IT was strange, “very strange,” but the lad could not sleep. Try how he would, the usual slumber would not come. At last it dawned upon him that something had entered the room, which was the cause of all the trouble.
The subject of our story had for years slept in a room near to a huge water-wheel, with its constant noise of pouring, splashing water. On this particular night the water had been turned off another way: the wheel was dry, and silence had fallen upon the scene.
No sooner did the lad step into the room than he noticed something was wrong, but it was not until he vainly endeavored to sleep that he discovered that it was the silence that disturbed him.
Oh, sinner! a more solemn silence than that which crept into his room that night is coming over Christendom shortly. You, too, have grown used to a certain sound. The precious stream of gospel grace has been flowing over the wheel of time, to use the figure. It has fallen on your ears until you can sleep the sleep of unconcern. But, ah! a solemn day is near. That stream will be cut off gospel preaching forever cease. Oh, how appalling the silence that will follow! You will surely wake up then, but only to find that the gentle outpouring of parental prayer and the louder strains of gospel preaching have ceased forever.
A strange silence will creep over Christendom, and men and women be left to toss restlessly, hopelessly, without Christ, or any chance of finding Him. That young man found relief. When your gospel day is over you never will, for eternity.
But stay! Can you suffer it thus to be?
Consider. Can you refuse to listen to Him Who so tenderly says: “Come unto Me, and I will give you rest”? Why not come now? Then instead of being overtaken by the silence we have referred to, you shall be caught up at the coming of our Lord to have part in the song of the redeemed. J. S. (N. Z.)