The Master is Come, and Calleth for Thee.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3280, 12 August 1889, Page 2

The Master is Come, and Calleth for Thee.

On Sunday forenoon tho Rev. D, Fulton preached an eloquent sermon in the Presbyterian Church, Master: ton, from the eleventh chapter of John's qospel, 28th verse, 'f The Master js cohi.o and calleth for Thee." In opening biij dis.cot|rso tl|e speaker alluded to the years of controversies oyer the question of tho personality of Chfist, T|je chapter from which ho had chosen his toxt displayed the two characters of Christ, his true humanity, and his truo divinity,: The death of Lazarus aud tho consequent anguish and grief of Mb sisters in which Christ fully joined showed his strong human sympathy and his njifficulous power in raising from the dead (lis belovpd friend after his incarceration in tho tomb for four days was the proof of Christ's divinity. Mary was the one who isji if, the feet of Jesus, who annointed l)is feet witji ojfttment and wiped them with the hair of her head. She sat face to face with Christ, and in the quieter times of to-day men had conio to acknowledge )t "as the best method of knowing tl|o pn Chrjst and tfee religion he fought, Thus, it was John, v?bo yrotg the gospel the text was chosen iron), was able to writo of Christ as nope other wrote. He knew the heart of bis beloved master and porsonal friend, fte knew his grief at the death of Lazarus, and his sympathy with the sorrowing sisters, What embittered the thought of the sisters was the absence of this sympathising friend at this lime. ''Oh if Jesus had but been here, my brother, had not diedperhaps the feeling was the same with the brother on his death bed, " Oh if only Jesus had beon lieio, I ' jiist 'as fond loving S&tto'W'tJja present day, reproaching

themselves tbiit they did not try other measures and other skill, tormenting their poor hearts unnecessarily, so it was with the poor sister, Their home was in Bethamy, close to. the great city; there it was Jesus retreated whenever ho could to the quiet of this beloved household ; there tlioy heard the divine truths that fell from the Master, Mary sitting at His feet, It were better Martha hud sat beside her sister, instead of troubling how best she should show him honor, Each had her distinguishing charuoter that rendered them dear to each other and to the Saviour, . Although He rebuked Martha it wjs in love, and that thought should bo in the mind of those who were in trouble. Christ knew that Lazarus was sick aud would die, but He would not hasten himself. When told " Lord ho whom thou 1 lovest, Lazarus, is sick," he added not a word, He knew the mighty miracle he had to perform, and he knew_ in his heart it would be used against him by the priests, and he would suffer and die in consequence. Christ told Martha her brother should rise aqain from the ded. She thought he toferred to the tjreat resurrection at the last day. "I am the resurrection and the life" said "Christ, "he that believethin me shall never die," Death is tho consequence of the act of tho enemy of mankind, and there is no power-in heaven to stay it. The soul of the faithful however, but leaves its earthly tenement to continue its life in heaven, and the ressurection of the body was but a question of time, " Even the dust shall be raised from corruption," Comfort came to the hearts of the sisters as it must to those who are in the midst of sore grief by the sweet words of hope; "I am the resurrection," Christ bids all to take comfort and no longer fear death, When Mary heard the words" The Master is come and is waiting for thee" she hesitated not a moment, but rose and went to him, In view of the circumstauco that had called forth the words, tho preacher said he might instance in the first place his text was a call to the unconverted. He earnestly appealed to all to be ready, as Mary was, at the first call of the master, and rise and go to him. The call came to -all. If sinful men went on from day to day, _ listened not to the to the voice of warning, sometime the weary and foot-sore pilgrim will for tho last time knock at the door, and for tho last time would the voice of the messenger be beard "The Master is calling and is waiting for thee," Were they willing to run so great a risk, Had they a lease of life that they should do so. If unprepared for the call "now" was the time, Once more; it was a special call to all who do know and love the Master. To theiji it asked, " what have you done to show your gratitude for tho Master's love; for tho glorious destiny that lies before you in the eternal world to come?" It was a disgrace to tho Christian Church that so many stood by looking on whilst tho few were toiling and sweating in tho harvest field. All i ought to he working in their owu homes, or amongst their companions, 1 or with the poor and outcast. The i words of Christ were a revelation of! the great and noble change when, liko him, they would triumph over ; and sin. Thinking of the ; Master's words, they should not mourn for the departed, but only for themselves. Thb warning voice had I been in their midst of late, J)eath j bad been busy ;n forms least agreeable, Suddenly. Two prominent Wellington citizens had been hastened into , eternity. The Master had called. i Had they not lately road of the sad f accident in their own midst whero a p fellow townswoman, mistaking poison 1 tor an article used in food, was ' suddenly struck down. Again, at ; the age of 80 years, anothar had been ! cut off in a single hour. These were 1 calls of tli# Master to be ready when he asked for them.

There had beeti but recently one worshipping in their midst who had taught in their Sabbach School and given promhe of a live of usefulness. A daughter, loving, thoughtful beyond her years, as an elder sister ministering in kindness to tho younger ones almost indispepsible ip the family, the pridp ant) hope of her father and mother, Her loss was hard to bear. She showed during her life that sho had the love of God in her heart, and when lying at death's door she repeated the words learnt in the sabbath school and at her parent's knees the simple prayer, "Lord bless father and mother and make me a good girl," even in delirium, showing her mind was wandering with Jesus, as she unconsciously repeated the Lords prayer. It was literally true, '! The Master is come and calleth for thee." Sho who so short a time since sat ill their midst was now with iho angels in Heaven joining in singing unto him; washed in tho blood of tfco Lamb, She was but eighteen years of age when the Master came, She was ready at his call,