p. 251 | Away Then by O. E. McCord

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Jun 17, 1875

Away Then.

By O. E. McCord

THE Russian General, Prince Mentchikoff, who defended Sebastopol, during the Crimean war, had occasion during the siege of that city to send an important message to the Czar at St. Petersburg, and ordered a faithful officer to be his messenger, giving him directions not to halt or to delay until he stood before the Czar, and above all not to lose sight of the precious message which he bore. Away went the messenger in a sleigh belonging to the Czar's couriers. At the end of each twenty miles he found fresh horses awaiting him; these were quickly harnessed to his sleigh, in place of the weary animals, and the servants and stable-men would cry out: "Your excellency, the horses are ready," "Away then!" the messenger would say to the driver; and off he would go again at the most rapid rate at which the horses were capable.

Riding in this way for several days and nights, suffering with cold, and pursued by wolves in the forest, the messenger, weary with watching his dispatches day and night, at length reached the palace of the Czar, and was immediately ushered into his presence. He had no sooner handed the Emperor the letter of the General than he sank into a chair and fell fast asleep. After reading the dispatch, the Czar wishing to ask the officer a question, the attendants endeavored to arouse him, but in vain, until the Czar stooping down cried in his ears, "Your excellency, the horses are ready." The faithful messenger instantly sprang to his feet and cried: "Away then!" and instead of being reproved for resting when his work was done, was rewarded for his faithfulness.

Who can but admire the faithfulness of this messenger of an earthly prince, and should not they who are commissioned by the Prince of Salvation prove themselves as worthy of confidence in the fulfillment of duties assigned them? The world lies asleep in chains of carnal security and delights, mindful only of its own pleasures, unmindful of the fast approaching day of terror to those who forget God and his just requirements. The Prince of Life sends his followers not to a monarch but to all, with a warning message that they may be left without excuse when that day of terror, to those that love not his appearing, shall suddenly come. Ears have they, but they hear not the call to righteousness; eyes have they, but they behold no beauty in holiness; feet have they, but they find no delight in walking in the paths of peace. The actions of the multitudes plainly assure us that they love darkness rather than light.

And shall they who are commissioned by the Prince whom they delight to honor, and whom they soon expect to come as conqueror over sin and Satan, become listless, easily tempted to slack in their Master's service or feel inclined to turn away from the rugged path of duty to the present enjoyment of worldly pleasures? When weary and discouraged, tempest-tossed, ridiculed, misunderstood by those whom they seek to benefit, obstacles that seem to human eyes insurmountable, arise to impede further progress, and foes within and without seem determined on our spiritual destruction, may we ever hear the solemn warning: "Why stand ye here all the day idle?" "Away then!" should be our watchword, and drowsy inattention be thrown off, while we work for Jesus, who will deliver all who trust in him. O. E. McCord.