MANY say, “The great thing is that a man be earnest and sincere: he that does his very utmost can never be far wrong.” Listen, then, to the simple story of Martin Boos.
He was born on the 25th December 1762 at Huttenrica, on the border of Bavaria and Swabia. He was brought up in the communion of the Romish Church, and early in life was ordained as a priest. Being very religious, he was certainly earnest, and none could doubt his sincerity. Thus he afterward wrote of himself: ―
“I gave myself an immense deal of trouble (I speak as a fool) to lead a truly pious life; for instance, I lay for years together, even in the winter season, upon the cold ground, though my bed stood near me; I scourged myself unto blood, and mortified my body with a shirt of hair; I suffered hunger, and gave my bread to the poor; I spent every leisure hour in the church and cemetery; I confessed and communicated almost every week; in short, I was so pious that the ex-Jesuits and students in Augsburg unanimously elected me to be the prefect of the congregation; I sought by force to live upon my good works and good conduct (not by faith). But what kind of life was it? The prefect, with all his sanctity, fell ever deeper into self-seeking; was always anxious, melancholy, and desponding. Though regarded almost as a saint, yet he was continually crying in his heart, ‘Infelix ego homo! quis me liberabit?’ — ‘O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me?’ (Rom. 7:2424O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? (Romans 7:24).)”
He reached the age of twenty-six or twenty-seven, and was in this state of deepening misery which he has described. He knew not “the way of peace.” But God’s eye was upon him, graciously marking all his ineffectual efforts, and preparing for him a messenger of peace. He was called upon to visit a poor dying woman, who was famed for her sufferings, sanctity, and good works. He stood at her bed-side looking enviously upon her, as he exclaimed, “You may certainly die very peacefully and happily!” “Why so?” she inquired. He replied, “Because you have lived so piously and holily.” She looked at him gravely, and exclaimed in a tone of astonishment, “What a pretty divine you are! what a miserable comforter! What would have become of me? How should I be able to stand before the judgment seat of God, where we must give an account of every idle word? I should certainly be lost if I built happiness and heaven on myself and my own merits and piety. Who is clean amongst the unclean? Who is guiltless in the sight of God? Who is righteous if He were to impute sin? ‘If thou, Lord, shouldst mark iniquity, O Lord, who shall stand?’ Which of our actions and virtues would be found of full weight were He to lay them in the balances? No: if Christ had not died for me, if He had not atoned for me, and paid my ransom, I should, with all my good works and pious life, have eternally perished. HE IS MY HOPF, MY SALVATION, AND MY FELICITY.”
Thus simply and sweetly did this poor suffering woman preach Christ to the young priest, turning his mind from all his exercises, toil, and misery to that precious Lamb of God who suffered in the sinner’s stead. He drank in the words as the thirsty ground welcomes the shower from heaven. He believed upon that Saviour, and was filled with all joy and peace in believing. He said afterward, “I perceived Christ for us; rejoiced, like Abraham, in seeing His day; preached Christ, whom I had thus become acquainted with, to others, and they rejoiced with me.”
For nearly forty years he continued to preach Christ, God blessing the Word to the conversion of many. He was persecuted, imprisoned, and at last banished from his country, but through all he was maintained in simple steadfast faith in Christ.
“When once I am dead,” he said, after alluding to his sufferings for his Master, “salute the world from me, and tell her I have no other medicine to give her than this, ‘The just shall live by faith.’ This has cured me and others; but I cannot help it if she has had no confidence in me or my medicine. The belief that a man can be just and holy of himself I had tried as long as she; but that I had subsequently found in an old book that we are justified and saved by grace for Christ’s sake without our meriting it, and that I died in this faith. But if she despises this bridge over the stream, let her wade through the ocean on her own feet, and take care that she is not drowned. This is what you must say to the world when I am dead.”
More than sixty years have passed away since Martin Boos was called home. Still his wards remain, a message to all whom they concern. If God’s salvation be despised, however earnest and sincere the despisers may seem to be, there remains nothing but “a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries” (Heb. 10:2727But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. (Hebrews 10:27)).
If the eye of an anxious soul rest upon these pages, how sweet and simple the message for such, “The just shall live by faith.” Not by labor, good works, and a pious life; but by faith. “To him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” “Being justified by faith WE HAVE PEACE WITH GOD through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 4:55But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (Romans 4:5), vs. 1).
J. R.
Luke 14 gives us “a great supper,” and a Divine invitation― “COME, for all things are now ready.” All provided, and all invited. Chapter 15 shows us the guest—the prodigal, “he arose and CAME,” and all is forgiven, and all forgotten. Chapter 16 unfolds the misery of a man who, though invited, did not come. He goes to hell and sends up a message saying, “DON’T COME HERE.” Earth, heaven, and hell are in these three chapters. W. T. P. W.