Christ, or the World?
I LATELY read the following interesting and affecting anecdote: ― “Not long since, a young lady was urged by a minister to choose between Christ and the world, because she could not have both. She said she was determined to have both; she loved the gaieties of the world, and was resolved to have them; and yet she wished to be saved, and therefore she would have Christ too. She was told it was impossible; she must choose one to have the chief place in her heart. Then, she said, I choose the world. If that be your choice, said the minister, take all the pleasure out of it you can; for you will have no other enjoyment to all eternity. She did so; plunged into all sorts of gaiety, and tried to find happiness in the passing hour.
One evening, in a large company, she was singing a beautiful song. It was about the parable of the foolish virgins, in the 25th chapter of Matthew; how they came to the door when it was shut, and could not get in. She was singing the last lines of the song―
“Have we not heard the Bridegroom is so sweet?
O let us in, though late, to kiss His feet!
No, no; too late? ye cannot enter now.”
when the thought burst into her mind, That is just my case, ―it will be true of me! She rushed out of the room, and spent the night in tears and prayer. Five days and nights she was in great distress, till at last that text came to her mind, “Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out.” It brought her peace and joy in believing. She went back to the minister, who had heard something of what was going on, and who asked her what was now her choice. Her answer was―
“My heart is fixed, eternal God,
fixed on Thee;
And my immortal choice is made,
Christ for Me!”
Be you thankful to God, dear friends, that the one only door to real happiness is open, and open to you. But, oh, take care, lest you come―TOO LATE.