Harry H— was the son of one of the wealthiest and best known tradesmen. His father was a Christian, but his mother was a woman of the world, as well as a slave to drink ; and her son, about eighteen years of age when I met him, good looking, good-natured, though awfully dissipated, followed in her steps.
Mothers have you ever noticed the occurrence in the Old Testament scriptures of the expression :
I was staying with a cousin of mine at the time I met Harry H—, a cousin, alas! as gay and dissolute as poor Harry H— himself. He had paid us a visit one evening, and was at the time particularly full of fun and folly.
A few days after this, I noticed a postcard awaiting my cousin, inviting him to a football match for the afternoon of the Saturday following in the same week.
On that identical Saturday, at mid-day, I was passing C. railway station when, happening to meet my cousin, he said :
"Have you heard the news ?" "No," said I.
"Harry H—is dead ; taken ill quite suddenly in the night (Friday), and died in no time."
Thus did poor Harry H— pass into a Christ-less eternity, without God, and without hope. True, his life was a brief one. And so is even the longest life—as a vapor that passeth away. But it was long enough to repent and turn to God! It was long enough to exclaim
"Lord, save me, I perish!"
It was long enough to turn the eye of faith to the Savior in the glory on the throne of God ; to the One who is seated there in proof of the fact that He has finished the work needed to rend the veil separating man from God, and thus to open a way for every poor, believing prodigal straight into the very presence, and to the very heart of God! But Scripture says :
"Behold now is the day of salvation."
Now! as another, long ago said of it, a short word! a shorter thing; soon uttered; sooner gone. Now! a grain of sand on a boundless plain. A tiny ripple on a measureless ocean! . . . The past, for action, is ours no longer. 'The future may never become present, and is not ours till it does. The only part of time we can use is, this very moment—Now!
O, dear reader, this may be your last opportunity; what will you do with it?
"GOD COMMENDETH
HIS LOVE TOWARD US,
IN THAT,
WHILE WE WERE
YET SINNERS,
CHRIST DIED FOR US.
MUCH MORE THEN,
BEING NOW JUSTIFIED
BY HIS BLOOD,
WE SHALL BE SAVED
FROM WRATH