Page:Spiritual Reflections for Every Day in the Year - Vol 2.pdf/322

 approach His Holy Word in a reverent and humble spirit, without finding Him present in it. But to come unto the Lord denotes an act of the will—a desire of the affections to be present with the Lord. Our treasure is to be found in the wisdom of the Word; and if we really desire to possess this treasure, we shall seek to possess it, and strive to possess it; consequently, our heart's best desires will be exerted to obtain it. Where our treasure is, there will our heart be also.

These words, "Come unto me," are rather an invitation than a command. They at once prove the freedom of will with which we are all endowed; and though the Lord most affectionately invites, He never positively commands us. Earnestly as He desires our happiness, and constantly as His divine dispensations are exercised, in order that we may see our duty and our interest to secure happiness. He yet places "life and death" before us; but with all the tenderness of a divine parent, exhorts us to "choose life." And this affectionate exhortation is given to all that labour and are heavy-laden; to the weary and suffering; to those, oppressed by care and misery; to those diseased in mind and body; to those on whom grief has set its seal; to those oppressed with sin; to those spiritually poor, blind, lame, deaf, and dead; in short, to all that labour and are heavy-laden. If we desire to be healed of our infirmities, and to receive a portion of life, we shall forsake all that we have which pertains to self. Too long and too anxiously have we trodden the paths of the world; too long have we made the world our model, and learned the ways of the world: and the cares of the world, the deceitful-