EARLY one Saturday evening in the month of June, the rumor of a sad fatal accident reached I―. There had started in the forenoon, by steamer, an excursion party for a well-known place in the neighborhood, and the report was that a number of them had been drowned. It was difficult to ascertain the exact truth of this, as there was no means of communication between the two places. Meanwhile the friends and relatives waited in anxious suspense.
Later on, about nine o’clock that same evening, the party returned from their pleasure-trip, but with one missing from their midst. The sad story was soon told. It had been intensely hot that day, and the air close and sultry. Arriving at the end of the outward journey, four of the number―young men―started off for a bathe. They had only been a short time in the water, when one of them was seen suddenly to throw up his hands, and almost immediately without even a cry he sank, to the horror of his companions. Rising to the surface, ere they could reach him, he sank the second time, to rise again no more, despite brave efforts on their part to save him by repeatedly diving.
Quickly the mournful news spread, casting a gloom over the whole town, for the deceased was well known. By profession an architect, he bid fair to make his mark in the world, and was already looked upon as a rising young man. Member of a church choir, and taking an active interest in religious work, he was a general favorite with everybody, and had but lately joined the volunteer corps. But there was that beyond all this that caused such wide-spread sympathy to be felt over his loss. He was the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. He had been both her comfort and support. Who can describe the feeling of that widowed heart as the crushing blow, that left her now childless, fell so suddenly upon her, or the thoughts that must have passed through the minds of those who saw him sink beneath their very eyes? Rather we would turn to ask you, dear reader, ―Had you been in that young man’s place, would death have found you ready? Thank God, there is every reason to think he was, though the summons was so short and sharp. And if only you would come to Jesus and get your sins washed away by His precious blood, you too would be ready. “Be ye also ready.”
There is always something very solemn in death, and it seemed more than usually so in this instance. The wages of sin, as Scripture says it is, it makes cowards of the boldest. Like the cutting east wind that nips off the bud just breaking forth into lovely bloom, so was it as if the relentless hand of death had snatched one from this scene, just when life was opening out, and the future prospects seemed so fair. A fine promising young fellow cut off, and not yet twenty-two years of age! But our God makes no mistakes. His way is perfect, if past finding out. The awful mistake is when precious souls go on from day to day neglecting the great question of eternity, full well knowing the utter uncertainty of life. Ah, unsaved reader, take you warning. Who knows how soon your turn may come. The Lord grant it may never find you out unprepared.
A search was made for the body, which was found some hours after by means of grappling irons, and carried back into the town. It was resolved to give him a military funeral. A few days pass by, and then, as we look across the smiling river below us, from the windows of our lodging we can see a procession slowly wending its way to the cemetery. Only the day before had we watched another procession along the same road. Then, it was that of thousands of school children, all making their way to a park near by, where a day’s entertainment had been provided them by kind friends. How their bright happy shouts filled the air, as merrily they had trooped along! But now, what a different sight meets our gaze. Headed by the pipers playing their plaintive melody, the funeral cortege passes out of the town, followed by a large number of the townspeople and the men of the battalion, who with arms reversed march with measured step to the beat of the muffled drums. A solemn spectacle truly! Enough to sober the most careless, to melt the hardest heart. The cemetery reached, the body was gently lowered into its resting-place, over which were fired three volleys as a last tribute paid to the memory of their departed comrade. This done, a hymn was then sung, and all was over. The assembled company separated, dispersing to their different homes.
My reader, has this nothing to say to you? Yes, it has. It is another warning from God about your long-neglected soul. “God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not” (Job 33:1414For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. (Job 33:14)). Alas! how true is it. Oft have you been spoken to in the past. Many ways has God of speaking. Perhaps you have lost some dearly loved one, whose death has left an aching void in your heart never yet filled up. Perhaps you yourself have lain at death’s door. Or again, your business has been unsuccessful, your health crippled, or some bright hope or long-cherished plan rudely dashed to the ground. “So, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man to bring back his soul from the pit.”
Think of all that He has done in the giving up of His only begotten Son for you. Think of that loving Saviour stooping so low, and dying on Calvary’s cross for you. Think of Him now as the Saviour for every poor sinner that will come unto Him. Think of this day of grace when salvation is held out to you. Think what it will be if ever you should miss it. Oh, stop! Consider your latter end.
Many are the devices that Satan has to keep souls from deciding for Christ.
The young he will persuade that there is plenty of time, and that they need not bother their heads yet awhile. Ah, to you I would say, ―Don’t you be cheated into hell. Be warned by the solemn incident you have just read. Let me plead with you to decide now for Christ and come out boldly on the Lord’s side. Nail up your colors, friend, and start life and go through life with Christ. Not one jot or tittle of true happiness will you have away from Him.
The middle-aged he will remind of all their cares and anxieties, and say to them, “You have got on well enough hitherto, better wait till you are past hard work, and have time to think about the future.” And I ask, will you listen to his lie, and run the fearful risk of being damned forever in the lake of fire through mad neglect? Oh, forbid the thought. Haste thee then to the Saviour. He ready waits to save you.
And the aged, who with uneasy conscience are fast nearing the end of life’s journey, he will seek to soothe, by bidding them do the best they can the last few moments they have, and leave the past to God. Awful delusion! As if any works of our own can make amends for the past. Impossible. No, no, dear friend. The only way of safety is to come to Christ confessing all the past, and trusting in His precious blood. “The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)). None have sinned too deeply or stayed away too long to be denied. “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:3737All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37)).
Once more, ere I close, let me ask each reader, Are you ready? “Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts” (Heb. 3:1515While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. (Hebrews 3:15)).
“Today thou livest yet; today turn thee to God, For ere tomorrow comes, thou mayest be with the dead.”
W. R. P.