AN aged person, now in her eighty-third year, who has a good memory and clear intellect, gives the following account of the way in which she received her first serious impressions. When she was sixteen she went to a chapel, and heard the minister preach from the parable of the ten virgins, as recorded in the twenty-fifth chapter of Matthew’s gospel. Towards the close of his discourse, he said he had heard of a young man who was very ill, and that he had called at his house to see him, but that admission had been refused. A few days after, the minister was sent for to see this very man. He willingly obeyed the summons, and on entering the chamber was greeted by these startling words, “Friend Batty, give me some of your oil, for my lamp has gone out.”
He replied, “Go ye to them that sell and buy for yourself.” Immediately after the sick man ruptured a blood-vessel, and died.
This incident was mentioned by the mister to show his hearers the danger of delay, and is written now, after the lapse of nearly sixty years, in the hope that some reader may see how terrible a thing it is to trifle with God’s offers of mercy through Christ: “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor. 6:22(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2).) H. L. T.