Alexander with his army used to surround a city, and then would lift a great light in token to the people that, if they surrendered before that light went out, all would be well; but if once the light went out, then the battering-rams would swing against the wall, and demolition and disaster would follow.  Well, all we need do for our present and everlasting safety is to make surrender to Christ, the King and Conqueror—­surrender of our hearts, surrender of our lives, surrender of everything.  And He keeps a great light burning, light of Gospel invitation, light kindled with the wood of the cross and flaming up against the dark night of our sin and sorrow.  Surrender while that great light continues to burn, for after it goes out there will be no other opportunity of making peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Talk of another chance!  Why, this is a supernal chance!

In the time of Edward the Sixth, at the battle of Musselburgh, a private soldier, seeing that the Earl of Huntley had lost his helmet, took off his own helmet and put it upon the head of the earl; and the head of the private soldier uncovered, he was soon slain, while his commander rode safely out of the battle.  But in our case, instead of a private soldier offering helmet to an earl, it is a King putting His crown upon an unworthy subject, the King dying that we might live.  Tell it to all points of the compass.  Tell it to night and day.  Tell it to all earth and heaven.  Tell it to all centuries, all ages, all millenniums, that we have such a magnificent chance in this world that we need no other chance in the next.

I am in the burnished Judgment Hall of the Last Day.  A great white throne is lifted, but the Judge has not yet taken it.  While we are waiting for His arrival I hear immortal spirits in conversation.  “What are you waiting here for?” says a soul that went up from Madagascar to a soul that ascended from America.  The latter says:  “I came from America, where forty years I heard the Gospel preached, and Bible read, and from the prayer that I learned in infancy at my mother’s knee until my last hour I had Gospel advantage, but, for some reason, I did not make the Christian choice, and I am here waiting for the Judge to give me a new trial and another chance.”  “Strange!” says the other; “I had but one Gospel call in Madagascar, and I accepted it, and I do not need another chance.”

“Why are you here?” says one who on earth had feeblest intellect to one who had great brain, and silvery tongue, and scepters of influence.  The latter responds:  “Oh, I knew more than my fellows.  I mastered libraries, and had learned titles from colleges, and my name was a synonym for eloquence and power.  And yet I neglected my soul, and I am here waiting for a new trial.”  “Strange,” says the one of the feeble earthly capacity; “I knew but little of worldly knowledge, but I knew Christ, and made Him my partner, and I have no need of another chance.”