th of him, Behold
an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile."

On the other hand, the young ruler shrunk from the call, and found it a
hard saying, "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and
give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come, and
follow Me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away
sorrowful, for he had great possessions[5]." Others who seemed to
waver, or rather who asked for some little delay from human feeling,
were rebuked for want of promptitude in their obedience;--for time
stays for no one; the word of call is spoken and is gone; if we do not
seize the moment, it is lost. Christ was on His road heavenward. He
walked by the sea of Galilee[6]; He "passed forth[7];" He "passed
by[8];" He did not stop; all men must join Him, or He would be calling
on others beyond them[9]. "He said to another, Follow Me. But he
said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto
him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom
of God. And another also said, Lord, I will follow Thee: but let me
first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus
said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking
back, is fit for the kingdom of God[10]."

Not unlike these last instances are the circumstances of the call of
the great prophet Elisha, though he does not seem to have incurred
blame from Elijah for his lingering on the thoughts of what he was
leaving. "He found Elisha, the son of Shaphat, who was ploughing . . .
Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle over him." He did not stay;
he passed on, and Elisha was obliged to run after him. "And he left
the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my
father and my mother, and then I will follow thee." This the prophet
allowed him to do, and after that "he arose and followed Elijah, and
ministered unto him."

Or once more consider the circumstances of the call of Abraham, the
father of all who believe. He was called from his father's house, but
was not told whither. St. Paul was bid go to Damascus, and there he
was to receive further directions. In like manner Abraham left his
home for a land "that I _will_ show thee[11]," says Almighty God.
Accordingly he went out, "not knowing whither he went." "Abram
[Transcriber's note: Abraham?] departed as the Lord had spoken unto
him."

Such are the instances of Divine calls in Sc