Salvation in Christian preaching centers on deliverance from sin through faith in Jesus Christ, who alone offers cleansing, new life, and eternal security (Acts 4:12, John 3:16). Illustrations often use images of rescue, transformation, and choice—such as a lifeline, a gift to be unwrapped, or Noah's ark—to emphasize the urgency and completeness of accepting Christ's saving work.
Jesus rescues believers from destruction, symbolized by a worm saved from fire.
An Indian, when asked what the Lord had done for him, gathered some dry leaves into a circle, and, placing a worm in the centre, set them on fire. As the flames drew nearer on every side, and were about to consume the worm, he lifted it out, and, placing it safely on a rock, looked up and said, "This is what Jesus did for me."
A brand plucked from fire grows into a beautiful, thriving vine, illustrating salvation.
A minister of the gospel one day saw a piece of ivy intwined round a brand in the fire. He took it out, planted it in front of his house. It took root, grew, grew higher, and spread wider, until it covered the front most luxuriantly, forming a beautiful ornament, and admired by the passers-by. To all inquiries, he gives the history of its planting and growth, and then asks the question, "Is not this a brand plucked from the burning?"
Salvation is a free, certain gift from Christ for all who accept it.
Shall the husbandman, for the sake of the harvest, waste his strength, and bear the burden and heat of the day, and then, when the ripe corn tempts the sickle, in very wantonness refuse to reap, and let it be destroyed? Shall the Lord Jesus undertake to suffer for us, shall he actually toil and groan and grieve, and die for us, and then let the fruit of all his sufferings be lost, and leave us to perish in our sins? No! it cannot be. It is impossible to exaggerate the certainty and freeness of that salvation that is in Christ for all who will but lay hold of it. It is impossible that any thing in the universe can lie between you and eternal life, if you but accept it as "the gift" of God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Caird.
Salvation is a gift from God, not something to be earned or purchased.
Once there was a poor woman who greatly desired a bunch of grapes from the king's conservatory for her sick child. She took half a crown, and went to the king's gardener, and tried to purchase the grapes, but was rudely repulsed. A second effort, with more money, met like results. It happened that the king's daughter heard the angry words of the gardener, and the crying of the woman, and inquired into the matter. When the poor woman had told her story, the princess said, "My dear woman, you were mistaken. My father is not a merchant, but a king; his business is not to sell, but to give;" whereupon she plucked the bunch from the vine, and gently dropped it into the woman's apron. So the woman obtained as a free gift what the labor of many days and nights had proved unable to procure her.
Salvation can happen instantly when faith is given by God, as in the jailer's conversion.
God can do much work in a short time. Many are the examples in the Acts of the Apostles of God's working this faith in men's hearts, even like lightning falling from heaven. So, in the same hour that Paul and Silas began to preach, the jailer repented, believed, and was baptized, as were three thousand by St. Peter on the Day of Pentecost, who all repented and believed on his first preaching. And, blessed be God! there are now many living proofs that he is still mighty to save. J. Wesley.
There is great joy among men and angels over newly-born souls in salvation.
A highly esteemed young man was rescued from the water, and appeared to be dead. At length, he began to show signs of life; and a thrill of joy ran through the crowd as it was whispered around, "He breathes!" How much greater the joy of men and angels over newly-born souls!
Neglecting salvation leads to certain ruin, like neglect causing physical or moral decay.
Simply "neglect the great salvation," and you will make your everlasting ruin sure. Many foolish, faithless parents have stood by the grave of a child which they dug with their own hands. How? Did they administer slow poison, or strike an assassin-knife through the young heart? No; but they killed their child just as surely by simple neglect of the first laws of health. Many a father, too, has wrung his hands in agony before a prison-cell which held a ruined son, or over the letter which told him of a son's disgrace; and on those very hands rested the guilt of that boy's ruin. Why? Had they led that son into sabbath-breaking or theft or profligacy? No; but they had let the youth alone, and left him to rush into them unrestrained. Neglect was the boy's ruin. There is no need that the man in a skiff amid Niagara's rapids should row towards the cataract: resting on his oars is quite enough to send him over the awful verge. Cuyler.
