The Excuses of Sinners

When sinners have been awakened to see their guilt and danger, and are invited to come to Christ and be saved, they frequently make such excuses as these: "I cannot believe that the invitations of the Gospel were intended for such sinners as I am; I am afraid I do not feel aright, and that Christ will not receive me."

Suppose a table set in the street, and loaded with all kinds of food, and that a herald is sent to make proclamation, that all who wish may come and partake freely. A poor man comes, and stands looking very wistfully at the table, and when he is asked why he does not eat, replies, "O, I am afraid the invitation is not meant for me; I am not fit."

Again, he is assured that the invitation is intended for all those who are hungry, and that no other qualification is necessary. Still he objects: "But I am afraid I am not hungry enough." In the same way do sinners deprive themselves, by their own folly, of those blessings which are freely offered them by God.--Paysom.