"And you work on Sunday?" asked the preacher.
"I have no Sunday," the man replied. "That's the day I have most to do. There is almost always a picnic party to drive to the country. Besides, I have no time for religion. It means nothing to me.”
The car continued to run smoothly. Without effort they overtook and passed one vehicle after another. The preacher said to himself: "I must get at this man; but how?" And indeed the chauffeur was a fine looking man. He and his car seemed made for each other; but neither God nor his soul had any place in his thoughts.
"You have a splendid engine," the preacher remarked after a while, hoping to draw his man out a little. "You won't find a better one, sir.”
"How many cylinders?"
“Six.”
"And your speed?”
The man turned to the speaker and winked.
At that moment was heard an almost imperceptible change in the sound of the engine. The practiced ear of the driver caught it at once. He hurriedly moved some levers, and the car slowed down and stopped.
"What's the matter?" asked the passenger.
The chauffeur did not reply, but got out and lifted the hood. He made some adjustments and closed the hood. On resuming his seat he said: "Nothing much wrong; just one of the cylinders wasn't working.”
They resumed their course and soon attained a greater speed than before, but with an ease of motion which suggested almost unlimited power.
"Why didn't you run on with the five remaining cylinders?" the traveler asked. "They would have been enough for the trip, wouldn't they?”
"Well, sir, I am not satisfied unless all parts are working well.”
"All six cylinders have to be working?”
"Yes, sir.”
"I know a machine that runs on three cylinders," remarked the preacher.
"May I ask who the maker is?" said the man, evidently interested.
"Never mind that for the present," was the answer. "It has three cylinders, but the driver makes it run only on two.”
"What! All the time, sir?”
"Yes.”
"Then, sir, the man must be a fool. No machine could stand it. Does his boss know about it?”
"Yes.”
"And he keeps him on without saying anything?”
"He speaks about it now and then; but the man will not listen to anything he says," replied the traveler sadly. "He is a good master, and very patient. He says he will punish the man some day, and I know he will keep his word.”
"Excuse me, sir, but that master must be yourself," said the driver, greatly puzzled.
The preacher smiled. "No; it is someone who has much more love and patience than I. Let me tell you what I mean. God is our master. He has made us, and we are the machines with three cylinders. They are called spirit, soul, and body. Now you, my friend, are running on only two: the spirit (or feelings) and the body. You let the third, your soul, stay silent and dead. You prevent it from doing its proper work.”
"Ah," said the man; "you've got me there!”
"But God is full of love and patience," the preacher went on. "He has not dismissed you yet, for He has led me to speak to you. But don't trifle with so kind a Master. Accept the pardon He offers you through the Lord Jesus Christ, and get your three cylinders running together.”
They had reached their destination. The preacher shook hands heartily with his man as they parted. The driver was deeply moved by the conversation and said: "Sir, I have been a fool, and I see it now. God has spoken to me many times about my poor soul, and I know that my heedlessness dishonors Him. With His help, sir, He shall hereafter have first place in my life, so that all three cylinders can work together. Thank you for making me see it.”