Psalm xlix. 8.
Precious Souls.
by C.R. Hurditch
"The redemption of the soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever." Ps. xlix. 8.
A SINGLE soul! A single soul! . . . . . . . . . . . . Mark viii. 36.
Who can its value tell? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mark viii. 37.
Yet, oh, my God! what myriads . . . . . . . . . . . . Isa. v. 14; Matt. vii. 13.
Sport on the brink of hell. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Matt. xxiv. 38, 39.
How rapidly they slide along . . . . . . . . . . . . . Prov. vii. 23.
The slippery incline, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ps. lxxiii. 18.
To where a single ray of hope . . . . . . . . . . . . Prov. xi. 7.
Can never, never shine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Isa. xxxviii. 18.
The voice of God they do not know, . . . . . . . . . John x. 4-27.
His words they do not hear; . . . . . . . . . . . . . Acts xiii. 46.
O'er sin and guilt they never weep . . . . . . . . . . Jer. ii. 35, iii. 13.
A penitential tear; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ps. xxxiv. 18.
They trample on the Saviour's love, . . . . . . . . . 2 Cor. viii. 9.
Who stooped to bleed and die. . . . . . . . . . . . . Phil. ii. 8.
Beneath sin's condemnation full . . . . . . . . . . . John iii. 18.
And dreadful guilt they lie; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rom. iii. 19.
Their sands of time are sinking fast, . . . . . . . . . Ps. xxxix. 4, 5.
And yet they sleep away, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Thess. iv. 6, 7.
As if they had a lease of life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . James iv. 13, 14.
For an eternal day. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Isa. lvi. 12.
* * * * *
We speak to them in thunder-tones, . . . . . . . . . . Jude 23.
Of holiness and God; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Acts xxiv. 25.
In sweeter accents, soft and low, . . . . . . . . . . . . Jude 22.
Of Jesu's precious blood. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Peter i. 18, 19.
We tell them of the risen One, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Acts v. 30, 31.
Who saves the rebel soul; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ps. lxviii. 18.
Of His abounding, matchless grace, . . . . . . . . . . . Rom. v. 20.
Which makes the sinner whole. . . . . . . . . . . . . . John v. 14.
We tell them of the joys of those . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Pet. i. 8.
Who trust His pard'ning love; . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rom. xv. 13.
The earnests they receive on earth . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Cor. ii. 9, 10.
Of better things above. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ''
We tell them of the pearly gates . . . . . . . . . . . . Rev. xxi. 21.
And golden streets of heaven— . . . . . . . . . . . . ''
Of palms, and crowns, and robes of white, . . . . . . . Rev. vii. 9.
Which to the saints are given. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rev. vi. 11.
We tell them of the mansions, which . . . . . . . . . . John xiv. 2.
The Lord doth now prepare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ''
For those, who, serving Him below, . . . . . . . . . . . Col. iii. 21.
Shall in His glory share. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John xvii. 22.
We tell them that repentant souls . . . . . . . . . . . . Luke xv. 10.
Make angel-harpers raise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ''
Fresh melodies to God most high, . . . . . . . . . . . ''
In symphonies of praise; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ''
And then before the jasper throne, . . . . . . . . . . . Luke xv. 7.
What myriads join the strain, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ''
And shout with deep and holy joy . . . . . . . . . . . ''
O'er sinners born again. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ''
We warn them of the danger, too, . . . . . . . . . . . . Ezek. iii. 19.
Of all their sad delay, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Prov. xxvii. 1.
While thousands are, as with a stroke, . . . . . . . . . . Job xxxvi. 18.
So often called away. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ''
We fain would start their careless souls . . . . . . . . . . Isa. xxxiii. 14.
With verities of hell; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Heb. ii. 3.
And bid them hear the awful facts, . . . . . . . . . . . . Luke xvi. 23, 24.
Which sinners there could tell: . . . . . . . . . . . . . ''
How, 'midst the dreadful surging waves . . . . . . . . . . Ps. xi. 6.
