ON Lord’s Day, the 24th day of March, 1878, on arriving home from the morning meeting, I found a message had been left requesting me to visit a friend who, it was believed, was in a dying state, and had that morning asked to see me. It was the dying man’s wife who had called. I had known them both for some years, and had lived near them for some months about four years previously. I was sometimes in his company for the course of a day together, being engaged at that time in the same occupation. At such seasons, and as I had opportunity, I spoke to him of eternity, and of the need of our souls as poor sinners, and as often as we conversed on the subject of salvation, so did he, like many others, alas, turn the subject.
Change of residence and occupation had made my knowledge of A. G. become less, having only an occasional passing word as we met in the street. His decline of health was very apparent for the last two years, and on one occasion he requested me to call at his home to see him. This was early in the winter of 1877. I waited an opportunity, and went, looking to the Lord to give me a suited word to meet the need of his state a soul. He was very weak, and appeared to be glad to see me, and spoke of his failing health, saying he could do nothing now but sit and read, and think over the past.
Again, I tried to bring before him the realities of eternity, going over again the old, old story of Jesus and His love, as told out in the wondrous tale of the cross. He said he could not see how it was possible for any to be sure of being saved. He knew some spoke, as I did, of having peace and joy in believing, and of the certainty of their being saved, but it was not for him. Feeling that my poor friend yet needed the new birth, I spoke to him in a simple way, begging him not to trust to his own understanding, or to look for feelings in himself, but simply to accept the testimony of a holy God about himself, and the glorious testimony of a loving God about His own blessed Son. Being convinced that God’s message to him in particular was “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” I pressed it on him, and praying the Lord would bless His own precious word to his soul, I left.
Soon after, I saw him again, when his state of soul was still about the same, and his bodily health no better. On the Lord’s Day referred to, having been requested to attend the Sunday School that afternoon, I said, in reply to my wife, “I want to be at school this afternoon, and I think I’ll go, and after tea I can go to see A. G.;” but on her repeating the earnest tones in which A. G.’s wife spoke, and adding that she thought, from her manner, this visit was of the very first importance, as soon as dinner was over I left the house for my friend’s.
I found a girl of about thirteen years of age, his daughter, and himself the only occupants of the house. She requested me to walk upstairs to where her father lay. He at once recognized me, saying, “Oh, Mr. W., if you had been with me these weeks I have been in this room, I should have been nearer heaven than I am.” I endeavored to speak to him of his need of the Saviour, more than any man’s help, as vain is the help of man. “Ah,” he said, “but you could have spoken to me of what you know and enjoy of the Saviour’s love.” I replied it might be the Lord had sent me now as a channel through which He would speak peace to his now anxious soul. Relying upon the Lord, I endeavored simply to speak a few words to him of the work of Christ; how the blessed Lord Jesus, the holy spotless Lamb of God, had died on the cross to meet his, and every poor sinner’s deepest need, and not merely our need as such, but had net all the righteous claims of a holy God on account of our sin, and the sins of all who believe. I read with him the 41st, 42nd, and 43rd verses of the 23rd chapter of Luke, and also the 14th, 15th, and 16th verses of the 3rd chapter of John.
After a pause he said, as well as he could speak for want of breath, that two of his near relatives were Christians and gospel preachers.
One of them was expected to come to see him on the morrow, if he lived till then, and he would be glad if I would come and bring some others to meet the expected visitor there, and (I give his own words) “we can have a good old fashioned ranters’ prayer meeting, and my soul will perhaps catch the spirit of it.” It was evident that the enemy of souls was doing his best to occupy my poor friend’s mind with anything that would hinder him simply believing God’s word, and being made a bright trophy of God’s grace through faith. Again, I endeavored to show him it was not excitement he needed to meet his case, but Christ Jesus, and He only could speak peace to his soul. I engaged in prayer to God that He might, in His grace and love, reveal by the Spirit’s power “Jesus,” in all the precious saving power of His name to this poor dying sinner, and give him at this critical moment to have simple faith in the Saviour, like the dying thief on the cross, and as in his case, so now, to speak peace to his soul.
He seemed much affected, and earnestly ejaculated “Lord grant it” — “Amen.” I noticed, on rising from my knees, a visible change in him. I said, “Can you trust Jesus now?” He answered, “I do believe in Him.” “That He died for you?” “Yes,” he answered. His mind seemed now to wander. I helped him to sit up in his bed, at his request; he then said, “I must go,” and attempted to get out of bed; finding he could not do so, he said, “I suppose I must lay down again then.” These were his last words; I had sent the child for her mother, but, before either returned, his spirit had fled, whither is only known to the searcher of hearts; but if the words “I do believe in Him,” was the expression of heart-faith, I shall soon meet him again on the cloud when the Lord shall descend, and all His redeemed shall ascend and meet in the air, and so we shall be forever with the Lord.
Dear reader, I have narrated the above in the prayerful hope that your precious soul (if still unsaved) may be led to think of the terrible consequences of living and dying without Christ, without hope, in spite of all the privileges, opportunities, and invitations presented to you in the blessed Gospel of God’s grace. Only a little while at the longest and you will be brought, as A. G. was, to face the realities of eternity; it became a reality to him at the twelfth hour, may it become a reality to every reader now, for “Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation,” and may the question put by the Apostle in the 2nd chapter of Hebrews, 3rd verse, “How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?” sink deep down, in all it searching power, into the heart, and produce a desire which can be satisfied by the same divine power and love that creates it.
Again I entreat you to take your true place as a lost sinner in the presence of God, and listen to His gracious words, “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Rom. 10:99That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9)). “To Him (Jesus Christ) give all the prophets witness that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins” (Acts 10:4343To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. (Acts 10:43)).
D. W.