Scene. — A Ward in St. Mary’s Hospital
“WELL, Charlie, you can’t convert me!”
“No, but God can,” said I. “Well, but I shall be out in a week or two.”
HE WAS OUT and IN HIS GRAVE.
I had been to visit an old companion, who I heard was very ill — if not dying — who, after speaking lightly and disrespectfully of eternal things, used the above expression, proving that he himself was unconverted.
Reader — Is he in HEAVEN or HELL?
God says, “Except ye be converted, ye cannot enter the kingdom of God.”
Thus died another of my old companions.
Young man — you who are reading this — How will you die?
WHERE WILT THOU SPEND ETERNITY?
Say not, thou can’st not tell — THE LIFE THOU’RT LIVING surely says, in HEAVEN or in HELL!
Young men, we know your sins, and we warn you of a future judgment. We know your temptations, and we would help you to resist the devil and serve God. We know your trials and cares, and we would lead you to Christ, a Brother born for adversity.
Scene. — ST. PANCRAS STATION, en route TO BEDFORD RACES
“Good morning, Mr. C.”
“Good morning, sir.”
“Are you going down?”
“Yes.”
My friend, who had just addressed me, was a sporting man, a professional gambler, who knew me before my conversion, and who since that time had met me on many of the race-courses of England, where I had gone to distribute suitable books, and preach the gospel to men who, if these extraordinary means were not taken, would never hear the gospel, nor be warned of the
Wrath To Come!
“How is Harry T―?” asked I.
“Harry― is dead,” said he.
“No, I mean Ted―’s friend.”
“Ted is in Hanwell Asylum!”
Was it possible — the two companions I had been most intimate with — the one dead, the other a maniac!
YOUNG MEN — have a care; the above was THE END OF A LONDON LIFE!
“Sowing the seed of a maddened brain,
Sowing the seed of eternal shame.”
In a few weeks my old companion exchanged an asylum for the grave. We had gambled together, and danced together: “Caldwell’s,” “The Argyll,” Cremorne,” had seen us together how often? Now I only am living! More jovial companions I never knew — such good company — who were as much at home in dancing a hornpipe as in singing a song in public. When I was converted they heard of it; and so impressed was one by my testimony for Christ that he shook like a leaf and wept like a child. They knew I was right and they were wrong.
Reader! do you wish to die the same as my friends — UNPRARED? A life of worldliness ends in impenitence and despair. Young man of the world — one sin in particular ruined those two old companions of mine — beware of it. Prepare to meet thy God!
Scene. — Death-Bed of an Old Companion
“Charlie, I’m going, I’m going!”
So spake my old companion, George ―. We had lived together at the same house of business in Bond Street, before and since my conversion, and often had I spoken to him of the danger he incurred by putting off salvation. Now the death summons had come, and his sister had been to Hyde Park Hall to ask me to visit him, as he wished to see me.
“How long does the doctor say you can live, George?”
“Two days.”
I prayed with him, and read Isaiah 53, and left him, promising to see him again in the morning. The same evening a letter came from the sister: “Dear Mr. C―, I am sorry to say my poor brother passed away ten minutes after you left the house.” Poor George — drink and gambling had been to him as to many others, a curse; blinding him to the danger of neglecting his soul. Where is he now? ‘Tis not for us to judge, him, but may God preserve you, dear reader, from such a death.
Think of these young men now in eternity, and if you are as they were — “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God”― remember “the end of these things is death.” “Seek ye the Lord while He may be found; call ye upon Him while He is near.”
Friend — one moment with you! Do you know that God loves you, that Christ died for you, that His blood has atoned for sin (1 John 2:22And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:2)), and satisfied the JUSTICE of God? and now, since God has dealt in judgment with the Saviour, God can now deal in mere); with the sinner, and to YOU is offered now the gift of God, which is eternal life. Will you accept it?
Payment God will not twice demand,
First at your bleeding Surety’s hand,
And then again at yours.
“Believe (or trust) in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”
Your servant, for Christ’s sake, C. C.