Death-bed Testimonies by Frederick Denison Maurice

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 18, 1856

Death-bed Testimonies.

By Frederick Denison Maurice

WE must turn elsewhere than to the Books of New Testament for death-bed scenes. One beautiful record of the first deacon of the church, who prayed for his countrymen, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge," is all that we have of martyrology in the Bible. Its warriors fight the good fight. We know that in some battle or other they finish their course. Where, or how, or under what circumstances of humiliation, or triumph, we are not told. If it pleased God that their lamps should shine out brightly at the last, that was well, for he was glorified in their strength. If it pleased him that the light should sink and go out in its socket, that was well too, for he was glorified in their weakness. Not by momentary flashes does God bid us judge of our fellow-creatures; for he who reads the heart, and sees the meaning and purpose of it judges not of them by these. And never be it forgotten, that at the death which has redeemed all other deaths, and made them blessed, there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour, and that a cry came out of the darkness, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"—F. D. Maurice.