IT is well." So said Washington in his dying hour. I wonder, reader, if you could close your eyes, never to open them again in this world, with these same words upon your lips.
"Be serious," muttered the celebrated Dutch jurist and theologian, Hugo Grotius, as his breath left him. We pass on his advice. Think seriously about the salvation of your soul, unsaved reader. You have to meet God, and you know not when. Mr. L—gave a lecture in N—some time ago. Within ten minutes of leaving the hall he was dead. Are you ready?
"All any possessions for a moment of tune," exclaimed Queen Elizabeth. Leave not this great question of your eternal welfare until your deathbed. As you read this magazine you have a splendid opportunity of turning to Jesus. You may never have another.
“It matters little how the head lieth," were the words of Sir Walter Raleigh. You may be possessed of a large share of this world's goods, but not an atom of good will they do your soul when death stares you in the face, Scripture furnishes us with such another example. "The beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; and in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments." (Luke 16:22, 23.)
Did it ever seriously enter your thoughts that beyond this life there is another life, which must be spent by you? Either in heaven or hell, either with the redeemed or the lost, will that life be spent, and it will last forever and forever.
Life is but a span, like an arrow shot through the air—very soon to reach its destination.
Give this matter your careful consideration.
"It is small, very small indeed." Anne Boleyn's last saying is true. Life is like a flash of magnesium ribbon. Very soon you are to be ushered into the presence of the Great Judge, to stand before Him. Are you ready?
"There is not a drop of blood on my hands,” were the last words of Frederick V. of Den-mark. Will you be able to say as much? For this world is guilty of the death of Jesus, and its hands are stained with His blood. Unless you confess your guilt as a poor sinner you will come under the judgment of God. “If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha" [accursed at His coming]. (1 Cor. 16:22) My unconverted reader, over this world hangs the awful cloud of God's righteous judgment, and presently it will burst upon your head. But God is longsuffering, and His desire is that you might be cleansed from all your sins. Jesus has died, “the Just for the unjust, to bring us to God.”
(1 Peter 3:18.) Salvation is offered to you, without money and without price.
"Let the light enter," were the last words of the great German poet, Goethe, who died in Weimar. Will the light of glory shine upon your soul when the end comes, or will it be blackness of darkness?
"Into Thy hands, O Lord," was the exclamation of Tasso as he died. What a happy death! Death, did I say? Nay, it is just the commencement of life for the Christian. To live in those bright courts on high with Christ and all the redeemed is the portion of him who has his sins forgiven. "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" (1 Cor. 15:55.)
We have listened to the dying sayings of eight famous personages. Reverently, earnestly would we draw your close attention to a dying utterance, which has a voice of deepest interest to the whole world, uttered by One whom none can afford to ignore.
“IT IS FINISHED," were the blessed words of the dying Savior. These words must stand by themselves. There are none like them. What words of triumph! The work of redemption is complete. There is nothing left, sinner, for you to do, but to own your own unworthiness and need of Him.
Be serious! Time is on the wing. Soon everything here will have to be left, and we must enter another scene. Where? How? When? C. S. R.