PROMPTNESS by J. Clarke

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 17, 1859

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 13, No. 17.

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PROMPTNESS.

By J. Clarke

A RICH merchant, of a city on the seaboard, enters his counting-room one day, and says to his chief clerk,

"Would you accept the situation of supercargo of such a vessel?" (naming the ship)

"Yes."

"When will you be ready to start?"

"To-morrow morning, sir."

The merchant then addressed another clerk, "Will you accept the place?"

"Yes, sir."

"When will you be ready to start?"

"This moment, sir."

"Go right aboard," says his employer, "the vessel is just ready to sail." (Some mishap had detained the supercargo first appointed.)

The ready clerk stepped aboard, the cable was loosed, and the voyage being very successful, he returned, was received as a partner in the firm, and thus laid the foundation for a fortune.

The above is a brief sketch of an account which I read long ago, and is correct, if I remember rightly.

"That no man take thy crown," is the significant phrase of Christ to the Philadelphia church, as though there would be peculiar danger in the latter days, and crowns would be contested. I have often thought when a person refuses the strait testimony, the cutting truths of this final message of the third angel, that perhaps he would not enjoy the privilege of a second warning.

The work of redemption is nearly finished, the number of the redeemed is nearly full, the last urgent call is now going forth to the highways and hedges, the guests first bidden have insultingly slighted the call, and now the call is peremptory, and urgent, and final.

The angel cries, "Come out of her, my people." A. hears the call, and yields; but he wants time. The good angel is in haste, he invites B., who accepts the truth, and perhaps, too, he takes the crown intended for A. Thus the offer made to A. will probably never be repeated, and the angel hastens to complete his work.

"Will you heed the counsel of the true Witness?" says some brother to his fellow Sabbath-keeper. "Will you right your wrongs, deal justly, love mercy, walk humbly and purely?"

And perhaps he receives the answer, "You are out of your place. You are meddling with what does not concern you. Where did you get your ideas of duty?"

Brother, do you not fear that some man will take your crown? J. CLARKE.