A Christian woman, Mrs. Bell, was seriously ill and had to be placed in a hospital to undergo an operation. There the doctor, speaking to his staff, made no secret about the seriousness of her case. He also told the padre, who was a sort of chaplain for the institution, that the woman in Room 12 might not live long. So, shortly after her arrival at the hospital, Mrs. Bell awoke from sleep to find the padre sitting at her bedside, repeating prayers out of a little book.
"What are you doing?" she asked him.
"I am praying for you, dear madam," the padre replied.
"It is kind of you to pray for me; but what are you praying for me to get?" inquired Mrs. Bell.
"That the good God may be gracious to you when your last hour comes," was the reply.
Mrs. Bell rejoined, "You need not pray for that for me. I am already pardoned; I am sure of my soul's salvation; I know for certain that I shall go to be with Christ when I leave this world. I am a Christian and belong to the people of God."
"But we all belong to God's people!" said the padre.
"No," replied Mrs. Bell. "Only those who are washed in the blood of the Lamb. By nature, all are lost and must be born again, whether priests or laymen."
The padre's reply was, "Be calm, my dear lady! You are very ill and must not excite yourself. I will see you again."
Meanwhile a marked improvement in Mrs. Bell's condition took place, and when the padre called on her some days later she was able to speak to him very earnestly. She spoke also with no uncertain sound, while he listened most attentively. Suddenly he reached out his hand, saying: "Oh, pray for me! I am still without peace in my heart!"
After this interview the padre did not appear again for a number of days, and Mrs. Bell gradually gained strength. One day the bright sunshine tempted her to go out on the veranda. As she sat there, she heard a voice from a room nearby, praying: "Oh, God, have mercy on me, that I may not be like the man who entered without the wedding garment. Oh God, have mercy on me!"
These words reminded her of the conversation with the padre and she now also recognized the voice as being his. She returned to her room, and after an hour or two the padre knocked and was admitted. His face was beaming with joy as he said: "Now I have found the same peace that you have."
From that day, as long as Mrs. Bell was in the hospital, he came to talk with her often of the things that filled his heart; and each time he heard and received the Word as it is indeed—the truth of God.