“Knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end?” — 2 Samuel 2:26

If, O my reader! thou art merely a professor, and not a possessor of thefaith that is in Christ Jesus, the following lines are a true ketch of thineend.

You are a respectable attendant at a place of worship; you go because others go, not because your heart is right with God. This is your beginning. I will suppose that for the next twenty or thirty years you will be spared to go on as you do now, professing religion by an outward attendance upon the means of grace, but having no heart in the matter. Tread softly, for I must show you the deathbed of such a one as yourself. Let us gaze upon him gently. A clammy sweat is on his brow, and he wakes up crying, “O God, it is hard to die. Did you send for my minister?” “Yes, he is coming.” The minister comes. “Sir, I fear that I am dying!” “Have you any hope?” “I cannot say that I have. I fear to….

stand before my God; oh! prayfor me.” The prayer is offered for him with sincere earnestness, and theway of salvation is for the ten-thousandth time put before him, but beforehe has grasped the rope, I see him sink. I may put my finger upon thosecold eyelids, for they will never see anything here again. But where is theman, and where are the man’s true eyes? It is written, “In hell he lifted uphis eyes, being in torment.” Ah! why did he not lift up his eyes before?Because he was so accustomed to hear the gospel that his soul slept underit. Alas! if you should lift up your eyes there, how bitter will be yourwailings. Let the Saviour’s own words reveal the woe: “Father Abraham,send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool mytongue, for I am tormented in this flame.” There is a frightful meaning inthose words. May you never have to spell it out by the red light ofJehovah’s wrath!

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Producer: Todd Adkins
Voice Artist: Ian Cullen