ALL WHO WILL MAY COME by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Thursday, March 4, 1880

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 55, No. 10

ALL WHO WILL MAY COME.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

BY ELD. D. M. CANRIGHT.

The Bible says that we may all come to Christ if we will. The vilest sinner may come. I will read some texts of Scripture upon this point, and the sentiment expressed is the sentiment of the entire Bible. On the last page of the Bible I read: “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Rev. 22:17. What a message from Heaven is this! How it ought to prompt us to come to Jesus! “Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely,” not stintedly, not by measure, not grudgingly, but “freely.” Who can have it?—not the rich, not the poor alone, but “whosoever will.” Brethren, this is the word of God. It means humble men, the poorest, the wickedest,—yes, anybody. All may come.

I read again that it is the will of God that all should be saved; that is, he wants us to be saved. See how plainly this is stated. 1 Tim. 2:3, 4: “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved.” He wills that all should come to the knowledge of Christ. When entering Jerusalem, he said, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, . . . how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” It is not as the Universalists say; God will not compel men to come to repentance; but he wills that all should be saved. He wants you to come. Then there is no opposition on his part. The way is entirely free to all who will come.

Matt. 11:28–30; “Come unto me [what a gracious invitation!], all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” The Spirit says, Come; Jesus says, Come; all Heaven says, Come. Who is to come? The one who is a sinner, the one who is burdened, the one who feels the press of infirmities,—yes, all can come. My dear sister, my dear brother, do not say, “I am a sinner; I have broken the law of God; I have wandered far from Jesus; I am so wicked the Lord can never love me.” It is not so. The Lord can and will accept you, if you will only come. I turn to the Bible, and find that the Lord has illustrated this promise. Some who have committed the worst sins known to humanity have yet obtained mercy.

Take, for example, the case of the thief on the cross, as recorded in Luke 23:42, 43. Two thieves were crucified with Christ. They had been arrested for stealing, had been tried, and in the penalty inflicted received only their just desert. But even one of these persons—so guilty in the sight of God and man—found forgiveness when he sought it with penitence of heart. “And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee to-day, Thou shalt be with me in paradise.” Although so vile that he was not permitted to live on earth, yet when he came with the simple prayer, “Lord, remember me,” he was received. I believe that in the providence of God this extreme case is put on record for the encouragement of those who might otherwise, on account of past sins, despair of ever securing eternal life.

In the 8th chapter of John is mentioned the case of a woman taken in adultery. She did not deny the charge brought against her for one of the worst of crimes. To the Pharisees who accused her, Christ said, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” Then they withdrew; and Jesus said unto her, “Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee; go, and sin no more.” You and I would perhaps have been less forgiving than was the dear Saviour. But there is more mercy in Heaven than with frail humanity. My friends, Heaven is all full of sympathy, and forgiveness, and pardon, if we sincerely repent and believe.

In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians we read, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolators, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” 1 Cor. 6:9, 10. He says further, “And such were some of you; but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” I believe these words are put on record for a purpose, to give hope and encouragement to the weak and sinful.

Reader, do you earnestly desire to be cleansed from the stains of sin? Do you long to become a true Christian? Then, no matter how sinful your past life may have been, if you are truly repentant, and are willing to comply with the requirements of God’s word, you may have full and free forgiveness for past offenses, and be adopted into the family of God. As an ambassador of Christ, I have the authority from my Bible to offer pardon to every one who will accept it,