THE usual gospel service in — Hall was over, and as the people passed out a gospel paper was given to each one. Amongst those who had been present that evening, was Mrs. S—, although it was not her custom to attend such meetings regularly, for she was united to one who lived in open defiance of God, and who opposed those who sought to please Him. Mrs. S — had been converted when young, but having, knowingly, married an ungodly man, she had to reap the bitter fruits of such an unhallowed union, and had wandered away from the Lord. But the good Shepherd who goes after the wandering sheep until He find it, had directed her steps into — Hall that night, and that little paper which she took home contained a message for her own soul, and a solemn warning for her husband. He was a terrible drunkard and blasphemer, and one who did not hesitate to suggest doubts as to the truths of the Bible.
On this particular evening of which I write, he was sufficiently sober to allow his wife to read to him before he went off, as usual, to the public house, and so she read the little tract that had just been given to her. It contained an account of the awful end of a drunkard who fell down dead in a public house. Soon after, Mr. S.’s companions in evil came, as their custom was, to fetch him out. He seemed to have some twinges of conscience, and said to his wife, “It is the company I like; I shouldn’t go if it were not for that.” He went, nevertheless, and came back in his usual state of intoxication.
The circumstances, just related, occurred within a few weeks of Christmas-day. When that day came, Mr. and Mrs. S—went to the house of one with whom they had business relations, who had sent them a very pressing invitation to spend the day there. There was no lack of wine and spirits of all kinds, and none could restrain this poor wretched slave of drink from satisfying his terrible craving. When a drive was proposed and decided on, it is not difficult to imagine the use Mr. S — made of the opportunities afforded when halting at different inns on the road. And so the poor drunkard at last, when attempting to alight from the waggonette, fell forward on his face insensible. He was taken home, but concussion of the brain had been caused by the fall, and in eight days he died. He was in a stupor all that time, with scarcely any intermission, and when there was a few minutes’ consciousness, nothing transpired to show that he was alive to the state of either soul or body. As he lived so he died. What an awful ending to a godless life!
Poor Mrs. S—can never forget that awful week, and it will ever be a lasting regret with her that, in the few moments of consciousness, not a word was said to him as to his danger. It is not easy to speak to others when we are not in communion with God ourselves. She has said to me since that all the unhappiness she suffered during the eleven years of her married life was the result of her own wilfulness in marrying one whom she knew to be an ungodly man.
Reader, pause and think whether this sad story may not be God’s warning voice to you. No, you say, thank God I am not a drunkard, and this incident contains no warning for me. Then let me ask you, if you are a sober, respectable member of society, yet still unsaved, are you seeking to wrap your guilty soul in a robe of self-righteousness? Suddenly you may be cut off, although under different circumstances from the one whose awful end I have just related. But the end must surely come, sooner or later, and I would say, in view of that solemn moment, dear reader, are you ready to meet God?
In Rev. 21:8 we read a long and awful list of those who are shut out of the holy city, and not the evil-livers only, but the “unbelieving” are named in it. Do you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ? Can you say, He is my Saviour? Oh! receive now by faith the salvation which He finished on the cross. Delay not, lest you find yourself at last outside mercy’s closed door. Now the gate stands wide open, but it will not always be so. Jesus, the Saviour, who waits to receive the sinner, and to speak peace to the troubled soul now in this day of grace, will judge the world hereafter. Will you meet Him now as your Saviour? L.