“As awful and deeply-impressive incident," writes a physician, "in my professional course, occurred in the case of Miss M., a young lady aged twenty-five of large fortune, and highly accomplished.
In the last stage of pulmonary consumption, nothing would satisfy her but coming to Scarborough late in the autumn, to be under my professional care. Though I had relinquished general practice, and was scarcely personally known to her, yet I consented to attend her.
“As might be expected, the change of residence from Lincolnshire to Scarborough was not attended by any relief to the fearful disease which every day was hastening to a fatal termination.
“Miss M., however, went out every day in a carriage; but she constantly averted every attempt, on the part of myself and mother, to arouse her to her hopeless condition, and prepare her for the great change.
“At last she took her last airing, and the next day she appeared in a dying state. Still she shunned every appeal, however affectionately urged. Towards dusk she was carried up-stairs to her bedroom in a fainting condition, supported by myself.
“By the aid of restoratives she partially rallied. I agreed with the family to remain through the night in an adjoining room, and was going there to put on my slippers, that I might occasionally enter her apartment quietly. I had just said to her, ' I am going into the adjoining room, and shall return presently,' when she cried in a loud, piercing voice, ' Stay!'
"On turning round I was startled with her appearance. The features of her face were fixed as in death, and frightfully contorted, with her tongue protruding from her mouth. Again she shrieked in agony, her screams echoing through the whole house.
“She cried aloud, hell! I am lost! lost! I am in hell! I burn! I burn! Lost forever!'
“Vainly I endeavored to soothe her, but with a look of unutterable woe she exclaimed, 6 I have forgotten my God, and He has forgotten me. They told me I was handsome and charming. I gave myself up to the world and its pleasures, and now, oh, I burn!’ and then she gave utterance to the most horrible curses. She was quiet for a little time, but again she burst into paroxysms of anguish, and exclaimed, ‘Yes I have forgotten my God, and He has forgotten me!’
“I urged the pardoning love of God, and the efficacy of the blood of Jesus.
“‘All this,’ she said, might avail for others, but not for me.'
“Her terrified mother stood dumb, unable to speak one word of comfort to her child. Her cousin, more instructed in grace, tried to read some texts of Scripture, and to repeat appropriate hymns, but with little good result.
“This awful scene continued for two hours, with occasional intervals of calmness and apparent self-meditation.
“Again the paroxysms of agony returned, and her piercing utterances were even more horrible than before. The storm was succeeded by another calm, which I eagerly embraced to direct her thoughts to Jesus.
“'Consider,' I said, 'that the blood of Jesus calls louder for pardon than your sins for punishment. Think that the Being who made us suffered and died for us—the Creator dying for His guilty creatures! What love could be greater than this! It is indeed wondrous love! Confide in His love, and you shall be saved.'
“These remarks were peculiarly comforting to her soul. After meditation on them for a while, she desired that I should say something more.
“I quoted the text in Zechariah, a brand plucked out of the fire,' and showed that she was the brand, and that Christ was able and willing to pluck her now from the burning. This remark seemed to make a deep impression upon her mind, especially as she felt the flames already begun in her.
“She exclaimed, I am a Brand indeed, plucked out of the fire. Yes! yes!'
“Still her tranquility was momentary: she could find no rest for her troubled soul. After praying with her, I bent over her, and repeated promises adapted to her state. Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be made as white as snow;' the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.'
“Behold,' I said, the arms of everlasting love outstretched to save you now .Throw yourself into His open arms. Oh believe they will support and save you.'
“Still the way of salvation seemed hidden to her. I said, ' Jesus cried on the cross, "It is finished!" how can you doubt His own words? It is impious to doubt the efficacy and sufficiency of His atonement. God was more honored in the death of Jesus than He could have been by the obedience of all our race. You say you are "forsaken of God," think that Jesus cried, ".My God, my God, why halt Thou forsaken me?" He was forsaken of God that you might not be forsaken forever.'”
Such were the words spoken by this physician to this bleeding and broken heart. During that long and terrible night, as he tarried by this death-bed, he wrestled and prayed to God for the conversion of his patient. It was like Jacob by the brook Jabbok, when he cried, "I will not let thee go unless thou bless me," and he prevailed.
She looked from herself to Christ: her faith took hold of the cross, and her fears and conflicts gave way to joy and peace in believing. And as, when Jesus came up into the slip, the winds were laid and the waves were still, so when Jesus entered into this anxious soul, tossed on the sea of agony and despair, all trouble fled—immediately there was "a great calm.”
In this happy state she continued till her change came. Nor was it long delayed; gradually she sank to rest; no cloud darkened her spirit.
There was light in the valley of death, for the Savior was with her there. With her band in that of her "beloved physician" she passed away singing, "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" Truly this was "a brand plucked out of the fire."—An Extract.