IT is some years ago now, since the Lord directed me to the young man whose conversion and death I shall with His help briefly relate.
It was an autumnal afternoon when my steps were led past William C.’s home. Outside the narrow pavement, with tottering feet, he was slowly pacing up and down, stopping often, with panting breath, to rest on the window sill. His handsome face was pale as death, yet the wan and troubled look on it told plainly of the unrest within. I paused, and felt constrained to say a few words to him, first about his bodily weakness, and then as to the condition of his immortal soul. I found that he was a believer, but with regard to the all-important question of present salvation he could only hope, as so many are doing. I told him that if he trusted simply to the blood of Jesus, he could rejoice in knowing in this life that eternal life which is in Christ Jesus; and ended by saying, “William, trusting thus, you will never be safer in heaven than you are now.”
These words were used to arouse him, his sad face lit up with a smile, and eagerly grasping my hand, he said, “Come again, Miss S., and talk to me about these things.” This opened a door for me, to see and talk to him about the Lord and His “finished work”; and after the first visit, he rested in faith simply and wholly upon what Jesus had done for him on the cross.
Doubts no longer assailed him; at this he wondered a little, and asked my sister the reason why Satan never troubled him. For the answer to his question she read to him some of the Lord’s own words. This was quite sufficient to content him, for was not Jesus the “Prince of Peace” abiding within?
William C. lingered for three months, during which time many were the seasons of spiritual refreshment and blessing we enjoyed together over the Word of God. Our one blessed theme was “Jesus only.” (Matt. 17:88And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only. (Matthew 17:8).). This text my sister painted and hung up just where his dying eyes might rest upon it.
Four days before the call to him to “Come up higher,” I saw him; he was sitting propped up in his large arm-chair, the dews of death standing on his forehead. In utter weakness he leaned his weary head on nay shoulder, and said, “Miss S., I shall soon be resting on my Saviour’s breast.” We then talked about Him, for He Himself drew near and manifested His love to our souls in such a way, that it seemed as if in that hour the veil of the flesh was growing so thin that we could almost see “our Jesus” face to face. William suddenly turned and asked me for a pencil, saying he wished to write for the last time his favorite text in my pocket Testament. With many tears I guided his failing fingers as he wrote with assurance, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” (Psa. 23:11<<A Psalm of David.>> The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. (Psalm 23:1).)
That same night William took to his bed, from which he never rose again, In the adjoining room lay his youngest and favorite sister Beatrice, a child of about twelve years. For some time this little one had been in my class at the Sunday school, and early in life her young heart was given to the Lord. During the last four days of her brother’s illness little Beatrice was carried into his room, where together they used to talk of the tender Shepherd who was so soon to gather them into His loving arms. One day she expressed a wish that they might both go home together. The Lord heard, and granted this request, for three weeks later the sorrowing parents laid this little one in her brother’s grave. Sown, not buried, to rise at the sound of the archangel’s voice, and the trumpet of God.
The day before William C. was put to sleep by Jesus I called to see him for the last time. Truly touching was the parting between him and his younger brother Walter. They clasped hands, and William said “Don’t grieve, Walter, we shall all meet up there.” He raised his feeble hand and pointed to the painted text, “Jesus only,” for the power of speech had failed. Early the following morning William was taken “forever with the Lord?”
Reader! pause, and ask yourself this question Would this be my portion? Time is flying, you stand this moment on the threshold of eternity. Decide now where you will spend the eternal ages beyond this short space of man’s life down here. Let it be for all who read these lines, now and forever, “Jesus only.” (Matt. 17:88And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only. (Matthew 17:8).) E. S.