AS I was going through some old papers belonging to my father„ Dr. Wreford, I came across the account of two deaths, both occurring at the same time, but otherwise, how different! I place them before you now, for your prayerful consideration. The first is the account of the death of an old woman: “When I saw her at the last,” my father writes, “she said she had been converted 38 years ago, at one of my meetings. She was 84, and dying, and a few days before her death we spoke of old days, of God’s blessing, of Christ and of Heaven.
“On her last day on earth, when the clock struck twelve, she said to her niece, I have six hours more to live. I am going Home; I am going Home to rest.’
“One asked her, ‘Do you see Jesus?’ ‘No, but I have the promise, Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.’
“Later, she said to her niece, ‘Good-night, my child, God’s blessing on you,’ and through the night she prayed.
“Not long before she died, she said, ‘I’ve crossed the bridge; I’m over the river; I’m entering in.’ Every hour that struck, she asked the time. When 5 o’clock struck she said, ‘What’s the time?’ ‘Five,’ they told her. ‘One hour more,’ she said.
“At last 6 o’clock came. Those around drew nearer, and watched her feeble breathing; all was quiet in the room and in the house when the clock began to strike six, and when the last stroke sounded, she gave a sigh, and her-spirit passed away.
“I thought as I looked at her tired, worn face, of her words, ‘I am going Home; I am going Home to rest.’ Yes, rest for evermore.
“‘I’ve crossed the bridge; I’m, over the river; I’ve entered in.’ Happy saint, with thy Saviour forever.”
Another Death at Six O’clock.
A woman of pleasure told her friends one morning that she was going to die at six that evening. “But,” they said, “you do not seem sick.”
“I shall die at six this evening, and my soul will be lost. I have sinned away the day of grace.”
Noon came, and she was asked if she would see a minister. “It’s no use,” she said, “it’s too late now. I shall die at six.”
Three o’clock struck, four o’clock, and at five o’clock she cried out, “Destroying spirits, you shall not have me yet; it is not six!” And at six o’clock she passed into eternity.
“Except ye believe, ye shall all likewise perish.”
“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his soul?”