IN the bedroom of a country tavern lay a young person, suffering from a disease which at last proved fatal. On the day of her death she called her mother into her room, and how solemn were the words that fell upon the ear of that mother. I do pray that the Spirit of God may solemnize the heart of every careless one that reads this paper, that you may be awakened to a sense of what you are before God, and where you are going; for God says, “The wicked shall be turned into hell,” but it is not the will of God that you should go there, for He is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
She said, “Mother, I am going to hell,” and died. Going to hell—sinner, ponder the words of one just going into eternity. How would you meet death if you were called to pass through it tonight? Would it be like this young woman, going to hell, or would it be with the blessed assurance of eternal glory?
I was told one Thursday morning that a fellow-Christian, with whom I had preached the gospel on Sunday, was suffering from brain fever and not expected to live. In the course of conversation on Sunday he had said, “We see many happy, pleasant faces, but none like the face of our Lord Jesus. Oh, what a glorious face His is, and what a thought that we shall see it soon!”
On hearing of his illness I hurried off, the moment I had finished work, to see him. He was only conscious at times, but when he saw me his face brightened up with a smile that I never can forget, as he said, “Ah, W—, is that you? I am going home, but you will not be long after me.”
What consolation— “going home.” And then he said, “Victory through the blood of the Lamb, washed in the blood of the Lamb. Hallelujah! God is good and doeth good.” Speaking to his wife about an hour before he passed away, he said, “Eliza, I am going to wear a crown, and there is one for you if you will wear it. I have spoken to you all my life, but I cannot put grace in your heart.” That night he passed triumphantly into the presence of his much loved Lord.
What a contrast between the two death-beds―between “Mother, I am going to hell” and the words of the believer in the Lord Jesus, “I am going home... washed in the blood of the Lamb.”
Answer for yourself now, which of these would be yours if called on now to meet death? Oh, dear reader, it may be the mind of the Lord concerning you as it was concerning the prophet of old, “This year thou shalt die... and he died” (Jer. 28:16, 1716Therefore thus saith the Lord; Behold, I will cast thee from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die, because thou hast taught rebellion against the Lord. 17So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month. (Jeremiah 28:16‑17)); or, as the Lord Jesus said to the man, “Thou fool, this night thy soul is required of thee” (Luke 12:2020But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? (Luke 12:20)). How would you meet death if it came to you? Jesus says, “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” Satan says, “Time enough”; but, listen, “This night thy soul is required of thee.” Do not delay. Come now.
W. W.