The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-08-18
FoR THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
ONE TAKEN, THE OTHER LEFT.

A remarkable declaration was made by
our Lord to his disciples on the Mount of
Olives, with Jerusalem full in view. "Then
shall two be in the field; the one shall be
taken and the other left. Is0o e0omen shall
be grinding at the miU; the one shall be
taken and the other left" Matt. xiv ::
40, Al
1t is well known that the mill commonly
used in the East both then and now con-
sisted of two circular fat stones, one placed
upon the other, and that al common Office
of household affairs they were worked by the
hands of women.
1t was the,desire of our saviour when he
uttered the words just quoted, to press upon
his disciples the necessity of being always
in a state of preparation, both for the signal
calamity approaching in the destruction of
Jerusalem by the Romans, and for the COM
ing to all men of the solemnities of final
Judgment. He admonished them to reflect
upon the certainty with which what he was
announcing would come to pass, and not to
look out for further signs and warnings,
intended to put them in state of immediate
readiness. None would be given, and the
world would hence be found, as in the days
of Noah, engaged in its ordinary pursuits
when such great events occur; men abroad
in the field intent on business or on pastime; /;
women at home at the mill, engaged in the
occupations which commonly devolved upon
them.
By the separation declared to ensue be-
tween two and two of these parties, he in
timated that the calamities coming upon the
country, so sudden and unexpected would be
the manner thereof, that no two persons in
intimate alliance at the time, would both be
able to escape. The sword and captivity
would have a complete triumph over the
people, so as to break up the existing rela-
tionships of life; and fellowships of all kinds,
whether in the field or in the household
drudgery "Watch, therefore; for ye know
not at what hour your Lord doth come.
But this process of one being taken and
the other left is, in spiritual sense, now
going on in every neighborhood where the
gospel is preached. Take this for an ex-
ample: Here are two sisters, who receive
the same faithful parental attention-the
same religious instruction. They kneel at
the same family altar, they go to the house
of God in company, sit side by side in the
same pew, listen to the same beseeching mes
sages of mercy. But time comes when the
heart of one is yielded to the Saviour, and
she begins that upward journey which, ii
may be amid many tears, and sorrows, and
anxieties, will infalhbly lead her " from
strength to strength, till she shall appear in
Zion before God"
The other continues in unbehef, and final.
ly death closes the scene for time, and the
spirit is ushered into eternity to meet God
but unprepared'
Those two sisters will meet again at the
last day, but only to be rent asunder as fal
as heaven is from hell, and to meet not again
forevsr.'
Is it wonderful that on that final day " the
one shall be taken and the other left t?"-
They were long before separated in charac
ter here, is it strange they should be Sepa
rated in destiny hereafter?
Let these be words of solemn warning Be
ware how you are separated from the people
of God in this world, lest your soul be gath
cred with sinners at last in that world O.
everlasting despair, "where there is weep
ing, and waiGng, and gnashing of teeth.
J. r.