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drawing nigh to the grave。 （Ps。 xxii。 15； lxxxviii。 3。） He saw no
sceptre； no royal crown； no outward dominion； no glory； no majesty； no
power； no signs of might。 And yet the dying thief believed； and looked
forward to Christ's kingdom。
Would you know if you have the Spirit？ Then mark the question I put to
you this day。Where is your faith in Christ？
（b） See； for another thing； what a right sense of sin the thief had。 He
says to his panion； 〃We receive the due reward of our deeds。〃 He
acknowledges his own ungodliness； and the justice of his punishment。 He
makes no attempt to justify himself； or excuse his wickedness。 He
speaks like a man humbled and self…abased by the remembrance of past
iniquities。 This is what all God's children feel。 They are ready to
allow they are poor； hell…deserving sinners。 They can say with their
hearts as well as with their lips； 〃We have left undone the things that
we ought to have done； and we have done those things that we ought not
to have done； and there is no health in us。〃
Would you know if you have the Spirit？ Then mark my question。Do you
feel your sins？
（c） See； for another thing； what brotherly love the thief showed to his
panion。 He tried to stop his railing and blaspheming； and bring him
to a better mind。 〃Dost not thou fear God；〃 he says； 〃seeing thou art
in the same condemnation？〃 There is no surer mark of grace than this I
Grace shakes a man out of his selfishness； and makes him feel for the
souls of others。 When the Samaritan woman was converted； she left her
water…pot； and ran to the city； saying； 〃e； see a man that told me
all things that ever I did： is not this the Christ？〃 （John iv。 28； 29。）
When Saul was converted； immediately he went to the synagogue at
Damascus and testified to his brethren of Israel that 〃Christ was the
Son of God。〃 （Acts ix。 20。） Would you know if you have the Spirit？ Then
where is your charity and love to souls？
In one word； you see in the penitent thief a finished work of the Holy
Ghost。 Every part of the believer's character may be traced in him。
Short as his life was after conversion； he found time to leave abundant
evidence that he was a child of God。 His faith； his prayer； his
humility； his brotherly love； are unmistakable witnesses of the reality
of his repentance。 He was not a penitent in name only； but in deed and
m truth。
Let no man therefore think； because the penitent thief was saved； that
men can be saved without leaving any evidence of the Spirit's work。 Let
such an one consider well what evidences this man left behind； and take
care。
It is mournful to hear what people sometimes say about what they call
deathbed evidences。 It is perfectly fearful to observe how little
satisfies some persons； and how easily they can persuade themselves
that their friends have gone to heaven。 They will tell you when their
relative is dead and gone； that 〃he made such a beautiful prayer one
dayor that he talked so wellor that he was so sorry for his old
ways and intended to live so differently if he got betteror that he
craved nothing in this worldor that he liked people to read to him；
and pray with him。〃 And because they have this to go upon； they seem to
have a fortable hope that he is saved！ Christ may never have been
namedthe way of salvation may never have been in the least mentioned。
But it matters not； there was a little talk of religion； and so they
are content！
Now I have no desire to hurt the feelings of anyone who reads this
paper； but I must and will speak plainly upon this subject。
Once for all； let me say； that as a general rule； nothing is so
unsatisfactory as deathbed evidences。 The things that men say； and the
feelings they express when sick and frightened； are little to be
depended on。 Often； too often； they are the result of fear； and do not
spring from the ground of the heart。 Often； too often； they are things
said by rote； caught from the lips of ministers and anxious friends；
but evidently not felt。 And nothing can prove all this more clearly
than the well…known fact； that the great majority of persons who make
promises of amendment on a sick bed； and then for the first time talk
about religion； if they recover； go back to sin and the world。
When a man has lived a life of thoughtlessness and folly； I want
something more than a few fair words and good wishes to satisfy me
about his soul； when he es to his deathbed。 It is not enough for me
that he will let me read the Bible to him； and pray by his
bedsidethat he says； 〃he has not thought so much as he ought of
religion； and he thinks he should be a different man if he got better。〃
All this does not content me： it does not make me feel happy about his
state。 It is very well as far as it goes； but it is not conversion。 It
is very well in its way； but it is not faith in Christ。 Until I see
conversion； and faith in Christ； I cannot and dare not feel satisfied。
Others may feel satisfied if they please； and after their friend's
death say； they hope he is gone to heaven。 For my part； I would rather
hold my tongue and say nothing。 I would be content with the least
measure of repentance and faith in a dying man； even though it be no
bigger than a grain of mustard seed。 But to be content with anything
less than repentance and faith； seems to me next door to infidelity。
What kind of evidence do you mean to leave behind as to the state of
your soul？ Take example by the penitent thief； and you will do well。
When we have carried you to your narrow bed； let us not have to hunt up
stray words； and scraps of religion； in order to make out that you were
a true believer。 Let us not have to say in a hesitating way one to
another； 〃I trust he is happy； he talked so nicely one day； and he
seemed so pleased with a chapter in the Bible on another occasion； and
he liked such a person； who is a good man。〃 Let us be able to speak
decidedly as