Come, for all things are now ready. Luke 14:17.
Our text is from one of the best There is strength here for known of all our Lord's parables,|the weakest and most wavering. that of the great supper. A. few [There is nothing that sin. laden moments before Jesus ad told the hearts can wish or weary conscienstory of the ambitious guest with ces require which is not spread beery aot a pointed moral an fore men nich abundance Gh selfishness that lies at the root of God, a clean sheet and a new heart, had gone on Forgiveness ofall sin and peace with
uch 20 called hospitality. In both or to put it in theological langu cases the application was so obvious if you like, justification and sancti we can Imagine there. would bel fcstion.
"Grace by the way, and embarrasing silence when he had glory in the end, all are included in finished speaking. Ibis broken by, the abundant provision that God has the plows attode of a fellow gues! rade fort idea of eating and feasting when he see, catching up the general 'The Indifference of Men tone of complacent But over against the amazing! orthodoxy, "Blessed is he that shall grace and abundant hospitality of etaad' in the Kingdom of God." God, the parable sets. the equally Jesus turns about and addresses amazing indifference of men, The) to him the parable of the great ' details which set this forth are not Sinner, he parable fs a model of without a certain "grim tumour. to do anything remedial of Chi 's|brevity, note word is wasted, "A {The excuses were vane situation because he is not in a pos-trea' toma' made o. supper" and ty obligations, farm duties, domestic ition to do so, baded many and sent his servant entanglements, but they all boil supper time to say to them {down to the same thing, "All China's Credit and Prestige fac ere hidden," come for all! with one consent," or as it has Chinese credit is suffering and things are now ready. And they, been translated, "They all out all with one consent began to make! one heart,"—the heart that chooses will very soon be evidences of it in the quotations of Chinese excuse. the things of the world in preference securities. Internal affairs in China The parable is not difficult to in-/ to the things of God, must react on China's interna-No doubt it had its!
The list of excuses given is Uional position; it is not easy to {ilar application in the case of festive, how vividly la fast a phrase se how there can be much sup-Ser Lordy hearers and their refer-'St two! weare given a pict' port—as there would be other. tion of Him but it is as apt to-day pre-occupation, indifference and i wise—for China's claim to a seat [twas 2000 years ago. The story are. those in an epitome of the gospel and its! Whose unreadiness to. come arose of.'a permanent nature on the Council of the League of Nations. reception by the worl. their possessions. Others Her decadence world power certain man made a grea, from their abilities and stil others is now felt to be too patent even supper and bade many." The giver from the claims of society. to merit comment. fof the feast is God and we are the] One would not come because he srritea vests, Phe feast. provides, had bought a piece of land. Again not literally food and drink but} and again our Lord calls attention hydromel) was subject to municipal provision for our spiritual needs. to the dangers that beset us through licence; but the importation and Forgiveness of our sins and clea worldly posses In a later production were free. sing from their guilty stains a chapter of the go: grace and strength that "that He said "How hardly After the outbreak of the World ive holy lives. For all that have riches _ente War the Government in Norway, has made abundant provision, this kingdom of God! For it is easier for as in many other countries, decided is the meaning of the great supper, 'a camel to go through a needle's to enact provisional restrictions on this is the Gospel. The many who eye, than for a rich man to enter the Iiquor, trade. The first pro-were first hidden' refers no doubt into the kingdom of God." Not withhibition deeres was issued on primarily to His hearers, but they out good cause are we taught, to August 4, 1914, and affected the Were types of all who enjoy the, pray in our beautiful Litany, "In sale and off-sale of spirits. Three leges and opportun of a all time of our wealth; As well as years later, June 28, 1917, a decree Christian home and country. And the hour of death; and in the was issued prohibiting the sale, off-the parable continues: "they all day of judgment, Good Lord, demn, and transporta-with' one consent began to make ygdom of spirits excuse." Then comes the result of would not come because and vermouth of whatever per-the rejection: "For I say unto of his business engagements. He was} centage of alcohol, and wine, and you, that none of those men shall' fa trader and on the feast day of fruit-wine and hydromel contain taste of my supper." had opportunity to test his ing more than 12 per sent. of al-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.