p. 210 | SHUN THE SKEPTIC

Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · April 1, 1880

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 55, No. 14

SHUN THE SKEPTIC.

I WARN you to shun the skeptic,—the young man who puts his finger in his vest, and laughs at your old-fashioned religion, and turns over to some mystery in the Bible and says, “Explain that, my friend; explain that;” and who says, “Nobody shall scare me; I am not afraid of the future; I used to believe in such things, and so did my father and mother; but I have got over it.” Yes; he has got over it, and if you sit in his company a little while longer, you will get over it too. Without presenting an argument against the Christian religion, such men will by their jeers and scoffs and caricatures destroy your respect for that religion which was the strength of your father in his declining years, and the pillow of your aged mother when she lay dying.

Alas! a time will come when that blustering young infidel will have to die, and his diamond ring will flash no splendor in the eyes of Death as he stands over the couch waiting for his soul. Those beautiful locks will lie uncombed upon the pillow; and the dying man will say, “I cannot die—I cannot die.” Death standing upon the couch says, “You must die; you have only half a minute to live. Let me have it right away—your soul.” “No,” says the young infidel, “here are all my gold rings, and these pictures; take them all.” “No,” says Death. “What do I care for pictures?—your soul.” “Stand back,” says the dying infidel. “I will not stand back,” says Death; “for you have only ten seconds now to live. I want your soul.” The dying man says, “Don’t breathe that cold air into my face. You crowd me too hard. It is getting dark in the room. O God!” “Hush,” says Death; “you said there was no God.” “Pray for me,” exclaims the dying infidel. “Too late to pray,” says Death, “But three more seconds to live, and I will count them off—one, two, three!” He has gone! Where? Where? Where? Carry him out and bury him beside his father and mother, who died while holding fast the Christian religion. They died singing; but the young infidel only said, “Don’t breathe that cold air into my face. You crowd me too hard. It is getting dark in the room.”—The Presbyterian.