IN the late Prussian war a young soldier, a son of Christian parents, was called to the fight. Besides his parents, he had a converted brother and sister. All doubtless cried earnestly to God for him; and though the answer did not come in the way it might have been expected, yet it did come. God did answer prayer. The young scoffer was broken down, and made willing to accept Christ as his Saviour. God is greater than man. He is almighty, and all-wise. He knows how to meet the most stubborn and rebellious, and so subdue by His own grace as to make the soul everlastingly happy in His presence. May praying parents encourage themselves in the Lord, earnestly, perseveringly, believingly crying to God, and expecting answers from Him. Meanwhile train the children for Him, and not for this present evil world. “Bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” Show them by the godliness and devotedness of your walk the reality of your faith. Make no excuse for your own sins; but walk before God, and confess wherein you dishonor Him. Do not be ashamed of Christ, but seek to spread the sweet savor of His precious name. Look for God’s blessing upon you and all your house, and you will not be disappointed. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”
The son I am going to tell you about had always been wild and lawless. When packing his things, his mother wanted to put in a little Testament, but he called out, “I won’t have anything so unnecessary; if I want one, there are sure to be plenty to be had.” Amongst other things he said, “I shall return in good case, or not at all. I will not return a cripple, or wounded.” In the first battle he was shot through the knee; but wrote home a few days after, “I am wounded, but not badly; I hope in two or three weeks to be fighting again. Though I lay for some hours on the battle-field amongst the dead and dying, I have not yet learned the meaning of the word fear.” His parents wrote to him at the Schloss where he was taken, but received no answer; and alter a little while some of their letters were returned with “not to be found” written on them. Then, after some time, they received a letter from the doctor, which had been a fortnight on the road, to say Carl had suffered dreadfully. The wound, which at first had done well, took a bad turn, and it would be needful to take off the leg. The issue was doubtful. He worried a good deal about getting no letters. His father started at once for Bohemia, and, on reaching the Schloss, found his son very ill: his leg was off and fever had set in; but his soul was saved! He had learned his lost condition, and got Christ as his Saviour. The Count of the Schloss, a Protestant, had given him a Testament, and the steward’s daughter had read to him from it every day, and often entreated him to give in and pray for mercy. “You will have to; God is stronger than you, and will break you down,” she said. The apparent silence of his parents broke at last his proud heart; it was too bitter in all his pain to be forsaken by those nearest, and to get no word in answer to all he wrote (where all the letters and money are is still a mystery). Conscience told him how well he deserved it all, and once in the light, he soon began to cry for mercy and pardon, and the Lord heard him. His father was obliged to return to his business, and the doctor thought Carl might linger long―perhaps recover―so his mother went to nurse and bring him home. But the first evening she was there, hearing the music at a comrade’s burial, Carl said to her, “Mother, that’s the last music I shall hear on my homeward way. I shall soon be there, very soon at home.” And so it was; the next day he fell asleep most peacefully. He said no one knew how bad he had been; his pain was all his own fault; he had no need to be in active service, a post as field baker had been offered to him, but his pride prevented his accepting it; and when wounded and fallen on the ground, his first thought was, “I am done, I am a cripple, and must go home to be preached to.” In his pride he said, “NEVER! rather die and have done with it;” and with a great effort he raised himself up, and sought death, and wished and tried to be shot through the heart; but though the balls flew around him like hailstones, and even grazed him, not one struck him. At length exhausted, he sunk on the ground, again, and later was fetched away.”