THE stream of time rolls on. Eternity is nearer than it was. Another year has passed, it is gone forever, and can never be recalled. God has been speaking, working, saving souls. Some have received His word of grace; many have not. Some, during the past year, have been looking for the Lord from heaven, have been happily waiting to see His face; but He has not come. Still they look for the Saviour, they wait for God’s Son from heaven. Another year has come, and we know not what a day may bring forth: one thing is certain, that in “a little while, He that shall come, will come, and will not tarry,” and we know it pleases Him that we should watch, and wait for Him with girded loins, and with trimmed lamps.
The clear, distinct, and thrilling warning testimony has gone forth— “Behold the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him,”— but who heeds it? Where are souls saying, “Speak Lord, for Thy servant heareth”? Where are hearts earnestly responding to the divine command to go out to meet Him? When are those who so feel the attractiveness of Jesus the Lord, who died for the ungodly, as to turn out of the long-trodden, well-beaten broad road, and go forth to meet Him at His coming? Thank God there are some, and our heart’s desire and prayer to God is that many who read these pages may ere long turn to God from self and folly, to serve the living and true God, and wait for His Son from heaven.
Observe, it is not death we have here, but the Bride groom; for all those who go to the marriage depart at the same moment. (See Matthew 25:1010And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. (Matthew 25:10).) Nor is it the day of judgment which is here referred to, for not one person is judged. Nor is it the scene of what people call a general resurrection, for none are acted on but those who are saved: the door is shut, and the unsaved are simply left for judgment. All the ready are shut in with Jesus the Bridegroom, all not ready are shut out forever from His presence. What an amazing difference! What a separation! How very solemn! Those who are shut out will call, and knock, and pray, but it is too late. The door cannot be opened. Professors they may have been, well-known boasters of Bible-knowledge, very assiduous in being useful, but alas! alas! they never knew the Lord Jesus— “They took no oil with their lamps.” They had no Saviour. Hence, He from within will answer, “I know you not;” for “He knoweth them that trust in Him.” The sufferings and death of the Son of God had been nothing to them—His wounds, and groans, and smiting’s, and bruising’s, and blood-shedding upon the tree, were little more to them than old historical facts. They had never loved the Lord Jesus Christ, and they must be accursed when the Lord cometh. They are in great distress, but it is too late. They knock with bitterest anguish, but they cannot enter now. They call and scream, and are only forever silenced by the thrilling words of the Bridegroom from within, “I know you not.” The door had long, long stood wide open. The loving entreaty from within had long been, “Come unto Me, and I will give you rest.” The messengers of the God of all grace, had long published the sweet story of the love of God in saving sinners by the death of His Son. Free, present, and everlasting salvation had been long given to everyone that believeth. But they slighted this love, refused the gift, despised the redemption-work of Jesus; and, aided by the great deceiver, preferred to go religiously and respectably to hell, rather than bow to the Saviour of sinners, come into personal contact with Him, accept eternal life as a gift, and the present forgiveness of sins as an act of pure mercy on God’s part by the precious blood of His beloved Son. And now, alas! alas! it is too late.
Late! Late! Too late!
Ye cannot enter in.
The door is shut, in vain ye wait,
The Bridegroom’s gone within.
The hour of mercy now is o’er;
Judgment hath closed the open door;
Judgment from Him whose grace before
Ye spurned from love of sin.
Late! Late! Too late!
Ye cannot enter now—
The music wakes within the gates,
The garlands crown the brow
The heavenly strains that reach your ear,
Their very sweetness makes most drear;
Filling your hearts with boding fear,
Ye cannot enter now.
Late! Late! Too late!
Why came ye not before?
Did He not long with patience wait,
And open keep the door?
Did He not many a message send;
Did He not woo you as a friend?
Why did ye not His voice attend?
The day of grace is o’er!
Late! Late! Too late!
Ye cannot enter now.
Barred, and forever is the gate—
Mercy averts her brow.
The voice that called you to repent
Hath sworn, and He will not relent;
Your day of mercy all is spent,
Ye cannot enter now.