The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1860-03-08
"I Have Missed il at Last. -

meet
ing, rising to say few words "These words"
said he, "fell from the lips of a young man who
died last night They were uttered to the at-
tending physician, who was sitting Mt his bed.
side, and had just told hin, that he had but a
shot time tolive. "what do you say :" inquired
the attentive and kind hearted physician.
have missed it after all" said the Young
man, despairingly. ..sE
What have you missed ." again the physician
inquired.
What have missed Doctor, have missed
securing my salvation.
aHow so2"
How sol Oh it is n sad story" said the
youth. =" was awakened not long ago. NV
conscience told me whata wretched wicked sin.
ner had been. The Holy spirit was striving
with me. When was in deep distress for nv
soul, resolved to dismiss the subject of religion
from my thoughts. was urged to make sure
the day of grace, by repentance and faith in
Christ. begged to postpone the subject for
little time. haG TO promise myself, however,
that would take it up again. when it would be
more favorable time to attend to it. had to
promise myself that would at some future time.
not very remote, be Christian, and make nv
election sure But now have missed it. This
is my sad story" -... ... -... ... ..
"lt is not too late even now" said the doc.
tor g. ....... s..as sr..
doctor, you know not what you say. tell
you have missed 1t at last"
cob! say not So Remember the thief on the
cross. IL was Lot too late for him."
Remember tho thief on the cross! Yes. Ire.
member him. 1t was not too late for him. lie
never said. Go thy way, this time to the HOLY
Spirit But Tdid-I did And now he tells me
Imdy 90 my cay"
Z" low does lie tell youl" was the surprised
inquiry ........ .. .....
"He tells mel feel It here" laying his hand
upon his heart.
But some heard at the eleventh hour"
a"l know it. But my eleventh hour was when
had tsdt call 1t was my last" ....t
Not the last. You are called now"
doctor, said the young man, the dark
shadows gathering upon his face, and unutter
able indeseribable hopelessness settling down up
on his features-" Doctor "-and there was q
pause; then he said slowly and with great en-
phasis I've missed it at last"
This was said with such tone and expires
sion OF dependence, as no language can describe.
He turned his face all round the room as IL
earnestly, yet vaiuly, seeking some desired OBJ
ject. Then burying his face In his pillow, ex-
claimed. in an agony which rang with groan
through oil the house. Oh, I have missed it,"
So he died" "NoE, 'eontinnedthe speaker,
81 know that there are some awakened young
men in this room. know the Holy Spirit of
God Is striving with some souls here. He is urg-
ing to repentance, to faith in Christie to making
your calling and election sure Sin not against
the Holy Spirit---sin not against the voice Of
conscience--sin not against the offer of eternal
life--lest finally you be compelled to exelaim in
fiat despair, as did the young man who died last
night have missed IL ct last"
1t was young man who was speaking. His
appeal seemed 10 reach many a heart There
was moment Of solemn stiffness, and then arose
the voice of earnest prayer that no awakened sin
ner present might procrastinate single moment,
and thus 'misimprove the golden opportunity 10
make his peace with God.
VI. --------S~nD-p----