The King's Business Requires Haste.
By A. M. Lindsley
As I read the stirring article in REVIEW on “Making Excuse,” and thought of the probability that many are holding back from going with the message, or joining in this great work as duty requires of them, I felt that this is truly a testing time when nothing but the strictest integrity of heart and a willingness to give up all, will answer the demands upon us. There are those who realize this, and God will greatly bless them in moving out. Is not this the gleaning time after the world has had the warning of the first angel of Rev. 14:6? the time when those who work in the vineyard of the Lord must go out into the highways and by-ways, and compel souls to come to the feast by the clearness and power of truth? They must be snatched as it were as brands from the burning, ere the dreadful day of God's wrath bursts upon us. The nearness of it requires that great haste should be used lest the invitation should not reach all. The king has made a great supper,—who will deem himself worthy through Christ of accepting the invitation, and partaking of the marriage supper of the Lamb? Who will count all things but dross that they may win Christ and immortal glory? Who will lay aside selfish interests, take their lives in their hands, and go and tell the story of the cross—to say that this same Jesus that the disciples saw go into Heaven, shall so come in like manner, that he will gather the wheat into his garner, but burn the tares with fire unquenchable? This life and the things of it will reckon at a discount by-and-by. It will not be worthy to be compared with a patient continuance in well-doing and the reward, eternal life. Is it not possible for us to realize what is required of us, and then make all possible haste to do the bidding of the Master? Again, the stirring cry breaks forth—Who is on the Lord's side? Who will gird his fisher's coat about him, and, taking neither purse nor scrip, and with the inspiration of the words of the Almighty, and in the power of the Holy Ghost, bring souls from the deep waters of sin to the heaven of peace and safety? God is calling loudly for workmen, and, should they refuse, he will still be able to convert scores of Sauls who will do his bidding; but those who refused, and made excuse will not taste of his supper. God's work will not stop for lingerers,—his car of progress rolls on, and will leave all in the rear who will not jump on board at the risk of all. A. M. LINDSLEY.