Angels' Interest vs Human Apathy

The interest felt by the angels in all that concerns the Gospel and the eternal welfare of men put on their probation, forms a very humbling contrast to our cold indifference in what concerns us much more nearly than them. It is as if a ship, nearing a lee-shore in the midst of tremendous breakers, while every inhabitant of the neighbouring coast was watching her progress with beating hearts, and longing to see her delivered, the passengers and crew should pursue their wonted amusements, or, hanging over the straining sides, idly speculate on the number of billows, and sport with the raging foam! Alas! with the hosts of heaven there is all sympathy and intense interest; with perishing men, all apathy and mal. ness!