The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1892-05-11
Selzing Opportunities.

ate DR.. Guthrie, Of Scotland, once
naue this confession before large
assembly; 81 shall never forgive
'oyself in this world, that once 1
did not save child from ruin"
The lost opportunity is referred to
ii, his autobiography: One night
he visited the police court, and
taxing his place in the gallery, he
booked down upon an open space
b-low, and saw a poor child, not
more than eight years of age, lying
OF the pavement, with brick for a
pillow The light from the stove
fell full on its calm and beautiful
j II &c. Says the Doctor: ellis story
as sad, but not singular. He
knew neither father nor mother,
brother nor friends, in the wide
word; his only friends were the
/ police, his only home their office.
/ How he lived, they did not know
/ but there he was at night; the
stone by the stove was better bed
than the steps of a cold stair. l
codld not get that boy out of my
head or heart for days and nights
] together. 1 have often regretted
that some effort was not made to
save him."
/ 1.-THE kings business requires
haste" Our King Will brook no de-
lay in his service. eco out quick
/ ly,' in his order to the servants
who are hidden to invite the guests
to he feast. There are many rea-
/ sons for the haste-the feast is pre-
pared; all things are ready; the
Master says, Come, come now; no
further provision remains to be
made; the gospel table is so album
dsntly furnished that there is an
ample supply for the wants of every
saul.
Let the servants go quickly. Let
every one whose privilege it is to
say Come" hasten forth without
a moments delay, to urge and en-
tr eat men to come to Christ. If
they are not invited to-day, and
brought into the fold, tomorrow
may be too late. The arrows of
death are flying thick around us.
| The one whom we could invite to-
day. if we would "go out quickly"
may tomorrow be beyond the reach
or our invitation, cut off without
hope.
There are youth within the circle
of our influence whose characters
have not yet been formed, who have
not vet become hardened through
the deceitfulness of sim" but who
are hating between two opinions,
Pf , for W hose feet enemies are lay
spares. Shall we wait for a
se-sonabIe opportunity, in
"a ID of earnestly inviting them to
| Caue to he gospel feast now? 1t
was while men slept" that the
enemy sowed tares. While we are
saying, Tomorrow will bring better
opportunities than these to-day" the
last opportunity, 1t may be, is pass.
ing, to return no more.
Christians, too often, when excus.
ing themselves for the neglect oil
present duties, ease their consci
p ences by making good resolution:
= for the future. They cannot Just
now ''go out quickly" they have
not the time now to "speak to this
man ;" they must go and see thu
, piece of ground which has beer
bought, or prove the oxen just pur
= chased, or the newly married wife
cannot be left; but when relieved
from the pressure of business care
or domestic duties, they will thel
= have the favorable opportunity the,
desire for attending to these call
= for Christian service. And thus
day after day, the supposed claim
of business or pleasure interpos
to prevent the service they had pro
posed to render in the Lord vine
yard
e If we had more of the spirit of tn
% Master, who said, II must work tn
r works of him that sent me while
a is day; the night cometh. when n
man can work :" and if, like hin
h our hearts were moved with com
- passion by the wants and woes o
- needy, perishing souls around us
we would put away our sloth, an,
willing hands 90 forth to the Lord
] help.
). Those of us who are called t.
y preach the gospel enjoy the priv
s lege every time we appear before tn
< people as the Lords EN- bassador;
If of beseeching them in Christ
e stead TO be reconciled to God. Tn
. opportunity thus presented for TIN
j. plain and faithful presentation O
+ 0Lho ruth AZ it's I'D Jasusn shnul