During the Civil War in the United States of America, a cavalry officer was wounded and dying in the field hospital. He fancied that he was still on the field of battle, leading his men, and that one of the enemy's cannon was in front and about to be fired at them. In his delirium he imagined that the gun was at last discharged, and his soldiers were badly wounded and retreating. This was causing him great distress of mind, when a Christian at his bedside interposed, saying, "There is no gun; you are safe among friends in Fredericksburg."
"Away! Let me alone!" the officer cried. "I must recover my command and renew the attack."
"Let us talk no more of battle scenes," said the gentleman soothingly. "Let us talk of Jesus. He longs to receive and comfort you."
The mention of that blessed Name changed everything. Soon he became calm and the agitation ceased.
His delirium passed away, and a smile lighted up his pallid features. After a short silence he whispered, "Jesus! Jesus! Wasn't it He who said, 'Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest?' I want rest. I am so weary. Jesus gives rest to the weary."
As the dying soldier lay quietly awaiting release from the earthly house of this tabernacle, the Christian visitor softly sang:
"In the Christian's home in glory
There remains a land of rest,
Where the Savior's gone before me
To fulfill my soul's request.
On the other side of Jordan,
In the sweet fields of Eden,
Where the tree of life is blooming,
There is rest for you."
As the old hymn was being sung, the smile that had lighted the face of the dying officer faded and his whole body relaxed. All signs of pain and weariness disappeared as his spirit passed into the presence of Him whose invitation he had answered: "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matt. 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28).