Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-03-05

The next reason why "they all with
one consent began to make excuse"
was BECAUSE they expected at some fu-
ture time to accept the gospel invita-
ton. This is most natural supposi-
ton to make in interpreting the text.
They might have stayed away and
made no excuse. but then the host
would have been offended and would
never have invited them again. They
wanted to keep his good will so that
he might invite them at some future
time. If those invited guests never
expected to accept an invitation to the
good mans house. they would have
said TO themselves: what is the good
of my sitting down every little while
and writing TO that good man that |
cannot accept his invitations? He is
becoming nothing but a perfect bore.
What 7 will do hereafter Is just to
throw his invitations into the waste
basket Then, after awhile. he will
cease TO write and will stop his impor-
tunities." But, no. That Is not the
course these invited guests took They
practically said to themselves. II Will
keep on sending my declnation, year
in and year out. and then some day,
when | am old and sick and helpless
and about to die. I will just he carried
down on my sickbed and that good
man will take care Of me and forgive
all the Indifference and sin of my past
life" You expect to some day come to
Christ. but you keep saying to the Cos
pei messenger: Not now. Not now.
Not now
Accept the Invitation Now.
My brother and sister invited to Je-
sus Christ. am not going to force you
to any decision. | am going to leave
the whole matter with yourself. In
stead of asking you TO come to the Cos
pei banquet now I am going to ask you
when YOU will come. Will you come to
Christ ton years from today? ooh. no."
you answer. II would not like to post
ponc the gospel invitation as long as
that I may never live ten years. Ten
years is very long time. AS look
back over my past life | can see how
many unexpected things have hap
pencd during ten years. Many OF my
best and dearest friends have died dur
ing those ten years They were just
ns young and strong as | am now. |
cannot afford TO wait ten years" Then
will you come in five years? ono;
will not delay it five years. That IS
also too long. have had certain warn
ings that may not live five years.
There was n strange pain in my heart;
there was that dizzy sensation in my
head" Then will you come next year
| or next month to the gospel banquet?
mo" you answer; II dare not postpone
this gospel invitation for year or even
for Il month. ! know that the gospel
invitation will not press itself upon me
in month with the same power as II
is now doing Each day postpone this
matter it is harder for me to come
Then, my brother and sister. will you
accept this gospel invitation now?
The ancients had beautiful custom
Mt every feast When the guest would
ask Of the host n gift, he felt compelled
to grant his request. If guest would
ask for the silver chalice at his plate,
he could have it, or if he might ask for
one of the richly embroidered robes
which We're always provided for the
marriage banQuets and were called the
wedding garments-he would have that
also. My sinful brother, at the we'd
/ ding banquet of the Lamb. will you not
make request Of your Heavenly Ia
/ Their, as you have right to do? Will
YOU not ask for full pardon Of your
sins? Will you not ask for a robe of
righteousness which has been Grim
soned from the blood of the Calvary
cross?
Copyright, 1903. by Louis klopsch.l