MRS. R. was a Christian. She knew that God in His love had given His Son to die in her place, that He had borne all that her sins deserved, that she had been made clean and brought near to God, and was now His child. Knowing all this, her heart went out for those who knew not God, and she was at the time of which we write wishing to gain admittance to the sick room of a lady who was staying in the same house with herself. Many times she had asked to be allowed to visit the invalid, but always in vain, till one evening, being alone, she once more asked, and was taken into the room. She found the invalid quite young, and very ill indeed, her whole appearance telling of disease past all human cure, but herself unaware of her danger, and quite unconcerned about her soul. Death rapidly approaching, and friends all combining to keep the knowledge of her danger from her, Mrs. R. spoke earnestly to the young lady, telling her of the Lord Jesus, of His blood that cleanseth from all sin, and of the awfulness of death without Christ; but though she listened, and even seemed a little interested, it was plain she did not take it to herself.
“You know,” her reply was, “I should be all right if only I could get rid of this ailment. I have been ill before like this and recovered.” Days passed on. The conversations of Mrs. R. with the invalid deeply moved her mother and sister. The mother once, with tears streaming down her face, thanked her for speaking of the Lord to her poor daughter, saying, “We dare not speak so, and she is so unconcerned about her soul.”
As it became quite evident that the young lady was past recovery, she was taken to her own home, but still unconscious that her life was ebbing away, and not until a few hours before the end was she told by the doctor that she had only a few hours to live. Ah! why had they not told her the whole truth?
She started up in the bed, exclaiming, “Oh! why didn’t they tell me, why didn’t they tell me? It might have been different.” A few hours, and she passed away from this world forever, and no human being can tell whether to endless joy or endless misery.
Reader, hear these solemn words, “Thou shalt hear the word at My mouth, and warn them from Me.... If thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou halt delivered thy soul.” (Ezek. 33:7-97So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. 8When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. 9Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. (Ezekiel 33:7‑9).) T. T