The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-02-17
RELIGIOUS READING.
At the DOOi.


up towards the welcome sun, this thought
came into my mind: Yonder sun is
'ninety-two millions of miles away. These
rays of light have travelled all that STU
pendous distance, and yet have only to
drop the curtain of my eyelid and I am
left in total darkness. There might as
we'll be no sun as to have his rays shut
out at this last instant from this little
doorway of my eye. Even so has the
Lord Jesus Christ come from His infinite
far away throne on His crrand Of mercy
to a sinners soul. That sinner has but
to close up his hearts door and keep it
boltcd, and for him there might as well
have been no redemption and no Re-
dcemcr. Eternal life is refused; eternal
death is chosen at that very spot, the
door Of the human heart.
When an anxious inquirer came into
my study for conversation to-day re-
minded her of tLis illustration of all the
bright and blessed sunlight Of Heaven be-
ing shut out by the drop of an cyelid. I
said to her The decisive battle for your
salvation is to be waged right at the door
of your heart Just as the decisive con-
fict Of Gettysburg turned upon the fifteen
minutes struggle at the stone wall on the
last afternoon, so the destiny of your soul
turns upon opening your hearts door to
Jesus, or holding it barred against Him.
Jesus has come all the way from Heaven
with the offer of eternal life. He IS now
knocking ut the door; He has come to
the door but as free agent you still
keep Him outside. There is no salvation
for you until He enters. Listen to the
knock and the tender accents: :'If thou
wilt hear My voice, and open to Me the
door, will come in and sup with thee" "
What l SAID to that earnest inquirer (for
whom Jesus Himself was inquiring with
all His tender compassion) would say to
every one who honestly desires to be
saved.
Your heart is house, with many
rooms; one apartment IS decorated for
the occupancy of Pride; in another one
Covctousness may keep its iron safe; on
the walls of another perhaps Sensuality
has hung some pictures that, If Christ en-
ter, must be pulled down. Unbelicf has
chilled and darkcncd the whole house.
Satan has a mortgage on the whole of it,
and oy-and-by will foreclose 1t. An
enormous amount of sin has accumulated
in every room and closet, for you have
never had ''house-clcaning" since you
were born.
To that dwelhng-place of sin, which
may yet become dwelling place of end
less anguish, my loving Saviour has come
again If you will step the turmoil of
business, or the noise Of mcrriment long
enough to listen, you will hear marvel
lousy sweet voice outside ''Bchold, I
stand here and knock; if thou wilt open
this door 1 will come ill.," Christ without
means guilt; Christ within means pardon.
Christ without means condemnation
Christ within means salvation Christ
shut out means hell; Christ admitted is
the first instalment of Heaven. Vet you
keep the door boltcd.
How often has He knockedl Some
times by powerful sermon that rang
like thunder through the house and
started slumbering conscience to its feet.
Felix heard such knock as that, and tho
poor fool only said in his fright: ''Go
away this once, and when I am ready |
will send for Thee" Sometimes Christ
knocks with the loving voice of mother
or wife; have even known the broken
heart of parent to yield to the knock of
the little hand OF q departed darling
child. By scores of methods the Saviour
knocks at the doors of unconvcrtcd
souls.
How much longer lie will consent to
let thee shut Him out, my friend, no one
can tell. Remember that Jesus gives last
knocks. This one may be the last; and
the next sound at that door may be the
hand of death bursting in, despite all the
puny bolts and bars. Then you may look
out of the window and call with ever so
loud and agonizing importantly for the
Saviour, and lie will have vanished.
When death gets possession probation is
oyer. Your house will be left to you
desolatcs.
Open, then, that door with eager
haste. Welcome as friend Him who
will be your Judge. 1t is only q mo-
mcnt's work if you arc in earnest.
Admit Him, for the human breast
Meier entertained so sweet guest;
Admit Him, and you won't eXpel.
For where He comes, Hecomes to dwell.
-Eer. Theo L. Cuylcr,in Christian at Work.