The Great Supper by C. Green

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 9, 1873

The Great Supper.

By C. Green

A FEAST of fat things has been prepared and promised to all who will accept the gracious invitation. “Eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Come, buy wine and milk, without money and without price.”

This supper has been prepared at great cost. All are invited to partake of its bounties. None will be slighted; none will say, in this land of Bibles, when the guests finally come to partake of the sumptuous repast, “I received no invitation.”

The rich and noble have been, and are being, invited. The majority of these slight the invitation altogether. They look about them, and feel no need; therefore they slight the generous offer. Other things occupy their attention, and take up their thoughts. The one has purchased a piece of land; he must needs go and see it. Another must prove the oxen of his last purchase, and so ascertain the profits of his investment; he begs to be excused. The third is more taken up with his bride than with this offer of better things, and experiences more happiness in her society than he thinks he can derive from the pleasure of a feast prepared by One altogether lovely and chief among ten thousand. He comes in with a pointed refusal, “I cannot come.” The thoughtless and the gay have no inclination, nor time, to consider these things, so they do not come to the feast.

Angry at the refusal and slight shown to his generous offers, the Master sends out for those to come who are poor in this world’s goods, of low estimate in themselves. Those who are hungering for righteousness, who take time to consider the invitation and place a proper estimate upon it, are invited. Those maimed by sin, lame, and halting, not able to go, and not knowing where to go, and those blinded by erroneous doctrines, hear the gracious message, and accept of it gladly. These can appreciate the bounties provided, and in return render to the Master, not only respect for the invitation he has given them by accepting it, but sincere gratitude and unfeigned love and devotion for the rich blessings he has conferred upon them.

But after all these have come, there still is room for more guests at this great supper. While the invitation is still a generous one, it becomes also a compulsory message. Go forth to those of the highways and hedges and compel them to come in, that the room may be filled.

This message is now being given. Who will heed it, and begin to prepare now, so as to participate in the marriage supper of the Lamb? “The Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely.” C. GREEN. Battle Creek.