HERE was an ungodly man in the city of E—. Twice had he been thrown from his van, sustaining very serious injuries, but he speedily recovered, and boasted, "I'll no kill." His time, however, came, and killed he was in spite of his boasts of a charmed life.
A few weeks ago, at a holiday season when the public-houses were closed, his wife locked their house to prevent his getting more drink. Wandering about with his ungodly companions, he determined to enter his house by a ladder, and having procured one he mounted it with a volley of imprecations and oaths. Just as his foot touched the topmost bar he overbalanced himself, was thrown down to the bottom, and instantly killed by being impaled upon an iron railing below.
Such was the sad and sudden call of one, who had lived an ungodly life, and it recalls that verse in Prov. 29:11He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy. (Proverbs 29:1): “He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.”
Does God not speak in incidents like these?
Has He not a voice for you in the death of this man? One moment in life uttering oaths, the next ushered into eternity. And, oh! what an eternity! Have you ever sat down and solemnly thought of your future? How will you meet God should death come as suddenly to you as it came to that man? Are you prepared to meet God? Should you be called out of time into eternity will it be an eternity of blessedness with the Lord, or of misery with the devil in hell? These are solemn questions, questions of the deepest moment to your soul. Don't push them aside. You may not be an ungodly swearing person, but unless you are born again you are in God's sight on the same platform—unsaved, and, if unsaved, lost!
Let the solemn warning of the impaled man be a warning to you. How often have you had the gospel message sounded in your ears? How often have you rejected its warnings and slighted its appeals? Where, oh! where will you spend your eternity, if you continue to reject God's offer of salvation through the blood of Jesus? Is this your last warning? For remember " he that being often reproved hardeneth his neck shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy." C. S. R.