WEIGHED IN THE BALANCE by Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 27, 1900

WEIGHED IN THE BALANCE.

By Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

MRS. L. D. AVERY-STUTTLE.

METHOUGHT I stood, one well-remembered night, Beside a being clad in robes of light. She held a balance in her mighty hand; I stood astonished at her stern command: “Thou shalt be weighed with all thy deeds,” she cried, “With justice only on the other side.”

Methought I smiled,— a calm, complacent smile,— Thinking of all my virtuous deeds the while,— Thinking how high upon the scroll of fame The church and world had each inscribed my name,— Thinking, the while, with spirit puffed with pride, How vast the weight against the justice side!

I stepped upon the balances, and drew, Close to my side, within the angel’s view, A ponderous weight, and proudly smiled to see How plain the roll was labeled CHARITY. “Seest thou, O angel,” smilingly I said, “How oft the poor and needy I have fed?”

Then to my side I gathered, one by one, The pompous record of good deeds I’d done,— The gold and silver I had given to sound Christ’s glorious gospel to earth’s farthest bound, The kind words spoken, and the good deeds done. With growing pride I viewed them one by one.

“Now, angel, I am ready.” Quick she raised The mighty balances; I stood amazed! Lighter than foam upon the billowy sea, Light as the vapor, light as vanity, My boasted record, and of nothing worth The pompous work that I had wrought on earth.

Livid with fear, in agony I cried: “O Christ of Calvary! haste to my side! One drop of precious blood shall far outweigh My noblest deed: stand by my side, I pray. A humble worm, I helpless cling to thee; O Friend of sinners, hear my earnest plea.”

I raised my eyes: close standing by my side I felt the presence of the Crucified; And in my love and rapturous joy, I heard The angel with the balance speak the word: “Justice is satisfied; thy prayer avails; The mighty cross of Calvary prevails.”