THE revelations of God’s word respecting death and its issues, respecting hell and its everlasting horrors, are unambiguous. If we die in our sins, if we die impenitent, die unregenerate, die unforgiven, our everlasting prison-house is the blackness of darkness and despair forever. Now, if ever, must be made up the quarrel between ourselves and our incensed God. Now, if ever, the controversy must be settled. Now, if ever, we must be “washed, and justified, and sanctified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” Now, if ever, we must be made “meet for the inheritance of saints in light.” Not a ray of hope shines in the prison-house of hell! That pit’s mouth is shut!
Two solemn passages from the lips of God will serve to establish this doctrine—that the lost are hopelessly lost, and that a limit is assigned to our opportunities.
The first passage is from the Old Testament, Proverbs 1:24-2824Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; 25But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: 26I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; 27When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. 28Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: (Proverbs 1:24‑28). Weigh its import, and remember they are the words of that Being from whose judgment there is no appeal: “Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; but ye have set at naught all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; when your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me.”
The other passage is from the New Testament, Matthew 25:6-126And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. (Matthew 25:6‑12). Weigh its import, and remember they are the words of the Redeemer—for mercy must not ignore justice: “At midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the Bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with Him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But He answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.”
Time was when oil might have been had. Time was when mercy could have been obtained. Time was when all thy sins could have been blotted out. Time was when thou mightest have had a wedding garment, and entered into the banquet chamber, and been an everlasting guest. But not now! not now! Too late! too late! “Cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
Oh, my God! what a tremendous discovery for an immortal soul to make! No hope—none! We traverse the dark galleries of that pit to find some “staple” avenue; but in vain! We reach the pit’s mouth, but the hatches are down! The very “brattice” is broken up. The beam of the engine has snapped. There is no hope—none! none! That mine will be worked no more. It is abandoned! There is no hope! The dreary wretches there shall never see light. The pit has shut her mouth upon them! For the soul once lost is lost forever! “The smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever.” Eternity! Eternity! Eternity! It is an ocean of which we never see the shore.
“Bless the Lord, O my soul!” Debtor as I am of more than ten thousand talents, and having “nothing to pay,” this pit need not be my prison-house! I hear a voice from heaven, saying, “Deliver him from going down into the pit; I have found a ransom.” It is the voice of that same Infinite Majesty whom I have so aggrieved. It is the voice of Infinite Love. He has found the Lamb in His own bosom! As Abraham said to his son Isaac, “My son, God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering.” Yes! low as I may have sunk in guilt and misery, even from the lowermost seam I may be got up safe and sound, to the light of day, the light of glory! A ladder has been set upon the earth, the top of which reaches to heaven. Oh! what amazing mercy! What a great salvation! The suppliant cry of the atoning Saviour will avail for all who believe on Him; for “He was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.” Doubting, despairing sinner, Jesus is mighty to save! “He is able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for us!” Oh! that glorious uttermost! And shall we turn a deaf ear to the voice that tells us to be saved?
Every lost soul has a last call. But let the glimmering light of that last entreaty, that last warning, be quenched; let that last whisper of persuasive love die away; then, though no angel of love be seen, with averted countenance, slowly retiring from his ministry—though no muttering thunder be heard rolling portentous signals of woe, the pit’s mouth is closed.
Oh! memorable will be this terrible calamity at Hartley, if God, by His Spirit, lead some soul to cry with a Jacob’s importunity, that will take no denial, “Let not the pit shut her mouth upon me!”— Extracted,