Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-11-27
CONSISTENT UORK.

insurance risks.
CONsIsTENT YORK.
Why stand We here all the day idle? Mat
thew 20. vi:
The bible sometimes compares life to a
battle field where the opposing forces of
good and evil are striving for the mast
cry, the former under the banner of
Christ the king, the latter led by the re-
bellious and fallen angel, the Devil. The
scriptures promise to the conquerors in
the strife, pardon and complete washing
away OF their sins and for reward eter-
nal life At other times the bible ikens
life to race to be run, where the track
is uneven and rough with numerous pit
falls and snares; race watched by an
gels as well as men, and in which to be
run successfully the sinner must not be
handicapped by weight of besetting sins.
In the twentieth chapter of Mathew, the
world is com pared to vineyard needing
laborers to till it and hedge about it.,
and where Christ, the great
husbandman is anxious to hire every man
who is willing to accept his service, $50
We into the vineyard and whatever is
right will give you" If the laborer
does not engage until the evening what
ever is right he will receive. The work
in this vineyard is waiting to be done,
the need of earnest, faithful laberers is
pressing, and the Lord is calling for men
to work, "Why stand ye all the day idle. !"
If this life is the only time given to man
to prepare for an eternity, and if his
happiness or misery; his life or death for
that "vast forever" depend upon his use
of the short day of life, it would seem
reasonable to carefully consider the ques-
ton, "Why stand we all the day idle?"
1t is hardly possible for any intelligent
person to persuade himself that death
ends the story and after it comes eternal
silence There is an all pervading con-
sciousness in the hearts of men fthat by
their works they shall be justified or con-
demned." Granting that life is the time
to till and hedge about the plants whose
fruit we shallreap when the day is ended;
what time have we for idleness? If we
were sure of three score and ten years,
that time would be too short to prepare
for an abundant harvest. But the uncer-
tainties of life renders it imperative for
every one to get to work at once. "Our
sun may go down while it is yet day"
Our strength may fail US and the oppor-
tunity to do efficient work be
lost Is it possible that processing
Christians believe these truths? To an
attentive observer their Heaven
would seem to depend on almost anything
else save working in the Lords vineyard.
If an eternity of happiness could be
bought, if eternal life could be purchased
with money, how easily could one under
stand their worship of Mammon. The
more gold the greater bliss, the highest
seat in paradise exchanged for the treas
ures of earth.
If money could buy forgiveness for
sins, how consistent would seem the way
many church members conduct business;
how eften do we hear the worlds people
say in speaking of some crooked transac-
ton, no one but a church member could
bring about such splendid results; how
often do men throw away honor, purity
and truth to gain an advantage in trade.
But, if the bible is true and such
labor is vain, and gold and silver so &C
quired becomes cankered, and, instead of
buying pardon or happiness, will at last
turn, like Dead Sea fruit, to ashes, why
are Christ's servants so reluctant to
work in his vineyard Perhaps they
hope by saying, "Lord, Lord" by
praying in public places, and by
severely worshiping the Master
on Sunday that they can dispense with
the digging and toiling for which they
were hired. When the Lord of the vine
yard cometh and reckoneth with his
laborers what woe for them. How many
must answer him, have labored to heap
up riches, "but my own vineyard have l
not kept"