A Letter to a Condemned Murderer
A few days before going to Graysville, Mrs. Henry dictated the following letter to a condemned murderer, who was sentenced to meet the full penalty of the law on the 9th of February:— “I have just received a letter in which you are mentioned, and the painful circumstances that hang over your life at the present time. I was not requested to write to you, it was not even suggested; but I am constrained to do so. It is a terrible thing to come to the end of one’s probation in this world, in view of the relation which we sustain to God, our Heavenly Father, and all that he has done to make it possible that every soul should be gathered into his kingdom at last. It is impossible that you should have sinned so greatly as to be beyond the love and mercy and tender forethought of your Heavenly Father. The law of the land may condemn you to the extreme penalty; but if you suffer the penalty of eternal death, it will be by your own decision instead of that of God. You can not have sinned a sin that was not taken into account in the gift of Christ, and the penalty of which he did not bear in his own person when he was crucified for you. So let me urge you carefully to consider all the claims of Christ. Do not add, after all the sinfulness that may have been in your life, the last sin of refusing the offer of salvation and the invitation to come home to God.
“You probably have access to a Bible. If so, let me ask you to turn to the twenty-ninth chapter of Jeremiah, and read the eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth verses; and as you turn the pages of the Bible, look for the words of invitation which are scattered all through it for just such poor sinners as you and all of us. The sleep of death, into which the execution of the penalty under which you rest may usher you, will be passed quickly, and the morning of the resurrection will come as to one who has lain down and slept a dreamless sleep, and your life will seem to have had no interruption whatever; and it is possible for you to arise at that time in the first resurrection, with all the joy of a new-born soul, born to eternal life and the joy of a child who has come home out of dark wanderings and many sorrowful and lonely scenes of desolation. Do not turn away from the gospel invitation, but yield yourself to God, make your peace with him, and lie down to sleep conscious that you shall awaken in his likeness.” Little did we think that she would precede him into that “dreamless sleep.” In response to this letter the following note was received, dated January 25:— “DEAR MADAM: In reply to your letter of the 1st inst., I thank you for the interest you have taken in my spiritual welfare, and hope your words of advice will not be in vain.” To seize the opportunities as they came hour by hour, performing any duty immediately when it presented itself, was one of Mrs. Henry’s most prominent characteristics; and therefore when her life work closed, there seemed to be nothing left unfinished that she could have done. In the midst of her busy life it would have seemed a very excusable thing to have delayed writing to this young man; but her part was faithfully done, and we know not what the result may have been to him. It is a good thing to keep our work up to date day by day, so that there will be no hanging ends, and vain regrets.