"Ask, and it shall be given you."-Matthew 7:7

"Ask, and it shall be given you."-Matthew 7:7

We know of a place in England still existing, where a dole of bread is
served to every passerby who chooses to ask for it. Whoever the
traveller may be, he has but to knock at the door of St. Cross Hospital, and
there is the dole of bread for him. Jesus Christ so loveth sinners that
He has built a St. Cross Hospital, so that whenever a sinner is hungry,
he has but to knock and have his wants supplied. Nay, He has done
better; He has attached to this Hospital of the Cross a bath; and whenever a
soul is black and filthy, it has but to go there and be washed. The
fountain is always full, always efficacious. No sinner ever went into it
and found that it could not wash away his stains. Sins which were
scarlet and crimson have all disappeared, and the sinner has been whiter than
snow. As if this were not enough, there is attached to this Hospital of
the Cross a wardrobe, and a sinner making application simply as a
sinner, may be clothed from head to foot; and if he wishes to be a !
soldier, he may not merely have a garment for ordinary wear, but armour
which shall cover him from the sole of his foot to the crown of his
head. If he asks for a sword, he shall have that given to him, and a
shield too. Nothing that is good for him shall be denied him. He shall have
spending-money so long as he lives, and he shall have an eternal
heritage of glorious treasure when he enters into the joy of his Lord.

If all these things are to be had by merely knocking at mercy's door, O
my soul, knock hard this morning, and ask large things of thy generous
Lord. Leave not the throne of grace till all thy wants have been spread
before the Lord, and until by faith thou hast a comfortable prospect
that they shall be all supplied. No bashfulness need retard when Jesus
invites. No unbelief should hinder when Jesus promises. No
cold-heartedness should restrain when such blessings are to be obtained.

"And the Lord shewed me four carpenters."-Zechariah 1:20

In the vision described in this chapter, the prophet saw four terrible
horns. They were pushing this way and that way, dashing down the
strongest and the mightiest; and the prophet asked, "What are these?" The
answer was, "These are the horns which have scattered Israel." He saw
before him a representation of those powers which had oppressed the church
of God. There were four horns; for the church is attacked from all
quarters. Well might the prophet have felt dismayed; but on a sudden there
appeared before him four carpenters. He asked, "What shall these do?"
These are the men whom God hath found to break those horns in pieces.
God will always find men for His work, and He will find them at the right
time. The prophet did not see the carpenters first, when there was
nothing to do, but first the "horns," and then the "carpenters." Moreover,
the Lord finds enough men. He did not find three carpenters, but four;
there were four horns, and there must be four workmen. God finds !
the right men; not four men with pens to write; not four architects to
draw plans; but four carpenters to do rough work. Rest assured, you who
tremble for the ark of God, that when the "horns" grow troublesome, the
"carpenters" will be found. You need not fret concerning the weakness
of the church of God at any moment; there may be growing up in obscurity
the valiant reformer who will shake the nations: Chrysostoms may come
forth from our Ragged Schools, and Augustines from the thickest darkness
of London's poverty. The Lord knows where to find His servants. He hath
in ambush a multitude of mighty men, and at His word they shall start
up to the battle; "for the battle is the Lord's," and He shall get to
Himself the victory. Let us abide faithful to Christ, and He, in the
right time, will raise up for us a defence, whether it be in the day of our
personal need, or in the season of peril to His Church.