My Lord Delayeth His Coming by Dudley Marvin Canright

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 3, 1866

"My Lord Delayeth His Coming."

By Dudley Marvin Canright

THE boat stopped at the wharf to wood. Passengers stood on the wharf with satchels in hand, ready to step aboard as soon as the plank was lowered. They feared to lose a moment lest they should be left behind. Those on board asked the captain how long he would stop there. "Just long enough to wood," he said. At first the passengers dare not hardly go a rod from the boat lest it should go and leave them;

but as the boat stayed longer than they expected, at the end of the first hour they ventured to the nearest groceries. Another hour passed, and they began to think that they would have time to see the town, and perhaps trade a little. A third hour passed, and yet the boat did not go. They were now tired of waiting, and their fears of being left were all gone. They began to think how they might amuse themselves to pass away the time; for this purpose they began to wander, one here and another there, and some a good ways from the boat.

Meanwhile the boat was being loaded. Every hour and every minute brought it nearer the time to start. At length the last stick was on, the whistle blew, and the command was given, "Haul in the lines and take up the plank." Then there was hurrying and running to get aboard. Some who were the furthest off had to jump on after the plank was hauled in, some had to climb over the bow of the boat, and some who had wandered the furthest, were left entirely.

Dear reader, do you see the application of this? To my mind it is very evident. When we first heard the good news that Christ was soon coming, we felt that we had no time to lose to get ready for that event. Time appeared very short. We were anxious to do all we could to be ready at any moment. But as with the passengers, so with us; time has continued longer than we expected. With some, it seems to grow further off every year, and we are growing more careless and less watchful about his coming. Some are becoming worldly minded, are wandering far from the Lord. But be careful, be careful. Every year and every day brings the actual hour of his coming so much nearer. Soon the trumpet will sound, and Jesus will appear. Then it will be too late to come back to the Lord. Let us watch and be sober, and not wander from the Lord, whilst yet a few days of preparation remain.

D. M. CANRIGHT.

Carlton, N. Y.