IN one of the beautiful, stately homes of England there lives a nobleman, the father of a lovely little girl, about six years of age. The Lady Alberta is the delight and happiness of her father’s heart, the companion and relief of his leisure moments.
One day, when alone with him in his study, Lady Alberta suddenly ceased her childish prattle for an instant, and looking up into her father’s face, asked with all the earnestness of childhood, “Father, do you know anything whiter than snow?”
“No, my darling, there is not anything whiter than snow.”
“Oh! but there is indeed.”
“What is it then, my child?”
“Father, the soul washed in the blood of the Lord Jesus is whiter than snow.”
Oh! the desperate opposition in the human heart to the truth of God. It is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can it be. There is need, not of a change, for flesh cannot be improved and remains the same to the end, but of the introduction of another and entirely new element. “They that are in the flesh cannot please God.” “Except a man be born again he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
The nobleman looked both annoyed and surprised. “Who taught you this, my child?” “My nurse.”
The bell was hastily rung, and a footman appeared.
“Tell Lady Alberta’s nurse to attend.”
The nurse came to the door, and was questioned. She acknowledged that it was she, Who had told Lady Alberta the value of the precious blood of Christ, which cleanses from all sin, so that the sour of the believer is seen by God without spot.
The nobleman took out his watch, and telling the nurse such proceedings could not be allowed by him, gave her orders to leave the castle within an hour.
A short time after, a Royal Prince came for a few days to pay a visit to the nobleman. Great were the rejoicings, extensive the preparations, widespread the excitement this event occasioned. One day, towards the close of his stay at the castle, his royal highness was for a few minutes with the nobleman in his study, when the little Lady Alberta came running in and gamboled about the apartment in the gaiety of her heart, as if unconscious of the august presence of her father’s guest. The beautiful, artless child at once attracted the prince’s attention. He spoke to her. She suddenly stopped, as if turning over something in her mind, and then, with the greatest simplicity, fixing her large eyes on his face, inquired, “Prince, do you know anything that is whiter than snow?”
“No, dear,” said he, “I have never heard of anything whiter than snow, have you?”
“Oh! yes, Prince; the Soul washed from all its sins in the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ is whiter than snow.”
There was complete silence; the attention of the nobleman was arrested, but he said nothing.
Reader, what is the sequel of my tale? Do you anticipate it? I have only to add that the hard, proud nature of the nobleman was completely bowed. He turned to the inspired word of God, to learn therein for himself of the atoning efficacy of the blood of Christ, who, “through the Eternal Spirit, offered Himself without spot to God.” Christ, the Eternal Spirit, and God the Father, all interested and engaged in that stupendous transaction, which accordingly could bear, and does bear, no other stamp than that of perfection.
Whether the simple word of the little child remained with the Prince or not, the Day alone will declare. He did not in the least oppose the truth of the observation; and it was this (being such a contrast to himself) that struck Alberta’s father. The nurse is now re-instated in the castle, tending and teaching her precious charge; and the nobleman is now rich in faith, an heir of the kingdom which God hath promised to those who love Him. He has learned a little (oh, how little do any of us learn!) of the love of the Living One Who went down into the dust of death, Who was dead but is alive for evermore, Who gave Himself a ransom for all, Who was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, and Who now has ascended up on high, and sat down forever at God’s right hand, having obtained eternal redemption.
“When first to Jesu’s Cross we came,
Our hearts o’erwhelmed by sin and shame,
Conscious of guilt, and full of fear,
Yet drawn by love, we ventured near,
And pardon found, and peace with God,
In Jesu’s rich atoning blood.
“Our sins are gone, our fears are o’er,
We shun God’s presence now no more,
With childlike faith we seek His face,
His throne, a throne of boundless grace.
And when before the throne of God,
We’ll sing of the Atoning Blood.”
Reader, may a little child lead you. R. B.