Smyrna times., 1882-03-01
For the Smvyua Times.
Jesus at the Door.

| think l see Door. 1t is not one that
has been often opened. 1t looks as if it
had not been opened for a longtime. The
grass and weeds are growing rank before
it, and ivy and sriars are trailing over it.
What door is this? o sinner. it is the
door Of your heart.
And there is Some One standing out
side that door. He looks very SAD and
anxious. You can see by the deep lines
on His brow that He has gone through
great pain and suffering. He looks as if
it were pain and suffering to Him to be
standing there. He has been standing
there long time, waiting for something.
Every now and then He knocks at the
door. And can see that there is a strange
mark in His hand as He knocks, like the
wound nail would make. He does not
knock very loud. And there is such a
hustle and noise inside the house that
nobody seems to hear or to heed. Nobody
at least comes to the door to opened it..
Yet He does not go away. Most would ;
but He stays. He only looks more sad
and anxious. am not sure that there are
not tears in His eyes. Yes, He stays; and
after a little space He knocks again.
There: do you hear Him? He is knock
ing now. You do not ask who this is that
stands and knocks, for you know.
| But He speaks as we'll as knocks. Can
| you not hear His tender, wistful, pleading
voice? What is that He is saying? BE
hold, stand at the door, and knock. y
But no one answers. Oh! is this the way
to treat Him? Is this the way to behave
to Him, when He pleads so gently and
patiently and lovingly?
All! but there is some one coming al
last. hear step and voice inside the
door. Surely it is going to be throwH
open now. Perhaps they have only waited
while they got ready to receive the hon
ored Guest. Listen.
The roice uithin.-I hear Thy call, c
Lord, am coming soon.
The roice Withom.-Soon? Oh! my
son, how long have waited! How otter
have 1 knocked Wilt thou not oper
now?
The rOice Within.-Good Lord, wait fo
nae little, am sorry to have been 81
long. did not mean to he so long. Blu
1 have been very busy. have still soma
things must attend to. shall soon b.
ready. pray Thee, wait awhile.
The rOice Without.-My son, Ny son
open to Me now. 10, have brought the,
a great treasure. 1 am come with ricl
gifts. l will not reproach thee for tn!
delays, if now thou will Open the door.
The roice lVithin.--What hast thOl
brought me, good Lord?
The uOice 1VithOut.-Salvation
The UOice iOithin.- Yea, Lord, of that
was not ignorant; and l hope to accep
Thy kind offer some day,-nay, very soon
1 am not so vain and silly as to despis
such great blessing. do not mean t.
throw away my chance of Heaven. In
deed, I am already beginning to getread
to receive Thee. But truly am so FIJI
of business and cares that have not tim
to attend to Thee quite yet. Do not e
away, good Lord. There is one at tn
other door l must go to for little while
am wanted. 1t is a messenger who ha
brought me some gold. l cannot often
him. | mnst go and see him first. Whe
l have put away the gold safely, then
will oOpoa booly nd I cbal9 mof fOrnAt tb
gift Thou hast offered me. know ho'
kind and patient Thou art Thou wi
not go away, good Lord?
Then heard the steps of him that wa
within going away from the door. An
He that stood without lifted up His hea
and wept. And heard Him say. "The
will not come to Me, that they might hav
life"
Then He stood few minutes listening
but none came; and then He knocke
once more, but none came; and then II
went away.
And now see another door. 1t is I'll
door of little cottage. Bat the san
sad and anxious Form is standing
it. He does not look quite so sorrowfi
NOW. There is gentle, loving look
His eyes, and almost a smile on His Ii
as He lifts that SCARED hand and knocl
at the lowly door. And again he
Him say "Behold stand at the door ar
knock" And instantly there is sour
within. Some ons is coming. Yet Il
door isn't opened at once. 1t is wei
trembling woman's voice which spea
] this time. Listen.
The Uoice lOithin.--Who is it that see
to come in here?
The Uoice Withom.-"It is /, be n
afraid"