The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-06-15

ter life. if God wouii restore him GCd
heard his promise and restored him TO
health, but he was never converted
HI Went back on every promise he
made. and n few years ago died sudden
~.
Il wonder how many here have gone
back upon such a promise. 1t may have
been recently that Cod warned you. by
some providence in your life You
promised TO do bette; yes You pIoIpls-
ed to give yourself TO Oh ci"t, and open
~ confessed him b: churc1 member
ship, but you have not done it. What
do you think of Gods attitude toward
you? WouId you have any complaint
to make il he should say this very
night thy soul shall be required Of thee.
DEATH END OF HOPE.
But finally, when death comes all
hope of preparation is ended. Brand the
men as your worst enemy, who talks to
you about future probation. II Jesus
Christ ever taught anything it was that
life was the only time to prepare for
the beyond. See hat awful picture
drawn by Jesus himself of the rich man
and Lazarus. This rich man had lived
- Gil IN q NV PA pa 'A~A
death came. The record says that he
lifted up his eyes in hell, being in tor
ment,' but that fs,not the only thing he
says about him. he says, he cried for
mercy, but no mercy came. He cried
fer water, just a tGToy Of it, to cool his
tongue, but no water was given him.
Oh 1.-THE awfulness of this picture! Who
can look at it and not shudder,? God
knows how it effects me. Not that I
ever expect to know the fate Of that
rich man. for I neve expect to go
to hell. but l tremble for you lest now
some of you may be stricken with the
hand of the wrath of God.
Il have seen sinners die; l have
heard their cries. l know something
! of what it means. to watch a hopeless
soul pass to eternity. There can be
nothing more terrible.
"In an asylum out west is a man who
just at II o'clock every night, jumps up
and lays hold of a chair and begins to
make a noise like a train, and then
screams like a number of frightened
souls. He keeps this up for about ten
minutes, and then says, oh! if I had
Oh, if I mad
t'There is a story back of his conduct.
He was a switchman, guarding q track
near a river. One night he went to
sleep at his post of duty, and the pass
enger train came crashing by and went
down into the river. The first he knew
of it was while the train was passing
He sprang to the switch and pulled
with all his might, but it was too late.
ooh how many souls there are in hell
now, tugging away at the switch OF op-
portunity.
"The train Of life is already past, and
there is nothing left but remorse.
ooh! thank God, there is another
side t. this death picture. A minister
friend of mine was telling me the 9th
err day of a visit that he made to a
humble cottage, in which an old grand
father was nursing a little grand
daughter, who was dying.
"tShe's going, DOCTOR said the old
grandfather, she rapidly going
"rDoes she know her condition. ask
ed the preacher?
"FWell. I should think she does an
swered the old man.
""Tell the preacher how you feel,
daughter he continued.
"I feel, oh, SO hayy,' said she.
Are the waters CHILLY! sdlu tue
preacher.
Ono said the child, they are mo-
chilly, and they are not wide. I can see
the other side of the shore
"Do you see anybody" he contin-
ued to ask.
Eyes, I see heaven and sweet faces
I think I see mamma and papa. Oh!
the music; the music! 1t is not a
dream, it is heaven. Don't weep grand.
pa, but come on and let's go together
ooh THAT we may all have this pre-
paration for death. 1t will make nc
difference then whether we are calico
at home or abroad, we will be SAFE
for ever more.'-Atlanta Constitution