On Thy Closing Call

“Now is the accepted time: “behold! now is the day of

salvation.” — 2 Cor. vi. 2.

Reader! how stands it with thee? Is the question of thy eternity finally and forever adjusted? Art thou at peace with God? Canst thou say with Paul, in the prospect of death, “I am now ready?” Hast thou been led to feel the infinite peril of postponement and procrastination, and responded to the appeal — “Behold! JVow /” Ah! how many have found, when the imagined hour of death-bed preparation had come, that the tear of penitence was too late to be shed, and the prayer of mercy too late to be uttered!

Let there be plain dealing between thy conscience and thy God. Seek not to escape from the pressing urgency of the question. Thou mayest dismiss it now, but there is a day coming when thou durst not! Let it not merge in vague generalities — let it be realized as matter of personal concernment — of infinite moment to thyself — “Am I saved, or am I not saved? — am I prepared, or am I unprepared, to meet my God?” Thou mayest have, perhaps, an honest purpose of giving it some future entertainment at another and “more convenient season.” Do we ever read of Felix’s “mor” convenient season? It were better not to risk to the experiment of a dying hour the solution of the problem — “Is it safe to delay?” Take it on trust, that it is a hard matter — a conference about the soul on the brink of eternity! Remember, “God’s Spirit will not always strive!” All His other attributes are infinite, but His patience and forbearance have their “bounds and limits.” The invitation which is thine to-day may be withdrawn to-morrow. The axe may be even now laid at the root of the tree, and the sentence on the wing, “Cut it down I”

How awful, if it really be that thou art yet living in this state of estrangement and guilt! What a surrender of present peace! What a forfeiture of eternal joy!

Haste thee! flee for thy life, lest thou be consumed! Thy immortality is no trifle! “The night is far spent!” Who can tell, how far? It may be now or never with thee! Thou art about once more to lie down on thy nightly pillow. What if thy awaking to-mor row were to be “in outer darkness?”

But, take courage — That night is not too far spent! Close this last of the “IS’ight Watches,” by fleeing, without delay, to Jesus — the Sinner’s Saviour and the Sinner’s Friend. It was on the last watch of the night He came of old to His tempest-tossed disciples. Like them, receive Him now into thy Soul! and have all thy guilty fears calmed by His omnipotent “Peace, be still!” Are there not ominous signs all around as if the world’’ s last and closing “night-watch” had set in? The billows are heaving high. We hear the footsteps on the waters! Amid the fitful moanings of the blast — the watchword is heard — of joy to some, of terror to others — ^’’ Maran-atha P’^ “The Lord is coming!”

Keader! art thou ready? Is the joyous response on thy tongue — “Come, Lord Jesus; come quickly?” If this night were indeed thy very last and the thunders of judgment were to break upon thee ere daybreak — wouldst thou be able, in the assurance of an eternal dawn, to say —

“I WILL BOTH LAY ME DOWN IN PEACE AND SLEEP; FOR THO LOED, ONLY MAKEST ME DWELL IN SAFEXr!”