THEY WERE ALL BUSY

Pacific Press Publishing Company · MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA · Sep 6, 1905

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 36.

THEY WERE ALL BUSY.

A CHRISTIAN worker, who heard of a poor girl's death, was anxious to know whether she had died a Christian; so he went to her minister and asked: "Was Mary a Christian?" "I don't know," was the rejoinder. "Three weeks ago I felt that I should go and speak to Mary about her soul, but work of various kinds was pressing. Mary was in my congregation, and I satisfied myself that I could speak to her at any time; so I did not go, and now Mary is dead, and I don't know whether she was a Christian or not."

The man next went to Mary's Sunday-school teacher, and asked: "Was Mary a Christian?" "I don't know," was the answer. "Two weeks ago I felt that I ought to speak to Mary about her soul; but I was busy and I said to myself, 'I can see Mary at any time in my class,' and I didn't go. And now Mary is dead, and I don't know whether she was a Christian or not."

Mary's mother was next asked: "Was Mary a Christian?" She replied: "I don't know. A week ago I felt I ought to ask Mary whether she were a Christian; but I thought there was no need of being in a hurry. Mary was living with me, and I could see her every day. And now she is dead, and I don't know whether she was a Christian or not."

The three people most responsible for Mary's soul resisted the promptings of the Holy Spirit to speak to her, and now she was gone to her endless eternity, and the opportunity was forever lost.—London Christian.