The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-07-22
WHY We Arc to Watch.

getting treasures and trying to keep them.
After a man has gained little wealth the
next thing is to know where to put 1t that
it will be safe. If the inhabitants of the
towns about Mont pelee had known for a
surety that there was to be fatal eruption
On certain day they would not have put
their all. or kept their all, in a position
! where they would be sure to be destroyed.
But so long had they watched the distant
smoke curling from the crater and seen the
days 20 by sunny and undisturbed, and so
comfortable were they there that they be.
gan to think. as some Bible men of old
once did, For since the fathers fell asleep
all things have been as they were at the
beginning" and did not get ready for the
coming OF the danger which threatened:
We put our money that we have gained
into real estate, which may burn up or
depreciate in value; we buy stocks and
bonds, which may turn out valueiess; We
place it with trust companies, which may
fail. and we put our treasures in safe 6e-
posit boxes which, with even the cunning
from US. All this to provide for our old
age, which seems to us an eternity. And
yet each one of us knows that we may be
called at any moment to leave this world.
where gain netting seems to be the main
! object, and to 60 into world where such
treasures cannot be carried and will credit
! us nothing.
For years has stood the warning to US
who journey all unthinkingly to a coun-
try whose borders we may enter at any
moment. that we turn our treasures into
"bags which. will not wax oid' in which to
keep it.
But the Lord delayeth His coming. We
have grown used to not expecting. Him.
Death, common as it lie, seems but q
shadow in the distance. and the coming OF
the Lord Jesus Christ is not even believed
in by the many. Since the days of the apos-
ties there have not been lacking in every
age men to confidently predict the imme-
diate return of the Lord. Many persons
have been carried so far by the fears In
duced by these predictions as to part with
their property. turn their attention alto,
things, and even gather white-robed at the
time and place appointed by the self-styled
! prophets for the Masters appearance, The
i final effect of such upheavals has always
been evil. A careful, prayerful study OF
the spirit of Christ's words must have pre-.
vented any such action. We are indeed
enjoined to watch, but this watching m
wolves in its very essence constant dill
gence, careful, unrelaxing attention that
no duty be left undone, that no enemy gain
admission, that no temptation take US un- u
of the Lord, and even though the ages have
been rolling on since first this hope wss
given, we yet have distinct; right to hoH'
| for that coming in the near future. q
His coming we know not the day nor the
| hour, though we are nowhere told that we
may not search to know it by the signs OF
the times and by the signs Of prophecy. A
great blessing is promised to those who are
, daily expecting Him. Who knows what
| that blessing may be? Blessed are those
servants whom the Lord when He cometh
shall find watching
/ You all know now it is when you are ex-
pecting home long absent loved one. How
the house from one end to the other 4 put
in order, how the table is set with the best
dishes and the fine linen, and how the
breath of flowers is in every room. Not
corner of the house is left in disorder, tor
all must breathe to the loved one OF wei
come and home and peace: And while we
wait at the window and glance out to see
if the train is N yet, we look now ABOUT
the room, and cast our thoughts all over
the premises to see if aught there be that
yet needs attention, and We stand IN front
of the glass to put up stray lock OF halr
and straighten the collar that we may look
our hest to the loved eyes. When Jesus
comes will He find our corner of the earth
in order for Him? Will the perfume of the
incense of prayer reach Him. Will the
sound of praiee of redeemed souls greet
Him? Will there he no sin in your heart
to mar the child He loves? Will all the
souls about you know that you are His and
that you strive to follow in His steps, And
even if it be that you and / are numbered
among those who "slcep" before His com.
ing. still will He come to each at death,
and we must be ready to say:
And come He soon or cate,
The Lord of the estate
Shall find me watching still.
-Grace Livingston Hill, in the New York
Mail and Express.