Of dark despair they lay; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rev. xiv. 11.
While from their agonizing hearts . . . . . . . . . . . . Luke xiii. 28.
All hope has passed away. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Isa. lvii. 21.
They sink, and sink, and deeper sink
Into the awful gloom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Peter ii. 17.
Of hell's dark, bottomless abyss, . . . . . . . . . . . . Prov. xxvii. 20.
The sinner's final doom. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ps. ix. 17.
Oh, that the piercing cry of "Lost!" . . . . . . . . . . . . . Matt. xxv. 11.
From those poor souls condemned, . . . . . . . . . . . . Mark xvi. 16.
Which will resound for ever in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jude 13.
The caverns of the damned, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Matt. v. 26.
Would wake the slumb'ring sinner now . . . . . . . . . Luke xvi. 13-28.
To seek the Saviour's grace, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Isa. lv. 6.
And thus through His atoning blood, . . . . . . . . . . . Rom. iii. 25.
Escape that dreadful place. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Matt. xxiii. 33.
Alas! alas! 'tis all in vain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rom. x. 21.
For multitudes around,
Who, choosing death's beguiling path, . . . . . . . . . . Prov. vii. 21, 22.
Are in its broadway found: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Matt. vii. 13.
With trifles they themselves delight, . . . . . . . . . . . . Ps. xxxix. 6.
As time doth pass them fly; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Matt. xxv. 10.
And watching angels fill the book . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rev. xx. 12.
Of record kept on high. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eccl. xi. 9.
On—on they press, while 'neath their feet, . . . . . . . . Heb. x. 29.
Is found the sacred BLOOD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ''
Of Christ, which He in mercy shed . . . . . . . . . . . . . Heb. x. 19-22.
To bring our souls to God. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ''
They count it an unholy thing, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ''
And loud blaspheme His name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . James ii. 7.
Who yearned to save their guilty souls . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Tim. i. 15.
From sin’s dark curse and shame. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dan. xii. 3.
A step—a step, another step— . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ps. lxxiii. 19.
And all their folly’s o’er! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Prov. xxix. 1.
A shriek—a prayer, a dying cry! . . . . . . . . . . . . Job xxvii. 19-22.
And they are heard no more. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eccl. viii. 10-13.
* * * * * *
The final morn! Th’ archangel’s trump! . . . . . . . . . . . Acts xvii. 31.
The sepulchres are bare; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Acts xxvi. 8.
And instantly the hosts come forth . . . . . . . . . . . . John v. 28, 29.
Who had lain ages there. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dan. xii. 2.
The earth and sea gave up their dead, . . . . . . . . . . . Rev. xx. 13.
And Hades yields its hold; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “
A multitude of small and great, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rev. xx. 12.
Whose numbers are untold, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “
Obey the call, arise, and fly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Matt. xiii. 14.
Swift as the lightning past;
Each soul full conscious of the fact . . . . . . . . . . . . Jude 15.
That WRATH HAS COME AT LAST. . . . . . . . . . . . . Rev. xi. 18.
* * * * * *
The Great White Throne! the righteous God! . . . . . . . . Rev. xx. 11.
Before whose face doth flee, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “
Both heaven and earth, which were of old, . . . . . . . . . “
And shall not henceforth be—
The opened books! The Book of Life! . . . . . . . . . . . . Rev. xx. 15.
The awful judgment’s set! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dan. vii. 10.
The dreadful doom of life-long sin . . . . . . . . . . . . . Heb. ix. 27.
Must now be fully met. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Peter ii. 9.
* * * * * *
No triflers then! No scornful lip! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ps. xii. 3, 4.
The ribald jest is o’er! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Matt. xii. 36.
The bold blasphemer’s tongue is hushed, . . . . . . . . . Matt. xxii. 12.
The infidel’s no more. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John xii. 48.
The terrible “Anathema,” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Cor. xvi. 22.
With all its dreadful woe, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “
Must now be borne by sinners who . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “
Loved not the Lord below—
The Lamb of God, whose slighted love . . . . . . . . . . . John i. 11, 20.
