Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-09-20
lying fallow and USE
Too Often Neglected.

| Too Often Neglected.
Too often we have not only neglected
to care for the vines which we have
inherited from our Christian ancestors
and planted only here and there Il stray
vine in the broad. empty fields OF
gospel opportunities, but our sins Of
omission do not end here. After we
| have neglected our gospel vineyards
we have been too Indifferent and lazy
! to gather the clusters Of grapes which
have grown upon our vines in spite
Of our neglect We seem to say to
our heavenly Father: God, | care SO
little for thee and thy glory that l
would not even lift finger to do good
to those who nre by my side. Nay,
will not speak even 4 word to bring
my children to thee or my husband to
thee or my father to thee or my
friends TO thee l will let my neglected
vines grow their grapes and then drop
them to the ground. There | will let
them lie and rot and rot before l will
carry even one bunch of them to the
gospel wine press" How easy It is to
| find this sinful Indifference to Christ
symbolzed in some Of the neglected
vineyards Of southern California.
Is not this fact true in your life? You
know your little boy wants to become
n Christian. His very face shows that
he has your cody mothers consecratcd
blood in his veins. You see her looks
there more every day. About three
weeks ago he came home from Sunday
| toI oil
If ! remember right, it was about the
parable of the householder who had
rich grape producing soil He planted
n vineyard therein and let it out to the
husbandmen. Then he went off into
far country. But when the time OF
grapes had come these husbandmen
stole the vineyard from its owner and
killed his messengers who came to
collect the rent. Then at last they
killed his only begottcn Son, who was
Jesus Christ.
You will recollect how sweetly the
boy told You the story. Then with
his deep blue eyes lie looked up into
your face as he said Papa. will you
let me join the church and give my
heart to Jesus" What did you tell
him? You quickly answered: Char
ley, you are not old enough, Wait
few years and then You can" Then he
looked up at you again. This time his
face looked more 10 you like your
salnted mothers tnun ever before and
he said: But, papa, you are old
enough. Why do you not join the
church and pray as Harry's father
praysT Then he said to you: Papa,
do you suppose when I get to be Il
great big man like you are won't
want to go to church any more than
you do? Then will l want to leave
Sunday school and stny home from
church every Sunday morning and read
the newspapers as you do and let
mamma go to church nlone?" Was 1t
tho child alone pleading with you for
Christ. Was it your sainted mother?
Tell me, man, are you going to let
those rich clusters Of grapes ripen in
your gospel vineyard and not be pluck
ed? 9 man, will you not learn to-
day the Christ lesson of the husband
man who planted the vineyard and let
IL out to the hushandmen. which your
little boy learned in his Sunday school?
A Word of Caution.
One other word Of caution. Some
men are busy in the Sunday school. and
We thank God for such helpers. Some
are regularly at church and Mt the
prayer meeting. and most devoutly does
the pastor rejoice over such members.
But do not neglect your own vineyards.
When your children grow UP let them
not have to say. "My father was never
at home; no did not do anything for my
religious training" May you never
have to say in your old age, my son is
a vagabond and wanderar; nav dnugh-