“HE, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy” (Prov. 29:1).
A solemn instance of the truth of these words took place the other day in one of the islands of the West Indies. Two young men, by name E. J― and R. B―, started out one Sunday morning, in company with some of their companions, to spend a holiday in the country. One of them on leaving home was told by his mother that she had an impression that she should never see him alive again; but he only made light of it. The mother, too, of his companion, had often spoken to her wayward son of his ways, and had often written letters to him beseeching him to turn from his evil course, but her warnings, together with those of other Christians, were heeded not.
On the day of which we have spoken they had been gambling and drinking until the afternoon, when one of their number proposed a bath, so they threw down the cards and repaired to the beach. E. J―was the first to undress and enter the water. He had not swum out far when those who were on the shore were surprised to hear him call out for help. Several of them hastened to his assistance, only to find themselves being carried off their legs by the strong current that was setting out from the shore. A black man who was standing on the beach made a desperate effort to save the drowning man. He had just succeeded in reaching him when a wave came rolling in which separated them, and he was obliged to return to shore half dead from exhaustion. His friend R. B―had witnessed the fruitless effort of the man who had attempted to save him, and he next jumped into the water, determined that his friend should not perish if he could prevent it. Having swam out some distance he reached a place where the current diverged, and those on the shore had the horror of seeing him carried helplessly along the coast in the opposite direction to his friend, his struggles only helping to exhaust him.
Those on the beach were horrified at seeing them drowning before their eyes, while they were powerless to save them; and now and then above the noise of the breakers could be heard a faint cry for help.
Some fishermen who had been attracted to the spot by the shouting, found they had come just too late; and the current having by this time turned, their lifeless bodies were being borne back to the shore by the ruthless waves, and they were taken up almost at the same spot where they had started out from. But oh! what a change! A few moments before they were in time, now they are in eternity. Then they were in this world, where God’s free grace is so freely flowing to the guilty sons of men, but now they were past the mercy of God, with nothing before them but the blackness of darkness forever.
Young men, beware! Trifle not with your souls, and the precious opportunities God gives you. Tomorrow, you cannot, you dare not call your own. Behold now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation. Today the blood of Christ avails to cleanse from all sin. Tomorrow you may be forever beyond the reach of mercy. Then harden not your neck lest you be suddenly destroyed, and that without remedy.
E. E. N.