Salvation requires effort; neglect leads to spiritual ruin just as in worldly affairs.
Most of the calamities of life are caused by simple neglect. By neglect of education, children grow up in ignorance; by neglect, a farm grows up to weeds and briers; by neglect, a house goes to decay; by neglect of sowing, a man will have no harvest; by neglect of reaping, the harvest would rot in the fields. No worldly interest can prosper where there is neglect; and why may it not be so in religion? There is nothing in earthly affairs that is valuable that will not be ruined if it is not attended to; and why may it not be so with the concerns of the soul? Let no one infer, therefore, that because he is not a drunkard, or an adulterer, or a murderer, that therefore he will be saved. Such an inference would be as irrational as it would be for a man to infer, that, because he is not a murderer, his farm will produce a harvest; or that, because he is not an adulterer, therefore his merchandise will take care of itself. Salvation would be worth nothing if it cost no effort; and there will be no salvation where no effort is put forth. Dr. A. Barnes.
Salvation is like a fallen vine restored by connection to the living bough, Christ.
The plan of salvation is likened unto a vine which has fallen down from the boughs of an oak. It lies prone upon the ground; it crawls in the dust; and all its tendrils and claspers, which were formed to hold it in the lofty place from which it had fallen, are twined around the weed and the bramble, and, having no strength in itself, it lies fruitless and corrupting, tied down to the base things of the earth. Now, how shall the vine arise from its fallen condition? But one way is possible for the vine to rise again to the place from whence it had fallen. The bough of the lofty oak must be let down, or some communication must be formed connected with the top of the oak, and at the same time with the earth; then, when the bough of the oak was let down to the place where the vine lay, its tender claspers might fasten upon it, and, thus supported, it might raise itself up, and bear fruit again in the lofty place from whence it fell. So with man. His affections had fallen from God, and were fastened to the base things of the earth. Jesus Christ came down, and by his humanity stood upon the earth, and by his divinity raised his hands, and united himself with the deity of the everlasting Father. Thus the fallen affections of man may fasten upon him, and twine around him, until they again ascend to the bosom of the Godhead from whence they fell.
— J. B. Walker
Judas sold his salvation cheaply, but those who bought it paid dearly with damnation.
Judas sold his salvation very cheap, — for thirty pieces of silver; and yet they that paid the money paid very dear; for they bought their own damnation. Venning.
A soldier’s Bible miraculously diverted a bullet, symbolizing God’s protection of the soul.
George Creedy went into the battle of White-oak Swamp with a Testament in his pocket. A Minie-ball shattered his arm, then struck the Testament, splitting it; and was thereby diverted from its course, and the soldier's life saved. How often has the Testament turned the missiles of death from the exposed soul?
Depicts a savior rescuing boys from danger, illustrating Christ's saving work.
Three little boys were playing on a high point of the seashore. The tide flowing in, they were surrounded by water, and unable to escape. A fisherman discovered their situation, and rescued them just as the water reached to their necks. He was the boys' savior.
Jesus lovingly seeks and rescues lost believers, restoring them with cleansing and care.
Here's a farmer owns a hundred sheep. Well, at night he counts 'em; and he makes one short. He goes over them again: perhaps he's reckoned wrong. No: its only ninety-nine again. He goes in to his wife, who is sitting by the kitchen-fire waiting till he comes to supper. "Why, lass, there's one gone. Poor thing! he must have got over the wall." (Ah! the Devil's always ready to help a poor sheep of Christ over the wall.) He starts in search of him. By and by he sees the foot-marks. Ah, yonder he is! But now he has to mind where he treads: he has to make a spring now and then over some boggy place; and the land is all sopping wet. But he sees the track of the wanderer; and now he hears "Ba-a!" and the great soft eyes of the creature stare up at him from a quagmire, as if to say, "O master, help me out!" He takes him up, and puts him over his shoulders; and the black mud drips down his jacket: but he doesn't mind that. At last, he comes to the brook that skirts his orchard; and then he washes all the filth away, and the poor thing trots into the fold with such a happy bleat, as if to say, "Thank you, sir!" Now, that's how Jesus fetches back his wanderer; only he doesn't put him across his shoulders. He puts him into his bosom; and then he takes and washes him in the fountain filled with his own precious blood. That's what he did for me eight years ago. And that's what he is ready to do for you. Hallelujah! Richard Weaver.
