The meetings were held in a chapel, which was crowded every night, and many, not being able to gain admittance, stood outside; each one trying to get as near the door as possible, so that they might hear as much as they could of what the speaker said.
Amongst this number was John T―, who, impelled by curiosity, had come to see and hear for himself; remaining, hover, at the very outside of the eager crowd around the door; and although he endeavored his utmost to catch something of what the speaker said, it was some time before he could make out a single sentence. He stood still, as if spell-bound; and, at last, as the man of God raised his voice, — these strange, yet solemn words were borne on the air to his ears— “POOR SINNER, POOR SINNER, WHERE ART THOU GOING TO SPEND THY ETERNITY?” This was all he heard, but it was God’s message to him—an arrow shot at a venture—which pierced deep into his guilty conscience. With these words ringing in his ears he hurried to his home. Ever and anon, as he went along the road, they came back to him with a force that well nigh drove him to despair. DEATH, JUDGMENT, and ETERNITY were now to him fearful realities. He saw himself lost, and knew, that if called by death into the presence of God, in his present condition, the undying agonies of the damned would be his portion.
Having reached his home, he sat in silence by his fireside, and in that homely quietude he could still hear that awful question asked, as it were, again and again: — “Poor sinner, poor sinner, where art thou going to spend thy eternity? “He could not answer it; reader, can you? Soon all will pass from time into eternity;
|
through ceaseless ages to dwell with the devouring flames the everlasting burnings,—
|
|
with the happy blood‑bought throng in the abode of the redeemed!
|
|
|
|
}or{
|
Bed-time came; and soon all but John were sound asleep. The silence of night was unbroken, save by the ticking of the old clock above the mantel-piece, and by the awful voice which made itself heard, and sank down into his very soul. The solemn hour of midnight struck loud and clear; but still there was no sleep for the troubled man—no peace to his anxious mind, and no rest to his weary soul in deep agony of spirit, and scarcely knowing what he did, he leaped out of bed, dressed hastily, and hurried from his home out into the darkness; but, louder than ever, the Swords— “Poor sinner, poor sinner, where art thou going to spend thy eternity? “rang again in his ears. He rushed from his house, clown to the sea-shore, distant about half a mile. The mighty waves rolled in, one after the other, in quick succession, roaring like thunder as they dashed themselves, in their wild fury, upon the beach; but even their tumultuous noise failed to drown the awful words!
Turning his back on the sea, and retracing his steps homewards—feeling like one sinking under a mighty load—under which, nature itself seemed to give way, and unable longer to maintain the conflict raging in his soul, he ran into his barn, cast himself upon his face on the floor, and burst into tears. While telling me this part of the story, he said, “I JUST GAVE IN.”
Having yielded: the darkness of his soul was quickly dispelled, and the light of the glorious gospel of the blessed God shone into his heart. He fell, helplessly as a little child, into the arms of Jesus, and, as he pillowed his weary head on His bosom, he got the assurance of eternal salvation, and thanked God for His unspeakable gift!
These two texts were brought most vividly to his memory: “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)); and, “The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)). He believed: and in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye; he was saved; his guilty fears were gone; and he could sing―
“I do believe it;, I do believe it
I’m saved by the blood of the Lamb!
My happy soul is free―
For Christ has pardoned me!
Hallelujah to Jesus’ name!”
Since then many years have passed away; and when I saw him a few months ago, though suffering much from an accident, he was still rejoicing in the Lord, knowing that he was safe from the coming judgment, and going to be with Christ throughout eternity.
Reader, let me ask you the question: — “WHERE, OH WHERE ART THOU GOING TO SPEND THY ETERNITY?”
J. R. H.