICKED

INDICATED.

And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go.— Exodus v. 2.

The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God God is not in all his thoughts.-Psalm iv. 10.

And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.-Luke xv. 13.

For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.-John iii. 20.

Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which showed before of the coming of the just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers.-Acts vii. 51, 52.

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.-1 Corinthians vi. 9, 10.

For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ : whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.-Philippians iii. 18, 19.

For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.-2 Timothy ii. 2-4.

These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.-Jude 12, 13.

CHARACTER AND GODLY CONDUCT OF THE RIGHTEOUS

INDICATED.

For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all the people that are upon the face of the earth.-Deut. vii. 6.

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful but his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night—Psalm i. 1, 2.

Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it; and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.—Malachi iii. 16.

And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.—Luke ii. 37.

Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile !—John i. 47.

Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.—John xv. 8-10.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.-Philippians iv. 8.

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.-2 Timothy iv. 7, 8.

And besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith, virtue ; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to patience, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.-2 Peter i. 5-8.