“Well, Jennings, so you have buried the poor fellow that died the other day?”
“Yes, sir, he’s buried, and a solemn time it was. I felt it very deeply.”
The last speaker was a powerfully built man, whose bronzed face told its own tale. He had been a sailor, and was now a coast-guardsman. As he spoke there was a trembling of the voice, which coupled with a tear, hastily brushed away by his horny hand, revealed a kind heart. “Were all the men at the funeral?”
“All that could be spared from the different stations within reach were there, sir.”
“Where was he buried?”
“In the old cemetery; we all marched there. The men felt his death very keenly. We all liked poor Bill. The service was very solemn, and I wondered who would be next. As we came out of the cemetery; my mate, who was walking with me, said to me, ‘What wonderful words we’ve heard, In the midst of life we are in death!’ ‘I know something better than that,’ said I. ‘What are they?’ Said he, looking astonished. ‘Why, in the midst of death we are in life!’”
“I suppose he was still more astonished, Jennings?”
“That he was, sir, and I told him what a real thing eternal life was, and, though the poor sinner might be surrounded with death, yet, believing in Jesus, he had life.”
“It must have struck him forcibly.”
“I believe it did, and I am looking to God to teach him the truth of it.”
Good old Jennings, he little knew the way God would take to teach this lesson.
Not long after this we were alarmed by hearing that Jennings had met with a bad accident, and lay dangerously ill. I hurried to see him. He was in bed and in great distress. He told me how he was hurt.
He said “There was no moon last night, and as I came away from the boat-house after making my report, I hurried up the hill, and as I got into the Chine Road, under the trees, I could hardly see my hand before my face. I had got about half-way along the road, and as I was walking on the edge of the raised path, my foot slipped. In a moment I was down. The distance was not very great but, in falling, the muzzle of my pistol struck on the curb of the high path, and the butt struck right up under my ribs, and seemed to strike my heart.”
“Poor fellow, that must have hurt you terribly.”
“It certainly did, and although after I had a little sleep, I was able to go down and do my morning duty, I got so bad in the after part of the day that I fainted, and was obliged to be helped home, and here I am, helpless, and every now and again feeling as if rats were pulling the strings of my heart, and gnawing my inside.”
After praying with him I left. I did not realize how ill the poor man was. The next day I was sent for, and on at arriving at the house found his poor wife weeping bitterly.
“Oh, he is going to die,” she said.
After trying to comfort her, I went to his room. One of his comrades was there helping to nurse him. A look at my friend’s face showed me that death was written there. Oh, how changed in a few brief hours! He recognized me, and held out his hand.
“Glad you have come. I am going home fast,” he said. “Jennings, do you remember your words the other day?” For a little he could not answer, a paroxysm of pain shook his strong frame. As soon as it was passed he smiled, and said slowly: “In the midst of death we are in life.”
“Tell me, dear Jennings, is it real to you now?”
I shall never forget his reply.
“In awful agony! awful agony! but in deepest joy! It is all right with Him,” and he reverently pointed up. Again his body was torn with anguish, and the sweat fell from his brow through his suffering. Seeing his poor wife weeping, he said: “Don’t cry, Liz, God will take care of you. Come here―give your heart to Jesus. Promise me you will join me up there.”
The poor wife sobbed out “I will.” He smiled, and gave her a look of earnest love.
A number of fellow-workmen gathered in his room to take a farewell.
Holding out a hand to each, he drew them in turn to him, and looked on them long and, lovingly, and said, “O friends do get hold of my Saviour, do trust in Jesus. Shall I meet you up there? Remember, Jesus says, ‘Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.’ It might have been your lot to have been laid down like this, but thank God, I am ready.”
The scene and the words spoken will never pass from my memory. Strong men bowed their heads and wept like children.
After a while Jennings motioned me to kneel. I earnestly pleaded that God would save his wife, provide for her and the children, and save these dear friends, and give a quick and happy release to His suffering child.
For a time there was silence, broken only by the sobs of one man, and half suppressed groans from the poor sufferer. Then taking his hand once more I said, “Good-bye, dear Jennings, you are in His hands.”
“Aye, forever,” he replied.
As I left the room, I took a last look―he smiled and pointed up.
A few brief hours and he was “Absent from the body; present with the Lord.”
There was a large gathering at the funeral. The service was very solemn and heart-searching.
Then an earnest preacher pointed to the coffin, covered with the Union Jack, and said: “The mightiest nation on earth might well hesitate to fire a shot at that coffin, for the might and power of England would rise to protect the honor of the flag which covers it; and friends a poor sinner covered by the banner of God― ‘His banner over me is love’―is safe, though all the powers of hell and earth combine against him. God protects the honor of His flag, and shelters all beneath it.”
Have you trusted the blood of Jesus?
Are you under God’s banner?
If so, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:3131What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31).), Reader, can you say, ‘‘In the midst of death I am in life? “If not, there is a gracious, loving Saviour, Who says, “I give.... eternal life.” (John 10:2828And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (John 10:28).) Will you have it? May you claim this amazing gift; it is freely offered to you without money or without price. ―H. L.