A Captain's Conversion to God.

THIS is a true story. I know that some people are suspicious of ‘much that they see in print in the way of such anecdotes, fearing that they may be, possibly, colored or exaggerated; but, in this case, my information and authority are both absolutely correct and unimpeachable.
The incident occurred many years ago, and is reported to us by the inspired pen of the evangelist Luke, who, besides writing the lovely gospel, wrote also the Acts of the Apostles. He, doubtless, heard the particulars of the story from the lips of the Apostle Peter, under whose ministry this soldier was savingly blessed, and was given by the Spirit of God to pass it on to us (see Acts 10. and 11.).
The officer’s name was Cornelius, centurion of the Italian Band―a crack corps of the famous and ever-victorious Roman army. A centurion was the commander of a hundred men, corresponding to a captain in the British army today.
A good deal is told us about him. He was not fast, nor gay, nor thoughtless. Far from it; he was of a serious and religious turn. We read four things about him: ―
1. He was devout.
2. He feared God.
3. He gave much alms.
4. He prayed to God alway.
“Well,” you may say, “if he did all that he could not have been very far astray, for what could a man possibly do more, especially a soldier?”
Why a soldier?
Because, if a soldier is devout, and fears God, and attends to his duty, he can hardly be expected to do more; he cannot afford to give much alms to the people, nor can he pray to God at all times! Life in the barrack room is not conducive to over-much religion.
Quite possible, and yet this soldier did all that.
Then surely he must have been a saved man? Strange to say, that is the very thing which, spite of all his good deeds, he was not. No, his works had not saved him. How extraordinary! Then should he have increased them, giving more alms, and if possible, praying more frequently? Would that have saved him?
No it would not.
This is just the rock on which people stumble. They have the idea that their good works will save them, but they won’t. Bad works, sins, take people to hell, but good works do not take us to heaven.
Now, be patient, and let us see how the Apostle Peter treated the case. Turn to Acts 11:13, 14,13And he showed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter; 14Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved. (Acts 11:13‑14) and read how that an angel, one of God’s holy messengers, was sent to Cornelius, and charged him to send for Peter, who would tell him (mark) words whereby he, and all his house, should be saved!
And what words did Peter preach to him? He said: “To Him [that is the Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ] give all the prophets witness that, through His name, whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins” (Acts 10:4343To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. (Acts 10:43)). These were the words that did it! “Whosoever believeth in Him”
The Apostle Peter made no allusion to the works or prayers of Cornelius, because they had not a particle of saving value in them (I say “saving value” advisedly), but he preached the remission of sins (to be had at once) by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ Note the order
(1) “Whosoever believeth in Him.”
(2) “Shall receive remission of sins.”
Lay hold, I pray you, of this wonderful statement. These are words whereby you (whosoever you may be) may also be saved.
And so we read that, “While Peter yet spate these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word” (Acts 10:4444While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. (Acts 10:44)). They heard the word in their heart, and received the seal of God’s salvation-the Holy Spirit-immediately.
How simple, how sure, how divine, and how sudden!
Thus the captain was saved. And how? By hearing some wonderful words. That was all, but how divinely simple! And when exposed, perchance, to a sudden death, how unspeakably valuable!
Let me ring out the contrast: Words, words, WORDS―the words of God; not works―the worthless works of man!
Have works no place? Well, I do not suppose that the centurion’s charities, now that he was saved, decreased in number, or that his prayers henceforth began to flag; but he would now live in the joy and power of a salvation possessed, instead of one to be acquired, as he supposed, by his prayers and alms. He would thus “work out his own salvation” (Phil. 2:1212Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. (Philippians 2:12)). Another has died and risen to do all the mighty work necessary for it. What a difference! The “dying thief” went to paradise on the very day on which he heard the words of the dying Son of God. How sudden!
Notice this: Grace is the cause, blood the merit, faith the instrument, and works the evidence of salvation. The thief had no time for the evidence, save in the bold confession of Jesus as Lord, but he went to Paradise.
When in circumstances not very dissimilar to those of Cornelius, and in deep soul-anxiety, I found a ray of light in the words: ―
“In my hands no price I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling.”
And now, after many years, I find the cross of Christ a perfect resting-place for my soul, in view of death and eternity. All glory to God.
J. W. S.