A short time since the centenary of the late Professor Simpson, of Edinburgh, was held. He was the discoverer of the surgical uses of chloroform, and his wonderful discovery made him to be recognized as one of the world's greatest scientists. By it he procured relief for thousands and obtained a great name for himself.
One day, while seated with many ladies and gentlemen, he was asked,
"What is the greatest thought which has ever crossed your mind?"
Probably it was expected that he would describe some of the interesting experiments which he had made, or give their important results. But it was not so. To their astonishment, he answered that the greatest thought which had ever crossed his mind had been
"The shortness of time and the great length of eternity."
These things had eclipsed all other ideas. Everything else had sunk into comparative insignificance.
Has this wonderful thought ever occupied your serious attention? Multitudes of men and women live today as if they were to live forever. But how short time is! At the longest we are only here for a brief season. Our years few or many, are soon gone, and then, what then? Eternity.
"Eternity, where?
O! Eternity, where?
With redeemed ones in glory,
or fiends in despair
With one or the other,
Eternity, where?"
You may feel yourself very comfortable in the world. You may be looking on into the future, and may see it filled with many bright prospects.
But life here will come to its close. Are you prepared to meet God?
In eternity there are two spheres, but only two—Heaven and Hell.
Which is to be your portion? You must either live with Christ in glory or pass your eternal existence with the lost in hell.
"BOAST NOT THYSELF
OF TOMORROW:
FOR THOU
KNOWEST NOT
WHAT A DAY
"BEHOLD,
NOW IS THE ACCEPTED
TIME:
BEHOLD, NOW IS THE DAY
OF SALVATION."