THE world was awake, and the daily toil had started. Men were working on buildings, shops were opened, trains were in motion, and millions of hearts and minds were occupied by this or that as I made my way across the fields to a small cemetery at A—. It had been showery, but on arriving at the place mentioned the sun burst through the clouds and the rain ceased.
The scene of life and activity through which one had just passed was indeed a great contrast to this quiet one. Here was a spot that spoke to one’s heart of many who had lived their past in this huge world, and had left it—in other words, had gone from time into eternity. Within the gates of this cemetery many were now beginning to assemble who seemed not to be sorrowing as they that have no hope, but with quietness and assurance, as they conversed one with the other while awaiting the arrival of one they once knew. To her, though so young, this great change had come—the call from time to eternity.
Solemnly the remains of this young woman were carried into a small chapel, and then the silence was broken by the voice of prayer, the prayer of sorrow and joy, showing that the darted one had known the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as her Saviour, and had been cleansed from all sin by the precious blood which He shed for sinners. Then came the hymn―
“We are by Christ redeemed;
The cost—His precious blood;
Be nothing by our souls esteemed
Like this great good.
Were the vast world our own,
With all its varied store,
And Thou, Lord Jesus, wert unknown,
We still were poor.”
As we sung these words, bringing before us so vividly our Saviour as the willing victim bearing our sins, I was overcome at the thought of His sufferings: “The cost, His precious blood,” that which indeed has answered Job’s question, “How shall a man be just with God?”
“Our earthen vessels break,
The world itself grows old;
But Christ our precious dust will take
And freshly mold.
He’ll give these bodies vile
A fashion like His own;
He’ll bid the whole creation smile,
And hush its groan.”
I felt how true this was. The thing which so occupies our hearts and minds is wearing old and will soon pass away, but “He that doeth the will of God abideth forever.” On the other hand they who neglect so great salvation shall not escape, but will have to meet God in judgment.
“Thus far, by grace preserved,
Each moment speeds us on;
The crown and kingdom are reserved
Where Christ is gone.
When cloudless morning shines,
We shall His glory share;
In pleasant places are the lines,
The home how fair.”
And thus it is, dear friend, that time is speeding on, and the coming of that One who died for sinners is drawing nigh. He will take all that trust in Him to His Father’s house on high.
“To Him our weakness clings
Through tribulation sore,
And seeks the covert of His wings
Till all be o’er.
And when we’ve run the race,
And fought the faithful fight,
We hope to see Him face to face
With saints in light.”
After lowering into the grave the body of this dear one who had left this world to go to be with her Lord and Saviour, this little company dispersed to their several abodes, and I also returned home with my sorrow and joy—joy that I knew Him too.
G. L.