The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-10
DRowsY CHRISTIANS.

the Son of Man cometh."-St Mat
+ thew. XIV. Is.
! one OF the many lessons found In
the Parable OF the Ten Virgins ss a
warning to drowsy and inert Chris
! uahs. The virgins slept when they
| should have watched, and thus neglect
/ ing their lamps, when the sudden
summons came, thoy were not ready.
This parable is not addressed to the
goddess and unbelieving. or those who
know not God. The virgins were
friends ana followers of the BRIDE
groom, and they hoped and intended
to go to the marriage feast How
ever out of the ten only 1--WE were
ready when the bridegroom came.
1t Is, then, lesson for those OF us
who think they love God. and call
themselves Christians, and pray and
80 to church, but DO it all in a de-
sultory way. Many of us arc like the
! live foolish virgins Wo neglect our
work as Christians: we doze when VIC
should DO alert, watching and active.
We become easy-soinG. drowsy Chris
Aans, and go through with our reli-
Eious duties In sleepy, pcrfunctory
way, with our consciences slumbcr-
ing, so that the warnings Of God have
no effect Often as we see those about
US IN church comes the thought:
What are their lives md ours at
nome and during the week? DO we
leave the service reused to our Chris
tian duty? Do we go out with n
strong and earnest desire to live each
hour and day according to the Word
of God as we have heard 1t? No help
can come to us through a mere super
iicial observance of church. going. aims
giving, family prayer. Biblc-rcading,
self examination, watchfulncss OF
tongue and temper. What we need is
waking up to these obligations so
that they become n vital part Of our
lives
God alone can awaken the sleepy
soul; Jesus, who raised Lazarus, and
said. Il go TO awake him out of sleep"
can do tho same for us. Let our prayer.
nc that He arouse US III time! Think
of some who fell into grievous danger
through sleeping when they ought to
have been watching. The slugEard OF
the Proverbs asked for a little more
slumber. Meantime his garden was
oVerrun with weeds and his property
sroilt, So the sluggard Christian ne
siects his vincyard-the spiritual state
and while he is sleeping his enemy,
the devil, comes and sows foul weeds
and his soul Is ruined Sisera. the
great captain, slept In the tent OF
Jncl. lie was in danger, In the neigh
oorhood of enemies, yet he slept on.
and the fatal nail was smittcn through
his temples.
SO with the sleepy Christian going
carelcssly into bad company, mixing
thoughtlessly with ungodly things, and
from this Indifference his faith and
character receive thsir deathblow.
Jonah slept In the storm when he
ought TO have arisen and called upon
his God Others were praying, but he
was sleeping. and knew not that there
was but step betwixt him and death.
So with us all. If we go on neglecting
TO pray constantly, drowsy as TO the
welfare Of our souls, one day misfor-
tune or death will como suddenly upon
us and find US unprepared
King Saul slept in the trench on the
battlefield, when he should have kept
watch. Ills deadly enemy, Ablshai, and
his generous foeman, David, came in
the night watches and looked on the
sleeping King. He was In their power
close to death. and he knew 1t not
Abishai would have slain him with his
own spear, and he grimly promised, II
VIII not sn1itc him second time"
Then again, the disciples of Jesus
slept i'll Gethsemane whilst our LORD
was in His agony of suffering and
prayer in spite of their promises of
devotion. IT we cannot watch with
Jesus and suffer with Him, we shall
forsakc Him in the hour of trial. and
deny Him in the time Of danger. Let
us bethInk ourselves and take warning
from the foolish virgins. and not rely
Just on the name of Christian instead
Of trying to live the life OF Christian.
Ihls life need not be one of sorrow
and gloom: it should be one shedding
about IT continual sunshine and bright
ness because Of its inward woll-sprinE
Of the Holy Spirit
God Will Judge us by our lives, our
words and worl5s--by our fruits we
shall be known The final cry Of warn.
iut. must cor,c ia a,,h oe -, ..D,,