THE entrance of Thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.” (Ps. 119:130.)
Edward M. was born March 23, 1880. He was a strong hearty-looking boy, apparently fitted to endure all the ills that ordinarily fall to the lot of children. On the 26th of January, 1889, he was taken ill with what soon proved to be scarlet fever. Before the disease was pronounced, his mother was called to assist at the death bed of a young woman, a friend of the family, whose sudden death had occurred that morning. On his mother’s return, Edward said he believed he was going where Jessie B. had gone.
On Monday morning, he asked that the family reading and prayer might be in his room. After the reading, he as usual repeated a verse of Scripture in turn with the others. This morning he repeated Rev. 20:66Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. (Revelation 20:6). Just before he was taken ill, his little brother R— who was sick with the measles, was presented with an autograph album by his aunt. Edward said, “O, mamma, I know a nice verse to write in R’s album; may I write it?” Permission granted he at once wrote, with a few mistakes in spelling, the following: “Dear R— Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection; on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
Your brother,
Ed. M.
During his sickness, which followed in less than two weeks, he frequently repeated this verse. After his departure, his mother found how he had learned such a long verse. With a pencil he separated it into three parts and by learning a section each day had in three days stored these words of the Lord in his heart.
Nearly a week before he died his uncle sat with him one night till midnight. As he was going away Edward said: “Good night uncle.” His mother reminding him to thank his uncle, remarked “We must not forget to thank the Lord.” At once, he began to repeat the twenty-third Psalm: “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.” On coming to the last verse he raised his voice saying: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
To E. , who was sitting with him one afternoon, he related the story of the Gipsy Boy—who, on hearing of the love of Jesus in dying for us, received the good news with thanksgiving to the Lord, at the same time saying, “Nobody ever told me.” “But,” said Edward, “we can’t say that last.” Who that has good news does not like to tell it to any who will listen? And where can one find better news than these words of the Lord Jesus: “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16).) Once, while watching by his bedside, his father repeated a verse of the well-known hymn:
“O patient, spotless One,
Our hearts in meekness train,
To bear Thy yoke and learn of Thee,
That we may rest obtain.”
At the same time asking him to pray that, if it was the Lord’s will, the fever might be removed. Edward began to pray, but instead of asking, as one might suppose, for his own health and comfort he prayed for each member of the family by name for a blessing on each “in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.” Shortly after this he said: “O mamma, let me pray a little prayer and just pass away.”
“But, Edward,” said his mother, “papa and mamma want you here a while longer, if it is the Lord’s will,” to which he replied, “O, well, but I’m sure I’d be much better off.” How could a child know that which the wisest intellect can never search out?
“Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.” Surely the answer is given, “God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit.” (1 Cor. 2:9, 109But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. (1 Corinthians 2:9‑10).)
On Sunday morning, the day before he fell asleep, he wanted to join the family in reading of the resurrection of Christ, as told in the last chapter of Matthew, but bodily weakness seemed to be a sufficient reason for his parents to refuse his request. Again and again he desired as his turn came that he might have his Bible to read as usual. His pleading looks overcame the fear of weak eyes, and his Bible given to him, he joined in the reading, and after the reading repeated for his verse: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world,” (1 John 2:1515Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (1 John 2:15)), a fitting exhortation from God by the mouth of a child to all who are still left in the world to be a witness for a once crucified, but now risen and glorified Christ. This was his last reading or recitation of the Word of God, for on the following evening he quietly fell asleep in Jesus without a struggle.
“Surely goodness and mercy had followed him all the days of his life, and he was now taken to dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
People talk of “laying up for a rainy day” for themselves and their children. David said by the Spirit, “The law of Thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver,” and again, “I love Thy commandments above gold, yea, above fine gold,” (Ps. 119:72, 127.) When earthly riches are stored, we know not who may use them. Thieves may break through and steal, moth and rust will corrupt them, but when the Word of God is hid in the heart who can rob one of it? What Christian parents would plead an excuse for not teaching their children the Word of God? Neither education nor talent are needed, for “the Word of God is quick and powerful;” i.e., “living and operative.” It speaks plainly to each soul, whether young or old, rich or poor, of two persons; the lost sinner, one’s self and the sinner’s Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Not the reasoning of man’s intellect, but the simple faith of a child who fully believes what God has said, because it is God who says it is the victory that overcometh the world (1 John 5:44For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. (1 John 5:4)).
“Faith is not what we see or feel,
It is a simple trust,
In what the God of love has said
Of Jesus as the Just.”
Reader, if called to die, would you, like Edward, be “much better off"?
“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)). I well remember what a friend said to me years ago when talking of death.
“I am not ready to die now, but I believe that when called, the Lord will give me dying grace.” It was a little ray of comfort to me then, but only transient, for it was not a “Thus saith, the Lord.”
I did not know then that “without shedding of blood is no remission.” (Heb. 9:2222And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. (Hebrews 9:22)). I felt natural sorrow in reading of the sufferings and the death of the Lord Jesus, but I did not know then as I do now that He bore my sins in His own body on the tree,” so that I could not go further than simply pope that when death came all would be well. But our hopes and fears are like the ever-shifting sands, God’s Word is like the immovable rock. Man’s thoughts must perish with him, but the Word of the Lord endureth forever. The Lord Jesus Christ speaks the truth when He says: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth My word and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” (John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)). This is a word for you, if still unsaved, do not turn away, hoping for “dying grace” in the distant future, but now, this very day, accept Christ, and then if called to die before the Lord comes, you may depart in peace, knowing that you will be among the “blessed and holy” ones who have “part in the first resurrection.”
ML-02/08/1920