The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-09-20
The w c dding Feast
sermon by
REV. FLOYD ". rOMl<lNS.


We have in this parable three suG-
scstions which apply with full force
In our modern lie The first is tho
ioNitatioi. rejected. tho second. the in
ritaticn extended. ana the third. the
invitation misunderstood Among The
people of the tas, weddings were great
institutions. and lasted FOR several
days. 50 this Knc sent his mcsscu-
gers TO call the people to the fcstivt-
tics: but they raid no attention 20 the
call. and a second request was treated
with both scorn and cruelty. When we
remember that II was a King who sent
The Invitations, and that the marriage
was that OF the Kings son. these rc-
fusalS seem iucomprchcnSiblc. Yet
The Is inS ut heaven and earth asks US
to the 1oyiul celebration OF the join
ing OF the human family with the Iii
vino through Jesus Christ, and how
largely the call is UNDECIDED. Again ana
again the cry arises; come unto me;
follow Nc. confess Me- II is spoken
every SUNDAY from thousands OF pull
pits: it is urged from all the revival
meetings ana missions to Which earnest
prophets are giving their lives and
their hearts blood. the Holy Spirit
IS Whispering it in the ears OF mill
lions Of wandering children. That
1e;ir heaven born word Come" is
=
4, tho waters utter IL, the flowers
speak it, lifes troubles and JOYS OK
Dress il. Day after day the invitation
IS spoken. now softly and with plead
ing. now in the voice OF command and
with the terror of the storm and the
earthquake. But men so on in their
lives If there We're no God. eating.
drinking. making money absorbed in
pleasure. held in the chains Of sin. II
is like the Sunday ringing Of church
bell; many hear it, but few heed ii.
NOT EASY TO Explain
HUMAN INDIFFERENCE
j is not easy TO explain this human
Indifference. sometimes rising to def
mite opposition. Why men will not be-
lievc was "A human problem even to The
dear Christ Himself. Men know that
they must die sooner or later, and com
rion sense tells them that the future
must be governed by the present since
that winch is sown is rcaped. The
sense of sin is not completely paralyzed,
NOR are all human aspirations dead.
Yet wherever the gospel liz preached
only Il few accept the reign OF their
King. We can only keep on seeking
and urging and leave the rest to God.
Sui. oh, The awful darkness that faces
souls that will not be redccmed!'
In the invitation extended we see.
first, the message brought 10 the Cen
tiles. At the first the Gospel was pro-
CldllntD W tle bfWS, Ile CltpScfl Hct-
pie OF God, that they might declare 1t
10 the whole world. but the Jews re-
joctcd Christ, and so see the Apos-
ties Droclaimng the good news to the
Gentiics. But, second this extension OF
the message was for ali-those who
had not heard the first invitation. those
-syho wore Ia the depths OF wrctchcd-
tiidss and ignorance. those who thought
themselves unworthy OF notice aud
wcrc in SORROW and despair As Chris
tianitN has grown the missionary spirit
las advanced it's claims, and those who
were far away have had tho Sospc'
preached TO them. Let IL not be thought
that In the Lords dealings with the
world there was or is discrimination.
MI arc invited 10 the marriage OF the
}Ning's Son. Bu' the message has 10 be
delivered first To n chosen few, a. II
was 10 the APOSTLES, for instance. that
They may take /; TO others II they
blessing. but they have taken away
from them tho privilege of carrying the
good news to tho whole world.
JSItABLE: DECLARES
LARGENESS IN GODS MERCY
What a lnrgencss IN Gods mercy is
here declared Humility thinks only
the worthy can be admitted TO the
Kings Palace.
So vile am how dare l hope to stand
ln the pure glory Of that holy land?
Sui the free gift OF Christ's redeem
M. love il shown in thai, while we
Lyrrc vel. sinners. Christ died for us.
80 the poor have the Gospel preached
to. them the heather in all his abomin-
able idolatrY learns the good news
The drunkards, tn" apparently lost are
sought and brought home; not select
,fcw. but the great mass OF humans are
.t
'srhis rs pre- -cminenuy "a modern cH-
.crcise OF religion.
III has taken long while for the
church to realize that aRc is not
sclec, club for few highly favored
folk, hut "A universal home for al VINO
need and especially for those VINO real
ile their need TO he gricvous through
ignorance and poverty and sin To-
day every city, every church. has ITS
messengers go out into the highways
Missions TO the prisoners, lights shining
from rescue centres In the midst oil
awful moral darkness, appeals TO the
utoplc in tho streets. such arc tho
happy marks Of Christianity to-day
Mas. the learned who have long known
,;6f tho truth have many OF them spent
much time examining the chedenuals
OF the messengers or the text or the
Invitation Business has held many,
and they have waited for a more con
14ntcnt season. Their own little pleas
;ircs absorbed some, ana even the
Kings Palace seemed tame and a little
dull IN comparison. The world for
Christ." The slogan has been uttered,
and the noble men and women are
rushing every where 10 bring tho cnll-
drcu who have little 10 the home where
ibcrc is an abundance for al
WON DIcRIt.I. CHANGE
~ last FIFTY YEAR"
We can hardly realize this change in
the Christian life which has come about
in tho last nfty years The ,srowth "t
our Sunday achools and Bible clasSes.
tho home department and the cradle
roll, tho work Of our young peoples
societies. tho efforts Of brothcihuods
and Of tho Kings Daughters, puc SO
ciai service commissions and our out
door services are all indications OF ,jis
ucw lie. Can "" not rejoice ana take
courage VIC cannot stop now FOR
long 10 plead With tic unwilling. tho
incrcdulous. ilis Idle and tho self salts
led II Epiraim rs Joined TO lis idols
we must let hin alone. because tho
rttinc Is short ana tire Kings business
demands haste To tho great body OF
upsavcd who know not that they arc
e, piri,cd. wc ,tr" turning, ana the pathos
~ the result IS proof % the blessing
az God upon tic cuJcavor
The in'itsti"n misuudoretoud iH. alas,