WHO has not heard of, if not seen, the fulfilment of the above Scripture in the case of one and another who once lived near, or walked amongst us? Have you my reader? If so, have you regarded God’s warning? or, are you pursuing the same course to the same sad end?
Oh! stop, I beseech you, and listen to the voice of warning once more uttered from the grave of an aged sceptic, and from the waters which engulfed a young one!
They both lived in the same city, and in the same house (though not at the same time), and were both spoken to, again and again, by the same Christian friend.
They were both intelligent, educated men; but what did that avail them, since they rejected God and His word?
The aged man, the last time his friend appealed to him about the danger he was in, and the importance of seeking salvation now, turned away with a growl and an oath, saying, “I should like to slip out of the world unknown to anybody!”
Not long after, upon rising one morning from his bed, he suddenly dropped down, and was gone — but whither?
The young man, morally upright and amiable, and well satisfied with himself, would not listen to God’s word in fact, avowed his disbelief of it.
One Lord’s day afternoon, as he was walking by the river, his Christian friend overtook him, and once more spoke earnestly to him about the eternity before us. He turned towards him with a derisive laugh, and said,
“Mr. B —, you may depend upon it there is no hereafter, and when a man is dead, he’s done with.” His friend replied,
“Mr. C—, if there is no hereafter, you will not have me to laugh at; but if there is, where will you be?”
It was his last opportunity, and he wilfully cast it away. The following morning, while bathing in the same river, he was drowned! Alas! how soon to find that death is not the end of a man — that “after this” is “the judgment!”
Yes, dear reader, the day is coming when the sea must give up the dead which are in it, and death and hades must deliver up the dead. which are in them; and “the dead, small and great, will stand before God,” and the books will be opened! O, what a scene!
Shall you stand there? If you do, “the lake of fire” must be your portion, for judgment will be passed according to men’s works (Rev. 20:11-1511And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11‑15)). In vain will be any appeal to Him who sits upon that “Great White Throne.” No mercy then, but strict, impartial justice!
There will be no escape then, but there is now “Today, if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.”
“Hark! the voice of love and mercy,
Sounds aloud from Calvary.”
Will you not listen to the gracious invitation of that loving Saviour, “Come unto me!” Oh! turn to God, confess your lost, ruined condition, and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, who bore on that cross the judgment due to sin, that such as you and I might find pardon and eternal life; for He Himself has said, “He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)). Then may you joyfully sing: —
“There is no condemnation, there is no hell for me,
The torment and the fire, my eyes shall never see:
My heart in joy upleapeth, grief cannot linger there,
She singeth high in glory, amidst the sunshine fair;
The Sun that shines upon me, is Jesus and His love;
The fountain of my singing, is deep in heaven above.”
P.