God joyfully welcomes sinners returning to Him with love and forgiveness.
Every loving word that God speaks to us acts back again, and makes music in his heart. He never says with a seowl, "Here comes that poor, limping sinner again." The path of the sinner back to God is brighter and brighter all the way up to the smile of the face and the touch of the hand; and that is salvation.
— Beecher
A shipwreck vision led a soldier to repentance and salvation through Christ.
Capt. B.'s regiment was quartered at Malta. From the Auberge de Castile, he could command a beautiful view of the harbor. Standing one day at his window, he beheld a ship sailing out of the harbor. As he gazed upon the beautiful object, he observed her suddenly tremble: the masts went overboard as she sank. She had struck on a rock; and so severe was the shock, that she instantly went down. The solemn spectacle was the voice of God to his conscience. Such was its arousing effect on his feelings, he instantly fell upon his knees, exclaiming, "Such will be the shipwreck of my soul, O Lord! if thou dost not undertake for me." From that moment, he saw himself a sinner, and, seeking Jesus, found salvation through his peace-speaking blood. Reid.
Claiming salvation without embracing its means is folly and self-deception.
The Duke D'Alva, at the Fuyck Scence, before Haarlem, having promised the soldiers their lives, caused them to perish with hunger. Being confronted with his promise, he answered that he had given them assurance of their lives, but not that they should have meat or drink. Such is the folly of him that talks of saving his soul, but denies it the means of salvation. Spencer.
A kind word and Scripture can convict and lead a hardened sinner to salvation.
The following anecdote is told of Richard Weaver. In a railroad carriage, a navy was swearing terribly. The guard, knowing Richard's habit of speaking to every one, whispered to him, "Better let him alone: he is so violent, that he would strike you if his passions were raised." Richard got close to him, and said, "Give me your hand, my friend." He then whispered into his ear, "Why are you calling on my Father?"—"I know nothing of your father," answered the swearer. "I'll tell you his name and character," said Richard; and then he repeated the text, "God so loved the world," &c., and enlarged upon it. As if struck by some sudden conviction, the man answered, "These were the last words my mother said to me."—"Then let us pray," said Richard, "that God may make them the means of your salvation." They did so; and Richard met him not long after a changed man.
A single earnest word can prompt repentance and bring revival to many.
"Make one honest effort for your soul's salvation," said a professor of Brown University to young Malcom, then a student in the institution. The student went to his room, and shut himself up with God. The expression, "Make one honest effort," sounded in his ears. He obeyed. He struggled. He cast himself on Christ. He came from that room an altered man. In after-years, the preaching of our dear friend Malcolm has been blessed with revival influences that have brought scores to the cross, among them, two now in the Presbyterian ministry. "I never can forget that word which was once whispered to me in an inquiry-meeting," said a Christian to his friend. "What word?"—"It was the word 'eternity.' A young pious companion, who was yearning for the salvation of my soul, came up to my pew, and simply whispered 'eternity' in my ear with solemn tenderness, and left me. But that word did not leave me: it drove me to the cross for salvation." Cuyler.
Choosing earthly riches over heavenly treasures results in eternal loss.
