Page:Profit and loss, or, The Christian merchant.pdf/6

 who will not come to him must continue as they are, lost and undone. At present, they are not aware of their real state, but there is a time approaching when it will be impossible to remain ignorant of it. When Christ put the question, “What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” it was not the present lost condition of men which he had so much in view, as the future loss that must be sustained by all who refuse to hear and obey him. Those who suffer their day of mercy to pass away, and who die in their sins, bring upon themselves a loss that is final and irretrievable,—the eternal loss of their own souls. Where is the profit then, though they should have gained the whole world?

Reader, this question is addressed to you. That you have an immortal soul, is certain; that it has been lost in consequence of sin, is certain; that Christ came to seek and save the lost, is certain. If you believe what He says of himself, and come to him for salvation, you shall certainly be saved; you shall gain your own soul',—the life and everlasting happiness of your immoral spirit. But if you will not come to Christ for salvation; if you will love the present world, and choose it rather, then, most certainly, your soul shall be lost, and and lost for ever. In asserting these certainties, I do not speak at random. There is the word of God for them all; and there can be nothing more certain than what He says is true. “He that believeth on the Son of God hath everlasting life, and shall never come into condemnation. Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. He that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him. He is