An orphan girl had started to earn her living at a hat factory. She took such care and interest in her work, that before long she was placed in charge of an important branch of the business.
During this period, she received a letter from a lawyer, to let her know that by reason of the death of an aunt whom she had never known, she had inherited some property, and a large sum of money. The girl thought at first that there had been some mistake, and that this inheritance could not be meant for her; she spoke to her employer about it, and he advised her to go and see the lawyer.
She agreed to do so, and presented herself at the solicitor's office, with many excuses in case she had made a mistake,
“There is no possible mistake,” said the lawyer, “for your name is plainly written in the will, and no other but yourself corresponds with the name and description given.”
He then showed her her name written plainly by her aunt. Emilie B. had only to put her signature to a document, and immediately entered into an inheritance that she had never hoped for, for which she had not worked, but which was the free gift of another.
The years went by. Emilie was not now in charge of a branch of a hat factory, but lived in a peaceful village, as companion to an old lady, and was well-known for her works of love among the poor and needy of that district. She gave her powers and her money for the good of these unfortunates, and was called the “young lady who is good to the sick and poor.”
But in spite of her kindness, Emilie was not a Christian. She had never seen herself as a sinner before God having need of a Savior, and did not belong to the heavenly family, who are born of God.
While on a visit some distance from her home, she came into contact with some faithful preachers of the Gospel, and being awakened in soul, she soon felt her state as a sinner, and her need of a Savior. For some days she was in great anguish, and finally was advised to go and see the preacher who had been the means of her conviction of sin. She wanted to know for certain that the free gift of God was really for her.
The preacher, who knew nothing of Emilie's history, and wishing to make it quite clear that salvation was for her, employed this illustration,
“Suppose some rich person leaves you an inheritance, how would you be assured that it was for you and nobody else?”
Emilie smiled, and suddenly grew red in the face, for she well remembered the doubt which had assailed her on receiving the lawyer's letter.
“Would it not be,” continued the servant of God, “in seeing your name written in the will, and in proving that you are the person corresponding to the description given? It is the same with Christ and the salvation which He has brought. The Scripture says:
“Nothing can be plainer, and we also read;
“The Savior came into the world to save a certain class of people described by the name of 'sinners.' Now the only point on which you need to be sure is,
“‘Do I belong to that class of people?'
“O! yes,” said Emilie, “I know that I am a sinner, and a greater one than I imagined I was; that is why I fear that salvation is not for me.”
“But the Word of God which I have quoted says the contrary, and which are you going to believe, your feelings, or the Word of God?” Emilie was silent.
“The entrance of Thy words giveth light,” but she hesitated to confess it. On her way home, the grand fact that for sinners, for the lost, Christ came, and not for the good ones, seemed to shine in all its simplicity;
“I see it, I see it, I understand,” said she with a loud voice, as she walked along; “it is for sinners as I am, therefore it is for me. My name is in the will. The inheritance is for me, and I claim it.”
And she did so, and henceforth her life showed that she was saved through faith in Christ Jesus her Lord.