Peter Cartwright, the Backwood’s Preacher, tells us a most solemn story in his autobiography. He says “There was an interesting young man at one of our revival meetings, well educated and gentlemanly in all his conduct. He boarded at a house I frequently visited. He was serious; I talked to him, and he frankly admitted the real necessity of religion...but he said he was not ready to start in this glorious cause, but that he fully intended at some future time to seek religion. I urged him to submit now; that in all probability he would never live to see so good a time to get religion as the present. He admitted all I said, and wept like a child; but I could not prevail upon him to start now in this heavenly race.
“As our meeting was drawing to a close, I was anxious to see this young man converted, but I was not permitted to see it. I had to leave the meeting before it was over to go to another town. The day after I left this young man he was taken violently ill. His disease was rapid, all medical aid failed, and he was shortly given over by his physicians to die. He sent post-haste for me to come to him. I hastened to him, but never to the last moment of my recollection shall I ever forget the bitter lamentations of this young man: ‘Oh!’ said he, if I had taken your advice a few days ago, which you gave me in tears, and which in spite of all my resistance, drew tears from my eyes, I should have now been ready to die. God’s Spirit strove with me powerfully, but I was stubborn and resisted it. If I had yielded then, I believe God would have saved me from my sins; but now, racked with pain almost insupportable, and scorched with burning fevers, and on the verge of an eternal world, I have no hope in the future. All is dark, dark, and gloomy. Through light and mercy I have evaded and resisted God, His Spirit, and His ministers, and now I must make my bed in hell, and bid an eternal farewell to all the means of grace, and all hope of heaven. ‘Lost! Lost! Forever lost!’
“In this condition he breathed his last. It was a solemn and awful scene. God forbid that I should die a death like this! But how many are there that have lived and died like this pleasant young man; approve the right, but choose the wrong; put off the day of their return to God; wade through tears and prayers of ministers and pious friends, ‘till they make the dreadful plunge, and have to say, ‘Lost! Lost! Lost! Forever lost!’ O sinner, stop and think before you further go! Turn; and turn now to God.”
What an awful thing to die like that! to put out to the sea of eternity for eternal shipwreck, crying as you cross the bar: “Lost! Lost! Forever lost!”
Now let the story be told of one who went “over the bar” in happiness and peace.
“JESUS TOOK MY PLACE”
Many times I have heard the wounded say, “I would far rather lose a limb than be gassed.” So many of our brave soldiers never seem to recover from this awful gas poison. Private Norman Mitchell was no exception. He joined up three years ago, and was soon sent to France. After being there one year he had leave to return home, and was married; then returned to France and was mercifully preserved till about three months before he died. He was gassed, and was unconscious for some time. From the Base Hospital he was later brought with a convoy of wounded to Weymouth Military Hospital. In my visitation I came in touch with Norman. The Lord laid him upon my heart. I visited him twice a day, read the Scripture and prayed with him; as did the Vicar, the Rev. F. E. Coryton. For some time there seemed no response, not until about three weeks before he passed away, then he began to ask questions: “What religion do you belong to?” “Which religion is right?” etc. At last he said, “We are all sinners, and I am the worst of sinners.” I shall never forget the day the light broke in. His wife, who had been sent for, was sitting one side of the bed; his aunt, who had been a mother to him (his mother died when he was young), sitting the other side, and I was standing at the foot of the bed. He made a sign he wanted me to come near. The wife and aunt saw this and went away, and I was
alone with the dying man.
The struggle, the perspiration, the twitching of the lips, I shall not soon forget. There seemed to be a battle within with the powers of darkness. After reading him some pas; sages of Scripture, Isaiah 53:66All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6); Romans 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23); John 3:1414And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: (John 3:14)-l6, he seemed to rest in John 1:1212But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12). When he first believed it seemed too wonderful. For a moment he looked at me with a glare of the eyes. He was the first to break the silence: “I see it now. Jesus took my place. I believe it. Yes, that’s it; even for Norman Mitchell,” again quoting John 1:1212But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12). I saw the wonderful change take place at the entrance of God’s Word. I called his wife and aunt to the bedside; and he confessed before them his faith in the finished work of the Lord Jesus. I said, “You will now meet your mother in heaven. She died trusting in Jesus and praying for her boy.” Then, turning to his aunt and his wife, he said, “Bella, will you meet me there?” Between her sobs she said she would meet him in heaven. We were all moved to tears; it was a wonderful sight. The aunt said, “This boy has been prayed for hundreds of times, and now, thank God, he is saved.” The joy that filled his soul as the days went by was manifest. He delighted to have the Scripture read to him. He gradually got weaker. I asked him one day if there was anything I could do for him. He thanked me, and said, “Come and see me often.” His
last day on earth
came; he was so weak, scarcely able to speak. The nurse met me, saying, “He is just dying; I am afraid he won’t know you.” The wife was on one side, the orderly the other; I stood at the foot of the bed. I shall never forget the sight. I said, “Norman, is the Lord Jesus very precious to you?” He opened his eyes, looked on me, a smile on his face; then he lifted his hand up as high as he could, then let it fall. I waited a few moments, then said, “Good-bye, Norman; through the finished work of the Lord Jesus we will meet you in heaven.” His eyes opened, the hand lifted up, a slight movement of the head, and a sweet smile; but too weak to speak. But that look spoke so much. He never spoke again. Half an hour later he had passed away. With confidence we can say, “Gone to be with the Lord, which is far better.” A trophy of grace. John C. Gray
And the ebb and flow of human tire goes on continually. Millions die, millions are born, and the vast ocean of eternity will receive them all.
There is one tide that is ever flowing―the grace of God to sinners. There has been no ebb to that flowing tide since Jesus died on Calvary, but be and bye when Jesus comes, and He may come today, then it will be ebb tide for a lost world. The “moaning of the bar” will not cease until in millennial days, the full flowing of a glorious sea will flood the world with glory.
What a state the world is in today! What need there is for every Christian to work for God. The appeals sent to us for Testaments and tracts are continuous. We are told that if every Church and Chapel were filled every Lord’s Day, that there would be twenty-five million people outside. And yet how few are to be found to listen to the Gospel now! We must send the Word of God among the masses. God’s message of love must be made known far and wide throughout the world.