HAD you been in Liverpool on that memorable 11th of May 1886, when Her Majesty Queen Victoria opened the International Exhibition there, great sights of gaiety might have been witnessed by you. The principal streets lined, and in some instances densely thronged, with huge masses of people, eagerly hurrying to that one mind center of attraction.
Yet spite of the blocking of the thoroughfares of that great city (especially for vehicle traffic) was to be seen a solitary lady, threading her way with none the less eagerness through those multitudes from the Mersey Ferry to a house in Everton, there to visit a dying woman to whom she had been summoned that very morning by a relative of the suffering one, whose life was fast ebbing away, and the limit of whose course on earth would evidently be now only that of a few hours. Met downstairs by the two daughters who were attending upon Mrs. B—, the first question to them, after learning that she still lived, was, "Is your mother saved?”
“Well," replied one of them, " we fear not, for we have never had any proof of her conversion; but a neighboring clergyman has been to see her twice today, and has read to her ' the prayers for the sick,' but did not address himself to her personally, probably because he thought she was too far gone, for she is, we fear, rapidly sinking, and only at times conscious.”
When our friend was led to the room of the departing one, in the future of whose soul she was so interested, realizing the awful situation of an immortal soul being ushered Christ-less into the presence of God, she quoted very slowly and distinctly that beautiful and well-known scripture, first uttered by the apostle Paul to the jailer at Philippi with such blessing, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)), to which the dying listener responded earnestly, and with a clear and raised voice, "I do I" there being distinct consciousness for a few moments.
If this short utterance was in reality the true confession of this woman's heart, there is no reason to doubt, through the grace of God, that she received the same blessing as was bestowed upon that jailer over eighteen hundred years ago. But of course, the issues of this must be left till the coining great day when the secrets of all hearts will be made manifest, for she passed away a day or two afterward, leaving no other testimony, so far as we can learn.
The solemn deathbed scene brings vividly before us how awful a thing it is to put off the salvation of the never-dying soul until the "eleventh hour," and to run the dreadful risk of losing it forever. There is but one instance recorded in Scripture, so far as we know, of a soul being saved at such a crisis, and that is the thief on the cross. No encouragement for presumption to put off till a deathbed, surely! Were the same scripture, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved," quoted to you, my reader, would the answer of your heart be, “I do"? If so, you, too, are saved, for the word of the living God will never fail you.
Oh! do not put it off until your friends in alarm are around you, it may be, saying, they fear " you are too far gone," and lest you might not be permitted to regain your consciousness, for " God is not mocked" (Gal. 6:77Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (Galatians 6:7)).
Numerous, and from various parts of the world, are the specimens exposed at the city of Liverpool Exhibition, and no doubt great have been the pains taken and ingenuity displayed in order to the obtaining of prizes at the close. But think of that infinitely greater and grander exhibition which the "KING OF KINGS" is soon to open on the plains of glory. Specimens of measureless grace, which have been gathered from every country and clime since Adam's fall to the present day, and henceforth till the last invitation has been accepted, will be there, for "God who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he has loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ (by grace ye are saved), and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus; that in the ages to come he might SHOW THE EXCEEDING RICHES OF HIS GRACE IN HIS KINDNESS TOWARD US BY CHRIST JESUS" (Eph. 2:4-74But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:4‑7)). Have you, dear reader, been saved by God from amongst the vilest of the vile of this sinful world to be exhibited there as one of the blessed specimens "to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;... that in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: in whom also we have obtained an inheritance"? (Eph. 1:6, 7, 10, 116To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 7In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:6‑7)
10That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: 11In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: (Ephesians 1:10‑11).)
Or, may I ask, are you going to be one of the specimens ere long to be exhibited at the devil's exhibition, and be amongst the duped of Satan amid the horrors of hell?—specimens of eternal misery, remorse, and woe. Yes, specimens of those the devil has so effectually deluded in this the day of God's grace and long-suffering mercy? Nay, friend, God forbid! He, in the riches of His grace, is still calling in specimens for His wonderful exhibition. Will you bow to His grace, and accept His call to be one? It is written, "I am not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance" (Matt. 9:1313But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. (Matthew 9:13)). "Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out" (John 6:3737All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37)). "Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled" (Luke 14:2323And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. (Luke 14:23)).
The city of Liverpool was lively and joyous on the day referred to, and so quickly passed, but what eternal joy and gladness will characterize those in "that great city the holy Jerusalem" (Rev. 21).
Reader, will you be in that city? "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”
“We know there's a bright and a glorious home,
Away in the heavens high,
Where all the redeemed shall with Jesus dwell,—
But will you be there and I?
If you take the loving Savior now,
Who for sinners once did die,
When He gathers His own in that bright home—
THEN YOU'LL BE THERE AND I.''
The Lord Jesus Christ died to purchase poor unworthy, hell-deserving specimens, such as we are by nature, and God by His Spirit today, is graciously inviting such to accept Christ, and find a place in His exhibition, and He lets it be widely and well known that there are still a few unoccupied places. Soon the last will be taken, and the door will be shut forever. Where will you then be?
Do not, beloved soul, I beseech you, let Satan, who is keenly soliciting souls with the ever-varying attractions of these last days for his great exhibition, rob you of this your opportunity of blessing.
Then, when you have been saved, be sure you gain a good prize by unreserved surrender of yourself to Christ, and so serve and follow Him here that you will forever shine brightly to the honor, praise, and glory of Him who called you with such a calling, and bought you with such a price as His own most precious blood, and who, to the joy of His own heart, is so soon coming to take all who have accepted His invitation into the eternal joy of that scene, where "he shall see of the travail of his soul and shall be satisfied." While those who refuse God's offers in this His day of grace will be left behind for the (lake-of-fire) exhibition of damnation. Oh! be warned of Satan's exhibition, and be encouraged for God's exhibition.