IT was during the summer of 1859 (a year remarkable in the history of the Church for the drawing of many souls to Christ), that the writer, who was then but a youth, was invited one Sunday evening, by a servant of the Lord, to accompany him in a walk to a country hamlet on the banks of the river Wye, where he was going to preach the gospel to the people who lived in that neighborhood.
It was a critical period in the history of the writer, though it is not likely that the preacher who invited him knew anything of the circumstances that made it so. Brought up by Christian parents, and when called to leave home committed by them to the care of Christian people, still his heart was far away from God, and was prompting him to rush into any sinful folly that came within his reach, though happily prevented, to a large extent, by the restraints that the providential goodness of God had placed around him; he nevertheless had yielded to temptation, and was learning thus early that the way of transgressors is hard, and that as a man, or a youth, soweth, so shall he also reap. These troubles had somewhat subdued and chastened his spirit, and though as yet he was unaware of it, the good hand of a Saviour-God was doubtless dealing with his conscience, and preparing his heart, so that the goodly fruits of repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus might appear. He was quite ready to accompany the preacher, though without any real thought or concern as to the gravity of the moment.
The conversation on the way must have been on ordinary topics, as the writer has no recollection of anything serious having, been said to him, and in due course the place of meeting was reached. It chanced to be not a church or a chapel, but a plain building that was used during the week as a laundry, and lent by a gentleman living hard by for gospel preaching on Sunday evenings, in the desire that some of his neighbors might, as regards their souls, be washed, sanctified, and justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus, and by the. Spirit of our God.
After singing and prayer, the preacher’s text was announced; it was Revelation 3:2020Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20): “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.” The word was with power, at least to the soul of the writer; he was fully aware of his state as being without Christ, and yet this glorious One was knocking and seeking an entrance into his heart, bringing with Him, as He ever does, peace to the guilty conscience, and satisfaction to the heart. The preacher, in his discourse, pressed the fact of a present Saviour, and in Him a present salvation, and dwelt on the danger and sin of procrastination. Like many other young people brought up under Christian influence, and who in consequence are well acquainted with the letter of the gospel, the writer never contemplated being eternally lost, but thought that some time, not now, he would turn to the Lord. This evening, and under this preaching, he was deeply impressed with the folly of such a course. He was also made painfully sensible that to go on hearing the gospel and yet not to receive it, not to, bow to the Lord and Saviour of all, would so deaden the conscience and harden the heart, that at last he might listen to the good news as a tale that is told, and be entirely unaffected by it. How persistently, with a firm yet gentle hand, did the gracious Lord continue knocking at the door of the writer’s heart that evening!
Nothing was said as to these things either by preacher or hearer as together they walked back to the town. What was passing in the soul of the writer was of too serious a nature to be spoken of at that stage to any human being, and probably the preacher was wise in not seeking to draw it from him.
During the ensuing week the writer was much occupied with his necessary duties, and though the exercises produced did not altogether pass away, to a large extent they subsided. Still, the Lord had caused His voice to be heard. He had laid His gracious hand upon the wanderer, and nothing could hinder the accomplishment of His will, and that was to bless.
The following Sunday the writer was invited to the house of some Christian friends to tea. They were aged, and were truly interested in his spiritual welfare, but nothing of importance was said, though, not going out themselves that evening, conversation was prolonged until after the usual hour for going to the gospel meeting, and the writer was late in reaching the hall.
The preacher was at the desk. Singing and prayer were over; and as the writer took his seat the text was read. Quite unexpected by him, the preacher was the same he had heard at the laundry the previous Sunday, and more remarkable still, the text was the same: “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.”
This was, so to speak, the second knock, and though the text only was heard by the writer that night, it was enough; the Lord Himself now opened the door, and while the light of that Blessed One streamed in, conviction was deepened, faith sprang up, and confidence was there. The Lord had completely gained the day, not by a mere act of power, though divine power was there, but by the subduing influence of that grace in which He had drawn near to a poor wayward and wandering sinner. There was no ecstasy, no excitement, no desire to proclaim anything to others, though that followed in due time. There was exercise as to many things, though all under the eye of One Whose every touch produced confidence. Light through the word as to the value of the blood of Christ followed, with an enlarged spiritual apprehension of the glory of His person, and the satisfying fullness of His love. The grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
This grace continues until the present, and fills the heart with the blessed assurance that His love will never relax its hold, but that He will have His willing captive with and like Himself forever. F. W. G.
Where the Gospel Begins. —“The gospel begins at the close of God’s experience of man’s heart; and calls us from that in order that we should have joy and peace from the experience of what is in His heart.” J. N, D.