Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-10-19

er come back. In all probability the
second ~cupbearcr, who congratulated
him. was biting his lips with anger TN
I'll the blood came. Course him." I hear
him say. Course him! Why did he not
die and make way for my %promotion7
Curse him, curse him! All through
the palace could be heard the words,
Curse him, curse him. from those
who wanted his place. Now, my
friends, can you and I afford TO turn
our backs upon old friends and true
friends for those who are merely hon.
oring us In our success for what they
get out Of us?
but I cannot close without Just one
more thought suggested by my text.
The greatest opportunities Of gospel
service may come to a man through bis
past experience II he renounces bic sins
and remembers his faults. I have ab.
%soiutely no more respect for this selfish
character Of the butler than I have for
a Judas or an Iago or for a Lady Mac.
beth or a Jezebel. He wa a miserable,
contemplate, despicable hireling. with
a heart Of stone. He would forget
any n who had served him. But no
sooner did Pharaoh dream his dream
and no n could interpret II than at
once the butler thought Of Joseph. You
can 2 him, with flushed cheek and
CLASSY eye, pushing bis way into the
throne room. You can see him with
reverence and sorrow written upon his
face. ALI" he says, master. I have
done . wrong. I have forgotten my
friend Joseph. who Is now in prison.
Send for him, and he will interpret thy
dream" Pharaoh sent for Joseph. Jo-
seph came. The chief butler at the
last moment was able and willing to
open the way for the future prime min
lister TO save a nation from disease and
hunger and death. My friends. at this
the sixth hour. the ninth hour. the tenth
hour, the eleventh hour, Of your refusal
to do your duty to the King Of kings
and Lord OF lords will you not speak
the right word? Will yon come to
Christ and bring your sinful friends to
Christ as the ungratcful butler brought
Joseph and Pharaoh face to face?
You are the father Of a home. You
have no nursery. for your boys are al
ready grown. But they have all grown
away from God. Your hair Is white.
Your time Is short. No one can bring
those boys to God but you. You know
it.. They idolize you. They believe YOU
are the n person to lead them, and
you alone. o father, confess TO God
your sins. Confess to your boys your
sins. 1t Is the eleventh hour. 1t Is
late. but not o late. Bring your boys
to Christ as the butler brought Joseph
and Pharaoh face to face. You can
do it. Believe me. you can do It.
As I speak 10 father. as l speak to
mother, az I speak TO wayward friends.
thus may I be speaking to the stranger
within the gates who thinks he has no
friend. Stranger. think not thus any
more. This is not a strange place. This
Is Gods house. Perhaps years ago
there was some young man or some
young woman who might have brought
you to Christ il be or she had tried.
But the opportunity was neglected.
You say you are parted forever. Nay,
not forever. You are not parted even
now. Let me lead YOU TO the King. Let
me utter the words that another neg
lected 10 speak. Lord Jesus Christ, wilt
thou let my lips speak the words that
those silent lips should hav uttered ?
Stranger, thou art now no longer in
thy prison Of sin. Thou art in the pres
cnce of my King. This is King Jesus.
He bids thee look and live.
] speak unto thee these same words
which Peter spake unto the cripple at
the beautiful gate: Silver and gold
have | none. but such as I have give l
unto thee. In the name Of Jesus rise
up and walk Wilt thou rise and
walk? Then thou art with my Master.
Then l am the butler who, by the pow
err Of the holy spirit. hath brought 10
seph and Pharaoh into royal and heav.
enly companionship.
copyright. 1905. by Louis Klopschl