The World's Great Sermons, Volume 06: H. W. Beecher to Punshon
Religion
The World's Great Sermons, Volume 06: H. W. Beecher to Punshon
Sermons
season, I will call for Thee. And another says, honestly, I am
trifling. The world is so gay, so amusing, so exciting: hast Thou
not made it so for our enjoyment? Oh, grudge me not my brief time
of mirth and forgetfulness; I shall be serious enough one day. And
another says, I am coming. Yes, I am on my way. This is no world,
I see it, of rest for me. There is no peace but in God: I sought
it once elsewhere, and found it not: now I know my error; yes, I
am coming, I am coming, I am on my way: but give me time: so great
a change cannot be wrought all at once: heaven cannot be won in a
day: give me time, and I will reach Thee. I am now using the means:
I pray, I read the Bible, I go to Thy House, I partake in Christ's
supper: surely this is the way to Thee!
Yes, my brother, but why this delay? Why this postponement of the
desired result? Wilt thou be any fitter to-morrow than to-day
for that step across the barrier which now seems so premature,
so presumptuous? The word is very nigh thee: it is in thy mouth,
it is in thy heart--thou knowest it well, even the word of
faith--"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ," at once, "and thou shalt
be saved. Come unto me"--not to-morrow, but to-day--"all ye that
labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Are there any
here present--God grant that they be many!--who have yet one other
answer to return to the question on which we have dwelt? Thou sayest
to me, O Lord, "Where art thou?" Lord, I am a sinner in a world
of danger; and I have learned that danger in myself; for I have
fallen, and I have sinned against Thee, times without number; yet by
Thy grace I have risen, and I have returned to Thee, and Thou hast
accepted me in Thy Son, and hast endued me, according to my need,
with Thy Holy Spirit. And now, Lord, my life is hid with Christ in
Thee: He is my trust, He is my life, He is my hope, and the life
that I now live upon earth, I live by faith in Him. Under Thy care,
doing Thy work, thankful for Thy mercies, trusting in Thy strength,
even now I am Thine, and hereafter I shall see Thee. Guide Thou my
steps, make Thy way plain before me, in the days that remain to me,
and at last receive me to Thyself, disciplined, humbled, sanctified,
that I may rest in Thee forever, and forever see Thy glory!
My brethren, the work of God in each of us would be almost
accomplished if this one call were heard within. Once let us know
that God is speaking to us, and that He waits an answer; once let
us feel that He is, and that He will have us to be saved, and all
the rest will follow. May it be so now! May some wanderer this
night return to his Father; some hiding soul this night come forth
from its lurking place; some builder upon the sand lay this night
his foundations upon the rock; some trifler be made serious; some
worldly man turned heavenward--so that all may have cause to bless
God for His word here spoken, and ascribe to Him, through eternal
ages, thanksgiving, and blessing, and praise!
NEWMAN HALL
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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