THE DEVIL’S CASTAWAYS.
One day when Whitfield was preaching, he said the Lord was so anxious to save souls that He would take in the devil’s castaways. Lady Huntingdon remonstrated with him, and said he ought not to make such statements. A little while after, however, there came to his preaching a poor fallen woman, an outcast from society. She was labouring under deep conviction of sin, and before long she found peace in her Saviour, and was received right into the kingdom of God. Now if there is a poor sinner here, let him take this one verse, and then keep in his mind that poor leper coming to Christ. The law forbade him to come, but Christ is above the law. “The law came by Moses, but grace and truth by Jesus Christ.”
Now, you can make a wonderful exchange to-day. You can have health in the place of sickness; you can get rid of everything that is vile and hateful in the sight of God. The Son of God comes down, and says, “I will take away your leprosy, and give you health in its stead. I will take away that terrible disease that is ruining your body and soul, and give you my righteousness in its stead. I will clothe you with the garments of salvation.” Is it not a wonderful thing? That’s what He means when He says I will. Oh, lay hold of this “I will!”
4. Now turn to Matthew x. 32: “Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I also confess before My Father which is in heaven.” There’s the
“I WILL” OF CONFESSION.
Now, that’s the next thing that takes place after a man is saved. We have been washed in the blood of the Lamb, and the next thing is to get our mouths opened. We have to confess Christ here in this dark world, and tell His love to others. We are not to be ashamed of the Son of God.
A man thinks it a great honour when he has achieved a victory that causes his name to be mentioned in Parliament, or in the presence of the Queen and her court. A very great honour. And in China, we read, the highest ambition of the successful soldier is to have his name written in the palace or temple of Confucius. But just think of having your name mentioned in the kingdom of heaven by the Prince of Glory, by the Son of God, because you confess Him here on earth. You confess Him here; He will confess you yonder. If you wish to be brought into the clear light of liberty, you must take your stand on Christ’s side. I have known many Christians go groping about in darkness, and never get into the clear light of the kingdom, because they were ashamed to confess the Son of God. Don’t be ashamed, Christians, to let your friends, and even your enemies, know that you are on God’s side.
5. The next I will is the
“I WILL” OF SERVICE.
There are a good many Christians here, I believe, that have been quickened and aroused to say, “I want to do some service for Christ.” Well, Christ says, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” There is no Christian who cannot help to bring some one to the Saviour. Christ says, “And I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto Me”; and our business is just to lift up Christ, and live to Him. You may go on preaching like the angel Gabriel; but if you live like a devil, your preaching goes for nothing. I do not care how eloquent you are, and what beautiful language you use, your preaching goes for nothing. It is no good following this man or that man; follow Christ, and Him only. He says, I will make you fishers of men.