THE month of May had once more returned, the trees were again putting forth their summer leaves, the note of the bird, so long hushed, echoed in vale and hill; all was beautiful to behold, it seemed such a resurrection after the long, dark, winter months, and brought with it a deep sense of God’s goodness and grace. It was during this month, in one of the most beautiful spots in the county of S. that an old man might have been seen walking slowly towards a level crossing on the—Railway. He could not hear the birds’ sweet notes, for he was quite deaf. His head was bent, and he appeared quite indifferent to the lovely scene around him. One subject seemed to fill his mind.
He had been a hard-working man, and had acquired, by his industry, a little money; still the old man was not happy, for, although repeatedly warned and entreated, he had neglected God’s free salvation. On he walked, and with head bent down reached the crossing, and as he was stepping on to the line, an express train came dashing along. The warning whistle was blown, but the old man did not hear it, and as he stepped off the last line the buffer caught him and hurled him to the side, dreadfully mutilating him.
Help was soon obtained, and the unhappy man was gently carried home to die. There he lay, groaning and writhing in agony, till the doctor punctured his injured parts and introduced several grains of morphia, which deadened the pain and gave him relief and rest.
The news of the accident soon spread through the town, and a servant of the Lord hastened to see the dying man and tell him of the Saviour who is willing to save, even at the eleventh hour.
“Oh,” said the dying man, “I am much better now, and hope to be about in a day or two, then I can think of those things.”
In vain did the Christian beseech him to repent and be reconciled to God now, but he continued to refuse; the morphia had done its work and so had Satan, and soon after he passed away. “He that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (John 3:3636He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36).)
Unsaved reader, you are speeding on to eternity, every hour that passes brings you nearer to it. You, perhaps, know it, and, at times, feel it, but you deaden your pricking conscience by listening to fair promises of the deceiver. You shall have pleasure, he says, or money, or the glittering idols of the world; but if you go to the Lord Jesus you will have to become religious and give up all these things. Ah, reader, what are the amusements, the pleasures of the world, but the devil’s morphia! All around, men and women are rendered insensible to eternal realities by it. Like the poor man who, because insensible to pain, fancied he was getting well, so are sinners deadened to the sense of eternal things by Satan’s delusions, saying all is well, when, as a matter of fact, they are near eternal destruction.
Let this little anecdote warn you to come to the One who can alone give you true and eternal joy and peace. He bids you come, He wants to welcome you; His wound-prints tell His love, and from the height of glory these precious words are spoken to you: “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” W. S. W.