The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-01-05

fearing man with prudence and dill
rence avails himself of the winds and
fne tides. The husGandma.I. when the
precions produce OF the heid is to ba
occurred, Is all anxiety and eagerness,
lest he should lose shining hour; and
hence X early became proverb, He
that gathereth in summer ~ a wise son
he that sleepeth in harvest is a son
that causeth shame" There are In
teresting conJunctures and peculiar
seasons which never return. but &C
cording as they are seized or neglected,
decide the reputation and the condi-
tion of a for life. But here we
have an opportunity announced. as
superior to every other opportunity. in
ns relations and consequences as the
seul Is superior to the body. and
eternity to time-an opportunity to
gain acceptance with God, and saliva
ton through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Behold. now Is the accepted time;
behold, now Is the day of salvation"
u This now" takes In the whole period
OF the gospel dispeBsation, or the dura-
ton OF the mediatorial reign OF Christ.
At present he Is exalted at the right
hand OF God TO be Prince and
Saviour; TO give repentance unto Israel
and remission of sins, He Is the great
High priest over the house of God, to
Introduce our persons and services, and
while We are reconciled by his death.
we are saved by his life For he is
as OF glory. But this will not con-
tinue always. II is commensurate only
with the continuance OF the world
'"Then cometh the end. when he shall
deliver up the kingdom to God. even
the Father" This in the whole OF H.
is very. extensive peFiod. IT has
continued long, and will probably con-
tinue many ages longer, But this can
only encourage us with regard to man
Kind In succession. II is delightful 10
think that what those have found the
Saviour to be who went before, those
also will find him to be that shall come
after us: for he Is THE same yesterday
today. and for ever" But as indivi-
duals, our season is far less heightened
At death, the agei swears, with regard
to as. that "tiRae shall be no longer"
This now" therefore. Is TO be con-
sidered "a the period Of life. Patients
have been recovered when they seem
ed incurable, and have been sent back
from the very borders OF the grave
Persona have been resascttated when
the functions of nature had ceased
and the principle of life seemed extin-
guished so Some have been saved at
the eleventh hour. and they have
adored the ieng-suTering Of Goa which
proved their salvation. but the redemp-
ton of the soul is precious. and after
eur present state ceasath for ever. II
there be hope to persons then. IL is
among the reserves of Divine good
ness. he has not been pleased to reveal
II. oriEen and his brethren of the
same sentiment were called the merci~
ful doctors: but should their notion he
~ mistake, and those that rely on ii be
COMPOUNDED for ever, they ought to be
called the rnerciful doctors who know
Ing the terrors of The Lord persuade
men TO fee from the wrath to come.
But IN this view how precious and all
Important ss life,
life is the time TO serve the Lord,
The time & insure the great reward:
And while the lamp holds out TO burn.
The yilest sinner may return
And how instantly and zealously
should we avail ourselves Of the only
geason: especially when we consider
how short and how uncertain the con-
tinuance OF Il ls. Another Of the three
score years and ten or Of the fifty or
forty. or twenty, that measure the
whole extent. is gone. And Oh my
soul how snuany strokes remain
Th4se Is but a step between me and
death:
-~Great God. on what a slender thread
Hang everlasting things
The eternal state Of all the dead
Upon LIES feeble strings!"
But this snow" takes r.. as dis.
ftnruished from life at large. every
period peculiarly favorable 10 religion.
Youth II such period. The young
have fewer of the cares t5at perplex
ard engross us as we plunge deeper
into the concerns Of this life. Their
hearts, though evil are NOT yet
hardened through thr deceitfulne~S Of
sln. Their couScSences though dedied.
arr nor vet scared IS with hot iron,
Their memories though limited. are
not vet choked up with the lumber OF
ere word Their affections are warm
their strength is frms their connec-
tfors are ne vet optional; fife Is fresh;
snature IN invisfur; and amidst sli these
now thy Creator In the DAYS of thy
yoUfT. WHITE TNF cVTT dHyE F1FHe not.
nor the years draw nigh, when thou
shalt say, have no pleasure TN them
&~rss Ew . 8..A Sc En
dav Of salvation"
Such a period IL the Sabbath The
Sabbath was made fer man, IL be-
friends his civi comfort his bodily
But II chiefly regards his spiritual and
eternal welfare, What a gracious APP
pointment, 20 draw US once n week out
of the world for whole day--to afford
us leisure 90 examine eur character and
condition before. God--to remind us,
IN the midst of all other engagements,
Us. by a thousand motives. to. choose
that good part which shall not be taken
found "the holy OF the Lord" an ac-
cepted time. and a day Of salvstionl
Addiction is also such period. 1t
matters not from whence our troubles
arise. they are designed for our profit:
Tin their affliction they will seek me
early" They also naturally tend to
IMPRESS the mind and soften the heart.
They show US the evil Of sin, and the
vanity of the world, and the need We
have of n better home than earth and
~ better ,Arfsf sxa1 sssss AahS gsesS9
hse.n chosen In the farAace of asg3sr-
tion besides Manasseh. How foolish 10
get our trials removed without their
being senctifsedi How iamentable to
lose the benefit of such a season.
Such is "a period of religious excite
rnent. 1t is said IN the gospel. THE
law and the pronhets were until John:
since that time the kingdom OF God Ia
preached. and every man presseth into
It" And when we see otnSN 49, -
and finding: delivered from the stfngs
of guilty conscience. and the tyranny
OF their passions: becoming meek and
patient and peaceful and happy. does
II not powerfully call upon us 10 take
hold OF the skirt OF him that Is a Jew"
and to pray to the God of all grace,
Bless me. even me also, o my Father"
Such is the period In which con-
science has been awakened and I'M |
pressed. Perhaps you have had. more
than once such views and feelings.
that II has been said OF you. Thou art
not far from the kingdom of Cod 1t
was thus with Felix when he tremhied. /
He felt then as he had never felt be- /
fore, and as he never felt afterward |
But instead OF cherishing the con-
vtction. he endeavored to Danish II,
and succeeded t'Go thy way" said 4
he TO the preacher. "for this time;
when have convenient season
will call for thee" That season never
came. He saw Paul indeed several
times afterwa rds, but not a word was
said concerning the faith In Christ |