Matthew 20:1-16 For the kingdom of heaven is like to a man that is an householder… An old sailor, who was very ragged, and whose white head spoke the lapse of many years, was leaning against a post in conversation with another sailor. A member of the Bethel Union spoke to them, and particularly invited the old man to attend the prayer-meeting. His companion, after hearing the nature of the invitation, said, "Thomas, go in! Come! come, man! go into the meeting; it won't hurt you." "Puh! puh!" cried the old seaman, "I should not know what to do with myself. I never go to church or prayer-meetings; besides, I am too old. I am upwards of seventy, and I am very wicked, and have always been so; it is too late for me to begin, it is of no use; all is over with me, I must go to the devil." After a moment's pause, the member, looking with pity upon the old veteran, answered, "You are the very man the prayer-meeting is held for." "How so?" (with much surprise). "Because Jesus Christ came into the world to save the chief of sinners. When young, I suppose, you were tempted to think it would be time enough to be religious when you came to be old?" "Ah I that I did," replied the sailor. "Now you are old you say it is too late. Listen no longer to these suggestions; come with me: no time is to be lost, for Jesus is waiting to save you, poor sinner, or He would have sent you to that place where hope never comes, before this; your sins deserve it." His companion then said, "Thomas, go to the prayer-meeting. You have need, at your time of life, to prepare to die." He went, and attended regularly, and with the best results. Some time after he was asked, "Well, my aged friend, do you think you are too much in years to be saved? too old in sin for the blood of Christ to cleanse you? No, sir," said he; "I bless God, I do feel a hope, a blessed hope, which I would not give up for worlds; a hope which encourages me to think that God will be merciful to me, and pardon me, old sinner as I am." Parallel Verses KJV: For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. |
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