Page:Christ the only refuge from the wrath to come.pdf/22

 into temptation, ‘and thereby fallen into evil.’

They lay under arms during the whole of one night, expecting to "be attacked every minute. He was much alarmed and distressed, for he feared, lest in case of his being killed, that holy God, against whom he had sinned, would assuredly cast him into hell. He mentioned his apprehensions to a serious elderly man who was next to him. who replied, 'You see, young man, that a guilty conscience makes a coward. Many people make shift to live without religion, but it is hard to die without it’; Religion, (exclaimed a profane wretch with a sneer,) it’s all in my eye.’ ‘Fools make a mock at sin, (replied the old soldier) you have imbibed the horrid sentiments of Tom Paine.’ ‘Aye! (said the other.) and I am not to be hummed with your cant.’ ‘God be praised, (said Ben,) though l am a vile sinner, I am not an infidel.’ But are you a Christian?’ replied the old soldier. ‘I hope I am,’ returned Ben. ‘Have you reason to believe that you are Washed in the blood of Christ, and born again of the Holy Ghost?’ enquired the pious veteran. Benjamin paused, and replied with a trembling voice, ‘I fear not. Would that I was.’ ‘Ah! young man, (said the old soldier,) what a melancholy thing it is when people neglect religion, till danger and death stare them in the face, it is dangerous trusting to a death-bed repentance, for those who live in; sin' commonly die in sin. It is not enough to be born and baptized in a Christian country, much more is necessary. Jesus Christ died upon the cross to make atonement for sin, yet we shall