Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/483

 many, nay,  even  the  greatest  part  of  mankind,  resist  His early call,  He  still  continues  to  call  in  every  stage  of  life afterwards, even  to  their  last  moment. Some He  entices to His  service  by  the  hopes  of  reward,  saying,  "  I  will give  you  what  is  just." He rebukes  others  for  their slothfulness: "Why  stand  you  here  all  the  day  idle?" Examine if  you  have  not  been  hitherto  very  idle  in  the service of  God.

III. A part  of  this  great  vineyard  consists  of  those whom God  has  placed  under  your  charge,  but  particularly your  own  soul. Examine the  present  state  of  this part of  the  vineyard. See if  it  be  not  in  the  condition described by  the  author  of  Proverbs:  "  Behold  it  was  all filled  with  nettles,  and  thorns  had  covered  the  face thereof,  and  the  stone  wall  was  broken  down." (Prov. xxiv. 31.)  Remember  that  you  are  sent  into  a  vineyard, and not  into  a  garden  of  pleasure;  to  labor,  not  to  enjoy yourself and  live  at  your  ease. Encourage yourself  to labor  hard  in  this  vineyard,  for  your  reward  will  be  very great. "The soul  of  them  that  work  shall  be  made  fat." (Prov. xiii.  4.)

I. "  When  evening  was  come,  the  Lord  of  the  vineyard said  to  His  steward:  Call  the  laborers  and  pay  them their  hire,  beginning  from  the  last  even  to  the  first." (Matt. xx.  8.)  This  steward  is  Christ  our  Lord,  to  whom the Father  "  hath  given  authority  to  execute  judgment." (John v.  27.)  The  evening  of  our  life  is  death,  for  the whole of  our  life  is  but  one  day. "A thousand  years," says holy  David,  addressing  his  Lord,  "  in  Thy  sight  are