In the days of the evangelist Whitfield, a man named Thorpe, who was one of his most violent opponents, and three of Thorpe's friends made a wager. The prize would go to the one who could best imitate and ridicule Whitfield's preaching.
Each man was to open a Bible at random and preach a sermon from the first verse that presented itself. Thorpe's three competitors each went through the grace with impious buffoonery.
Then, stepping upon the table, Thorpe exclaimed: "I shall beat you all." They gave him a Bible; and, by God's inscrutable providence, his eye fell first upon this very verse: "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”
As he read the words the sword of the Spirit pierced his soul. The hand of God laid hold upon him, and he preached as one who scarce knew what he said. Intending to mock, he could only fear and tremble. When Thorpe descended from the table, a profound silence reigned in the company and not one word was said about the wager.
Thorpe instantly withdrew; and after a season of the deepest distress, passed into the full light of the gospel. He became a preacher of the grace of God that had met him, a sinner in his sins and on the way to hell. God had revealed to him a Savior whose precious blood could cleanse him and make him fit for the very glory of God.
Sinner, remember his text; it is true for you.
"Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”