Scene. — Death-Bed of an Old Companion

“Charlie, I’m going, I’m going!”
So spake my old companion, George ―. We had lived together at the same house of business in Bond Street, before and since my conversion, and often had I spoken to him of the danger he incurred by putting off salvation. Now the death summons had come, and his sister had been to Hyde Park Hall to ask me to visit him, as he wished to see me.
“How long does the doctor say you can live, George?”
“Two days.”
I prayed with him, and read Isaiah 53, and left him, promising to see him again in the morning. The same evening a letter came from the sister: “Dear Mr. C―, I am sorry to say my poor brother passed away ten minutes after you left the house.” Poor George — drink and gambling had been to him as to many others, a curse; blinding him to the danger of neglecting his soul. Where is he now? ‘Tis not for us to judge, him, but may God preserve you, dear reader, from such a death.
Think of these young men now in eternity, and if you are as they were — “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God”―­ remember “the end of these things is death.” “Seek ye the Lord while He may be found; call ye upon Him while He is near.”
Friend — one moment with you! Do you know that God loves you, that Christ died for you, that His blood has atoned for sin (1 John 2:2), and satisfied the JUSTICE of God? and now, since God has dealt in judgment with the Saviour, God can now deal in mere); with the sinner, and to YOU is offered now the gift of God, which is eternal life. Will you accept it?
Payment God will not twice demand,
First at your bleeding Surety’s hand,
And then again at yours.
“Believe (or trust) in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”
Your servant, for Christ’s sake, C. C.