The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-09-09


some Of the invited guests made light
of the message, while others got SO
hot over 1t that they actually pounced
upon the messengers and killed them
This was too much even for so patient
a king. and detachment of soldiers
the murderers. Then the king called
other servants and told them to so OUT
into the streets to the corners where
the people were accustomed to con-
gregate, and to bring in all that they
could find whether they were worthy
or unworthy. This was done and the
wedding was thus finally furnished
with guests. Later. when the KING
entered the banquet hall. he noticed
man who had not on wedding
garment. According to custom he naa
provided wedding garments Tor ali
the guests, but the man out OF sheer
persersity had refused to wear the
garment offered. HOW is this?" he
SAID to the eulprlt; but the man could
give him no answer, whereupon he or
uered his servants to bind him and
carry him away to be punished.
FOR many" added Jesus. are call
ed, but few are chosen or ali
that were originally called to the Wed
ding not one had accepted and there
fore none had been chosen: and even
among those who were finaily brought
In one was rejected because he haa
pereerseiy refused TO conform to the
requirements of the occasion.
The Heart OF the Lesson.
Where will we ind a stranger story.
A king invited certain OF his subiecls
to his sons wedding. They refused
to go, Who ever heard OF anybody
refusing the invitation OF king! And
when ne sent again and entreateu
them to come (wno ever heard OF
king entreating his people after they
hau insulted him p they actually got
hot over 1t and bounced upon his
messengers ana killed them. Does IL
not seem an impossible story. Ana
yet this very thing actually happened.
The great King Of kings mad invited
these very men to whom Jesus was
speaking to mis- Sons wedding feast
and they had refused. Ana ne had
sent to them again and again and en-
treated them to come. And this gra-
Ctous act OF this most gracious sote-
reign instead OF scttening their hearts
had insuited ana killed his servants,
and at last had even determined To
XIII his SON Does not this also seem
an impossible story; And yet the
came thing is happening in our own
day and in our own country and In our
own homes. yonder is young man
whom God invited to the wedding
feast of MS Son. God sent that young
mans mother TO him to invite him ~
come and accept Christ and to enter
into his kingdom-to enjoy the high
est good and felicity known to man
in this life or the life to come. me
young man refused. God sent neigh
pors and friends and ministers to nina
to entreat him To come. and the young
man actually became angry ana IN
suited those who bore the message.
fonder is a young woman whose hfe
has been fairly crowded with bless
ings. The kindnesses of God nave
been showered upon her like flowers
strewn in the pathway OF a queen. Ana
yet she has not only refused to aC-
knowledge her obligations to the
BountifuI Giver, bat II you shauia gn
to her with Goo S invitation she would
laugh in your face. And II you should
persist her eyes would fash fire upon
you and her tongue would pierce you
like dagger--sou. her very best
friend.
1t happens before our eyes every
~"st anu sNt ~ iS 50 strange. Sd I'M
natural. SO monstrous that We can
hardly believe our senses. Ii Is A.
most inconceivable that any sane man
or woman should treat Gods invita-
ton lightly. much less grow angry
over 1t. How can you account for IL,
lis II sheer perversity or Ii IL oiIy
thoughtlessness? DO you remember
the complaint which God made against
his people in the days or Isaiah. Tho
dull OK knows his owner, he says. and
the senseless Ass his masters crib.
but Israel does not know. my people
doth not consider" II the Jewish ruI.
ers had stopped to think would they
have killed the prophets? II you and
would stop to think would we treat
Gods invitation lightly But what
is 1t that makes us so thouEhtiess
about God? IL IL not because we are
so deeply absorbed in ourselves rs
1t not because our minds and hearts
are so set upon our own selfsn m
terests that We do not care to think
of any other interests? fs IL not be-
cause a man who is engaged in the
worship of self does not care to ne
In his dcvotions? These
Jewish rulers had devoted themselves
to the advancement OF their own in
terests. their own honor, their own
glory until they had come to feel that
they had the right OF way. Does this
explain why you and I resent an in
vitation TO devote our lives to the adj
vancement OF the interests. the honor.
the glory of God?