IN a pretty village in Sussex, a little girl I of the name of M. passed the early years of her childhood. M. was blessed with kind parents, and had a very happy home, but she lacked the one thing needful. Until she was eleven years old she attended the village church regularly, but in her heart she hated the Lord’s Day, and being obliged to sit still to hear a sermon which she did not understand was not very tasteful to her joyous spirit.
After her eleventh birthday she attended a Sunday-school, and heard addresses, and thus for the first time learned of the love of the Lord Jesus to poor, perishing sinners. The teacher of the Sunday-school was very kind to M., who loved her very dearly, and for her sake learned with pleasure the weekly Bible lessons. But it was only head knowledge. M.’s heart was still very far from Christ. Often after hearing impressive addresses she would weep bitterly in secret, resolving to turn over a new leaf; but turning over new leaves will never save a guilty, ruined, and lost sinner, for Jesus hath said, “Ye must be born again.”
About this time the Lord began to show M. the uncertainty of human life: He took to Himself her darling little sister, who but a few days before her departure to be with Christ was in apparently good health. “Whiter than snow — yes, whiter than snow. Mother, I will be waiting at the gates for you there,” were among her little sister’s last words as she peacefully fell asleep in Jesus. The Lord of His garden often picks the rosebud before the rose, taking His little ones to bloom with Him forever.
Shortly after M.’s sister fell asleep she herself sickened; and, oh, how she dreaded death! Her one prayer was that she might get well again. It seemed so dreadful to lie suffering hour after hour, and day after day, with no prospect before her but a Christless eternity. She thought by praying a great many prayers she might feel a little happier; but after all praying exertions were exhausted she only felt unhappier than ever.
Never put Christ off for a bed of sickness. Such a resolve may end in you having your portion for eternity in the lake that burneth with fire — the fire that is never quenched.
God in His mercy raised up M. from her bed of sickness, but she was still unsaved. Her beloved father was at this time afflicted with a very grievous illness, and M. had to leave the home of her childhood.
Five years were then spent in trying to earn salvation, by attending church as much as possible, and trying to lead a consistent life, but still the aching void remained — M. was unsaved still. She then took up the Temperance cause, working earnestly, but found no peace for her heavy laden soul. Hearing the gospel faithfully preached, she began to see her ruined and guilty position before God, but being so full of her good works there was no room for Christ in her soul, for it is only empty vessels that the Master fills.
Very miserable was the condition of M.’s soul for many months. Alas! it was religion without Christ; it was but trying to patch and mend up self.
At length M. was brought to cast herself wholly on the Lord Jesus Christ, and she rested her weary, burdened soul on Him — to whom be all the glory forever and ever.
Putting Christ off year after year as M. did only brought her year after year of misery, and if Christ had called her from this earth then, to-day she would be in eternity and a Christless eternity, too!