Once yearned to save them all, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Matt. xxiii. 37.
Who, in the days of gospel grace, . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rom. ii. 4, 5.
Upon His name would call, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rom. x. 13.
Now looks in wrath, with eyes of fire, . . . . . . . . . . . Rev. vi. 17.
Into each opened heart; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rom. ii. 16.
And from His face commands them all . . . . . . . . . . Luke xiii. 27.
For ever to depart. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “
* * * * * *
Quick flows, at His command, the sea . . . . . . . . . . . Matt. x. 28.
Of death that never dies— . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rev. xx. 14.
The fire that never shall be quenched, . . . . . . . . . . Mark ix. 43-48.
Receives them from the skies.
Strong angels bolt the gates of hell . . . . . . . . . . . . Rev. xx. 1.
On those who are shut in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rev. xx. 15.
With Satan and his angels, who . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jude 6.
Will never rise again. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rev. xx. 10.
My God! what separations— . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Luke xvi. 26.
What fruits of outraged grace— . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jude 4.
What bitter, bitter anguished must . . . . . . . . . . . . . Deut. xxxii. 21-25.
Be felt within that place. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Luke xvi. 23.
* * * * * *
Awake! awake! Thou slumbering soul, . . . . . . . . . . Eph. v. 14.
Who on the sands of time, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Matt. vii. 26.
Art dreaming of security, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Thess. v. 3.
Which never can be thine, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Isa. xxviii. 13.
While yet thou liv’st a stranger to . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eph. ii. 12.
The blessed Christ of God— . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rom. ix. 5.
The Christ who died that we might live . . . . . . . . . . 2 Cor. v. 15.
Through His most precious blood. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lev. xvii. 11.
In vain dost thou the future gild . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Luke xii. 19.
With fairy-fancies bright, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ps. x. 6.
For judgment-storms full soon will sweep . . . . . . . . . Ps. xlix. 17, 18.
The vision from thy sight. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Deut. xxix. 19, 20.
Thy hopes are false; they will not stand; . . . . . . . . . . Job viii. 13-15.
Thy pleasures all are vain; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eccl. ii.
Oh, hear what sayeth the Son of God, . . . . . . . . . . . Matt. xvii. 5.
“YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN!” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John iii. 3-7.
* * * * * *
With beating heart, and weeping eyes, . . . . . . . . . . . . Phil. iii. 18.
My prayer I raise to Thee, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rom. x. 1.
That while salvation is proclaimed, . . . . . . . . . . . . . Isa. lxi. 1, 2, lxii. 11.
Thine arm made bare may be. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Isa. lii. 10.
Thy servants will with burning zeal, . . . . . . . . . . . . . Acts iv. 20.
And cloth Thy Word with power; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Thess. ii. 13.
“Send out Thy light, send out Thy truth,” . . . . . . . . . . Ps. xliii. 3.
In this accepted hour; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Cor. vi. 2.
That men now on the brink of woe, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ps. xc. 5, 6.
May haste from wrath to flee, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Luke iii. 7.
In light of the realities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rev. xxi. 5, xxii. 6.
Of that ETERNITY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “
O Lord, before it is too late, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Luke xiii. 25.
By Thy blest Spirit speak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Heb. xii. 25.
In might unto their careless souls, . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Thess. i. 5.
And bid them mercy seek! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ps. xxvii. 8.
Draw, draw them, Lord, at once to Thee, . . . . . . . . . . Hos. xi. 4.
To shelter in the side . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ps. lxi. 3.
Whence flows the all-atoning blood . . . . . . . . . . . . . John xix. 34.
Of Jesus crucified. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Cor. ii. 2.
Delivered thus from sin and guilt, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Luke i. 74.
Thanksgiving they shall give, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Heb. xiii. 15.
And magnify the wonderous love . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Peter ii. 9.
And grace by which they live. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 John iv. 9.
C. Russell Hurditch
"The Sunday At Home" 1874
