IT was the Club day in a certain English village, on which occasion the villagers made a general holiday, and a time of friendly greetings and family meetings.
A Christian lady, endeavoring to serve her Master, was busy scattering broadcast the good seed, in the form of gospel booklets and tracts, to those who on such occasions thronged the village for pleasure. Among many others to receive one of the “silent messages” was the Club doctor, who was a man without the fear of God before his eyes; who openly scoffed at God, the Creator of all. After receiving it, his first impulse was to tear it to atoms, and cast it to the wind; but on second thought he decided to take it to the Club that evening, thinking it might be a source of amusement to the profligate members.
Night came; and the doctor was in his accustomed place at the Club, reveling as usual in sin, ridiculing with his ungodly associates the tract, the giver, and the contents: what did he care, if the tract were entitled,
“The value of the soul”?
The god of this world had blinded his eyes, so that this life and the pleasures of sin were all he cared for. Vain man! how little he realized that his life had almost flickered away; as he laughed, sneered, and jested at the contents of that tract, forgetting that the all-seeing eye of God was upon him, as he drank and reveled in his own folly, mocking at the statements of the One who gave him life and breath and being. We fain would draw the veil over such a scene of man’s depravity, in that midnight carousal: for their glory was in their shame.
When morning dawned, as the sun shed its glorious light and rays across the serene country, making the landscape appear even more beautiful than before, a laboring man was wending his way earlier than usual to his daily toil, and, turning a bend in the road, he noticed a pony and gig standing without a driver; upon further examination he saw to his horror, that by the pony’s side was the lifeless form of a man; that man was none other than the mocker of the night before, the Club doctor.
Upon further inquiries, it transpired that he had left the Club at an early hour that morning in an intoxicated state, and it was supposed that on his way home he must have leaned forward, and fallen from the trap over the shafts, thus breaking his neck, and causing instant death. What a change for that mocker, from that drunken stupor to the miseries of the lost world. Never more would he mock at God; for
There is no infidelity in hell.
“A mere accident,” our readers may say. Yes, doubtless it was an accident, but was it not something more? Was it not the hand of God, meting out judgment to a high-minded rebel? For sin is a terrible thing in God’s sight, and man cannot sin against God with impunity; sooner or later his sin will be punished, and his rebellious career will be ended.
“Because there is wrath, beware lest He take thee away with His stroke, then a great ransom cannot deliver thee.”
O mocker, continue not your evil course, lest in the coming great day, God mocks when your fear cometh; but, before the judgment of God overtakes you, throw down your arms of rebellion, and sue for His mercy. Remember that it is through the goodness of God that you have not been cut down in your wild career, as many have been.
In conclusion, we would remind you that sinners of the deepest dye have been pardoned by our God. Hearken to His loving voice speaking to you, rebellious, and profligate though you may be. He not only warns you by saying, “Be sure your sin will find you out,” but He also calls to you, saying, “Turn ye, turn ye, for why will ye die?” for he has no pleasure in the death of the wicked. He gave His only begotten Son to die in your stead, that now, in perfect righteousness, He might offer you His great salvation.
“Stay, poor sinner, stay and think before you further go; Do not sport upon the blink of everlasting woe.”
A. G.