eaving home. He was not an active
Christian. His mother went with him to the turn of the road and said,
"Now, Robert, there is one thing you must promise before you go."
"No," said the lad, "I will not promise until I know." "But it will
not be difficult," said his mother. "Then I will promise," he said.
And she said, "Every night before you lie down to sleep read a chapter
and pray." He did not want to promise it, but he did. Who was that
Robert? It was Robert Moffat, the great missionary, who, when he came
into the Kingdom, brought almost a continent in after him. Many a
mother has lost her opportunity to speak to her boy, and she has lost
it because she has not lived as a mother should who would help her boy.
So shall her judgment be.

II

These opportunities come to the unsaved. The Bible is full of men who
have had an opportunity to be saved but are lost.

First: There is Herod. His face blanches as he listens to the truth,
he is ready to forsake some of his sin; but more is required than that
to be a Christian, and Herod fails.

Second: Look at Felix. As he gazes into the face of Paul the Apostle
and hears his message, he trembles; a moment more he will be a
Christian; but more is required than that to be saved, and Felix is
lost.

Third: Behold Judas. See him at the feet of Jesus. Later he is full
of remorse because he has sold him for thirty pieces of silver; but
mere remorse never saved a soul, and Judas is lost.

You have doubtless heard of that young girl of whom the poet tells us.
She had a string of pearls in her hand and her hand is in the water,
the string is broken, and one by one the pearls slip away. So it has
been with you who have been Christians. My hope is that there may be
one pearl left yet. To-day is the accepted time; do not let the
opportunity slip.

III

The Bible is full of men just the opposite who had opportunities to be
saved and embraced them.

First: Zaccheus. There was just one day, one hour, one moment; when
Jesus would pass by, and Zaccheus ran to the sycamore tree; but he made
haste and came down, and that saved him.

Second: Bartimeus. There was just a moment when Jesus was near to hear
the sound of his voice. If Bartimeus failed that moment he would be
blind forever. I can see him quickly turning his sightless eyes in the
direction of the Savior. He cried unto him and it was his earnestness
that saved him. We must make haste while yet it is