The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-10-09
THE INVITATION REFUSED.

(Selected for The Times ispatch.)
And they would not come."-Mat.
thew xxi. 3.
God" 1t has often been sadly said
desires to be loved by men. although
He needs them not; and men refuse
to come to God. though they need Hin
for everything" "Ye will not come
10 Me that We might have life" was
the sorrowing. reproachful expostula-
ton of the blessed Jesus. as He con
trasted the warnings of His own heart
with the utter reluctance of those whom
lie strovc so earnestly to win. to be
won by Him. He, indeed, could see
more clearly than they. the conse-
quences of their rejection of Him. and
so. as we know, the thought made Ills
soul sorrowful even unto death: hut
Yet they We're without excuse: they
loVed darkness more than light be-
cause their deeds were evil. He knew
lhat they who said in their hearts.
we will not have this Man to rule
over u.s." We're submitting to be
slaves to another master: He knew
that they We're neither fit to live nor
die; and He knew the appointed time
or each--how near the hour was, after
which their fate would be irreversible.
ana there would be no further oppor-
tunity Of escape from unbelef and
hardness of heart But yet: they were
without excuse, It is one thing to
be blind, and another to close our
eyes. If We We're blind. ye should
have no sin; but now We say, We see;
therefore, your sin remaineth." To
Whatever extent they were ignorant
they were, as the Apostle Peter ex-
pressed it, Willingly ignorant"
1t was on an occasion when the
chief priests and the Pharisees were
only restrained from the hideous
crime which they afterwards COM
mitted because they feared the multi
tude'" who took Him for prophet"
mat he addressed to them the parable
OF the marriage of the Kings son, If
haply the warning thereby conveyed
-NN'Ni' iil!sSul ne leSS offensive TO
them than palmer speaking.
Bnt to-day the tine for speaking In
parallels is long since past; they and
their Interpretation are equally under
stood In their general drift and mean
ing. by us all. The plainest speaking
is now the truest love and compassion.
There are those whom God calls to
his service. II they will not come
they can only be told, in the plainest
terms, that their end is distinctions"
but perhaps some will excuse them
selves and say that there has been no
distinctness of call, What! neither
mercies nor blessings? Neither trials
nor chastenings? Nothing to warn
You of the uncertainties of life? No
deaths to startle YOU? Why, 1t would
De hard to find one waxing hour in
all our life in which, If you would
listen 10 them, there are not calls from
God And have you had none?
NOW think! Let us be honest with
let us put away excuses and
sell -deceivings let us have courage to-
see ourselves depicted in that parable;
they would not Gomez let us observe,
not dared not but cared not! not
could not but would not.
God calls, He invites all to come.
And think what that word "come'' im-
plies' Tot the rebel It says, Come, and
you snail have pardon. TO the self
made outcast, Come and You shall be
received again, To tho Wanderers Come,
and you SHAH find home 10 the
and descending. Come, and you,
shall nave fun assurance of hope! TO
the world-worn and disappointed, to
'he d'sauieted and sorpowing, Come,
ana ~ Me You shan be satisfied "AndiI
theY would not come!p
And think once more for what it
was that the invitation was rejected.
ror the Farm and for the merchandise,
things that perish in tho using; FOR
me cares of this world, the deceitful-
ness Of riches, the pleasures of sin, |
husks that the swine do eat--for suoh
tiia such ille things were repudiated |