04. "WILL HE LET ME SLIP AT THE LAST?"

"WILL HE LET ME SLIP AT THE LAST?"

Late visit on Lord’s day evening, and one early on Monday morning, gave me glad confirmation as to dear Johnny’s simple and real faith in the Lord. He now begged I would be with him as much as possible, and a promise of an evening visit was a comfort to him. In the afternoon his strength rapidly gave way, and now, for the first time, I think, he himself laid aside all hopes of recovery. This evidently led to a touching scene between him and the nurse I have already mentioned, which she narrated to me two days afterwards.

Some time before I saw him at night he had sent for her, and on her entering the room at once said, "Helen, go down on your knees, and give me both your hands." This she did, when he went on: "Promise me, Helen, that if I die, you will never cease seeking salvation till you find it."

Bursting into tears at this appeal, she sobbed, "I am too great a sinner."

"No," he rejoined: "remember, no one is too great a sinner to find salvation. I thought so too till yesterday, when Dr. W- led me to know and believe, that I was not too great a sinner for Jesus to save."

Noticing her tears, he added, — "Don’t cry for me; I am going to heaven. Promise to meet me there. Don’t believe in works, Helen; believe simply in Jesus."

Thus, immediately, did the new-born one seek the blessing of others: finest proof of grace really tasted. A little respite in his sickness now ensuing, she endeavoured to cheer him, saying, — "You are a little better, Doctor; try and bear up. Perhaps you will get better yet. Many a prize you have won, and many an honour gained."

Putting out his wasted hand he interrupted her, motioned her to silence, and then said: "Now I have gained the crown of glory. I am dying, and I am not afraid to die. I am dying happy." When I reached him between ten and eleven p.m., I saw a very great change since the morning. He welcomed me with a sweet smile, and — "I’m so glad you have come." The nurses leaving us alone, I got by his side, and then softly said, — "Going home, Johnny?"

"They think I’m dying," he replied. "What do you think?"

"It looks very like it, dear."

"Yes, I think so too," he quietly rejoined.

"And you are going to Jesus? "

He turned his lustrous eyes on me, and inquired, "Do you think He will let me slip at the last?"

"Not He," I said, "it is not like Him."

"But I have known Him such a short while"

"Never mind that; you do know Him?"

"Yes."

"And trust Him simply?"

"Yes."

There was a slight pause, and then, the enemy making a final assault on this babe in Christ, he took my hand in both his own emaciated ones, and with a wistful gaze right into my eyes that I can never forget, added, "But, Doctor, are you sure he won’t lot me slip, just at the very last?"

"Listen to His own words," I rejoined. ’My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I GIVE UNTO THEM ETERNAL LIFE; and they SHALL NEVER PERISH, NEITHER SHALL ANY (man or devil) PLUCK THEM OUT OF MY HAND. My Father, which gave them me, is GREATER THAN ALL; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand’ (John 10:27-29). There, will that do?" The cloud was dispelled, the enemy routed by "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;" and as the sweetest smile of contented joy broke over his wasted countenance, he pressed my hand firmly, and said: "Yes, His will be done; but oh, comfort my mother!"

Much more passed that I need not relate, save to add that now, in the full light of eternity so near at hand, he again reviewed his life, only to judge it, while extolling the mercy of God which had met and saved him at the last moment of his earthly history. On my asking him if he was dying happily, he replied, "Yes, quite happily; nevertheless, I should have liked to have lived a little while, to serve and please the Lord." A parting message to his mother, and an assurance, with his love, that he would meet her in heaven, though never more on earth, exhausted his strength; and at his request, I again thanked the Lord for his salvation, and then, being called away, left him, promising to return at midnight.