A FEW years ago, a French nobleman came to this country laboring under an extraordinary depression of spirits. He came to consult an eminent physician, who devoted himself especially to the treatment of diseases of the mind.
The Count was a man of wealth as well as of rank. Beloved in his family and esteemed by his friends, his cup seemed to run over. But was he happy? No; for, strange as it may appear, a deep gloom hung over his spirits, which neither the charms of a happy family circle nor the important duties of public life could dispel.
His friends became much alarmed on his account, and by their advice he consulted various medical men. They recommended him change of air and scene, baths, music, company. He tried all, but in vain.
Just at this juncture an intimate friend advised him to go to England and consult the above-mentioned physician. To this he willingly assented, and before many days had passed, he was seated with the doctor in his study. Having put a number of questions to him, the doctor, after a most careful examination, said, “There is nothing wrong with you, sir. I can find nothing in the state of your system to account for the melancholy of which you complain.”
“That is strange,” said the patient. “This depression of spirits endangers my reason. Do, doctor, help me, if you can.”
“Perhaps an inordinate ambition may have to do with it?”
“No, I have no desire for great things. I am in the position just suited to my tastes and wishes.” “Some family trouble or bereavement?”
“No, doctor; peace and love reign in my family, and my circle is unbroken.”
“Have you any enemies?”
“Not that I am aware of.”
“What subject most frequently occupies your thoughts?”
“You are approaching a matter which I hardly like to speak of, doctor. I am a skeptic, and the ceremonies of religion are in my view as repugnant to common sense as its mysteries are to reason. I do not believe in revelation, and yet, I must confess, one of its dogmas haunts me like a specter. I try to persuade myself that it is the result of a disordered state of the brain; but yet my mind is continually occupied with it.”
“Will you tell me what it is?”
“A vision of the last judgment is constantly present to my mind. The end of all things seems to have come, and the great white throne is set up. There is One seated on the throne, whose look of stern justice terrifies me. I try to escape from His penetrating glance, but heaven and earth have disappeared, and I am left alone. Every moment I expect to hear the awful words: ‘Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.”
“What makes you fear such a sentence?”
“Well, in the eyes of men my life is deemed irreproachable, and not without reason. I have less to accuse myself of than most of my acquaintances; but in the presence of such dazzling glory―such spotless purity―my very best actions appear black and hideous. I feel guilty and condemned, and long to find some spot where I can hide from His presence.”
“Is that what causes the melancholy of which you complain?”
“I suppose so. This terrible vision is always before me. I cannot get rid of it.”
“I have by me an old book, which contains a remedy for your disease,” said the doctor, with confidence, as he turned to his bookcase and took down a book, which bore the marks of frequent use. He turned over a few pages, and then handing the book to his patient, he requested him to read aloud the lines to which he pointed.
He read as follows: ―
“Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?”
“The unbelief which the prophet complained of two thousand six hundred years ago exists in our own day.”
“For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.”
“Of whom do these verses speak?” said the Count.
“Of the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s Son, whom He sent into the world, that by His death He might make atonement for sin.”
“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from him: he was despised, and we esteemed him not.”
“That is indeed true: we have not esteemed Him.”
“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.”
“Here again the prophecy has been fulfilled.”
“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we, like sheep, have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
“What does that mean, doctor?”
“That the Son of God took the sinner’s place, and bore the punishment due to the sinner.”
“Is it possible, doctor? What Divine beauty and simplicity! The guiltless dies for the guilty!” “Read on a little further.”
“He was oppressed, and he was afflicted; yet he opened not his mouth.”
“Because He stood there as the willing substitute.”
“He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.”
“He gave up His life as a ransom for me.”
“He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.”
“He took the sinner’s place.”
“And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief.”
“Oh! what great love to sinners!”
“When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for be shall bear their iniquities” (Isa. 53).
“There it is again, doctor. I see it as clearly as possible! ―justified by the death of another! What love in God! What love in His Son! I no longer fear the judgment. Christ has been judged for me. I see it now.”
“If you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, He Himself tells you, you have everlasting life. Read it for yourself.”
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life” (John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)).
The Count received this glorious truth then and there, and left the doctor’s study a different man. Returning home with a heart filled with gratitude, he desired henceforth to live to the glory of Him who loved him and gave Himself for him.
ANON.