I was visiting the General Hospital. A nurse said to me: "There is a patient here who is very ill. Will you speak to him?" I replied I would; and as we were walking down the passage to "No. 15", she told me that the case was a singular one. The doctor had been unable to make it out. On seeing the patient, I soon understood the reason: the science of medicine made no provision for sin-sick souls.
The patient was a man apparently about thirty-five years old. He was so overcome with emotion that the bed on which he lay was shaking. His eyes were swollen, his face wet with tears. His voice, when he attempted to answer my inquiry as to his health, was so broken and incoherent that it was impossible to gather any meaning from his disconnected words. I sat down by his bed and finally succeeded in quieting him somewhat sufficiently at all events for me to know that he was making very strong and sweeping charges against someone, and that the someone was himself.
Will it appear strange to you, dear reader, that I could have satisfaction in such an exhibition of unhappiness and distress of soul? Would not the natural disposition be to soothe and quiet? But God was working by His Spirit to convince this soul "of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment." John 16:88And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: (John 16:8).
I could but "stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.”
The solemn reproof should now more than ever be applicable: "They have healed the hurt of my people slightly, saying, peace, peace; when there is no peace." I remember when I was going through an exercise of soul much less deep than that of my hospital friend. I knew myself to be under condemnation for having broken God's laws, but I was assured by one whom I consulted that, to regain His favor, I must be very good. I saw by God's Word—and well for myself that I did—that "there is none good but One.”
So, instead of telling our patient in "15" that there was no occasion for so much anxiety, I attempted to put before him the remedy which God had so freely and so fully provided.
"Oh, but," said the distressed man, "I have been such a hypocrite.”
"Granted," replied I. "But the blood of Jesus Christ God's Son, cleanseth us from all sin.”
"There has never been such a sinner as I am.”
"There has never been such a Savior as the Lord Jesus." But he could not see Jesus: he could only see himself a moral leper; and he could only cry "unclean, unclean.”
With perfect assurance that He who had bruised could and would heal, I left him. Business called me out of town for a fortnight, but I wrote to my friend and sent him a New Testament with many passages, which I thought applicable to his case marked for him. During my absence I was very much before the Lord about him, and on my return was anxious to know of his state.
As soon as circumstances permitted I found my way again to the hospital. On entering ward 15 my heart sank when I saw not only a vacant bed but an unknown name where I had seen so wonderful an exhibition of the Spirit's power two weeks before. My disappointment was brief, however. I soon learned that the patient had been removed to another ward and I found him in a distant corner, sitting clothed and in his right mind, reading his Testament.
"Well," I said, "are you rejoicing in the finished work of Christ?" With some hesitation he replied, "At times I am filled with joy, and then again clouds arise.”
"But if the Lord were to call you at this moment what would be the result?”
"Oh, I would surely be with Him.”
"Then," I said, "let us thank God for the salvation of your precious soul," and on our knees our hearts went up to Him for all His love and grace.
"The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”