THE INN by Spurgeon

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jan 12, 1882

THE INN.

By Spurgeon

In reading a book which interested us greatly during our three months' sojourn at the Hotel de la Paix, at Mentone, we stumbled on the following passage: "In the anecdote books of our boyhood used to be told the story of an Indian Faquir, who entered an Eastern palace, and spread his bed in one of its ante-chambers, pretending that he had mistaken the building for a caravansary, or inn. The prince, amused by the oddity of the circumstance, ordered, so ran the tale, the man to be brought before him, and asked him how he came to make such a mistake. "What is an inn?" the Faquir asked. "A place," was the reply, "where travelers rest a little while before proceeding on their journey." "Who dwelt here before you?" again asked the Faquir. "My father," was the prince's reply. "And did he remain here?" "No," was the answer. "He died and went away." "And who dwelt here before him?" "His ancestors." "And did they remain here?" "No, they also died and went away." "Then," rejoined the Faquir, "I have made no mistake, for your palace is but an inn, after all."

The Faquir was right. Our houses are but inns, and the whole world a caravansary. Under what sign are we living? We like our own sign of "peace." De la Paix has a soft sound to our ear. Others prefer to have their hotels called the "Splendid," or the "Royal," or the "Imperial;" let us dwell in "peace," and we shall be content. It was said of old, concerning our Lord and Master, that "there was no room for him in the inn;" if it be so in any house, peace will be courted in vain; but make room for Jesus, and all will be well, for "he is our peace."—Spurgeon.