THESE were the words of a little girl of ten years old when she was dying. Should you like to hear about her? I think you would like to be as happy as she was; so I will tell you about her. Her name was Matilda Gomer: she had Christian parents, and went to a Sunday school; but one Sunday she seemed so unwell that her father and mother, thinking she had a bad cold, kept her at home all day. In the evening, when the rest of the family were away, her father stayed to keep her company, and had some pleasant talk about the things of God.
She had been reading a nice little book, in which there were four verses which struck her very much. They were these— “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Tim. 1:1515This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:15)); “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)); “Him that cometh unto Me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:3737All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37)); and “God is love” (1 John 4:1616And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. (1 John 4:16)). Her father told her that the name of “sinner” belonged to her, and to everyone else who came into the world; but, if Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, He would save Matilda if she believed in Him. Her father then spoke to her of the kind words which the loving Saviour speaks to poor weary sinners, promising to “give them rest.” Then he told her if Christ would “cast out none,” Matilda was welcome to come, and rest in His bosom, though she was only a child. He then spoke to her of the love of God, in meeting all her wants; and most of all in giving His only Son to die for sinful men.
Matilda thought very much of what her father said, and I believe the Spirit of God led her that evening to believe on Jesus, and to “come unto Him” who has promised to “cast out none.” When her mother came home she thought her better, and hoped she would be “all right” by the morning. But next morning, between two and three o’clock, she seemed very ill; and when her parents went to her she did not know them. All day Monday and Tuesday it was very distressing to see her tossing about, and refusing everything her friends thought might do her good.
On Wednesday her senses returned, when her father asked her if she was happy. She said, “Not quite. Not as I wish to be.” He told her to think of the Lamb of God, and prayed with her. Her mother stayed with her while the family dined; and as she was hanging over her, very full of sorrow, she said, “My dear little child, cart I do anything for you?” Matilda answered, “I want you to pray for me.” “Shall I call your father, and ask him to pray for you?” “Oh, yes, do!” said Matilda. Her father came, and after speaking a few soothing words, and telling her to trust all to the Saviour of sinners, he prayed with her. In a short time after this Matilda burst out into expressions of such joy, that it was delightful to see her beaming face, and hear her songs of praise. She said, “Jesus has washed me from my sins in His own blood, and has made me as white as snow; I am so happy!” Then she looked full of love to her parents, and asked them, “Father, are you happy? Mother, are you happy?” She then said, “Oh! if my brother would only give his heart to God, what a happy family we should be.” Another time she said, “I am only ten years old, and Jesus Christ has pardoned my sins.” To each person standing round the bed she said, “Will you come to heaven?” and seemed satisfied with all their answers, till she came to the nurse, who said, “I hope and trust |iI| shall follow you there.” Matilda answered at once, “You must believe in Jesus, you know, but be sure you come.” Then, naming two little friends of hers, she said, “Bring one in each hand.”
She left messages for several of her schoolfellows whom she loved, begging them to meet her in heaven. She asked her father to tell several friends who were engaged in preaching the Gospel, and also the Sunday-school teachers, to pray much: and to persuade all whom they could to believe in Jesus, that they might come to heaven too.
A friend, whom she had asked to see, on coming to her bedside, said, “Well, my dear, I am sorry to see you so ill.” But Matilda answered, “Jesus has washed me; I looked at the cross, and He pardoned my sins.” Her mother said to the friend, “We wanted you before to come and pray, but now you must praise.” Matilda repeated, “Pray and praise.” The friend tried to pray, but was so touched by the scene that she could not go on. “Never mind,” said Matilda, “meet me in heaven;” and fixing her eyes upwards, repeated with much feeling,
“There is my house and portion fair,
My treasure and my heart are there,
And my abiding home.”
She was now fast sinking, but when her father said, “Sing of salvation,” she would try to sing, “for ever and ever.”
On Thursday morning about eight o’clock she fell asleep in Jesus, and her happy spirit took its flight to be forever with the Lord. One text which she often used to repeat was, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” She seemed to feel how needful it was for everyone, even the youngest, to come at once to Jesus, who “came into the world to save sinners;” who invites the “weary and heavy laden” to come to Him, and says He “will in no wise cast out” any who come.
Dear reader, I repeat to you Matilda’s message. It is the voice of a little child, calling to you as from that blest place where sorrow and death are no more; where the Saviour’s blessed smile beams forever on the little ones, of whom, when on earth, you know He was so fond that “He took them up in His arms.” It is the tender request of a loving little heart, that longed to see all as happy as itself: will you not listen to it? Hark! she calls to you, even to you,
“MEET ME IN HEAVEN.”