Sunday, December 27, 2015

There’s a Stranger at the door,
    Let Him in!
He has been there oft before,
    Let Him in!
Let Him in, ere He is gone;
Let Him in, the Holy One,
Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son;
     Let Him in!

Open now to Him your heart;
    Let Him in!
If you wait He will depart;
    Let Him in!
Let Him in; He is your Friend;
And your soul He will defend,
He will keep you to the end;
    Let Him in!

Hear you now His loving voice?
    Let Him in!
Now, oh, now make Him your choice;
    Let Him in!
He is standing at your door;
Joy to you He will restore,
And His name you will adore;
    Let Him in!

Now admit the heav’nly Guest;
    Let Him in!
He will make for you a feast;
    Let Him in!
He will speak your sins forgiv’n,
And when earth ties all are riv’n,
He will take you home to heav’n
    Let Him in!
                      J. B. Atchinson


How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; Hebrews 2:3

...he left his Father's bosom, that he might bring us into acquaintance with the Father; for this end did he who thought it no robbery to be equal with the Father, make himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of man; and being found in fashion of a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross, that he might bring man into a reunion with God; for this end did Christ live a wearisome troublesome life among a company of rebels and enemies, as if a man should live among toads and serpents.  So that he cried out, as weary of any longer abiding with them, "O, faithless generation!  How long shall I be with you?  How long shall I suffer you?"  For this did he make himself an offering for sin, that by taking away sin, he might bring men to God.  This is the great purpose of Christ in all his offices.  Ye have heard of the three offices of the Mediator, that he is a Priest, a Prophet, and a King.  This is the end of the priestly office.  The purpose of Christ's offering up himself a sacrifice was, by satisfying the justice of God, to make way for sinners' return to God.  This is the end of his prophetical office, to lead men into knowledge and acquaintance with God.  This is the end of his kingly office; that governing them, and ruling their hearts by his Spirit, he might effectually bring men to God, to acquaintance with him.  Now, then, since this is the great design of God in his great dispensation towards man, to keep man in acquaintance with himself, and to reduce him when he had lost it; doth it not concern us to do our part for the bringing to pass this great work?  Shall God lose his end in making us, and in setting man in the world every way furnished for his service? and shall God lose his end in sending his Son to receive us, when we had forsaken him?  Shall Christ leave his Father's bosom to bring us home to the Father, and shall we refuse to return?  Shall he pour out his soul an offering for sin, that he might make way for our access to God, "That we who were far off might be made nigh by the blood of Christ?" and shall we frustrate all by our refusing to go to him?  Shall Christ come and offer us his help and direction to come to the Father, and shall we abide still strangers?  Shall the King's Son come into our cottages to invite us to dwell with his Father at court, and shall we shut the door upon him, esteeming our cottages better than his palace?.....
                                                                                                                               James Janeway

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