Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-12-05
A Momentous Question---Decide Now.

al can't decide says the raindrop, as it
comes whether | will fall on the
meadow. or in that garden, among the 1ow-
ers, or out on the wide ocean. can't make
m my mind" al can't decide" says the
streamlet as it rushes out of the mountain,
"wbether will flow toward the great river
wonder, or whether will go straight down
that valley, and into the sea at once
"There is plenty of time for me" saws a
young girl, as she comes away from the Bible
class on Sunday afternoon. Teacher wants
MS to decide at once, but surely there is no
such hurry--I must think about it some
dav, know-l cant decide"
But the raindrop comes on, and so does
the streamlet; while they are hesitating
they are coming, on-on-sometchere Pres
emily it is too late to choose. They would
not decide in time, and now it is no use de-
Gliding they have gone too far-they cant
change their course noU.
Take care, young people Take care, boys
and girls, men and women Your HE is
lust like that falling raindrop-just ike
that rushing stream. You can't decide which
wav your life shall 90, but all the time 1t is
qoing on Is it going toward heaven or
toward hell ? Don't you know? Haven't
you decided yet which way it shall go? II
you don't choose now, suppose the time
should come when you cant choose
He would be a foolish captain who should
start on voyage without making up his
mind.where to go. Suppose another vessel
meets him: "What, no Captain, whittier
bound 2" "Don't know" "Well, but do
you know where you are steering for =
Don't care" "Why, if YOU don look out,
you will be among the icebergs presently.
"Oh, never mind; perhaps | shall change
my course "
Absurd as this seems, isn't it a true pic
ture
"Out on the ocean all boundess we ride,
Borne on the waves of rough, restless tide.
But whether we are going east or west,
north or south, or going to the bottom, we
cant tell We have not decided.
can't think what you young people are
waiting for. DO you expect your hearts to
get softer /? fear you will find the world a
hard place, and the longer you are in it the
harder you hearts will get. Do you expect
it to be easier by-and-by to become Chris
tian than it is now Is it easier to bend the
sapling or the oak tree Just ask any of your
friends who were converted late in life, and
see what they say You won't find so very
many for comparatively few are brought to
Christ in old age. Or do you only mean to
wait a inle longer? But what right have
you to think that God will wait any longer
at all?
believe that in most of our lives there
is turning,point. You have seen a train
coming down the line toward the junction
it has TO turn off on that branch line. You
can't tell, perhaps, which way it is going
but in minute or two the decisive moment
will come, and the train will reach the
turning-point. If the man has the switch
set properly, all will go well but if ht
neglects his duty, the train will go dow
the wrong line, and there will be smash
Now, perhaps the reading of this little
paper may be the turning-point in your life
Nov is the accepted time, now is the day
| of salvation" God says, =" Choose ye thi,
day." How can you tell that you will eve
have another chance of choosing? II ma!
be that to reject Christ now is to reject hin
forever
Oh, "choose life" Come to the right de
cision. Decide for Christ. Decide now!
Some weeks have those vessels been il
harbor, waiting for favorable breeze. Thi
morning the wind has changed, and tn
weather is auspicious; and see how busy tn
sailors are Quickly all sails are set, hast
goodbye is said to anxious friends, am
without losing moment they are off Ho,
well do merchants and mariners know tina
it will never do to lose an opportunity!
But the voyage heavenward lies befor
you. You have not started yet-you ar
still idly waiting-though the wind is fai
and the sky is bright. Oh, learn lesso
from the children of this world God give
you now the favoring breeze and the III
| ~l,l do ..f lou in
teachers and pastors are ringing in your ears
and they tell you, and tell you truly, that n
time will be so favorable as the time {
youth. And then, is not Gods Spirit worl
ing nightly around ? Strongly the gale
blowing and many vessels are starting hea
onward. Only set the sail-only catch Il
breezes-only yield yourself to the might
Spirits power-and, like the wind, it sha
carry you forth, and never fail you Il
the day you cast anchor in yonder heav'
= of glory