THE FAMILY ALTAR

June 28.

"Come; for all things are now ready!" Luke 14:17.

What a gracious invitation addressed by God to yon, to me,

to all men ! Ever since our Lord Jesus in His vicarious Passion

cried out on the cross: "It is finished," all things pertaining to

our salvation are ready. Nothing, nothing is lacking. The love

of the Father is ready to take poor prodigals to His bosom. The

grace of the Son is ready to pardon all our sins, no matter how

great. The communion of the Holy Ghost is ready in Word and

Sacrament to bring us to saving faith, and keep us in the same,

and so make us blessed partakers of all the rich and heavenly

treasures in Christ. Nothing remains for us to do but to come

to the feast, and to taste, and see the goodness of our merciful

God. "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." (Is. 55, 1.)

But do it now. Now all things are ready. Do not delay. You

need salvation. It is offered to you as a free gift of God's love

in Jesus, your Savior. Accept it in grateful faith to-day. Let

nothing, nothing keep you from coming to Jesus at once. No

excuse you may want to offer will hold good in the eyes of the

King bidding you to His gracious supper. Do you not hear it

is a supper, the last meal in the day? Kefuse to come to it, and

you must go hungry through the night, the long night that knows

no ending. For there is no salvation outside of Christ. Then:

"Delay not, delay not, 0 sinner, draw near, The waters of life

are now flowing for Thee; No price is demanded; the Savior is

here; Redemption is purchased, salvation is free. Delay not, de-

lay not, why longer abuse The love and compassion of Jesus,

thy God? A fountain is opened; how canst thou refuse To wash

and be cleansed in His pardoning blood ?" — May we all who hear

this gracious invitation come to Jesus to-day. Let not one of us

stay behind.