TO THE UNCONVERTED READER

FRIEND, — We have been answering questions concerning a joy with which thou canst not intermeddle — for thou art, to thine own loss and shame, a stranger from the commonwealth of Israel. But thou too hast a question or two which it were well to ask thyself. Whence that misery of which thou art at times the victim? Why dost thou tremble under an arousing sermon? Why doth the funeral knell grate on thine ear? What makes thy knees knock together at the sound of thunder? Why dost thou quiver at nighfall, though a leaf all solitary, was the only thing which stirred within many a yard of thee? Why dost thou feel such alarm when pestilence is abroad? Why so anxious after a hundred remedies? Why so fearful if thou art but sick an hour? Why so unwilling to visit the grave of thy companion? Answer this, 0 soul, without reserve. Is it not that thou art afraid to die? It is — thou knowest it is.

But, O my friend, fear death as much as thou wilt, thou canst not escape it. On his pale horse he is pursuing thee at no lame pace, but at a rate which thou mayst guess of by the wind, or the flashing lightning. Noiseless is the wing of time, dumb is the lip of death; but time is none the less rapid for its silence, and death not one whit more uncertain because he trumpets not his coming. Remember, while thou art fearing, the messenger is hastening to arrest thee. Every moment now gliding away is another moment lost, and lost to one who little can afford it. Oh, ere the wax hath cooled which is sealing thy death warrant, listen to a warning from God, for if the book of thy doom be once sealed, it shall never be opened for erasure or inscription. Hear Moses and the prophets, and then hear the great Jesus speak: “The soul that sinneth it shall die.” “He will by no means spare the guilty.” “Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the law to do them.” “Behold the day cometh that shall burn as an oven, and all the proud yea, and ALL THAT DO WICKEDLY, shall be stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of Hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.” Regard then the voice of Jesus, full of mercy: “THE SON OF MAN IS COME TO SEEK AND TO SAVE THAT WHICH WAS LOST.”

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