AROUND the dingy little village of Courrieresles-Lens in France are eleven coal-pits. The population is about 4200, nearly half of which wended their way, as usual, to pits Nos. 2, 3, 4, at 3:30 on Saturday morning, March 10, 1960 They had often gone and returned, and were as light-hearted as ever ; but at 7 o'clock a frightful explosion was heard, resulting in the death of nearly 1200 of those miners. From the many thrilling incidents of this terrible French disaster we select the following: “The relater was at work in a lateral gallery when he heard a deafening crash. He was one of a gang of thirty-five. After the crash came a stream of gas. ‘Run! ‘I shouted. We ran for our lives. I was last. In front of me was my nephew. Farther ahead was my son. After a time we could do no more than feel our way. It was pitch dark. I am doomed, I said to myself, but my son stands a good chance of escape, and thank God for that. The gas, though not now in great volume, was stifling. We crawled on, scarcely daring to breathe. We must have been two hours at it, when our gang leader, who was in front with my son, shouted, Turn back! turn back! there's fire ahead!"
"TURN BACK! TURN BACK! THERE'S FIRE AHEAD!” What a suggestive warning to all who are going the wrong road! It is our cry to every sinner in the deep, dark pit of sin. “Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live : turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways ; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?" (Ezek. 33. 11). “Turn you at my reproof “(Prov. 1:2323Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. (Proverbs 1:23)). Turn back! turn back! there's fire ahead, eternal fire! Turn back! you are going wrong. “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon “(Isa. 55:77Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. (Isaiah 55:7)). The little company of miners heeded the warning and turned. The narrative continues: “I now became the leader. For three or four hours more we crept on, one behind the other. At last we found ourselves at the bottom of the shaft of pit No. 10. There we came upon the rescuers. They caught me and put me into the cage, then nine of my comrades. The rest were missing. The gas had overpowered them, and among them was my son." The man who had uttered the solemn words, “Turn back! turn back ! there's fire ahead! “was among the twenty-five who were lost. Does not his cry come from others to-day to those who are following them. They have found out the terror beyond, and cry, “TURN BACK! TURN BACK! THERE'S FIRE AHEAD! " Skeptics, infidels, atheists, and unbelievers of all sorts, nearing the end of life's journey and realizing the unsatisfying power of infidelity in this life and the blank concerning the life to come, cry, "Turn back! turn back!" Agnostics, who have reached the great summit of “know nothing," in a deep soul-wail cry, " Turn back! turn back ! " Ritualists, who have sought for satisfaction in draperies, tapestries, dim lights, and vain show, and found themselves only mocked at last by the enemy of souls cry, " Turn back I turn back !" Procrastinators, who have wandered on until too late, say to other procrastinators, “Turn back! turn back! " Men of passion and lust from the pit of which Solomon spake cry, " Turn back I turn back!" (Proverbs 22:14; 23:2714The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the Lord shall fall therein. (Proverbs 22:14)
27For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit. (Proverbs 23:27)). The moral formalist, finding out his mistake, says, "Turn back! turn back! " " And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched. Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched" (Mark 9:45, 4645And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 46Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. (Mark 9:45‑46)). “TURN BACK! TURN BACK! THERE'S FIRE AHEAD! “Turn to the Lord now, find in Him “a God ready to pardon “and in Jesus a Savior “able to save." Turn now, and you will rejoice eternally. W. L.