DEAD! Dead! Dead! sobs out the tolling bell, and its sad dirge is heard above the voice of harp and organ.
Lost! Lost! Lost! From the very heart of Hell the wild cry rings, and its piercing wail is heard above the sweetest song that earth has ever heard.
Yes; Death is the judgment of God―the wages of sin―and Hell follows after.
Listen. There was no death in Paradise―there life and beauty reigned, and man, innocent and happy, walked amid the joys of Eden, and rejoiced in all the goodness of his God.
But when sin came in, Death too came in, and with it tears and agony; Death, the sad fruit of man’s rebellious folly, the first unveiling of the wrath of God; Death, terrible and universal, claiming as its victim every soul of man, and ushering into an eternity, awful, dark, and filled with mystery, those who had lost the earth through sin, and who could therefore have no claim to peace and bliss outside:’
Yet men refuse to own all this, and labor hard to beautify the dreadful face of Death, as if by doing so they could annul it altogether.
To some it is the end of everything, the terminus of tears, and cares, and pain; beyond it there is nothing. To others it is the passage to a world of which they can know nothing; to wished-for joys, of which they have vague hopes, but why, they cannot tell.
So they garland God’s scourge with lovely flowers. Their hearses, biers, and cemeteries are works of art and things of beauty, but the opened eye looks out beyond the flower-decked grave, and sees a soul in torment, and the opened ear hears its startled cry wailing out the awful discovery that God’s Gospel is truth, and the Devil’s a lie; for is it not written that Death on the pale horse rides through the earth, with Hell, not Heaven, following?
Death is everywhere, the baneful shadow cast by the Destroyer’s wings blasts the fairest landscape.
Death is not the END, the ALL. Death is a beginning, for does not Hell follow? Death strikes its victim, and then has done with it forever, for Hell straightway claims it, and Death’s terror is submerged in the supreme terror of Death’s Associate; the sharp, short stroke of Death forgotten in the eternal stripes of Hell.
“There is no sun, for I have never seen it,” exclaims the blind man, and day’s great orb meanwhile runs its daily race in undiminished splendor, and men smile at the folly of the sightless.
“There is no Hell, for we have never seen it,” scoffs the unbeliever, and meanwhile Death, the Tireless, scours earth’s plain in search of fresh victims, and Hell fast filling, though never filled, follows, while Faith weeps as she remembers that God had said,” It is appointed unto men once to die; but AFTER THIS THE JUDGMENT.”
Friend, Death is a despot; his will is supreme. He takes no denial. When he knocks at your door, as knock he will, you will let him in, and then he will take you out into eternity. Now HELL follows Death; how shall you escape that?
GOLD-WORSHIPPER, try the precious ore on Death, that for which you have sold your soul must be of value. See! he comes. Now offer him a goodly sum. What! spurns he your gold? Will he not be bribed? Then art thou undone, indeed. He seizes you. Your golden store is left behind, while you―poor, naked, lost, and unforgiven―step weeping into the dark gloom of Hell.
COURTESAN, your blandishments will surely lead Death captive. So fair a face, so sweet a smile will soften Death’s hard heart. Hark! ‘tis his step, he comes. Blanched is your cheek―your charms are vain. His pitiless, passionless stare chills your palpitating heart. He takes you to his arms, ‘tis true, but so that he may carry you, poor slave of lust, to that Hell, where you through endless ages must reap the sad, sad harvest of your guilt.
DRUNKARD, your song and cup will reach Death’s heart, he will not touch a jovial soul like you. Listen! his swift, sure step approaches. Why tremblest thou? Come! come! your song and feast hold no prediction of dark days to come; all must be well, for has not Satan said it? Ah! see the chalice filled, with ruby wine is dashed rudely to the ground, and thou, poor cheated one, art the prisoner of Death, and borne to Hell’s dark dungeons, where the drunkard’s song shall be a groan, and his cup be filled with God’s eternal wrath.
Listen, reader, dost thou not hear the tramp of Death’s pale steed? The awful rider with his dread satellite draws nigh to you. I warn you in God’s name that you must have an interview with Death. The moment is at hand when you and Death shall face each other, and you will realize that he has come to take you to eternity.
And your sins! your sins! Oh! what about your sins?
And eternity! eternity! Oh! what about your eternity?
God! sins! eternity! And Death approaching, and Hell swift following! Oh! sinner, how will you escape?
“And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; ... I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death” (Rev. 1:17, 1817And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: 18I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. (Revelation 1:17‑18)).
‘Tis Jesus speaking. He who went to Calvary for man’s salvation. There Love looked out of those dear eyes, and saw the world’s deep woe through sin, and death, and hell, and then Love led the Saviour into the very arms of Death. Oh! mystery of Love, the Prince of Life lies unresisting in the cold, cruel grasp of Death.
Weeping women, at the dawn of day, go to embalm a dead Christ, and find an empty tomb, and hear of Resurrection.
But Resurrection is the victory over death. Hallelujah! Jesus, God’s Son, in grace went into death and judgment―went into it for every soul of man. Then breaking asunder the iron bands of Death, He rose victorious out of it. See! in His pierced hands He holds the proof of victory―the keys are there―power over Death and Hell is in the sinner’s risen Saviour’s hand. He from both delivers all who come to Him.
Wouldst thou be saved, my reader? Wouldst thou escape the doom and judgment of your guilt―the Hell your sins have merited? Oh! come to Him. Oh! trust in Him. Jesus, God’s Son, Revealer of God’s Love, most perfect, precious Saviour!
God brings the divine Deliverer before your gaze. God’s love, God’s grace, and pity are all displayed in Him. He is the Rescuer―God’s great resource. No help is found in man, but help is found for man.
Most blessed news! God has come in, there on that cross, and through that cross escape is found for man―escape from Death and Hell. The Sinless has been judged; He has died and risen, who has abolished Death, and brought life and incorruptibility to light.
A world outside this world is now revealed—a sinless, blessed world―God’s home, whose joys are deathless. Within the human heart springs up new hope. Escape from Death and Hell is heralded. A place with God in glory! Oh! news most blessed brought to every soul of man. Eternal Life has conquered Death―the Saviour’s blood has satisfied God’s Righteousness, and made it now the sinner’s friend.
Hell’s gates are closed, and Heaven’s door is opened to every soul that trusts the Saviour’s Blood.
That door is Jesus. From dark Gethsemane, from dread Golgotha, from the Throne of Glory peal forth the blessed news that God is love.
“To God be the glory, great things He hath done!
So loved He the world, that He gave up His Son,
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,
And opened the Life-gate that all may go in.
Praise the Lord! praise the Lord! let the earth hear His voice;
Praise the Lord I praise the Lord I let the people rejoice:
Oh, come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,
And give Him the glory, great things He hath done!
Oh, perfect redemption, the purchase of blood!
To every believer the promise of God;
The vilest offender, who truly believes,
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.”
W. H. S.