Or, the Dying Infidel.
SOME years ago the writer visited a poor aged man, living at a small cottage in one of the provincial towns. He had been a very wicked man, one of that numerous class of persons who appear to have “no fear of God before their eyes,” but who rush on in wickedness, heedless of approaching danger. “The Gospel of the grace of God,” he had not only neglected, but despised and abused; and wrongly treated those who from time to time sought to set it before him. His was indeed a desperate case; he was a vile sinner, yet not beyond the reach of mercy. No, “God who is rich in mercy,” “not willing that any should perish,” desired in him also to “show forth all longsuffering,” however aggravating his case might be.
In order to bring this reckless sinner to a thorough knowledge of himself, God’s dealings with him were most striking. On a sudden he was taken ill, and was soon after compelled to leave his employment, when the fearful disease of consumption began its destructive work, and in a short space of time brought him extremely low, so that it might be truly said of him, “his flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen and his bones that were not seen stick out”(Job. 33:21). Being destitute of this world’s goods, and unable to resume his calling, difficulties seem to crowd in thickly and heavily upon him; and he met with little sympathy from those around him. His was truly a pitiable condition.
The writer having heard of his wicked career, and that he was still opposed “to God and to the, word of his grace,” for some little time shrank from visiting him; while the thought of leaving him to die in his sins without once more pressing upon him the terrible consequence, involved much. There was no time to lose. The precious moments were fleeting by, and fast hastening on the solemn hour when he must close his eyes to this world, and, if unsaved, be haled away into the abyss of misery “into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels,” where there is blackness and darkness and torments forever, and where the wailing and gnashing of teeth of the lost are ceaseless! Oh, the awful and thrilling thought of being LOST!
The writer having made it a matter of prayer, became more deeply impressed with the importance as well as with the responsibility of visiting him at once, and resolved to do so with God’s help. Taking with him a small parcel, intended as a present and a means of introduction, he repaired to the sick man’s cottage, and, being shown into an upper room where he lay, the following conversation took place, as nearly as can be remembered. After a few introductory remarks, the visitor said, “I fear your complaint is of a serious nature.”
“I am very unwell, and, as you see, very much wasted,” replied the dying man.
“Indeed you are wasted; your time here I fear will soon come to a close.”
“Yes, it will.”
“How important to be ready to meet the solemn hour of death, is it not?”
“Well, it is; but I don’t profess to be religious.”
“It is far better that you do not, if it be only pression. In our day there is a great deal without the possession of that divine life by which only it can be acceptable to God. One is thankful to meet with any who are real and honest upon this point.”
“Ah, sir, I have known many who have made a profession, but there was no more religion in them than there was in me.”
“True it may have been so, ‘but all things are naked, and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.’ Like counterfeit coin, when tested, they will be found wanting, and therefore rejected as hypocrites.”
“Ah!”
“But our considering the character of others will avail us nothing. God’s message of love and grace to the sinner is an individual matter. God has provided a remedy to meet man’s ruin, and if we would be saved, we must know it and receive it for ourselves. Moreover, the salvation of our souls is a question which must be settled between God and us before we leave this world, or it will remain unsettled forever. We may certainly know now that we are saved.”
“Sir, I don’t believe it.”
“Perhaps not; many do not. I did not at one time. But there are none so free and happy as those who know their sins are forgiven, and who know they are now and forever saved. Did you never read in the Bible these words, ‘As many as received him [Jesus], to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them who believe on his name’? God proclaims the forgiveness of sins through, and only through, the finished work of his dear Son, now declaring ‘peace through the blood of his cross,’ and himself just, and the Justifier of him who believeth in Jesus.’ Good news indeed to the man who feels himself lost! Believe it, and be saved; reject it, and be lost. Believe it, and ere long you will be with Jesus in yonder glory; reject it, and eternal misery must be your portion. ‘He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; he that believeth not the Son, shall not see life.’ ‘He that believeth on him, is not condemned; he that believeth not, is condemned already.’ Salvation through the sovereign grace of God; or condemnation through the rejection of it — which will you receive? I leave the matter with you, begging of you to decide shortly.”
After bidding him farewell, the visitor had opened the door, and was about leaving the room, when the man, with a look of horror, and a melancholy cry, uttered the following words: — “I hope God will have mercy on me.”
“God will have mercy on you, if you earnestly desire it,” replied the visitor.
“God, have mercy upon me, a sinner!”exclaimed the dying man.
“Shall I pray to God for you?”
“Yes.”
“What shall I say to him?”
“Ask God to have mercy on me.”
The visitor having prayed, set before him the love of God in the gift of his dear Son, but without the desired result. The man could not believe the love of God. He saw the fearful doom which awaits all who die unsaved, and, under full conviction of sin, trembled at the thought of dying unforgiven, but he could only cry, “God, have mercy upon me, a sinner!”
After the lapse of several days, the writer made another visit, accompanied by a Christian friend, who conversed with the man as follows: “I hear you are anxious to be saved. Are you a sinner?”
“Yes, I am a great sinner.”
“Do you really want to be saved?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Then listen while I read to you God’s own words to sinners. ‘The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.’ ‘Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.’ ‘The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.’ ‘Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree.’ Do you believe what God hath said in the Scriptures?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Then tell me where are your sins? God hath said he laid them on Jesus. Now where do you say they are?”
“I don’t know.”
“Now, suppose you owed me a debt of £5, and I demanded the payment of it at a given time; would you not try your best to meet it? But if, after trying your utmost, you found it impossible to pay it, you would then be left to my mercy.”
“Yes.”
“Well, now, suppose I put you in prison, and kept you there until the debt was paid. While in prison, should you have any possible means of paying it?”
“None at all, sir.”
“And, finding yourself in prison without a hope of escape, you would be full of trouble; but were my friend here” (referring to the writer) “to pity you in your helpless condition, and, in pure love toward you, to pay your debt, and were the turnkey of the prison to open your cell door, and say to you, ‘Prisoner, your debt is paid; see here is the receipt, read it for yourself — you may now leave this prison a free man,’ would you stay there any longer?”
“No, I certainly should not.”
“Could I have you put in prison again for the same debt.”
“No, sir, not so long as the receipt remained.”
“You are right; this figure I have used to illustrate your present condition. You have by your sins contracted a great debt. You have incurred the wrath of God a debt which you can never pay, and be free. But the Lord Jesus Christ saw you and other poor sinners in this helpless state, and in pure lore bore the penalty, and paid the debt by his death. As he hung upon the cross, he said, ‘It is finished!’ or, in other words, ‘The debt is paid.’ He then ‘bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.’ But, although the debt was now paid, there was as yet no receipt. But God raised him up from the dead, and he at God’s right hand is now the believer’s Receipt. A second payment of the debt will not, and cannot, be demanded so long as the Receipt (Christ risen) remains. The prison door is open. Come forth, and be free. Jesus hath paid your debt, and God hath raised him from the dead to be a Saviour to all who will receive him. ‘Believe on the Lord. Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.’”
Tears of penitence were now rolling from the eyes of this broken-hearted sinner. The truth had been applied in power by the Spirit. When he could find utterance, he exclaimed in tones of mingled joy, astonishment, and conviction, “IS THAT IT?”
Before leaving, his visitors questioned him, in order to test the reality of his faith, but the only answer he gave them, was, “Jesus has paid my debt, and I can die happy.” He was safe on the Rock which can never be moved; and, on the night following died, triumphing through, and resting only on, the finished work of Christ — a monument of saving grace and, mercy in the last hour.
H.