Download PDF - Free Methodist Church

44 THE EARNEST CHRISTIAN.if•litrust in, the blood of Jesns for deliverancefrom the power and dominion ofsin, as well as for the remission of itspenalties.Let us appreciate the blood ofChrist; let us study about it; let ustrust in it; let us magnify it; yea, letns glorify it. It cleanseth from all sin.—Banner of Zion.I'M TOO Busy.—A merchant sat athis office desk; various letters werespread before him; his whole beingwas absorbed in the intricacies of hisbuaness, A zealous friend of mankindentered the ofiSce," Mr , I want to interest you alittle in a few eflTorts for a benevolentcause." said the good man.The merchant cut him off by replying!" Sir, you must excuse me, butreally I'm too busy at present to doanything."" When shall I call again, sir?"''I cannot tell; I'm very busy, I'mbusy every day; excuse me, sir;I Wish yon good morning."Then bowing the intruder out of theoffice, he resumes the study of his papers.The merchant had frequentlyrepulsed the friends of humanity in thismaimer. No matter what was theirobject, he was always too busy to listen;to their claims. He had even toldhis minister that he was too busy loranything but to make money.Ruf" one morning a disagreeablestranger stepped very softly to his side,laying a cold,moist hand upon his brow,andf'saying, " Go home with me."- Themeijchant laid down his pen : his headgrew dizzy ; his stomach felt sick; heleft|the counting-room; went home, andretired to his bed-chamber. His new,unwelcome visitor had followed him,and now took his place by the bedside,whispering ever andinon,'-" You mustgo ^ith me," A cold chill settled uponthe merchant's heart; dim spectresof ships, notes and lands fluttered before!his mind. Still his pulse beatslower, his heart heaved heavily, thickfilms gathered over his eyes,his tonguerefused to speak. Then the merchant•ejknew that the name of the visitor wasDeath,All other claimants on his attention,except the friends of Mammon, hadalways found a quick dismissal in themagic phrase, "I'm too busy," Humanity,mercy, religion, had alikebegged his influence, means and attentionin vain. But when death camethe excuse was powerless; he wascompelled to have leisure to die. Letus beware bow we make ourselves toobusy to secure life's great end. Whenthe excuse rises to our lips, and weare about to saj' we are too busy to dogood, let us remember we cannot betoo busy to die.SiLE.vT TESTIMONV,—Deeds speaklouder than words, and acts are moreforcible than arguments. In the cabinof a steamboat where travelerswere passing to and fro, and whereungodliness and ribaldry, seemed moreat home than piety and prayer, a littleGerman boy kneeled by his father'sside, and lifted up his childish voice inthe utterance of his evening petition.It was a little thing, but it shed a hushof quiet thoughtfulness over the carelessand worldly, which might nothave been attained by hours of argumentand disputation,A traveler sitting in a steamboatcabin noticed some young men gatheredaround a table engaged in playingcards. Without reproof or rebuffhe drew near, that he might enjoy thebenefit of their light, and taking fromhis pocket his Bible, sat down, andquietly commenced reading. It was alittle act, but somehow the young menspeedily lost their interest in the game,and the man with the Bible remainedmaster of the situation." Several gentlemen, among tbem alawyer and an editor of some note,were quartered for a night in the sameroom, at a country tavern : Before retiringto rest, the editor introduced adispute on the • subject of religion,avowing his disbelief in, and contemptfor, its doctrines. He indulged in alengthened display of his bitterness