This should fire your heart with courage to go and do good! For God has his chosen people even among the vilest of the vile—the most reprobate, the most debauched and drunken. When you carry the Word to them, you go because God has ordained you to be the messenger of life to their souls. And they must receive it! The decree of predestination guarantees it.

They are as fully redeemed by Christ's blood as the saints already singing before the eternal throne. They belong to Christ. Right now they may be lovers of the ale-house and haters of holiness. But if Jesus Christ purchased them, he will have them. God is not so unfaithful as to forget the price his Son paid. He will not suffer that substitution to be ineffectual—a dead thing.

Tens of thousands of redeemed ones are not regenerated yet. But regenerated they must be! This is our comfort when we go to them with the quickening Word of God.

Nay, more—these ungodly ones are prayed for by Christ himself before the throne. "Neither pray I for these alone," says our great Intercessor, "but for them also which shall believe on me through their word." Poor, ignorant souls! They know nothing about prayer for themselves, but Jesus prays for them. Their names are on his breastplate, and ere long they must bow their stubborn knees, breathing the penitential sigh before the throne of grace.

"The time of figs is not yet." The predestinated moment has not struck. But when it comes, they shall obey. God will have his own. They must obey, for when the Spirit comes forth with fullness of power, he is not to be withstood. They must become willing servants of the living God. "My people shall be willing in the day of my power." "He shall justify many." "He shall see of the travail of his soul." "I will divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong."

Do you see it? That drunk you pass on the street may have his name on Christ's breastplate. That hostile coworker who mocks your faith may be days away from being conquered by grace. Take courage! God has much people in your city.