INSTANT IN SEASON.

CHAPTER XXI.

"Be instant in season, out of season."

The following reminisences from the pen of Mr. Baldwin, are full of instruction to the young.

"During the first year of my travels," says Mr. Baldwin, "there resided in the vicinity of one of my appointments, an elderly lady, whose husband had died several years before in the triumphs of faith, but she herself was an openly avowed enemy of revealed religion. She was a professed Universalist, and to the extent of her ability and influence, an active propagator of what she professed. In her family was a son, about twenty-two years of age, who had been fond of the gaities and follies of life, but whose character for morality and integrity, so far as I know, was unimpeachable. Though

I had preached often for several months, within a very short distance of her house, I do not remember ever to have seen any member of her family at church, consequently I had no personal acquaintance with any of them. On one occasion I was informed that the young man was in the last stage of consumption. I knew that in all probability, a few days would close his career, therefore I felt a strong desire to see him. He was watched so closely, that no religious person had been permitted to talk with him on the subject of religion. His deluded mother had been constantly assuring him that he had never committed any sins of which he should repent, that he had always been a good son and would certainly go to Heaven when he died. In this way he had been consoling himself that through his own suffering, and by the mere mercy of God, he would soon be in paradise. I resolved to visit him, come what might. I accordingly called one afternoon in company with his uncle, who was a member of our church, being led as I doubted not, by the spirit

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of God. I found him very low, pale, emaciated, with a sunken eye, a hollow voice, and with a severe cough, and the hectic flush on his cheek. Without being asked, I took my seat by his bed, and in the presence of his gloomy keeper, commenced a conversation upon the all important subject of the salvation of his soul. I apprized him that to all appearance, he had not long to live, and inquired of him what were his hopes of heaven. At first he appeared much disconcerted and rather angry at my interrogations. He replied in substance that he expected to die, and was not afraid of death-he never had committed the unpardonable sin. I then endeavored to explain to him the nature of the atonement, that there was salvation only in the Lord Jesus Christ-that all had sinned and come short of the glory of God, and that without repentance and faith in Christ, he would be lost forever. I then solemnly warned him against resting in a false security, when the peace which he professed to feel, did not flow from a consciousness of the forgiveness of sins,

and the love of God shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Ghost given unto him. I exhorted him to repent, and by constant and fervent prayer, to seek for a preparation to meet God, which would soon be his doom. I then proposed prayer, and without waiting to know whether it would be acceptable or not, I kneeled by the bed of death, and fervently supplicated a throne of grace in behalf of the wretched sufferer. The Lord heard and answered my prayer. He trembled and wept, and sighed in bitterness and anguish. I left him greatly humbled, and in tears. On my departure, I reflected much, and asked myself, will this poor youth be lost? and lost too, through the instructions of his mother by whom he has been led astray. His heart was still tender, and I found that he desired to find the right way to the cross. I felt that with proper instruction, he might yet be plucked as a brand from the burning. I had faith to believe God would finish the work and cut it short in righteousness. In a few days I heard that he was no

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more. But I was rejoiced to learn that my colleague visited him, and talked and prayed. I learned that he spoke much of Jesus and heaven, and the last sound from his dying lips was, 'GLORY!' Glory be to God, my soul responds. I feel altogether to-day like meeting that young man in heaven. I am glad that I ever heard of the name of Jesus, that I ever 'forsook all to follow him,' and that I was ever commissioned to visit the bed of death, to tell the dying sinner that Jesus is able to save to the uttermost. I am now glad that I visited that young man without being sent for and urged to come. Two pastoral visits, one by myself and the other by my colleague, were all the outward means with which he was favored during his last sickness, but they were sanctified to his salvation. I acknowledge my frequent remissness in pastoral visitations, but take pleasure in recording that some of the happiest scenes that I have ever enjoyed, have been while engaged in 'going from house to house.""