A merchant of ——, engaged in a lucrative trade, was convinced by the Spirit of God that he was an heir of hell, but might, by repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, become an heir of heaven. The "god of this world" tempted him with much earthly gain, and God, in the person of the Holy Ghost, offered him durable riches and righteousness. He was fully convinced, as he said, that the riches of earth and the riches of heaven were set before him, and that he could not obtain both, but might have his choice. He glanced at heaven's durable riches, and then settled his covetous gaze upon earth's glittering gold. He paused, feeling his choice was for eternity, but strangely, madly said, "Give me my portion here." His prayer was answered. His riches were multiplied. But, said he, "I know that to gain the world, I have lost my soul."
# PUBLIC DANCES.
modate him as comfortably as usual; but the pastor, without being disconcerted, asked him to have his supper served to him in a corner of the room. When it was ready, he begged the assembly to grant him a few moments silence, that he might, according to his practice, make an audible prayer before partaking of the meal. He accordingly commenced praying, but before he had finished, the dancers had disappeared.
A sailor was saved spiritually and physically through the Bible and prayer at sea.
The late Rev. Leigh Richmond was once speaking at a meeting at Edinburgh, for the advancement of religion among sailors, when he relates the following facts:— "When I reflect on the character and circumstances of seamen, I cannot without peculiar interest recollect the time, when a young man went to sea, whose feelings were ill suited to all the contingencies of a sea-faring life. I remember that the time came when it was said the vessel in which he had sailed had been wrecked, and that the young man was dead, and no intimation had reached the ears of his affectionate parents, of any change in his views as to the things of God. And I remember the time when that young man was so far restored again to his family, that although they saw him not, they heard that he had been saved from the shipwreck. That young man, too, was found by the blessed God while on the ocean with the Bible only, which his father at parting had put into his hand. It was blessed to him in the midst of the carnal companions by whom he was surrounded. This means of grace, without any human instruction, was made effectual to the salvation of his soul. The time came when that young man, who had been a foe to religion, lifted up, in the Bay of Gibraltar, at his mast-head, a Bethel flag, and summoned his sailors to prayer, and prayed with them, and bade the missionary exhort them.—And when I tell you that that young man is my own son, you will see that I may well say, God bless the Sailors' Friend!"
A Bible given by a dying child converted a former enemy into a zealous advocate.
BED REQUEST. —A young man once went into the shop of a tradesman at Reading, where the subject of the Bible Society was mentioned, when he expressed, in language rancorous and bitter, his hatred of the institution. His passion was too violent to allow at that time a word of remonstrance to be addressed to him. The fact was mentioned to a little girl, a daughter of the tradesman, who was then on her death-bed. She had felt the power of Divine truth, and recommended that they should subscribe for a Bible, and present it to him. The request was attended to, and the Bible was given him, with an account of the dying child's concern for his welfare. He received it with gratitude, carefully perused it, was deeply impressed with its truths, and read it to his fellow-servants. In a word, he became a zealous and consistent advocate for the Divine book, which he had formerly so much opposed.
A former pagan chief joyfully embraces salvation in Christ, confident in eternal life at death.
Mr. Williams relates, in his "Missionary Enterprises," that a delightful instance of the power of the gospel is to be met with in the history of a chief named Vara, a native of the island of Aimco. In the time of his ignorance he was a procurer of human sacrifices: but he became eventually a humble and devoted Christian, and to the day of his death he adorned his profession. He was visited many times in his dying moments by Mr. Orsmond, whose account of his death I will here subjoin.
On seeing his end approach, I said to him, "Are you sorry that you cast away your lying gods, by which you used to gain so much property?" He was aroused from his lethargy, and with tears of pleasure sparkling in his eyes, he exclaimed, "O no, no! What! can I be sorry for casting away death for life? Jesus is my rock, the fortification in which my soul takes shelter." I said, "Tell me on what you found your hopes of future blessedness?" He replied, "I have been very wicked; but a great King from the other side of the skies sent his ambassadors with terms of peace. We could not tell, for many years, what these ambassadors wanted. At length, Pomare obtained a victory, and invited all his subjects to come and take refuge under the wing of Jesus, and I was one of the first to do so. The blood of Jesus is my foundation. I grieve that all my children do not love him. Had they known the misery we endured in the reign of the devil, they would gladly take the gospel in exchange for their follies. Jesus is the best King; he gives a pillow without thorns." After a little time I asked him if he were afraid to die; when, with almost youthful energy, he replied, "No, no! The canoe is on the sea, the sails are spread; she is ready for the gale. I have a good Pilot to guide me, and a good haven to receive me. My outside man and my inside man differ. Let the one rot till the trump shall sound, but let my soul wing her way to the throne of Jesus!"
