A NUMBER of men are upstairs in a house, amusing them· selves with a game of cards. What is that? The window is red! What is that cry in the streets?
“The house is on fire!” says one.
“Oh,” answers another, “shuffle the cards again: let us finish the game: we have plenty of time.”
“Fire! Fire!” The cry rises more sharply from the streets, but the gamblers continue their game. One of them says,
“It’s all right, yon door leads to the roof, and we can get out at the last minute.”
Presently he goes to the door, but finds it locked.
“Never mind,” is the answer, “I have the key.”
The man tries the key but it will not turn.
“O God!” he shrieks, “it’s the wrong key!”
They strain every nerve, and labor to open the door, only to find that it is too late to escape.
Many of our hearers say, “Oh yes! what the preacher says is well enough; but we can repent whenever we like. We are safe enough.” Ah, but suppose you cannot believe whenever you please. Suppose the day shall come when you shall call upon the Lord and He will not answer. Suppose you should one day cry out, “Lord, Lord, open to us,” and the answer should be, “I never knew you; depart!” How will you escape, if you neglect so great salvation?