Two soldiers were one night stationed at opposite ends of a long, narrow passage, or sally port, leading from the rock of Gibraltar to the Spanish territory beyond. They had doubtless often heard the gospel of the grace of God, the glad tidings of salvation; but their hearts had long remained untouched.
Each of these men, however, had been lately reading his Bible; and one of the two had accepted the Lord, and was really saved, rejoicing in God his Savior. The other was in deepest distress under strong conviction of sin. He was earnestly seeking relief from the load of guilt pressing upon his conscience.
Neither of the two was aware of the state of soul of the other. Moreover, the character of their duties and the distance between them forbade any communication passing between them.
On this particular night, an officer had been dining out; and was returning to his quarters in the garrison at a late hour. Coming up to the sentry on the outside of the sally port, the one who was really saved, the officer expected to be challenged as usual for the watchword in passing him. But the man was absorbed in meditation on the glorious and blessed things that had recently been made the joy of his soul. On being roused from his midnight reverie by the approaching officer, to the amazement of the latter the sentry exclaimed aloud: "The precious blood of Christ.”
Quickly however, he recovered his self-possession and challenged the officer, who, after giving the correct watchword, passed on without comment.
The unsaved comrade, anxiously seeking the Lord, and little knowing how the Lord was seeking him, was sentry at the other or inner end of the sally port (a passage singularly fitted for the conveyance of sound). Suddenly he distinctly heard, during the tumultuous tossing of his own troubled spirit, the words, "The precious blood of Christ," a message mysteriously borne upon the breeze at the solemn hour of midnight.
The words came home to his heart like a voice from heaven, as indeed they were. It was the Word of God winged from above. The words, "The precious blood of Christ," brought peace to the soul of the sin-burdened soldier. He was saved, and that for eternity!