18 APRIL (PREACHED OLNEY FAIR DAY, 17 APRIL 1775)
The Spirit says, Come
‘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 22:17
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Romans 8:5–27
I shall take the words in the order they lie. Here is a joint invitation: the Spirit and the bride say, Come.
The Spirit: the Holy Spirit that searcheth the deep things of God and reveals his mind to men—the Spirit whose office it is to glorify Jesus. Here then is a sufficient warrant for poor sinners. Why are you poring upon yourselves, doubting whether such as you have any ground of hope, when the Spirit himself says, Come? Do you think he speaks to mock you? Indeed if you know nothing of God but by the law, you might expect and fear he would rather say, Depart, but now it is Come. For:
(i) Christ has died. Justice is satisfied.
(ii) Christ is pleading—he presents his own blood and is accepted. Therefore the Spirit assures us that God is reconciled and bids us, Come.
FOR MEDITATION: The Spirit is our prompter, that stirs up our hearts to lay hold of the golden opportunity. Our hearts are dull and backward to pray but when the Spirit shows us a glimpse of the things of Christ, of the glories of heaven, of the peace, honour and happiness of the Lord’s people, this quickens us. How forgetful are we, but the promise is fulfilled. We often approach the throne of grace, dumb, and are unwilling to go because we think we have nothing to say—rather dragged by conscience than drawn by love. Yet when at length we try to begin, how sweetly is one want, promise, blessing, after another, brought to our minds so that at last we are as loath to leave off as we were at first to begin.
Sermon on Romans 8:26, The Searcher of Hearts
SERMON: REVELATION 22:17 [2/6] [EASTER MONDAY EVENING]
Milo 