"Aunt Prudence, God says, 'I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, but rather that he turn from his evil way and live.' 'Turn ye, turn ye, for why will ye die, O house of Israel?'"
"That's not for me, for I can't turn. I might have done it once, but now it's too late."
"Why do you say it is too late, aunt? Would you limit the power of God? Are we not told that 'Christ is able to save to the uttermost, all that come unto God by him,' and does he not invite you to come? 'Come unto me all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.'"
"But he says, 'My Spirit shall not always strive,' and I can't expect that he will ever strive with me again, since I have resisted him, and grieved him away so often. No, it is too late."
"Aunt Prudence, I am sure he has not ceased to strive with you, or you would not feel the anxiety that you do. I believe he is striving with you now."
"No, Ella, you have no idea how hard, how dreadfully hard my heart is. Ella, fifty years I have lived in rebellion against God, I have given all my best days to the world; I did not seek God early, and now I cannot expect to find him."
"Remember the thief on the cross, aunt Prudence, saved at the eleventh hour. 'God is the Lord, the Lord God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin.'"
"'But who will by no means clear the guilty,'" added Miss Prudence, "and who more guilty than I?"
"But aunt Prudence, he says, 'I have found a ransom.' Jesus says, 'Come unto me and I will give you rest; you have only to come casting away every other dependence, and he will receive you.' 'Return unto the Lord and he will have mercy upon you, and to our God for he will abundantly pardon.'"