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It is the mistake and ruin of many, both young and old, that they believe and obey Satan rather than God. The one motto is " to-day!" the other is "to-morrow!"

I. A CREST SPEAKER. Much depends, for the way in which we regard and treat what is said, on the person who says it. In connection with the Holy Ghost being the speaker here I have three remarks to make. In regard to what is said, you may be sure that.

1. It is important — for "the Holy Ghost saith" it. Much importance is attached to what great men say. A man's position gives importance to what he says — a king, for instance, or a statesman, or a master, or a judge. How much more important is the word of the Holy Ghost, whether it be in the way of warning, or encouragement, or command, or reproof! When He comes to you, you may be sure it is some momentous errand that has brought Him; and while all Scripture is His Word, such a saying as that in our text is His, in a special sense, and is of peculiar significance. And as, when a king speaks, every voice is hushed, so when the Holy Spirit speaks, there may well be the deepest interest, attention, and reverence. "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith."

2. It is true — for "the Holy Ghost saith" it. Sometimes the word of the wisest and greatest is not to be trusted, and even the truest and best may mistake. Here is One who never deceived, never mistook, never was untrue, whose word never was broken — the Holy Ghost. He is the " Spirit of truth." His is the " Scripture which cannot be broken."

3. It is kind — for "the Holy Ghost saith" it. He is the Spirit of Love as well as of Truth. With what a gentle voice He speaks. I dare say you have seen people in anxiety about their souls. Their happiness was gone. And in regard to all this, you have heard it said that it was the Holy Spirit's doing; and you have thought hardly of Him in consequence. And yet never was He more kind than when He did this very thing. When He awakens and alarms, it is to warn of coming danger, and lead to flight and safety. Will you not listen to Him as a loving Friend?

II. A MOMENTOUS WORD. — "To-day!" This is what the Holy Ghost says. It is a little word, but it has a world of meaning in it. It may be said to be at once a warning and an invitation.

1. It sets before us the time for repenting. Sin is rebellion against God, and each new sin is another act of rebellion still further endangering the rebel's head. What is to be done? The sin must have an immediate arrest laid upon it — must be forsaken. Here is a boy who has begun to be in earnest about his soul. He knows he is lost. He would like to be saved. But he would like to keep his sins too, at least for a while. He is just like that lad, who, while working among the waggons on a railway, has had his leg so bruised and crushed that there is nothing for it but to have the limb taken off. But he cannot make up his mind to part with it. Day after day he asks to have the operation deferred, each day thinking it will not be so difficult the next; though his whole experience has proved that it would have been easier at first, and that the longer the delay, the more difficult it will always become. At length the surgeon, if he is wise and kind, will break in on this state of things, and say, "We cannot tamper with a matter of this kind any longer. It is as much as your life is worth, to put off another day. The choice lies between your limb and your life; which are you prepared to lose? Whatever is to be done, must be done at once. It must be now or never." And even so it must be with sin, with the evil habit, the forbidden indulgence — it must go at once. I know how difficult it is. It is compared to cutting off a right hand, or plucking out a right eye. "I'll repent one of these days. I'll repent to-morrow." And thus it goes on from day to day, till at length the Holy Ghost breaks in with His great word, and says, "To-day!" There must be no more putting off. You have lost too much time already. It is as much as your soul is worth to wait longer. Or is there a girl who has got a sense of her sin, but fears she is too far gone to be saved. She has put off so long, that she believes she is now past hope. "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." She is like to give way to utter despair. Nay, but the Holy Ghost saith, "To-day!" It is not too late yet. It may be too late to-morrow.

2. It sets before us the time for believing. But here, too, what delay! Here is one trying to make himself better first. He says he is not fit to come to Jesus as he is. His heart is too hard: his sin is too great. He is like that diseased boy who can hardly walk, and yet refuses to see the doctor, or to knock at the infirmary door, because he is too ill, or does not yet sufficiently feel his need of help. He hopes to go by and by. He might not be received as he is. His case is too desperate. He must try to improve himself a little first. He does not see that the worse he is, the greater is the necessity for getting help at once. And when the Holy Ghost saith " To-day," it is as if He said, "Now is the time to flee to Jesus, whatever you may be. Now is the time to come to Him, all as you are." What a happy day it would be if we heard some of you saying, "Lord we take Thee at Thy word to-day I we come to Thee to-day!"

3. It sets before us the time for working. It is good for ourselves to work. Idleness of every kind is evil, — unhealthy for the body, for the spirits, for the soul. And so, Christian workers get personal benefit from their work. We need to be doing some work for Christ and for others, to keep our own souls healthy and lively and right. It is good for others. There are few for whom the youngest of us could not do something. It is pleasing and honouring to God. God likes to see His people working. It is one proof of their love to Himself. But where is all this to be done? Here on earth. And by whom? Not only by the old, but by the young also. And when? Now. Perhaps some of you are purposing to be workers when you are grown up. You think of doing nothing meanwhile. But "the Holy Ghost saith, To-day"; — not when you are older, but now while you are yet young. The kind of work which the Lord now asks of you can only be done here — not in heaven. Can you think of so many perishing all around you, without your doing anything for them? Can you do or give nothing for the heathen now? And so it is as regards giving for Christ. I fear we are far behind in this respect. What a sad thought it will be, "I might have done something for Christ, if I had only began in time!"

4. It sets before us the best time for repenting, for believing, for working — "to-day." Not when you are older, not when you are better qualified, but just now, immediately — to-day. You must have noticed the tide gradually coming in till the shore was covered; and when it was at its full, how eager the fishermen were to get their boats afloat; and how easy it was then as compared with what it was when the tide was back. The tide may be said to he in with you now: it is full tide; it is the time for getting your own boat afloat, and helping others with theirs: and for your encouragement, and for your warning, ere it go back, "the Holy Ghost saith, To-day!"

5. It sets forth the time for repenting, for believing, for working, as very short: a day — this day — to-day. You say you must enjoy yourselves, and see what the world can do for you. Or you must learn your business first. Nay; but here again, "the Holy Ghost saith, Today!" It is slipping past, and will soon be over.

6. It sets forth what may be the only time for repenting, for believing, for working. "Oh that thou hadst heard, even thou, in this thy day!" As if every one had his "day" — and when that is lost, it is lost for ever. "Thou knewest not the time of thy visitation." This may be the only "to-day" we shall ever see.

III. THE LESSON.

1. Value to-day. Regard it and treat it as you do other precious things. We may well say what a daughter told me she heard her dying mother, a Christian woman, saying a few days ago. It was Sabbath morning, and when the early sunshine lighted up her room, after a long night of restlessness and suffering, she was overheard saying, "Dear day!" Oh yes, it should be a "dear day " to us all, for it is the "day of grace," the "day of salvation."

2. Improve to-day. "Make hay when the sun shines." If the day is so precious and so short, then surely we should make the very most of it. Do not waste it. Lay it out as a steward of God.

3. Remember that the night cometh.— Every day has its night, and so has this one. Whether you are improving it or not, it is going away, and the night will soon be on.

(J. H. Wilson, D. D.)

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KJV: Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,

WEB: Therefore, even as the Holy Spirit says, "Today if you will hear his voice,