DEATH-BED REPENTANCE by Dudley Marvin Canright

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 5, 1868

DEATH-BED REPENTANCE.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

For my part, I have but little confidence in death-bed repentance. I have known a few cases myself, and each one who recovered gave up all his religion. Last winter I was called to visit a middle-aged man who thought he must soon die. He was in great distress of mind on account of his sins. He confessed to God with many tears, and made strong promises of obedience if he could only live. I frankly told him my fears about his performing his vows if he did live; told him that I had never known a person thus brought to repentance who lived a Christian after he was restored to health. But he most solemnly protested that he would be faithful to God if he could only live. The first time he could get to the meeting-house he would confess his sins, and own his Saviour.

He soon did recover, but that was the last of his religion. I often met him afterward, but he always avoided speaking to me. This was the way he kept his vows. Had he died as he was, his friends would have consoled themselves that he had left a bright hope behind; yet his subsequent conduct shows that he was only scared, not converted. Is it not the same with most of those who are thus converted? I fear that it is. Yet perhaps some may be saved who thus repent at death. But it is very dangerous to take this last chance. While we have health and strength, is the time to seek the Lord. We need to have time to put away our sins, reform our habits, conquer our passions, and form characters for Heaven. This is not the work of a moment.

Dear friend, are you waiting, and trusting your eternal destiny on this last hope and chance? Be warned in time. You are leaning on a broken reed, which will pierce you through with many sorrows.

Some ten years ago, there was a reformation where I lived. One gay, careless, trifling young man attended, but it was only to make sport. During the meetings he was taken very sick, and thought he must die. He sent for the minister, humbly confessed his sins, asked to be prayed for in the meetings, and professed to be converted. But as the meetings continued several weeks, he got well, and came to them, before they ended. Did he then keep his vows? No; he laughed and ridiculed as he had done before. When reminded of his promises, he said that he remembered nothing of them, and that he was out of his head when he made them. Beware of death-bed repentance!

D. M. CANRIGHT.