the work of faith with power, if you will only and earnestly ask. "_Ask,
and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall
be opened unto you: What man is there of you whom if his son ask bread,
will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a
serpent? If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts unto your
children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good
things to them that ask him?_"[385]

Thus you will come to possess an actual experimental knowledge of the
most excellent of the sciences. In the present begun enjoyment of
eternal life you will, not merely believe in, but positively _know_, its
Author, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent. You will
rest in no fallible and erring testimony of man's wisdom, but your faith
will stand in the power of God. You will be able to say, "_Now we
believe not because of thy sayings: for we have heard him ourselves,
and_ KNOW _that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the
World._"[386]

Hear God's own warrant and invitation to your poor, thirsty soul, to
forsake your vanities and come and be eternally blessed in Christ. Have
the witness in yourself and be a living proof of the blessed reality of
religion.

"Ho every one that thirsteth! Come ye to the waters!
And he who hath no money! Come ye, buy and eat!
Yea, come! Buy wine and milk without money and without price.
Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread?
And your labor for that which satisfieth not?
Hearken diligently unto me and eat ye that which is good,
And let your soul delight itself in fatness.
Incline your ear and come unto me:
Hear and your soul shall live:
And I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
Even the sure mercies of David.
Behold! I have given him for a witness to the people,
A leader and a commander to the people:
Behold! thou shall call nations that thou knowest not,
And nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee,
Because of the Lord thy God,
And for the Holy One of Israel, for he hath glorified thee.

"Seek ye the Lord while he may be found,
Call ye upon him while he is near:
Let the wicked forsake his way,
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
And let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him,
And to our God for he will abundantly pardon.
For my thoughts