OF all positions occupied by railway servants, the work of the shunter is the most dangerous, statistics proving that more shunters are killed at their posts of duty than any other railway employee. The one whose conversion is here recorded, although he has had many very narrow escapes, glories in the fact that his soul is saved, and realizes through the grace of God, that whether in life or death, all is well. He gives the following account: —
“My early days were spent in a midland village, and being of lowly parentage and one of seven children, I did not have the advantage of a good education, being compelled to work hard from my earliest recollections. Boylike, I was often in mischief; in fact, if anything went wrong in the village, I was usually blamed for it.
“I shall ever remember with gratitude that I had a praying mother, who always sought to impress upon my young mind the truth that God beheld all my ways. But like hundreds more, I was very self-willed and endeavored to forget her loving counsel; although now I can add that her example, her prayers, and her influence have never left me.
“I recall three very anxious times in my experience. When a boy of twelve, I was spoken to by a young man about my sinful state, and I well remember my brokenness of heart as he told me of the Saviour’s love; but, alas I the impression soon passed away.
“A few years later, I heard an impressive sermon at the Parish Church, which again awakened me to a sense of my danger and caused distress of soul; my anxiety being at times so great that I often fell upon my knees behind a hedge, and tried to pray for mercy. But again the word did not profit me, for Satan suggested that I was too bad, and that I must mend my ways, and again attempt that which I had vainly endeavored to do so many times. As I was ignorant of God’s abounding love to guilty sinners, I became disheartened, and even more careless than before.
“But God in grace bore with my stubbornness and rebellion, not leaving me alone, but about six years later bringing me under the sound of these impressive words: ‘But man dieth and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?’ But I again disobeyed the call of God and sought pleasure in the world. And until I was thirty-two I continued my wild career, without God and without Christ.
“Thus the years passed, until five little children were seated around my table, bringing with them their attendant responsibility and care, and all thoughts of eternity and eternal things were banished from my mind, until death, that dread visitant, called at our home, taking from our midst my wife’s mother. This sad event caused me to see the awfulness of a soul passing into eternity without a ray of hope. Six weeks later my eldest sister passed away, and as we laid her body in the cold grave I felt in utter despair. A fortnight later my youngest boy died, but instead of these sad occurrences softening my heart, I further rebelled against God and complained of His hard and seemingly unrighteous dealings. It was whilst standing by the still form of my beloved child that God again caused me to hear His voice, as the thought vividly presented itself, ‘What had it been you?’ and I was compelled to acknowledge, ‘O God, I should have been in hell.’ From that moment for nearly three months I was in great agony of soul, feeling as never before the great burden of sin, causing me to rise from my bed many times in the night to pray to God for light. Once when digging in the garden, I was so deeply convicted of sin that I felt I dare not proceed lest I should open a hole by which I should sink into hell. I immediately went to my room and cried to God for deliverance. Thus God brought me to own as one before had owned, ‘O wretched man that I am!’
“Some time after the above experiences I went to hear the gospel preached, and although after the service Christian friends sought to point me to Christ, I was so very blind and unbelieving that the way of salvation seemed too simple. The following night, when on my way home, a great longing possessed me to be saved, and glancing upward the heavens appeared to open, and what a sight met my enraptured gaze! for I saw the Lord Jesus dying on Calvary’s cross, and I heard a voice saying, ‘You are refusing salvation through the work of Christ.’ My sin-burdened heart was bowed both with sorrow and gratitude, and I exclaimed, ‘O Lord, I will refuse no longer,’ and there under the broad canopy of heaven I trusted Christ as my Saviour, and joy and peace in believing flooded my heart. It was not long ere I was on my knees, thanking God for His abounding grace and mercy to me, a poor hell-deserving sinner.
“Many times after this Satan suggested that I was deceived, and once when going to work, greatly troubled with doubts as to my acceptance with God, my attention was arrested by a small piece of paper, which was almost covered by sand, lying by the roadside. I picked it up and found it to be a small leaflet, and in it I read how, in the person and work of Christ, God had made a rich provision, both for the past, the present, and the future. It was just what I needed, and this led me to further praise my God, who had provided such a perfect salvation. My fears all vanished, and from that moment, if doubts arise, I have pointed my adversary to the written Word of God; and I can with thankfulness add that it has been peace and joy all along the way.
“I record the above to magnify the grace of God in saving my soul and sparing my life, whilst numbers of my mates have been cut down both by disease and accident, many in the prime of life.
“One to whom I had many times spoken about his soul’s salvation, had been run over by an engine. I went to where he lay, and when I saw his poor mangled body I knew that he could not last many minutes. Lifting to God a silent prayer, I knelt by his side and whispered, ‘George, look to Jesus; His precious blood will cleanse from all sin.’ I also repeated other scriptures into his dying ear, but, alas! he was too far gone to make any reply.
“Another case very different to the above was that of another comrade who was a fireman, to whom I had many times spoken about the realities of eternity. Once, when on night duty, I felt deeply impressed to speak to him about the welfare of his soul. I was unable to leave my post, so I hastily wrote a passage of Scripture upon a scrap of paper I had by me, and handed it to him as the engine passed. It was some time before I again saw him, when I asked him as to his soul’s salvation. ‘Thank God, all is right,’ he replied. ‘How did it come about?’ I asked. To which he replied, ‘You remember those words of Scripture you gave me? God used them to open my eyes.’
“Now, dear reader, I would add a warning word to you. Do not trifle with the mercy of God, for He has said, ‘My Spirit shall not always strive with man.’
“O unsaved comrade, flee to the outstretched arms of my precious Saviour, for He has suffered the just for the unjust. Hark to His cry at Calvary, ‘My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?’ Why was He forsaken? It was because God could not pass over sin, and as Christ took the sinner’s place, God poured out His indignation and wrath against sin upon Him.
“Moreover, it pleased the Lord to bruise Him. Why? That He might righteously spare you and me. Therefore I repeat to you the words of the One who saved me, who will also save every needy sinner who turns to Him by faith: ‘For God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ Believe this glorious message, and your soul shall live.”