SITTING one afternoon on a seat in the lovely grounds of the Arboretum, I noticed a tall elderly gentleman of quiet and sedate appearance, but somewhat foreign features, who was walking slowly across the green sward, but who presently came and sat down by my side. We exchanged a few words about the mildness of the day, and then my friend spoke of the conference of scientific men which was then being held in Paris, and of how the scientific world would benefit by the meeting. I remarked that science was very well in its place, but that it would never reach up to God. He said that was true, God is too great, man’s life too short. I had some further conversation with him, which resulted in reading a part of the third of Romans; but I left him with a very sad heart, as he told me that he was a Roman Catholic when a boy, but since he had grown up he had thrown off that yoke, and now, although eighty-six years of age, he did not believe in eternity, or in judgment to come, but thought the soul would cease to exist at death. Nothing could exceed the cold indifference with which this poor man treated everything pertaining to his immortal soul, although the Lord in His mercy had spared him for more than sixteen years beyond the allotted time. He said that he was too old now to disturb his mind by looking at these matters from any other point of view than that to which he was accustomed, but that he had two children who were Protestants with whom he never interfered.
Now, dear reader, is not this a terrible example of the power of Satan? Here is a soul blinded by the god of this world, and hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
Oh, what a picture! ―a long-suffering God―and a hardened heart.
Eighty-six years spent in this scene without God, having no hope! and now, at the end of this long span of existence, without any desire to seek or feel after Him. Fatal indifference! Oh, the madness of unbelief!
And do you not think, dear reader, that even now God would have that old man to be saved and sheltered from coming wrath by the blood of the Lamb?
Yes, oh yes! He is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Moreover, we read He is able to save to the uttermost them that come unto God by Him. Yes, dear reader, whether you be old or young, the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him. Believe me, He would accept the very dregs of this long life if there was the smallest contrition, or sense of goodness in God, and consequent turning away from self. But, alas! like the young man in the tenth of Luke, this old man sought to justify himself, and so really he condemned God. Are you like him? R. M. H.