Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-09-11

4
best. It was all so plain to us in tina
blessed moment; We perceived 50 distinctly
| the vast difference that there is betweel
duties and dollars; Christ: seemed SO clos
and so beloved and the opposing world 81
remote and 80 worthless, that we were per
suaded that neither life nor death, nor prln
cipailtles nor powers, nor business nor so
ciety, nor the world nor the devil, coult
ever come In between our souls and Him.
seems supremeIy Desirable.
The benediction Of Christ seemed 80 su
premely desirablel Prayer, which brough
lightful! The house of God, the sacramento
and the services of the Lords day, the bene
dlction which awaited the two or three who
met together in the Lords name-all this
mad such pre-eminent attraction for usl We
could not believe that we would ever lose
our interest,
And then the old story of the wheat and
the tares was repeated in our own expert
enoe. The cares of this world and the de-
ceitfulness of riches played their aceus.
TONED parts. Gradually we came to under
stand what was meant by the parable Of the
Great Supper. We listened to the divine
invitation, and we all with one consent be-
gan to make excuse. We found ourselves
preoccupied with farms and merchandise,
and SO weary with providing for our bodies
that We were fain to let our souls 60 neg
lected. One had bought piece of ground
and must needs 60 and see it; he must be
excused. Another had bought five yoke Of
be excused. A third had married q wife;
he cannot come; pray, make excuse tor
him,
Setting the Real Beside the Ideal.
The lesson of the parable, SO far as 1t was
an answer to the enthusiastic disciple at the
table, seems to be this setting of the real by
the side of the ideal. Blessed, indeed, is
the man who shall eat bread in .he king
benediction is easily attained. Again and
again will the devil prompt the invited
guest to decline the invitation. Because
we clearly see to-day that the privilege of
nearness to God is better than any number
of new-bought fields and droves of oxen
does not mean that We are sure to see that
difference Just as clearly tomorrow.
The Christian life is continual contest
He who is bound for the Great Supper will
be assailed with countless other invitations,
and tempted to excuses He will be way
laid, like the wedding guest in the can
cient Mariner" by those who would keep
him from his place. Let him not be de-
luded by any fancied shortness or smooth
ness of the way. He must be ready to en-
dure both weariness and hardness who
would be the guest of God.
1t does not seem like human nature for
people to decline an invitation to a supper,
especially when the case is put as it is in
that other parable which is so like this, the
story of the marriage of the kings son.
When the kings son is to be married every
body wants to be invited. 1t seems incredi-
BILE that such an invitation should be so
scorntully declined.
An Honor Every Day Declined.
But the banquet of the King of Kings is
every day declined. Divine opportunities
are every day neglected. Men and women
are every day making choice which seems
ut first incredible and impossible; they are
preferring pebles to diamonds; they are
choosing that which lasts only an hour to
that which lasts forever and ever; they are
valuing the body higher than the soul; they
are electing to serve men rather than God.
And then follow the excuses Every
body sees how true to human nature that is
Men and women doc not often choose the
evil without first trying to persuade them
selves that it is really the good. They dis
cover an excuse. They must 60 here and
20 there, rather than along the way where
Christ stands and beckons them, because
there is q reason for il.
pray thee have me excused.
ought to 60 to church more often and
more devoutly than do, but, you see, 1
have to work so hard all the week long, and
when Sunday comes 1 really need the rest.
Have me excused. 1 ought to take more
part than I do in the Christian work of the
parish, and to do my share better towards
he helping those who need my help, but
ny business or my social engagements take
Up all my time, and those must be looked
lfter Have me excused.
ought to think more than lido about my
luty to God, and to be more diligent in
prayer, and to be more true to my con-
cience, and to be better Christian than I
I'M, but there are so many things to take
ny thoughts, and 50 many temptations
,rowd about me, and my friends are not
uch as to encourage me much, and alto
,ether it is very hard thing for me to do
xactly right. I pray thee have me ex-
used.
Excused From Celestial Privileges.
Excused and excused! And by and by
excused from eating bread in the kingdom
# God, excused from the privileges celestial
nd immortal.
Sitting down at banquet can hardly be
described as duty. 1t Is a pleasure. Thus
Tod sets forth His invitation rs an invita-
ion, not as a command. To do the will of
Pod, to learn the truth of God, to approach
Tod, and to increase in the love and knowl-
dge of Jesus Christ, which is the knowL
dge and love of God, is the supreme privi-
ege of human lie. And the punishment
or rejection of the privilege is simply loss
Il the privilege. just as the punishment for
taying away from supper is the loss OF
he supper. In the parable the places OF
he invited guests who did not come were
iven to others who accepted the invitation.
he people who declined went their ways
nd made. the best of their preferences, aud
hen were allowed to stay away. That was
heir only punishment 'None of those
nen which were bidden shall taste of my
upper" said the host; but that was no great
ardship, the men had already chosen not to
aste the supper.
We ourselves punish ourselves We
lake our choice and God gives us exactly |
that we choose. Jesus said that the Phar-
sees who prayed at the street corners had |
heir reward. They received exactly what
hey wanted. They chose to be seen and |
raised of men rather than to be heard and |
raised of God. And God gave them just
nat choice.
sleeping or Going to Church.
If the alternative is between Sunday |
eep and Sunday service the choice is |
zee. A man may take the sleep or the /
,rvice. In either case he has his reward. |
he only question for the man to decide is
hich reward is better.
Sometimes the sleep is better: There are |
yes in which the Sunday rest Is essential
, keeping on of lite. God knows how some
His children live in slavery, and how
ley have to run fierce race six days out
seven under the lash of that pitiless
ave driver, poverty. And I can well be-
eve that the divine Father fulflIs in their