SITUATED amidst beautiful surroundings in Yorkshire there stands a fine mansion, some eight miles from the market town of D—.
It was in this Hall, some time ago, I was sitting with the owner discussing some important business matters. After’ settling the business in hand the conversation took quite an unexpected turn. Addressing me, Mr. H—said, “By the way, you knew Mr. M—very well, did you not?” (referring to another county magnate who had only recently passed away). I said “Yes, I knew him well, and had a great respect for him.” Mr. H—continuing, said, “Yes, but he said some very queer things. I remember him telling me that he was ‘saved’; now I don’t believe anyone can know that he is saved.”
“My dear sir,” I replied, “you must please speak for yourself; so far as our departed friend is concerned, I don’t doubt for a moment that he was saved; and as for myself, I have known the forgiveness of my sins for many years, and that is what our friend really meant when he told you that he was ‘saved.’ Indeed, I go farther, I say that there is no reason why everyone should not know the forgiveness of their sins.”
Mr. H—thoughtfully replied, “Well, all I can say is, that I don’t know the forgiveness of my sins. I wish I did.”
“I am thankful to hear you say that you wish you did, and if you will bring your Bible, we will look together into the matter, and see what the Word of God says regarding the forgiveness of sins and salvation.” With remarkable alacrity for a man of years, away he went to his library and returned in a minute with a copy of the Scriptures. I looked at the book—it was a small Bible, with brass mounting and a clasp, such as was in common use some forty or fifty years ago. It was old—yet it was new; no fingermarks were upon it; no, it had never been used. No wonder the owner knew nothing about forgiveness and salvation—yet he was quite ready to say that he did not believe that anyone could know that they were saved. Perhaps you, my reader, have also in your house a Bible, but if you are a stranger to its contents, the very possession of the Scriptures will only add to your condemnation, because if it lies in your house unused, it but proves how little value you put upon what God in His mercy has committed to man for man’s salvation.
If I had asked to see a plan of this man’s property he could have produced it, and accurately described the boundaries as well, probably, as being able to explain the position of every building on his estate; but of heavenly things, those things which will alone endure to eternity, he practically knew nothing. Was he an infidel? Oh, no, he was a regular attender at a place of worship. I turned to various Scriptures, showing him from the Word that God was a Saviour God, not willing that anyone should perish, but that all should come to the knowledge of the Truth—that God sent His Son into the world not to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved; that He was able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by Him.
I pointed out that it was God who took the initiative in the matter, and thus God commended His love towards us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us, and that Christ died, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God—that Christ bore our sins in His own body on the tree—that He whom men despised and put to death God had raised up from the dead, and had made Him—that same Jesus—both Lord and Christ, and that the blessed Lord Himself commissioned His disciples to preach repentance and remission of sins through His name, and that there was joy in heaven over one sinner repenting. Mr. H—listened very attentively to the Scriptures, and for the moment at least the Bible presented to him something very different from what he had ever thought.
I fancy to his mind it had appeared to be simply a book consisting of a number of sections written upon various subjects by many authors, historical, moral, and so on. A new light was thrown on the Bible, and looking at me very” thoughtfully, he said, in a voice of sadness I shall not soon forget, “What is the value of all these lands to me when I don’t know that I am saved?” Solemn yet hopeful statement; the arrow of conviction had penetrated his conscience, the bow drawn at a venture had done its work, the light had come in and exposed the darkness—for blessing, I doubt not. I thought, as he spoke, of these words, “What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?”
Here was a man, who for threescore years and ten had reveled in the lap of luxury, finding out at last that all was of no value to him.
Has my reader made this discovery? You may not be, like my friend, a rich landed proprietor, but whether you have little or much, let me ask you in all affection can you say that you are saved? If not, let me beg you to turn your eyes to that blessed, glorious Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, seated at the right hand of God (He is Lord of all), He who in love to your soul bore the judgment which you deserved upon the cross of Calvary, died for your sins, and was laid in the grave. One look at that blessed Man will bring you to His feet, a worshipper. God grant it may be so.
J. B.