“Mr. Whitfield,” said Lady Huntingdon, “these ladies have been preferring a very heavy charge against you. They say that in your sermon last night you made use of this expression: “So ready is Christ to receive sinners who come to Him, that He is willing to receive the devil’s castaways.” Mr. Whitfield pleaded guilty to the charge, and told them of the following circumstance. “A wretched woman came to me this morning, and said: ‘ Sir, I was passing the door of your chapel, and hearing the voice of some one preaching, I did what I have never been in the habit of doing, I went in I and one of the first things I heard you say was that Jesus would receive willingly the devil’s castaways. Sir, I have been in the town for many years, and am so worn out in his service, that I may with truth be called one of the devil’s castaways. Do you think that Jesus would receive me? “I,” said Mr. Whitfield, “assured her that there was not a doubt of it, if she was willing to go to Him.” From the sequel it appeared that this was a case of true conversion, and Lady Huntingdon was assured that the woman left a very charming testimony behind her, that though her sins had been of a crimson hue, the atoning blood of Christ had washed them white as snow.
"Heaven is my throne...Isaiah 63"
GOD'S REJECTION OF ALL MATERIAL TEMPLES. There was a time when it could be said that there was a house of God on earth. That was a time of symbols, when as yet the Church of God was in her childhood. She was being taught her A B C, reading her picture-book, for she could not as yet read the Word of God, as it were in letters. She had need to have pictures put before her, patterns of the heavenly things. Even then, the enlightened amongst the Jews knew well that God did not dwell between curtains, and that it was not possible that He could be encompassed in the most holy place within the veil It was only a symbol of His presence. But the time of symbols is now passed altogether. In that moment when the Saviour bowed His head, and said "It is finished! " the veil of the temple was rent in twain, so that the mysteries were laid open. So, one reason why God saith He dwelleth not in temples made with hands, is, because He would have us know that the symbolical worship is ended...
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