In the backwoods of Canada, a minister wandered in the forest one evening musing, until the shades of night gathered round him. On awaking from his reverie, he suddenly saw light in the distance, and, hastening on, was surprised to see a space cleared and trees laid down to make a platform, whereon a speaker was addressing a multitude. It was a singular scene, lighted up by pine knots, which cast a lurid glare amid the thick darkness. He thought, Surely here is a company assembled to worship God; but to his horror he heard a young man declaiming against God, daring the Almighty to do His worst upon him, and boldly asserting his disbelief in a future state. The orator sat down amid a thunder of applause.
Silence ensued, when up rose one of the audience and said, “My friends, I have a word to speak to you tonight. I am not about to refute any of the arguments of the orator. I shall not criticize his style. I shall say nothing concerning what I believe to be the blasphemies he has uttered, but I shall simply relate to you a fact, and after I have clone you shall draw your own conclusions. But yesterday, I walked by the side of yonder river; I saw on its floods a young man in a boat. The boat was unmanageable-it was going fast towards the rapids; he could not use the oars, nor bring the boat to the shore. I saw that young man wring his hands in agony. By and by he gave up the attempt to save his life, kneeled down and cried with desperate earnestness, “Oh, God! save my soul! If my body cannot be saved, oh, save my soul!” I heard him confess that he had been a blasphemer; I heard him vow that if his life were spared he would never be such again; I heard him implore the mercy of heaven for Jesus Christ’s sake. These arms rescued that young man from the flood. I plunged in, brought the boat to shore, and saved his life. That same young man has just addressed you and cursed his Maker. What say you to this, sirs?”
The speaker sat down. The young orator was confounded; the audience in a moment changed its tone, perceiving that, after all, whilst it might be easy enough to indulge in brag and bravado against Almighty God when danger was distant, it was not quite so easy to blaspheme when near the verge of the grave.
Ah! some men can talk big when everything goes smooth; but when even infidel boasters are face to face with death, they are at their wits’ end, and are ready to take refuge in prayer. If through the mercy of God, the danger passes, too often their hearts become again hardened, and they forget their vows.
What becomes of infidel leaders? Can the infidel account for the miserably unhappy deaths of Voltaire, Rousseau, Hume, and Tom Paine? Most of them cried to God when apparently too late. Do you, my reader, shun their fate, and cry to God today. Turn to Him and be converted.
“Today, if ye will hear His voice, harden not your heart.” “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God.” “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Only if your sins are washed away by the precious blood of Christ shall you have a happy life, a happy death, and a happy eternity. “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:3636He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36)).
Cheyne Brady.