Whitefield's preaching could not build a ship but could save a soul.
A shipbuilder was once asked what he thought of Mr. Whitefield. "Think!" he replied; "I tell you, sir, every Sunday that I go to my parish church, I can build a ship from stem to stern under the sermon; but were I to save my soul, under Mr. W. I could not lay a single plank."
A dying leper trusted Christ’s gospel message and found salvation.
I heard the other day, said the Rev. Mr. Abeel, at a public meeting, from one of the brethren who had formerly been in Siberia, but was recalled from the field at the elevation of the Emperor Nicholas to the throne, a case of the most thrilling interest. That brother told me, that, as he was passing one day among a collection of Tartar tents, he found a man lying in the last stage of that loathsome disease, the leprosy. As the Missionary looked upon him, he lifted up his death-stricken eyes, and fastening them upon his countenance, said, "I know you." "How can that be," replied the Missionary, "have you ever seen me before?" "Oh yes, I have," replied the dying man. "Did you not preach three years ago in such a Bazaar?" "I cannot really tell," replied the Missionary, "I have no particular remembrance of it." "Don't you remember," said the man, in a tone of surprise, "you stood upon the steps of such a house?" "Oh yes," answered the other, "I do remember it now." "And do you remember what you preached there?" "No," said the Missionary, "I have no recollection." "You told us," said the man, "about Jesus who died to save sinners, and that men of every nation might come to him and he would receive and save them: Oh sir, I never heard such things before. I then believed in Jesus; I received him as my Savior, I never heard of him before or since. But now I am dying, and am looking to none other to help me." Penetrated with what he had heard and seen, he went to another tent, and found men drinking. He asked them, "Why do you not go to your brother? he lies there dying with nobody to help him." "Brother!" exclaimed they with indignation, "he is no brother of ours; he is a dog; and has abandoned us, and his soul is going down swiftly to hell." The missionary, thus repulsed, went back to comfort his dying Christian brother. He entered the solitary tent but "the spirit had fled." There lay the follower of the Lamb, dead, and with none to bury him, insomuch that the missionary was obliged to dig a hasty grave, and roll into it the emaciated and half consumed body.
### 281. Miscellaneous Illustrations.
A dying woman is converted through hearing the gospel after a popish priest's rites.
Mr. Guthrie, an eminent minister in Scotland, was one evening traveling home very late. Having lost his way on a moor, he laid the reins on the neck of his horse, and committed himself to the direction of Providence. After long traveling over ditches and fields, the horse brought him to a farmer's house, into which he went, and requested permission to sit by the fire till morning, which was granted. A popish priest was administering extreme unction to the mistress of the house, who was dying. Mr. Guthrie said nothing till the priest had retired: then he went forward to the dying woman, and asked her if she enjoyed peace in the prospect of death, in consequence of what the priest had said and done to her. She answered, that she did not; on which he spoke to her of salvation through the atoning blood of the Redeemer. The Lord taught her to understand, and enabled her to believe the message of mercy, and she died triumphing in Jesus Christ her Savior. After witnessing this astonishing scene, Mr. Guthrie mounted his horse, and rode home. On his arrival, he told Mrs. Guthrie he had seen a great wonder during the night. "I came," said he, "to a farm-house, where I found a woman in a state of nature; I saw her in a state of grace; and left her in a state of glory."
A child's earnest request leads her parents to salvation through hearing the gospel.
