I beg of you, make up your decision this morning to start for the kingdom. “Yes,” you say, “I will start, but not now.” William III made proclamation, when there was a revolution in the north of Scotland, that all who came and took the oath of allegiance by the 31st of December should be pardoned.
MacIan, a chieftain of a prominent clan, resolved to return with the rest of the rebels, but had some pride in being the very last one who should take the oath. He postponed starting for this purpose until two days before the expiration of the term. A snowstorm impeded his way, and before he got up to take the oath and receive a pardon from the throne the time was up and past.
While the others were set free, MacIan was miserably put to death. He started too late and arrived too late. In postponing your decision, in like manner, some of you are in prospect of losing forever the amnesty of the Gospel.—TALMAGE.