We do not usually associate a sermon with a prison cell, but ours was the pleasure a few years ago of listening to one in such strange surroundings.

The circumstances were these. While visiting in one of the prisons we entered a cell where we found a man of perhaps thirty-five years of age. He was obviously not what is usually called a jail-bird. He was suffering for a first offense and we doubt not it was his last. He told us when he entered that establishment he did not know a single line in the Bible. It was to him quite a strange book.

Now in every prison cell there was a Bible. Wishing for something to pass the time, he commenced to read that wonderful Book. He began at the first chapter of the book of Genesis and read steadily on and on, so that when we first met him he had read through the entire volume. Here was an intelligent man, who, when he read chapter one, did not know what he would find in chapter two; and who, having read the Old Testament, had no idea what awaited him in the New.

Greatly interested, we asked him what he thought of the Bible. We give his reply as nearly as possible in his own words. He said, "When I read the Old Testament, it seemed to me that there was a great distance between God and His creatures, and it was a matter of great difficulty for the creature to approach God. There were priests, sacrifices, ritual." Again he said, "It seemed to be difficult for the creature to approach God."

What about the New Testament? we asked. "When I came to read the New Testament," said he, "everything appeared changed. It seemed as if God had come down to this world, was stretching out His arms, was inviting His creatures to come to Him; and wanted to get as near to them, and have them as near to Him as possible."

We constituted the congregation in the prison cell that day; the prisoner was the preacher. We have never forgotten his sermon, and we pass it on to our readers. Needless to say, the preacher left the prison a saved man.

It is true that there is an immeasurable distance between God and men caused by sin. The Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God eternal, came into the world that He might remove the distance. Only by His becoming Man, and dying for sin on the cross, could the distance be removed. He went into the distance when on the cross He cried, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" (Matt. 27:46). He made atonement for sin, meeting God's claims and glorifying His Name. He said, "It is finished" (John 19:30) and bowed His head in death. Now risen and glorified at God's right hand, He invites all to draw near to Him.

He says, "Come unto Me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matt. 11:28); and again, "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out" (John 6:37). He draws near to you as you read these lines, and He longs that you should here and now come to Him.

—W.B.D.