"There seems to be two opinions, hut the words which the gentleman read made it all clear."
Such was the language of a young colored woman, whom I was requested to visit, as she lay at the point of death.
The first time I called I found her suffering much in mind and body.
I afterward learned that, although she had been visited by several, both of her own color and others, it had only been to her confusion.
Some said, "If she did the best she could, it was all God would expect." "Others told her that she couldn't expect to be saved without great convictions, a severe struggle, and witnessing some remarkable display of God's power and glory.
With a prayer that God's Spirit would give me, as the instrument,. just the words for her case, I said to her, "I fear you have but a short time to live, are you prepared to die?" With a look of despair on her countenance she answered "No." " Poor soul," said 1, " you need something more than man's thoughts." Let us turn to the precious word where we shall find your case described with the all-sufficient remedy.
She waited with eagerness. I first turned to Romans 5th chap. and read 6th, 7th and 8th verses, then to the 30 of John and read from 14th to 18th verse. Having seen front these passages that the sinner was riot only in a lost, but a helpless condition, and by the death and resurrection of Christ, the work was all done, it was simply for her to look, as did the serpent-bitten Israelites, and be saved. Then turning to the 16th of Acts 1 showed her that the terms of salvation were precisely what, the apostle Paul prescribed to the Philippian jailor, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ," &c.
After kneeling in prayer, I asked her, " Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior now?" She answered, "I do believe." The next day I asked if she was resting on Christ? She answered, "Yes, and He gives me peace."
Between my two visits one of her anxious friends had cautioned her against resting merely on what the word said, "for there must be a deep work of grace in you before you can have rest." But that she completely rested on the work of Christ may be seen by her dying testimony to her mother, for having told her she wanted to be clearly understood, as it was the last she had to say and might be misrepresented, she uttered the words at the heading of this piece," There seems to be two opinions, but the words which the gentleman read made it clear."
Then with a smile almost heavenly, said, "Now mother I am going into a sweet sleep," and closed her eyes. Her mother seeing it was the sleep of death, asked her again, " Do you think God has forgiven you everything?" She looked up, gazed for a moment into her mother's face, and exclaimed, "I don't think it, I know it."
To one who had for some years been presenting too much of his own thoughts at the expense of God's own living word, it was peculiarly precious, and afforded a beautiful tribute to the power and efficacy of the word. My prayer is that her testimony may have its due weight upon others. G. O. A.