The McArthur enquirer. (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1873-1884, 1873-03-26
unto his own, yet his own re,
ceived him not.

1 gagged in conversation. AS the
Redeemer knocked, He spoke
saving, " Behold, | walk in the
midst of the golden candle
sticks, to give them light, hold
ing the stars in my right hand
Without me ye can do nothing
So | said, "Surely these keep.
ers of the Lords house will
arise and admit their King!'
But they said one to another
{" The time has not come fol
the Lords work. The preach,
ing demanded must be popular
and the popular feeling is not
spiritual. The people are not
prepared for a revival. Our
numbers are great, and our ben
etactions are many, and we are
as much favored as our neigh
bors." When heard, | thought,
"Surely | have misunderstood y
but | remembered there were
many who had a form of godli-
ness, but denied the power
thereof, SO | was silent.
When | looked again the
Messiah was knocking at the
door of the choir. 1t was a
quartette, and they were richly
paid Tor making a melody with
their mouths which came not
from their hearts. He knocked,
saying, "To him that openeth
unto me will | give the true in
spiration Of praise. He shall
sing with the spirit and the un-
derstanding. The praise shall
be deliverance, and the song
that of salvation F." The choir
looked confused, as if the call
had not been made for them.
Receiving the King would spoil,
as they thought, all their plans
of life; ; for they sung profession
ally, not spiritually; not to lead
devotion, but to awaken admi-
ration; not to exhibit Christ,
but to show themselves; and if
they should admit him, they
would be spoiled for the opera
and theatre, which paid them as
we'll as the church. So | saw
that they said in their hearts,
" We can not receive him."
After this | looked to the
other end of the building, and
saw the King knocking at the
door of the Sabbah School. Ev-
cry knock had a voice saving,
Behold | come to lead the
lambs by the still waters. Be-
hold | stand at the door and
knock, that | may lay my hands
upon these children, even as
they sung, BLESSED is he that
cometh in the name of the
Lord" 1t seemed now as if
they would rise and open the
door, but / saw no movement
on the part of teacher or super
ntendent. They thought they
must teach to prepare the way
for salvation, but not to insure
t. Believing they were doing
good enough at present while
spirituality was wanting, rt i.
5ine, festival, and numbers en-
gagged all their attention and
lesires, SO they had not relig-
GUS sensibility enough to admit
lin,
While | was wondering at
what | saw, the King drew
lear the door of the prayr-
and knocked, saying,
Behold | am come whom
70 seek. Open, and | will
breathe upon you, and we shall
eceive the Holy Ghost, and |
viii give you the communion
'ou seek, and the blessing for
which you pray"
AT once | expected that the
loor would be opened, but l
aw that their eyes and
'ars precluded compliance, be-
'ause they prayed without the
understanding, the want, or the
Spirit. Feeling no poverty or
lungering and thirsting after
righteousness, they were not
eady for the provisions which
he Master brought. Men
'rayed as they were called upon
nd sung as the hymn was
,iven, but | saw that they un-
o..lA~1 :. II Al A IN