A little girl one Sabbath morning was much affected under the sermon, and on her return home, earnestly entreated her mother would accompany her to chapel in the evening to hear how delightfully the minister talked about Jesus Christ. The child was so intent on this object that she made the request with tears, and the mother, at last, consented to accompany her importunate girl to the chapel. The preacher chose for his text, "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation," Rom. i. 16. The woman was seriously and effectually impressed by the word of God, was led earnestly to seek salvation, and obtained mercy by faith in Christ Jesus. The wife now naturally became anxious for the salvation of her husband, and persuaded him also to attend the chapel. He also submitted to the influence of the truth, and both the parents became grateful to God for the child whose importunity led them to hear the gospel of salvation.
Saving one soul brings more joy in heaven than great scientific discoveries.
Dr. Scott, in one of his lectures to young clergymen, says: "I must own that I feel in my best moments, that I had rather be the author of the 'Discourse on Repentance,' than of Sir Isaac Newton's Principia; for the salvation of one soul gives joy in heaven, but we read not that angels notice philosophical discoveries."
### TO GOD'S WILL.
Happy world! Our Father who art in heaven, whose will is always wise and always good, thy will be thus done on earth as it is done in heaven!
Conviction of sin leads to earnest prayer and salvation through God's mercy.
Dr. Milne, the pious missionary, in speaking of his conversion, says, "The book which God made use of more especially for convincing me of my sin and misery, was Boston's Fourfold State, which I read with the deepest attention. It conducted me to my own heart, discovered the evils which before lay hid in the chambers of imagery; the monstrous ingratitude to God which had marked all my conduct; and the pollution of original and actual sin, with which my soul was contaminated. I saw that I was necessarily under the strongest and most righteous obligations to God, and had never for one hour of my life discharged them, but lived in rebellion against the author of my life; so I was justly under the curse of God's righteous law, and exposed to everlasting misery." Under the tormenting fears of eternal wrath, he sometimes wished himself transformed into a stone, or one of the fowls he saw flying over his head in the fields. He was frequent and fervent in prayer, and was, in the mercy of God, led to those means by which he learned how even a vile and guilty creature, such as he was, might be for ever saved.
A man aware of his sin faces death with despair but hope through Christian fellowship.
A poor negro, a few years ago, thus addressed the late Rev. Mr. Johnson, at Regent's Town, on the western coast of Africa:— entertain a very high opinion of his personal piety, and could not account for this strange dispensation. However, the day on which he died, a minister who was on a journey, called at Mr. Petto's, not with any view of stopping; but Mr. Petto desired him to alight, for he had a circumstance to relate to him, which was the case of this poor distressed friend, and expressed a wish that he would go and see him, in hopes he might be directed to say something that might be useful. After giving a brief account of the life and conversation of Mr. Rose, expressing the great esteem he had for him, and the concern which his present state of distress gave him, &c., they went to see him. On approaching the bed of the poor dying man, the minister asked him how he was in his mind? "O sir," said he, "never worse, never worse! I am in a lost state! just dying, and have no hope! I am as sure that I shall go to hell, as I am of being a man!" The minister replied: "Friend, I am grieved to find you under so much dejection; but however, though I dare not positively say that you will not go to hell, from all the accounts I can gather concerning you, I believe you are not likely to stop there long; for you have loved the company of serious Christians, to converse with them on religious subjects; and you were most in your element when you have been attending at such opportunities. You have been wont to tell of the love and loveliness of Christ—of his matchless grace and condescension in assuming human nature, and obeying and suffering for the redemption and salvation of sinners; and also of the work of the Holy Spirit, in revealing Christ to the souls of sinners, as the only hope set before them in the gospel. Now I would have you to know that, as this was the habitual temper and disposition of your mind, and in all the past part of your life, ever since you knew the Lord Jesus Christ, death will make no change in the habit of your mind. Nay; and if you should even go to hell, you will be the same man; and you will begin to talk on the same subjects. Now, this will never be borne; your company will soon be hateful to the inhabitants of hell, and the devil will soon turn you out again."
