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.