"Yes, I know it's a serious case; the doctor said so. But I don't trouble myself about that; I'm not a bit afraid." "But you told me just now that you had not attended to religion a great deal. You know this is the first time I ever saw you; so I know nothing about you but what you tell me. I suppose, in fact, you have lived like many more, without much thought about your soul?" "Yes, sir, that's it." "And yet you are not afraid?" "No, sir, I don't feel afraid at all. I'm not troubled in my mind. I have been no wise wicked." The minister looked grave. "You mean you have not been a thief, or a great drinker, or a swearer, or a liar, or anything of that sort?" "No, no; I have not been anything of the kind. I know plenty who have; but I've always tried to live respectable." "Well, but do you mean to say you are not a sinner?" "Oh, we are all sinners, of course." "But does not that mean anything? Does it not _signify_ being a sinner?" "I've never done anything bad in particular, as I know of. At all events, I don't feel afraid." "I wish you did," said the minister earnestly; "I wish you did with all my heart. I know _I_ should if I were you." The sick man looked surprised; but he made no answer, so the minister went on. "As for me, I could not speak as you do. I know that I am a poor sinner; and that, but for my Saviour, I must be lost for ever. But I have gone to Him, and sought His blood to wash away my sins, and I do humbly believe in Him; and He, and He alone, takes _my_ fear away. You have told me what _you_ feel, and now I have told you what _I_ feel." "Well, that's all right, sir, no doubt," was all the sick man said. The minister went on again: "Oh, my friend, it will never do to say you are not afraid while you have not gone to Christ; you ought to be afraid, you have good reason to be afraid. I _must_ be plain with you. I dare not build you up with false hopes. Don't you know that you must stand before God, and give account for all your life? Don't you know about the great judgment day, when the books will be opened? These books will have in them all you have ever done in your life. Can you face that? Are you not afraid when you think of _that_? There will be another book opened then, the book of life. That will contain the names of all who are saved by Jesus Christ. And everybody else (do you remember that?) will be cast into the lake of fire. You know you have not lived to God, you know you have not sought Christ, your religion has been nothing but a name; and, say what you will, you know quite well that you have often and often done wrong. Now, how _can_ you say you are not afraid?" The man shifted uneasily on his bed. "Perhaps," said he, "I ought to be more afraid than I am."