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in the soul to return to God is but the tender pleading of His Spirit； wooing； entreating； drawing the wanderer to his Father's heart of love。
With the rich promises of the Bible before you； can you give place to doubt？ Can you believe that when the poor sinner longs to return； longs to forsake his sins； the Lord sternly withholds him from coming to His feet in repentance？ Away with such thoughts！ Nothing can hurt your own soul more than to entertain such a conception of our heavenly Father。 He hates sin； but He loves the sinner； and He gave Himself in the person of Christ； that all who would might be saved and have eternal blessedness in the kingdom of glory。 What stronger or more tender language could have been employed than He has chosen in which to express His love toward us？ He declares； 〃Can a woman forget her sucking child； that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb？ yea； they may forget； yet will I not forget thee。〃 Isaiah 49：15。
Look up； you that are doubting and trembling；
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for Jesus lives to make intercession for us。 Thank God for the gift of His dear Son and pray that He may not have died for you in vain。 The Spirit invites you today。 Come with your whole heart to Jesus； and you may claim His blessing。
As you read the promises； remember they are the expression of unutterable love and pity。 The great heart of Infinite Love is drawn toward the sinner with boundless compassion。 〃We have redemption through His blood； the forgiveness of sins。〃 Ephesians 1：7。 Yes； only believe that God is your helper。 He wants to restore His moral image in man。 As you draw near to Him with confession and repentance； He will draw near to you with mercy and forgiveness。
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The Test of Discipleship
〃If any man be in Christ； he is a new creature： old things are passed away； behold； all things are become new。〃 2 Corinthians 5：17。
A person may not be able to tell the exact time or place； or trace all the chain of circumstances in the process of conversion； but this does not prove him to be unconverted。 Christ said to Nicodemus； 〃The wind bloweth where it listeth； and thou hearest the sound thereof； but canst not tell whence it cometh； and whither it goeth： so is everyone that is born of the Spirit。〃 John 3：8。 Like the wind； which is invisible； yet the effects of which are plainly seen and felt； is the Spirit of God in its work upon the human heart。 That regenerating power； which no human eye can see； begets a new life in the soul； it creates a new being in the image of God。 While the work of the Spirit is silent and imperceptible； its effects are manifest。 If the heart has been renewed by the Spirit of God； the life will bear witness to the fact。 While we cannot do anything to change our hearts or to bring ourselves into harmony with God； while we must not trust at all to ourselves or our good works； our lives will reveal whether the grace of God is dwelling within us。 A change will be seen in the character； the habits； the pursuits。 The contrast will be clear and decided between what they have been and what they are。 The character is revealed； not
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by occasional good deeds and occasional misdeeds； but by the tendency of the habitual words and acts。
It is true that there may be an outward correctness of deportment without the renewing power of Christ。 The love of influence and the desire for the esteem of others may produce a well…ordered life。 Self…respect may lead us to avoid the appearance of evil。 A selfish heart may perform generous actions。 By what means； then； shall we determine whose side we are on？
Who has the heart？ With whom are our thoughts？ Of whom do we love to converse？ Who has our warmest affections and our best energies？ If we are Christ's； our thoughts are with Him； and our sweetest thoughts are of Him。 All we have and are is consecrated to Him。 We long to bear His image； breathe His spirit； do His will； and please Him in all things。
Those who become new creatures in Christ Jesus will bring forth the fruits of the Spirit； 〃love； joy； peace； long…suffering； gentleness； goodness； faith； meekness； temperance。〃 Galatians 5：22； 23。 They will no longer fashion themselves according to the former lusts； but by the faith of the Son of God they will follow in His steps； reflect His character； and purify themselves even as He is pure。 The things they once hated they now love； and the things they once loved they hate。 The proud and self…assertive become meek and lowly in heart。 The vain and supercilious become serious and unobtrusive。 The drunken become sober； and the profligate pure。 The vain customs and fashions of the world are laid aside。 Christians will seek not the 〃outward adorning；〃 but 〃the hidden man of
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the heart； in that which is not corruptible； even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit。〃 1 Peter 3： 3； 4。
There is no evidence of genuine repentance unless it works reformation。 If he restore the pledge； give again that he had robbed； confess his sins； and love God and his fellow men； the sinner may be sure that he has passed from death unto life。
When； as erring； sinful beings； we come to Christ and become partakers of His pardoning grace； love springs up in the heart。 Every burden is light； for the yoke that Christ imposes is easy。 Duty becomes a delight； and sacrifice a pleasure。 The path that before seemed shrouded in darkness； becomes bright with beams from the Sun of Righteousness。
The loveliness of the character of Christ will be seen in His followers。 It was His delight to do the will of God。 Love to God； zeal for His glory； was the controlling power in our Saviour's life。 Love beautified and ennobled all His actions。 Love is of God。 The unconsecrated heart cannot originate or produce it。 It is found only in the heart where Jesus reigns。 〃We love； because He first loved us。〃 1 John 4：19； R。V。 In the heart renewed by divine grace； love is the principle of action。 It modifies the character； governs the impulses； controls the passions； subdues enmity； and ennobles the affections。 This love； cherished in the soul； sweetens the life and sheds a refining influence on all around。
There are two errors against which the children of Godparticularly those who have just come to trust in His graceespecially need to guard。 The first； already dwelt upon； is that of looking to their
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own works； trusting to anything they can do； to bring themselves into harmony with God。 He who is trying to become holy by his own works in keeping the law； is attempting an impossibility。 All that man can do without Christ is polluted with selfishness and sin。 It is the grace of Christ alone； through faith； that can make us holy。
The opposite and no less dangerous error is that belief in Christ releases men from keeping the law of God； that since by faith alone we become partakers of the grace of Christ； our works have nothing to do with our redemption。
But notice here that obedience is not a mere outward compliance；