Southern Christian Advocate

WHO IS IT?

President Edwards remarks, as the result of
long and close observation, that, of all sinners,
unconverted professors of religion are the most
hopeless. In his account of the great New Eng-
land revival in which he labored very extensively,
he states that whilst such immense multitudes,
and a large proportion of all ages and
conditions in life were powerfully wrought upon
and driven to seek refuge from the wrath to
come, unconverted professors alone stood unmoved.
—Reader, are you a professor? Have you
been converted? When? How do you know
it?—Where do you find your evidence? Are
you sure that you are not deceived? Is it even
possible that you may be one of that class whom
the discerning, spiritually-minded Edwards saw
in his day, to be deceiving themselves, and whose
conduct in their safe state was still such that
no appeals could rouse them? May not many
of them have long since appealed, to the Saviour,
"We have eaten and drunk in thine house,"
and been answered, "Depart from me, I know
you not?" Are there no readers of this paragraph
whose lot will be the same? We dare
not hope there are not? Who is it? You?
I! To some reader God could say, thou art the
man, or the woman. Let us pause—reflect.
Read the scripture, and read our own hearts in
its light. Let us ask the gift of the Holy Spirit;
for, if ye being evil, know how to give good gifts
to your children, How Much More shall your
Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them—
to whom? to them that ask. No one ever earnestly,
importunately, humbly, perseveringly asked
the converting power, the sanctifying influence,
and cheering light of God's spirit, and has
been denied.