The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-10-13
BY
j. E. Gilbert, DID,
Secretary of American
Society of Religious
Edu cat ion.

streets and lanes Of the city, bearing The new.
instructions. glad response might be ex.
pected to his invitation. Surely the beggars at
the street corners half fed and half clad Matt
XVI: lD could desire nothing more than table
bountifuy supplied with food The manned
and halt, Stunned by all as divnely afflicted
and the blind, popularity esteemed (]oln ix: y
to be sinners or the sons Of sinners, denied rec
ognition, outcast and forsaken. could regard
themselves highly favored by this call to the
house of the rich. But even these were meas
ureably indifferent. when accosted and invited
to the supper. The servant returned TO say
that he had been only partially successful, that
while some came, the guest chamber was not
full. 1t became necessary for the host to re-
sort to the most earnest efforts. eco ont
quickly into the highways and hedges and com
pei them to come in" he said. Use every proper
and reasonable method in the most urgent man.
ner to obtain guests. This was the extreme
aspect OF the parable. 1t showed that men
were reluctant to accept Christ, even when by
so doing they might obtain the very things
which they long most of all 10 possess. 1t rep.
resented that protracted, dilgent psalm cxxvi:
@, and selfsacrAcing effort which ministers
must make II they would win the souls OF men
Q.am iii: 49,.
REJECTION,-The climax Of the parable was
reached in the last feature. The character Of
the feast had been changed From social
recognition Of those entitled to honor, it had
become gratuitous offer to those who had no
claim ior attention; from mark Of regard for
equals and friends it was converted into q dis.
play OF Kindness to interiors. And those in.
feriors were on such a low plane that they
were scarcely able to appreciate the proffered
favor, The rich man has gone begging among
hegga's for guests. Now comes the sequel to
the stony. The host declares to his servant that
because of the shameful treatment which he has
received none OF those will be admitted who were
first invited. They were to be totally and per.
mancntly excluded (Proy. /: 2i.25), and that
fact was made the ground for urging The ser-
yant to diligence. The exclusion Of one class
made It more necessary to seek another class
Primarily this part OF the narrative refers to
the rejection of the Jews, and in the bringing
in OF the Gentiles (ActsSiii 48l. 1t is s,ls.
ceptible, however, Of a more extended applica.
tion. All who have heard the GOSPEL and
turned deaf car may remember that the day
Of mercy will end, and that a permanent rejec.
tion awaits them Oatt. XIV: Az.
CONCLCsloN.' This parable exhibits the range
and intensity OF divine love. Beginning with
the highest and noblest, il sweeps downward
along all the grades Of men until it reaches the
lowest and the basest For each and for all lie
has amply provided, and TO each lie sends most
cordial invitation niev. iii: 20). None are ex.
cluded except those who refuse His call. But
showing the hardness Of mems hearts, the de.
ceitfulncss Of riches and the allurements Of
pleasure, lie lays upon His ministers the sol.
emn task Of soulseehins. lie requires them to
be very diliscnr and importunate, using a holy
compulsion in the performance Of their mission.
go quickly" is His command. No time is to
be lost. Go everywhere, wherever souls are to
be found, in the highways and in the by.
ways 10 stimulate them in their going, to
make their words hot with consuming zeal, to
awaken the lethargy OF those who are in carnal
security, He lifts up warning. The awful
fact must be kept in mind that a rejected invi.
taton means rejected heaven Matt. xxy: 49,
Oh. how tamely men preach? How carelessly
men hearG How wickedy men procrastinateY
How foolishly mutitudes refuse Him that
speaketh (Heb. xii: 35).