This peculiar thought was the means, in the hand of the Spirit, of setting the poor man at liberty; for, with an expressive smile, he exclaimed, "All is well, all is well!" and departed in a few minutes after. Those words had a remarkable accomplishment in him: "Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; for the end of that man is peace."
A stranger's prayer prompts a sinner's conviction and leads him to seek salvation through Christ.
At Lebanon, in the state of New York, there dwelt a certain man, about fifty years of age, who had not only lived a very careless life, but was an open opposer of the gospel plan of salvation, and of the work of God in the late revival of religion in that part of the country; he was, however, brought under serious convictions in the following manner:—One day there came into his house a traveler with a burden on his back; the family being about to sit down to dinner, the stranger was invited to partake with them, which he accordingly did. When the repast was finished, and the members of the family were withdrawing from their seats, the stranger said, "Don't let us forget to give thanks to God." He accordingly gave thanks, and departed. The man of the house felt reproved and confounded. The words of the stranger were fastened on his mind by the power of God. He was led to reflect on his wickedness in being unmindful of God, and in neglecting prayer and thanksgiving; he was also led to reflect on his manifold sins, which soon appeared to him a burden infinitely greater than that which the traveler bore. He found no relief until he sought in that very way which he used formerly to despise, through the peace-speaking blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Presuming on future repentance risks sudden death and losing one's soul.
Rev. Mr. Baker, a Free-will Baptist evangelist, was visiting from house to house, in a certain neighborhood, in New England; and met on his walk three young men with axes on their shoulders. He stopped and conversed with them. Two appeared somewhat serious: the third, a gay, frank young man, replied, "You see, sir, that splendid white house on that farm yonder?" "Yes." "Well, sir, that estate has been willed to me by my uncle; and we are now going to do chopping in the woodland that belongs to it. There are some incumbrances on the estate which I must settle, before the farm can be fully mine; and as soon as I have cleared it of these incumbrances I mean to become a Christian." "Ah! young man," said the minister, "beware; you may never see that day; while you are gaining the world, you may lose your soul." "I'll run the risk," said he, and they parted. The three young men went into the woods; and this daring procrastinator, and another, engaged in felling a tree. A dry, heavy limb, hung loosely in the top; and as the tree was jarred by the successive strokes of the axe, it quit its hold, and as it fell crashing through the branches to the earth, it struck the head of the young heir, in its way, and stretched him on the ground a lifeless corpse. Thus were his hopes cut off; and hazarding the delay of months he lost his soul in an hour. His fellow-laborer was converted; for conviction struck his mind when he saw the young heir quivering in death! "I felt then such a horror at the danger of delaying religion, when I thought what he had just said, and saw his end, that I determined to neglect my soul no longer." His example was followed by others; and a great revival ensued.
Procrastinating repentance with false confidence leads to eternal damnation at death.
In the early part of my ministry, said the Rev. Mr. T. East, of Birmingham, a woman was in the habit of attending the place of worship in which I preached, who occupied a seat on the stairs, and who was very tenacious of her sitting, not allowing any other person to occupy it. She was observed by her friends, who sought occasion to converse with her on the important subject of religion; but she was very shy and evasive. All they could extract from her was this appalling reply: "Oh, I shall only want five minutes time when I am dying to cry for mercy: and I have no doubt God Almighty will give it me." It was in vain to remonstrate with the woman; this was always her reply. Time passed on. One day, I was walking down the street, when a young woman ran up to me in a state of great agitation and excitement, exclaiming, "O, Mr. East, I have found you; do come to my mother, sir; come this minute, sir: she is dying, she is dying!" I hastened with her to the house, and was astonished to find in the dying sufferer the poor unhappy woman who had attended my place of worship. She was evidently expiring: but, turning her dying eyes towards me, she cried out, "O, Mr. East, I am damned, I am damned!" and expired.
# 129. Miscellaneous.
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