ISAIAH 55: 1--7.
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.
2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
3 Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.
4 Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.
5 Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee, because of the Lord thy G.o.d, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee.
6 Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our G.o.d, for he will abundantly pardon.
JOHN 3: 1--16.
There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from G.o.d; for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except G.o.d be with him.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of G.o.d.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother"s womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of G.o.d.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8 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 every one that is born of the Spirit.
9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For G.o.d so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
JUST AS I AM.
Just as I am, without one plea But that Thy blood was shed for me, And that Thou bid"st me come to Thee; O Lamb of G.o.d, I come, I come!
Just as I am, and waiting not To rid my soul of one dark blot, To Thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot, O Lamb of G.o.d, I come, I come!
Just as I am--Thou wilt receive, Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve; Because Thy promise I believe, O Lamb of G.o.d, I come, I come!
Just as I am--Thy love unknown Has broken ev"ry barrier down; Now to be Thine, yea, Thine alone, O Lamb of G.o.d, I come, I come!
JESUS, LOVER OF MY SOUL.
Jesus, Lover of my soul, Let me to Thy bosom fly While the nearer waters roll, While the tempest still is high!
Hide me, O my Saviour, hide Till the storm of life is past; Safe into the haven guide; O receive my soul at last!
Other refuge have I none, Hangs my helpless soul on Thee; Leave, O leave me not alone.
Still support and comfort me!
All my trust on Thee is stayed, All my help from Thee I bring; Cover my defenceless head With the shadow of Thy wing!
Thou, O Christ, art all I want, More than all in Thee I find!
Raise the fallen, cheer the faint, Heal the sick, and lead the blind.
just and holy is Thy name, I am all unrighteousness; False and full of sin I am, Thou art full of truth and grace.
Plenteous grace with Thee is found, Grace to cover all my sin; Let the healing streams abound, Make and keep me pure within; Thou of life the fountain art, Freely let me take of Thee; Spring Thou up within my heart, Rise to all eternity.
BEHOLD A STRANGER.
Behold a Stranger at the door: He gently knocks, has knocked before; Has waited long, is waiting still: You treat no other friend so ill.
Oh, lovely att.i.tude! He stands With melting heart and laden hands; Oh, matchless kindness! and He shows This matchless kindness to His foes.