Dying Statements of the Saved
Now let us take the contrast. Here are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ who have accepted the grace of God for salvation for both time and eternity.
1. Jordan Antie: The chariot has come, and I am ready to step in.”
2. Margaret Prior: Eternity rolls up before me like a sea of glory.
3. Martha McCrackin: How bright the room! How full of angels.
4. Dr. Cullen: I wish I had the power of writing: I would describe how pleasant it is to die.
5. B. S. Bangs: The sun is setting: mine is rising. I go from this bed to a crown. Farewell.
6. John Arthur Lyth: Can this be death? Why, it is better than living! Tell them I die happy in Jesus.
7. Trotter: I am in perfect peace, resting alone on the blood of Christ. I find this amply sufficient with which to enter the presence of God.
8. Mrs. Mary Frances: Oh, that I could tell you what joy I possess! I am full of rapture. The Lord doth shine with such power upon my soul. He is come! He is come!
9. Philip Heck: How beautiful! The opening heavens around me shine!
10. Sir David Brewster: inventor of the kaleidoscope: I will see Jesus: I shall see Him as He is. I have had the light for many years. Oh, how bright it is! I feel so safe and satisfied!
11. Charles Wesley: author of over 4,000 published hymns: I shall be satisfied with Thy likeness. Satisfied!
12. John Wesley: The best of all is, God is with me.
13. Abbott: Glory to God! I see heaven sweetly opened before me.
14. Augustus Toplady: author of Rock of Ages: The consolations of God to such an unworthy wretch are so abundant that He leaves me nothing to pray for but a continuance of them. I enjoy heaven already in my soul.
15. John Quincy Adams: When John Quincy Adams was eighty years of age a friend said to him: Well, how is John Quincy Adams? Thank you, he said, John Quincy Adams is quite well. But the house where he lives is becoming dilapidated. It is tottering. Time and the seasons have nearly destroyed it, and it is becoming quite uninhabitable. I shall have to move out soon. But John Quincy Adams is quite well, thank you. At death he said: This is the last of earth. I am content.
16. Mrs. Catherine Booth: wife of the general of the Salvation Army: The waters are rising, but so am I. I am not going under, but over. Do not be concerned about dying; go on living well, the dying will be right.
17. Elizabeth B. Browning: an English poetess who had said: We want the touch of Christ’s hand upon our literature. At death’s door, she said: It is beautiful!
18. John Bunyan: author of Pilgrim’s Progress: Weep not for me, but for yourselves. I go to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will, through the mediation of His blessed Son, receive me, though a sinner, where I hope we shall meet to sing the new song, and remain everlastingly happy, world without end.
19. John Calvin: the French Protestant Reformer at Geneva: Thou, Lord, bruisest me, but I am abundantly satisfied, since it is from Thy hand.
20. Adoniram Judson: American missionary to Burma. He wrote: Come, Holy Spirit, Dove Divine, and other hymns. He died at sea and his body was committed to the great deep. He said: I go with the gladness of a boy bounding away from school. I feel so strong in Christ.
21. A. J. Gordon: As he lay in the chamber in West Brookline Street, Boston, looked up and with one radiant burst of joy cried: Victory! Victory! and so he went home.
22. Dr. William Anderson: of Dallas, Texas: He seemed better though still very ill. His mother was sitting in the room with him. He gently called to her, Come over here a minute. As she approached his bed, he said, I want to tell you something. I am going to beat you to heaven. And with a smile he shut his eyes and was gone.
23. Dr. Sewall: an old Methodist, when dying shouted aloud the praises of God. His friends said, Dr. Sewall, do not exert yourself; whisper, doctor, whisper. Let angels whisper, said he, but the soul cleansed from sin by the blood of Christ, a soul redeemed from death and hell, just on the threshold of eternal glory—oh, if I had a voice that would reach from pole to pole, I would proclaim it to all the world: Victory! Victory! through the blood of the Lamb!
24. Samuel Rutherford: When he was dying said: I am in the happiest pass to which man ever came. Christ is mine, and I am His; and there is nothing now between me and resurrection, except—Paradise.
When you die, on which side of the ledger will your words be'