Evening, June 20
Go To Morning Reading
“Straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.”
Mark 1:18
When they heard the call of Jesus, Simon and Andrew obeyed at once
without demur. If we would always, punctually and with resolute zeal,
put in practice what we hear upon the spot, or at the first fit occasion,
our attendance at the means of grace, and our reading of good books,
could not fail to enrich us spiritually. He will not lose his loaf
who has taken care at once to eat it, neither can he be deprived of
the benefit of the doctrine who has already acted upon it. Most readers
and hearers become moved so far as to purpose to amend; but, alas!
the proposal is a blossom which has not been knit, and therefore no
fruit comes of it; they wait, they waver, and then they forget, till,
like the ponds in nights of frost, when the sun shines by day, they
are only thawed in time to be frozen again. That fatal to-morrow is blood-red with the murder of fair resolutions; it is the slaughter-house
of the innocents. We are very concerned that our little book of “Evening Readings” should not be fruitless, and therefore we pray that readers may not
be readers only, but doers, of the word. The practice of truth is the most profitable reading of it . Should the reader be impressed with any duty while perusing these
pages, let him hasten to fulfil it before the holy glow has departed
from his soul, and let him leave his nets, and all that he has, sooner
than be found rebellious to the Master’s call. Do not give place to the devil by delay! Haste while opportunity
and quickening are in happy conjunction. Do not be caught in your
own nets, but break the meshes of worldliness, and away where glory
calls you. Happy is the writer who shall meet with readers resolved
to carry out his teachings: his harvest shall be a hundredfold, and
his Master shall have great honour. Would to God that such might be
our reward upon these brief meditations and hurried hints. Grant it,
O Lord, unto thy servant!