Hammond, the gentlemans outfitter had a prominent shop in a Scottish town. He was a Christian and often preached in the market place.
It grieved him that although he proclaimed Gods free, unmerited grace, calling upon his fellow townsmen to accept Jesus and flee from the wrath to come, yet they remained careless and indifferent to the claims of Jesus. "Everything for nothing and for Whosoever will." That was his message "Come buy wine and milk without money and without price" Is 55:1
What could he do to shake men out of their indifference? He decided to do something unusual. He had a large poster printed to the effect that.....
EVERY MAN WHO ENTERS THIS SHOP TODAY AND ASKS FOR A HAT WITHOUT MONEY AND WITHOUT PRICE MAY HAVE THE BEST HAT IN THE SHOP FOR NOTHING.
This notice he placed in a prominent place in the shop window surrounded by the most expensive and up-to-date hats. His wife said "My dear we shall be ruined they will clear out our whole stock in trade" However Hammond persisted.
It did not take long for the news to spread through the town, and off and on considerable crowds gathered around the shop window. Occasionally customers entered and paid for whatever they wanted, including hats, but never mentioned the offer.
After a while Hammond wondered about the reaction to his poster, for no one was taking up the offer. So he slipped out and mingled with the crowd to listen to their remarks.
"I would'nt be so vulgar as to ask for a free hat" said one". "Hm, I'm well able to pay for my hat" said another. "Its a hoax, there will be a catch to it" "Beware I say, you could be having to sign for something" "Does he think we are daft, he wont catch many birds with that chaff" "I would like one, but I cannot bring myself around to go in and ask"
At last an old tramp came in, near closing time, and exchanged his battered head-piece for a swell new hat. Better still Hammond told him of forgiveness of sins for nothing, fellowship with God now and a home in heaven later, all for nothing, free gratis, by trusting in the crucified and risen Jesus.
When the tramp came out with the free gift of God in his heart, his face aglow with a new hat on his head, many said "My, I'd like one too" but closing time had come and the door was shut.
Reader! The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Rom. 6:23 Will you not look up to Him now, as you read this, and accept His free gift now, lest you too at last find that you are too late, and the door is shut.
It grieved him that although he proclaimed Gods free, unmerited grace, calling upon his fellow townsmen to accept Jesus and flee from the wrath to come, yet they remained careless and indifferent to the claims of Jesus. "Everything for nothing and for Whosoever will." That was his message "Come buy wine and milk without money and without price" Is 55:1
What could he do to shake men out of their indifference? He decided to do something unusual. He had a large poster printed to the effect that.....
EVERY MAN WHO ENTERS THIS SHOP TODAY AND ASKS FOR A HAT WITHOUT MONEY AND WITHOUT PRICE MAY HAVE THE BEST HAT IN THE SHOP FOR NOTHING.
This notice he placed in a prominent place in the shop window surrounded by the most expensive and up-to-date hats. His wife said "My dear we shall be ruined they will clear out our whole stock in trade" However Hammond persisted.
It did not take long for the news to spread through the town, and off and on considerable crowds gathered around the shop window. Occasionally customers entered and paid for whatever they wanted, including hats, but never mentioned the offer.
After a while Hammond wondered about the reaction to his poster, for no one was taking up the offer. So he slipped out and mingled with the crowd to listen to their remarks.
"I would'nt be so vulgar as to ask for a free hat" said one". "Hm, I'm well able to pay for my hat" said another. "Its a hoax, there will be a catch to it" "Beware I say, you could be having to sign for something" "Does he think we are daft, he wont catch many birds with that chaff" "I would like one, but I cannot bring myself around to go in and ask"
At last an old tramp came in, near closing time, and exchanged his battered head-piece for a swell new hat. Better still Hammond told him of forgiveness of sins for nothing, fellowship with God now and a home in heaven later, all for nothing, free gratis, by trusting in the crucified and risen Jesus.
When the tramp came out with the free gift of God in his heart, his face aglow with a new hat on his head, many said "My, I'd like one too" but closing time had come and the door was shut.
Reader! The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Rom. 6:23 Will you not look up to Him now, as you read this, and accept His free gift now, lest you too at last find that you are too late, and the door is shut.
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