THE GYPSY.

Hoa Maori, Issue 12, 1 April 1889, Page 6

THE GYPSY.

(to the children).

4B)A.SSINGr near an encampment of gypsies, I went in amongst them. After buying some of the skewers they were making, I learned one of their number was ill, and begged to be allowed to see him. The father asked: 11 Did you want to talk about religion to him “No.” “What then?” “ About Christ.” “Oh, then, you may go; only if you talk religion, I’ll set the dog on to you !” In the caravan I found the lad alone, and in bed, evidently at the far end of the last stage of consumption. His eyes were closed, and he looked-as one already dead. Very slowly in his ear I repeated the Scripture, “ God so loved the world, that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”—Johniii. 16. I repeated it five times without any apparent response; he did not seem to hear even with the outward ear.. On repeating it the sixth time, he opened

his eyes and smiled. To ray delight he whispered, “And I never thanked Him ! But nolody ever told me ! I ’turn Him many thanks. Only a poor gypsy chap ! I see! I see ! I thank Him kindly! He closed his eyes with an expression of intense satisfaction. As I knelt beside him I thanked God. The lips moved again. I caught “That’s it.” There were more words, but I could not hear them. On going the next day, I found the dear lad had died (or rather had fallen asleep in Christ) eleven hours after I left. His father said he had been very “peaoahle,” and had a “tidy death.” There was no Bible or Testament in the encampment. I left one of each. The poor man wished me “ good luck,” and gave me a little bundle of skewers the “ boy Jimmy” had made. My fellow-sinner, it was apparently the first time this dear hoy ever heard of God’s salvation, and with unquestioning faith he took God at His word, and with his dying lips thanked Him that He so loved the world as to give His Son for him, “ a poor gypsy chap.” God is satisfied with the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ. This poor lad was also satisfied, and this mutual satisfaction was instant and everlasting salvation. In eleven short hours he exchanged that forlorn, rickerty caravan for the paradise of God, he fully believed that God is as good as His word. If you have not with your heart said “ Amen ” to God’s way of saving lost sinners, you are on the extreme verge of that death which God calls “ eternal,” and Christ has the keys of hell and of death. But the “grace of God that hringeth salvation” is brought before you this day. Oh, will you refuse it and pass on to “ the great white Throne ” lying ahead of' you, and at last find your portion in the fire that “ never can be quenched ?” 0, will you pause, yes, believe, and “ Turn Him many 'thanks ?” My fellow-believer, may God forbid that any one within your reach or mine should ever have occasion to say, with regard to these everlasting realities, the awful words, “ Nobody ever told me !”