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grave。 It seems cold and dreary。 You feel as if all before you was dark
and gloomy； and fortless。 Fear not； but be encouraged by this text。
You are going to paradise； and Christ will be there。
V。 The last thing we are meant to learn from these verses is this： The
eternal portion of every man's soul is close to him。
〃To…day；〃 says our Lord to the penitent thief； 〃to…day shalt thou be
with Me in paradise。〃 He names no distant periodHe does not talk of
His entering into a state of happiness as a thing 〃far away；〃 He speaks
of to…day〃this very day in which thou art hanging on the cross。〃
How near that seems！ How awfully near that word brings our everlasting
dwelling…place！ Happiness or miserysorrow or joythe presence of
Christ or the pany of devilsall are close to us。 〃There is but a
step；〃 says David； 〃between me and death。〃 （1 Sam。 xx。 3。） There is but
a step； we may say； between ourselves and either paradise or hell。
We none of us realize this as we ought to do。 It is high time to shake
off the dreamy state of mind in which we live on this matter。 We are
apt to talk and think； even about believers； as if death was a long
journeyas if the dying saint had embarked on a long voyage。 It is all
wrong； very wrong！ Their harbour and their home is close by； and they
have entered it。
Some of us know by bitter experience what a long and weary time it is
between the death of those we love； and the hour when we bury them out
of our sight。 Such weeks are the slowest； saddest； heaviest weeks in
all our lives。 But； blessed be God； the souls of departed saints are
free from the very moment their last breath is drawn。 While we are
weeping； and the coffin is preparing； and the mourning being provided；
and the last painful arrangements being made； the spirits of our
beloved ones are enjoying the presence of Christ。 They are freed for
ever from the burden of the flesh。 They are 〃where the wicked cease
from troubling； and the weary be at rest。〃 （Job iii。 17。）
The very moment that believers die they are in paradise。 Their battle
is fought： their strife is over。 They have passed through that gloomy
valley we must one day tread； they have gone over that dark river we
must one day cross。 They have drunk that last bitter cup which sin has
mingled for man： they have reached that place where sorrow and sighing
are no more。 Surely we should not wish them back again！ We should not
weep for them； but for ourselves。
We are warring still； but they are at peace。 We are labouring； but they
are at rest。 We are watching； but they are sleeping。 We are wearing our
spiritual armour； but they have for ever put it off。 We are still at
sea； but they are safe in harbour。 We have tears； but they have joy。 We
are strangers and pilgrims； but as for them they are at home。 Surely；
better are the dead in Christ than the living！ Surely the very hour the
poor saint dies； he is at once higher and happier than the highest upon
earth。 ＇46＇
I fear there is a vast amount of delusion on this point。 I fear that
many； who are not Roman Catholics； and profess not to believe in
purgatory； have； notwithstanding； some strange ideas in their minds
about the immediate consequences of death。
I fear that many have a sort of vague notion that there is some
interval or space of time between death and their eternal state。 They
fancy they shall go through a kind of purifying change； and that though
they die unfit for heaven； they shall yet be found meet for it after
all！
But this is an entire mistake。 There is no change after death： there is
no conversion in the grave： there is no new heart given after the last
breath is drawn。 The very day we go； we launch for ever： the day we go
from this world； we begin an eternal condition。 From that day there is
no spiritual alterationno spiritual change。 As we die； so we shall
receive our portion after death： as the tree falls； so it must lie。
If you are an unconverted man； this ought to make you think； Do you
know you are close to hell？ This very day you might die； and if you
died out of Christ you would open your eyes at once in in hell； and in
torment。
If you are a true Christian； you are far nearer heaven than you think。
This very day if the Lord should take you； you would find yourself in
paradise。 The good land of promise is near to you。 The eyes that you
closed in weakness and pain would open at once on a glorious rest； such
as my tongue cannot describe。
And now let me say a few words in conclusion； and I have done。
（1） This paper may fall into the hands of some humble…hearted and
contrite sinner。Are you that man？ Then here is encouragement for you。
See what the penitent thief did； and do likewise。 See how he prayed；
see how he called on the Lord Jesus Christ； see what an answer of peace
he obtained。 Brother or sister； why should not you do the same？ Why
should not you also be saved？
（2） This paper may fall into the hands of some proud and presumptuous
man of the world。Are you that man？ Then take warning。 See how the
impenitent thief died as he had lived and beware lest you e to a
like end。 Oh； erring brother or sister； be not too confident； lest you
die in your sins！ Seek the Lord while He may be found。 Turn you； turn：
why will you die？
（3） This paper may fall into the hands of some professing believer in
Christ。 Are you such an one？ Then take the penitent thief's religion as
a measure by which to prove your own。 See that you know something of
true repentance and saving faith； of real humility and fervent charity。
Brother or sister； do not be satisfied with the world's standard of
Christianity。 Be of one mind with the penitent thief； and you will be
wise。
（4） This paper may fall into the hands of someone who is mourning over
departed believers。Are you such an one？ Then take fort from this
Scripture。 See how your beloved ones are in the best of hands。 They
cannot be better off。 They never were so well in their lives as they
are now。 They are with Jesus； whom their souls loved on earth。 Oh；
cease from your selfish mourning I Rejoice rather that they are freed
from trouble； and have entered into rest。
（5） And this paper may fall into the hands of some aged servant of
Christ。 Are you such an one？ Then see from these verses how near you
are to home。 Your salvation is nearer than when you first believed。 A
few more days of labour and sorrow； and the King of kings shall send
for you； and in a moment your warfare shall be at end； and all shall be
peace。
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＇42＇ 〃O Saviour； what a precedent is this of Thy free and powerful
grace！ Where Thou wilt give； what unworthiness can bar us from Thy
mercy？ When Thou wilt give； what time can prejudice our vocation？ Who
can despair of Thy goodness； when he； that in the morning was posting
to hell； is i