Billeder på siden
PDF
ePub

54

THE CHRISTIAN'S DEATH.

ABOUT two weeks after my visit to the old man whom I told you about in the last chapter, a person called upon me, and told me that he was very sick. I went to see him, and took a servant man with me to carry a few things to make him comfortable. I went into the room, and there I saw him lying on a bed. I was grieved to see him looking so pale and feeble, and soon found that what I had brought would be very acceptable; it was therefore immediately prepared and given to him. He then revived, and I told him that I had not heard till a short time before, that he was sick, and inquired what was the

matter.

He told me that one night as he was raking up the fire, he had a faint turn, and fell into it. His wife, who was in bed, heard him fall, and called very loud, till the neighbors came up, and took him out of the fire, but not till his arm and hand had been sadly burnt. His hand was dressed, but the next day he felt unable to sit up.

The doctor came to see him, and told him that he was very feeble, and had not, for some time past, eaten food enough. "But," said the old man, "I know that my body is feeble; the pain in my hand has extended through my whole frame, and is gradually increasing; I hardly slept two hours all last night. But it was soothing to remember, as I lay on my bed at midnight, the words of the Psalmist, 'Because thy

loving kindness is better than life, my lips will praise thee; I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches; because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.""

"It seems to me, sometimes," continued the old man, 66 as though this dreadful pain would draw my mind from God; as if it tried to make me peevish and forgetful. But it shall not have dominion over me; soon it will overcome this poor feeble body, but it shall not disturb my faith." "Sir," continued he, "do you not remember it is said of our Saviour, that he was taken up into a high mountain, and shown all the kingdoms of the world? and he said, 'Get thee behind me, Satan.' I, too, have seen the world, its pleasures,

riches, and all that it can give, but I would not exchange the hopes I now have in the promises of my Redeemer for ten thousand worlds? I must stop," said he, "I have talked too much, my mouth is dry and parched, I can say no more."

These were the precise words he uttered, as I stood by his bedside. I wish you could have been there and heard him repeat these and many other passages from the Bible, for then you you would have seen the power of faith over pain; then you would have seen from that bed of poverty, the brightness and glory of a Christian life. An old friend who was there, kindly offered to stay with him, and watch by him at night.

A few evenings after, I called at the

house, and they informed me that he was very low ; an hour previous to my visit, he called his aged friend near him, and said "I shall soon leave you." A chapter was read to him, by his request, and then in a clear and audible voice, he offered his last prayer from that bed of death, and not long after he closed his eyes in peace on the things of earth. Thus by a severe and rough way, a way trod by the steps of his Saviour before him, God conducted him to his journey's end.

[ocr errors]

He is gone; how silent was his departure how little known! Men missed him not in their daily walks; and those who lived near him hardly perceived the difference, when he was not in his chamber! No; a few, very few miss him; a few, a very few men

« ForrigeFortsæt »