But in conversions there must be thorough earnestness about the salvation of the soul, or of our relationship to God.  And why should not this feeling be suddenly kindled?  Men can be easily roused to sudden earnestness, in order to save their bodies, when they realise present danger; and why not to save their souls? If, indeed, the soul can never be in such danger, or if a man can never be ignorant or forgetful of the fact, or if in no circumstances or by any means he can be roused to a sense of his danger, then may such sudden earnestness be impossible; but if his danger is real, and deliverance near, surely all this is possible, and even probable, and of infinite importance, seeing that the day of grace ends with life, and life may end in any moment.  If this night a man’s soul may be required to give its account, surely on this day conversion is required to make that account one of joy, and not of sorrow.

Conversion implies also faith in what God has revealed to us.  And why should we not at once believe God?  Do we think it necessary to hesitate for months and years ere we believe the word of an honourable, truthful man, in matters of fact about which he cannot possibly be mistaken?  And shall we think it strange to believe God’s Word the moment we hear it?  Now, that Word tells us many things which, if true, cannot be believed without producing immediate results.  It tells us that we are lost sinners “condemned already;” that God, in love, has had pity on us, and sent His Son to save us; that He died on the cross for sinners, so that “whosoever believeth in Him shall never perish;” that He lives to quicken and sanctify through His Spirit all who will receive Him; that there is “no other name given under heaven whereby a man can be saved;” and that “he who believeth not shall be damned.”  Now, is it really impossible for a man at once to believe all this, or even thus far to understand his danger, and believe the gospel as the only deliverance?  Does it seem strange that men should have at once believed Christ, or any of His apostles, when they preached?  Or, does it not seem more strange that some were “fools, and slow of heart to believe?” And why should it seem incredible that a sincere and earnest man should now believe the moment he hears the same gospel, and say, “I have been a great sinner in hitherto treating this message with so much neglect!  By my disbelief I have made God a liar; I shall do so no more:  Thy Word is truth.  Lord, I believe; help mine unbelief!”

Conversion implies a “yielding ourselves to God,” because thus believing in His love manifested through Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  Such a state of mind might be thus expressed:  “Lord, I shall fight against Thee no more!  I believe in Thee, and yield myself to Thee for time and eternity, to have the good pleasure of Thy righteous will done in me and by me; to be pardoned, sanctified, and governed wholly by Thyself, and in Thine own way.  I am Thine—­save me!” Surely this attitude of soul may be assumed at once towards God the very moment the gospel of His goodwill to us, and of His desire to possess our hearts, is heard.