436 THE

deliver us from these bonds. Now
those who really wish to be set free
from Satan’s power, must seek to be
so in God’s appointed way. ‘They
must read His word, they must pray

GREAT SUPPER.

to Him, they must confess their in.
firmity, and beseech him to deliver
them from it. Then, like the poor
cripple, they will find mercy, and,

| as she did, they will glorify God,

 

CCXCIX.

JHE PREAT pPUPPER.

one day in a Pharisee’s
house, he told the people
this parable. A certain
man made a great feast,
and invited many. And he sent his
servant at supper-time to say to
those who were invited, “Come, for
all things are now ready.”

Were they glad to come? No;
they were very unwilling; they all
began to make excuses. One said,
“T have bought a piece of ground,
and I must go and see it; I pray
thee have me excused.” Another
said, “I have bought some oxen,
and I am going to try them: I pray
thee have me excused.” And an-
other said, “I have married a wife,
and therefore I cannot come.” So
the servant went back, and told his
lord. Then the master was angry;
and he said to his servant, “Go out
quickly into the streets of the city,
and bring in the poor, and the lame,
and the halt, and the blind.” The
servant did as he was told, but still
there was room. Then the master
said, “Go farther off, into the high-
ways and hedges, and make them
come in, that my house may be
filled ; for I say unto you, that none

 

AHEN Jesus was dining | of those men who were first invited,

shall taste of my supper.”

God is the master in this parable.
The good things which He has pro-
mised to those who love Him, are
often called in the Bible “a feast ;”
—‘“the marriage-supper of the
Lamb” in Heaven. God calls
people to come to this feast. He
calls them in His word, and by His
ministers. At first He invited the
Jews. The gospel was preached to
them; and when they would not
attend to it, He sent the message
to others far off from Jerusalem, to
Gentiles living in distant lands;
and He is inviting us now every
day.

Do we all attend to His message?
No; many people make excuses,
like the men in the parable. Some
say they are too busy to attend to
holy things; they have no time for
them. Others say they are too
young: they are so pleased with the
foolish things of this world, that
they do not want to attend to
heavenly things. How sad it is to
think of the end of these people, if,
they will not attend to God’s inv!-
tation now! He will not invite
them always. He will not invite