Page:Anecdotes of singular and remarkable conversions.pdf/2



evening (saith Mr. Longden) as I was returning from Chapel, where I had been much blessed, I felt my soul travailing in birth for the salvation of perishing men. Having to call at our grocer’s shop, I found him enquiring of a poor woman after the health of her son. In a plaintive voice she replied, “He is very ill;— he cannot continue long;— he is my only child, and when I have lost him, I have lost all!” Instantly I felt a strong desire to visit him, and with sane difficulty obtained permission. I found him in a wretched habitation, seated in an easy chair, panting for breath, in the last stage of a consumption: he appeared to be about twenty-two years of age.

I addressed him as follows: “Young man, I am sorry to see you so ill.” He said, “I am ill indeed sir; but it will not be long:— I shall soon be released,— I hope I shall soon be in heaven.” “I am glad (I added) to hear of your willingness to die and of your hope of heaven: have you a scriptural foundation for your hope?” As he made no reply, and thinking he did not understand me, I said, “You know, my friend, there are many die who do not go to heaven: for God saith, ‘The wicked shall be turned into hell, with all the people that forget God.’ Before we can be admitted into heaven, we must repent of our wicked lives, and obtain a pardon of all our sins. Have you repented, and been forgiven?” He could contain himself no longer, but turned with indignation to his mother and said, “What did you bring this fellow here for?” Then turning