THE unforgiven sinner dies (and after this the judgment). The forgiven sinner, if the Lord does not personally come previously, only sleeps (which means, to use the language of Scripture, being absent from the body to be present with the Lord).
“I won’t die, no, I won’t die,” she exclaimed. The poor thing was down with the influenza during that well-remembered year, when the late Duke of Clarence passed away, and the epidemic was raging so fearfully on every hand. Being the daughter of a British officer of high rank, as well as a Roman Catholic by religion, the world may be truly said to have claimed her in a very special sense as its own.
But “all flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof as the flower of the field. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth.” So it was in her case; for unexpectedly the death-summons came, and the physician, with sorrowful heart, had to pronounce that all hope was despaired of, and death inevitable.
At this intelligence, her soul was filled with dismay. With a surprising energy, of which the dying are sometimes capable, she arose from her bed, and, giving utterance to those sad words already quoted, threw herself, in a paroxysm of terror, across her pillows, and died.
Perhaps, my reader, you can likewise recall some such incident in your family circle. We also can vouch for the truthfulness of this one. But what if it had been your own case? What if death had laid its icy hand upon your heart, and silenced its beatings? Nay, but what, if this night, this very night, the angel of death were to knock at your door, and usher your spirit into eternity? Useless, indeed, would it be to exclaim, “I won’t die, no, I won’t die”; for, if unforgiven by God, if unsaved by Christ, die YOU MUST, and you know it, for God has so appointed it unto men. And “after this” (oh! my reader, think of it). — “after this,” the “Great White Throne”; and “after this” (after the “Great White Throne”) must follow its only and terrible consequence — “Eternal Judgment.” Will you — dare you risk it?
A beautiful contrast (also well authenticated) is offered to the foregoing sad story in the case of a young Christian, who, when he was dying, wished no tears to be shed on his account. To the one in attendance upon him, he also expressed the desire, that, at the instant of death, she would sing a verse of a certain hymn that he would name.
The moment at length arrived; and, true to her promise, as she was closing the lids of the sightless eyes, she sang as follows, midst streaming tears and with choking voice, the verse in question: —
“Farewell mortality,
Jesus is mine.
Welcome eternity,
Jesus is mine.
He my Redemption is,
Wisdom and Righteousness,
Life, Light, and Holiness,
Jesus is mine.”
Jesus is mine! Jesus is mine! Yes, that is it! Can you say so? Have you honored God by receiving Christ as yours, who is now offered as the Saviour of the lost?
“What will you do without Him
When death is drawing near?
Without His love, — the only love
That casts out every fear;
When the shadow-valley opens,
Unlighted and unknown,
And the terror of its darkness
Must all be passed alone.”
N. L. N.