Friday, September 26, 2008

Flee to the refuge today



A man on board a vessel, when he hears the cry of “Fire!” must not stop to arrange his clothes; he must not he concerned to see that his face is washed, that he has bound together that little bundle of papers, or packed up the portmanteau, or counted over the little purse of gold, or even snatched his little property from the cabin. At once, at once, must he climb the stairs and reach the deck, or he will never have stairs to climb, nor feet to climb with. Now or never. Quick is the word. Waste a moment, and it is all over with you; the fire is upon you, for it tarries not in its march. So is it with you tonight who fear not God. “Escape for thy life,” is a cry for the present moment. Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” Now, now, NOW. This is the only period God has allotted to you, take care that you use it, lest when your todays are past, and you hope to see your to-morrow, you should have to spend your tomorrows in the pit of hell. Procrastination is not only the thief of time, but the thief of souls. Now is the day of salvation; I have never heard of any other day. I do not know, but I think this is one of the most difficult things in the gospel ministry, a matter worthy of the Holy Ghost’s power - to make men
seriously think about their souls at this present.

From a sermon entitled "The Ship On Fire - A Voice Of Warning," delivered November 8, 1863. Flickr photo by Kazuhiko Teramoto; some rights reserved.

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