As I listened to this affecting conversation, it appeared to me, from the tone and manner of the mother’s voice, that she was more under the influence of temporary grief, on account of her child’s extreme illness, than sincere sorrow from any real sense of her sins. I however hoped the best, and rejoiced to hear such weighty and important exhortation dropping from her daughter’s lips. I felt that present circumstances rendered it far more valuable than my own could have been.
I have often, since that time, seen the wicked and careless much affected, while sitting by the dying bed of a near relative: I have witnessed their temporary acknowledgments of sin, and heard their professions of amendment. But, after a short season, all has passed away like the morning dew. The friend has been buried out of sight. The world
and its cares, the flesh and its sins, have returned with new temptations, and the eloquence of iniquity has prevailed over the voice of truth. “The dog has returned to his vomit, and the sow to her wallowing in the mire.”
On the other hand, how frequently have the deathbeds of true believers been blessed to the eye-witness of the triumphs of grace over sin, death, and hell! Often has the careless bystander received the first saving impression of divine truth, whilst the dying Christian has experienced and testified the supports of love and mercy in the trying hour. At such seasons, faith wields a bright and burning torch, which occasionally softens the hardest and warms the coldest heart. The expressions of that heavenly consolation and devout solicitude, which the Holy Spirit vouchsafes to some, thus become the happy means of grace and blessing for the conversion and edification of others.
“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches!”
At this moment the house-door opened, and a younger child, a brother of Jane’s, came in. The mother asked from above who it was: the boy replied; and, without further inquiry, she remained in the chamber. I beckoned to the lad to sit down quietly; and thus it still remained unknown that I was below.
“Mother,” continued Jane, “that is my brother, and will soon be your only remaining child. Do, pray, encourage him to follow good ways. Send him to Mr. ---, and he will be kind to him, as he has been to me. He is a wild boy, but I hope he will be brought to think about his soul in time. Those naughty, wicked boys teach him to swear
and fight, and run after all manner of evil. Lord, help him to flee from the wrath to come!”
I made a sign to the boy to listen to what his sister said concerning him. He seemed to hear with attention, and a tear dropped down his cheek.
“Ay, Jenny, it is to be hoped he will, and that we shall all likewise.”