IN this Christ-despising age, how common it is to hear the most profane expressions drop from the lips of men. Ah! how little do they think when they are inflaming their passions by the free use of the intoxicating cup, and giving vent to the evil utterances of a depraved and desperately wicked heart, that God hears every word, and marks every syllable that escapes their polluted lips. They forget that they are God's creatures, and that ere long every one of us must give account of himself to Him.
Not long ago a little tradesman, sixty years of age, residing in Somersetshire, when under the influence of drink, fell into deep water and narrowly escaped being drowned. The next day when expostulated with as to the danger of continuing his intemperate course, he was asked, "What would have become of you, John, had you died in the water?" He replied, "Why I should have gone to hell, and been a porter to the devil." Some time after this he left his sick Christian wife in bed to visit his son. His wife said, “You will not stay late, father, will you?" He replied, "No, I shall be home at seven. Good bye.”
At his Son's he drank some intoxicating liquor, and went homewards. About a quarter of a mile from his cottage, and within a gunshot of a house in the public road, he fell into a ditch in which was a little water. He cried out to a farmer who was passing for help: The farmer said, "Is that you, Tack?" and went on to the house near, and begged them to go to the ditch just above to help out Jack, as his horse would not stand still. Accordingly they went, but twenty minutes had elapsed, and they found the poor man smothered in mud, his face and nose filled with gravel and mud, and life quite extinct. This was the more remarkable as the pit only contained about a bucketful of water. Little did the man think when he said to his kind, God-fearing wife, I shall be, home at seven," that he was then so near eternity. Nor did he perhaps consider the deep solemnity of the expression," I should have gone to hell. "But God hears words. Not a thought escapes His notice. He knows whether a heart has gladly received. Christ as his Savior, or whether he loves the pleasures of sin, and despises Christ and His word. Happy indeed are those who have present enjoyment of peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, for" By Him (Christ) all that believe are justified from all things.”
Dear reader! are you saved? or are you still trilling with your soul? Is it not high time to look up to Jesus at God's right hand, and, through His blood, know the forgiveness of sins? O beware of despising the Savior!