BESIDE an ancient moat, overshadowed by old elder trees, and a tall hawthorn hedge, stood one of those fine old historical houses, whose faded grandeur, belonging to times long passed away, tells such a tale of the utter vanity of all earthly things. This ancient mansion had once been the occasional residence of Queen Elizabeth, and like several such still scattered up and down the country, was, so tradition said, one of her numerous hunting-seats.
It was mid-winter, and instead of green leaves and fragrant blossoms, branch and spray of hawthorn and elder were now only decked with snow. The old moat was frozen, and seemed to offer a tempting surface to those who, like most of my young readers, are fond of sliding and skating on the ice. But the old moat was not to be trusted, after all; for, as in most of the promised pleasures of this world, danger lurked where none was seen. Fair to the eye, but treacherous to those who would trust it, the frozen moat, although it looked sound, was, in many parts, very unsafe, for, on account of the shelter of the trees, it did not freeze so fast as more open waters, and the frost had but recently set in.
In this old traditional hunting-seat lived a little boy, who, wishing to give his school-fellows a pleasure, had brought some of them home with him to slide upon the moat. Among them was one whom I will call little George. Now, George’s father had forbidden him to get upon the ice at all, knowing that it was not yet sufficiently hardened; and a father’s wishes ought to have kept him from accompanying his playmates, especially to a place so dangerous, as the moat was known to be, But I am sorry to say that the temptation of a good game had more power with him than his father’s wishes, and, as a matter of course, his disobedience brought its own punishment.
At first none of the boys cared to venture far along the ice, but, finding it stronger than they had supposed, they soon forgot their caution. George had intended only to go a little way, and then return, supposing, perhaps, that a little disobedience was excusable; but when we take one false step, it is sure to lead to many. Excited by the amusement, he soon outstripped the rest, and, sliding merrily along the moat, approached a spot more densely shaded than the rest by trees. Hardly had he reached it, when the crashing sound, so well-known, and so ominous to skaters, was heard, and in another moment he was in the ice cold water, and clutching helplessly at the broken fragments floating round him. How forcibly his perilous situation reminds us of the actual condition of every one, old and young, who has not yet believed in the Lord Jesus Christ! Unless saved by another, poor George must perish, for he cannot save himself. In vain he clings to the broken ice; it was that which let him in, how then could it save him? In vain does the sinner cling to his own doings; it is his broken works which condemn him, how then can they save? True the sinner’s works did not originally bring him into all this ruin, any more than did the ice bring poor, George upon its surface; disobedience did that; and disobedience brought man into all the ruin he is in, and keeps him there. Poor little George cried aloud for help as he felt himself sinking in the deep old moat, but his cries could not deliver him, any more than can the converted sinner’s prayers save him from everlasting destruction. Many make a mistake here. They think that many prayers will give them favor in God’s sight, and move Him to have mercy on them. Ah, they do not know Him! nor consider that it was His love that moved. Him eighteen hundred years ago to give unasked His own dear Son to die for sinners. “For God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while, we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
George’s companions were terribly alarmed, as they well might be, when they saw his perilous situation and heard his piteous cries for help. Alas, g hat could they do? They were all young, the banks were steep, the trees obstructed their efforts, they could not reach their perishing companion; no effectual aid was nigh, nor was there time to fetch it, for a few moments would terminate the scene, and, sinking beneath the dark waters, their little friend would be lost. Poor little George! How bitterly did he now repent of having disobeyed his father! and how the reflection added to his misery! But repentance could not save him; feelings of contrition, however deep and agonizing, could not snatch him from a watery grave; ANOTHER must do it all, if it was to be done; and that other was found. A little fellow, younger even than the perishing boy, came to his rescue. Snatching a prop, which happened to be at hand, he ran to the spot where, but for him, George had gone down into death, and, extending it to the sinking child, who seized it convulsively, drew him to the bank. Poor George was saved!
Young reader, what a striking figure we may see in this of Him who, beholding our ruin and helplessness, came to our deliverance, because He loved us!
“Made like unto us,” sin only excepted, He went to Calvary, and there upon the cross endured the wrath of God for us, exhausted all the penalty due to sin, and now, through the blood of His cross, having purchased eternal redemption, He holds out deliverance to all. Lay hold of the truth concerning Jesus. Little George did not hesitate to seize the prop. He felt—he knew—his peril. Perhaps you do not. Be persuaded. “He that believeth not the Son, shall not see life; but THE WRATH OF GOD ABIDETII ON HIM.” The dark waters of death and eternal condemnation are all around you. If once you sink beneath them—if you die in your sins, you are eternally lost. There is not a moment to lose. Lay hold NOW; cling to the prop, the tree, the cross. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”
May God grant, dear young readers, that all who see this little narrative may be enabled to perceive, not only their real state by nature and practice, but also that the DELIVERER has come, and has done ALL that was needed for their rescue; so that there remains nothing for them now, but to obey God by believing in HIM, whom He hath raised from the dead, even the Lord Jesus Christ, “who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.” Clinging to the cross, and looking up to Him who stands in life, “able to save to the uttermost,” or for evermore, you HAVE deliverance. Willful disobedience alone can keep you where you are. Beware how you “turn away from Him who now speaketh from heaven.”
ML 02/08/1903