HENRY K―, the son of godly parents, was born in Scotland, on 9th December 1826. He grew up under the godly counsel of his parents, and the Word of God which they taught him convicted his conscience about his sins, but instead of yielding to this conviction, he determined to free himself from what he considered religious restraint, and emigrated to Canada. He procured a position as teacher, and taught in various parts of Ontario, especially Winterbourne.
To silence the convictions of conscience which hindered his enjoying “the pleasures of sin,” he adopted infidel notions, and his downward course in sin became rapid. This resulted in the loss of friends, and “want” ensued. Like another prodigal, who turned his back on his father, he “spent all”; the “famine” followed, and he found “the way of transgressors is hard” (Prov. 13:1515Good understanding giveth favor: but the way of transgressors is hard. (Proverbs 13:15); Luke 15:11-3211And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 13And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. 14And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. 15And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. 17And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 20And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. 25Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. 27And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. 28And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and entreated him. 29And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: 30But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. 31And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. 32It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found. (Luke 15:11‑32)).
One day when partially under the influence of liquor, bewildered as to where he should go or what he should do, and thinking of leaving the neighborhood, he decided to call on a friend to say good-bye. On his way he was met by a person who asked him where he was going? “I am going to hell!” was his reply. Such was the hardened condition of this “child of many prayers,” without the fear of God before his eyes, and far from “the way of peace” (Rom. 3:17, 1817And the way of peace have they not known: 18There is no fear of God before their eyes. (Romans 3:17‑18)).
Arriving at his friend’s house, and having to wait to see him, he became restless, picked up a paper, and strolled into the orchard. Carelessly he began to read a narrative of a godly mother and a reckless son, but as he read the graphic account of the mother’s pleading with her son, her tears and earnest prayers for him, he became deeply impressed, and saw his own case in the narrative. Again were his own mother’s tears vividly before him, and the loving words of his parents, though long silent, ringing in his ears. With irresistible power, God now carried deep conviction of sin to his conscience, and “he came to himself” (Luke 15:1717And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! (Luke 15:17)). The days of childhood, his happy home, and what he was before turning his back on it, came very vividly before him, and contrasting what he was then with the depths of degradation in sin to which he had fallen, he dropped the paper, and cried out, “Is Jesus as willing to receive me now as He was when I was a little child?”
Henry was now consciously in the presence of a holy God, and his whole sinful life before Him. Was it all a delusion? He tried to persuade himself that it was, and said, “What a strange delusion has come over me now!” But instead of its being a delusion, he found it an eternal reality in the presence of the God from whom he could not escape. His sins, and “the wrath of God” against them, were before him (John 3:3636He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36); Rom. 1:1818For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; (Romans 1:18); Eph. 5:3-63But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; 4Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. 5For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. (Ephesians 5:3‑6); Col. 3:5-65Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: (Colossians 3:5‑6)). The last struggle had come; “without strength,” “ungodly,” utterly “lost,” and, to use his own words, with “hell before” him, he dropped on his knees, and cried out in great agony of soul, “Lord, if You want a sinner without a white spot in him, here I am, in life or in death.”
There on his knees, a lost sinner, “without a white spot in him,” God in His sovereign grace saved him. Here are his own words: “I had not to wait an instant before I knew I was accepted of the Lord, and saved by sovereign grace.” “For by grace are ye saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast.” “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” “Blessed is the man unto whom God imputes righteousness without works” (Eph. 2:8, 98For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8‑9); Rom. 5:6, 4:8).
The prayers of Henry K― ‘s parents were answered, and the precious incorruptible seed of “the Word of God that lives and abides forever,” sown in his young heart by them, bore fruit unto eternal salvation, through “the precious blood of Christ,” when he was about fifty-three years of age (2 Tim. 3:1515And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 3:15); 1 Peter 1:18-2518Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. 22Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 24For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. (1 Peter 1:18‑25)).
Full of the inexpressible joy of God’s salvation, his first thought was to return to his friend’s house, and tell what great things the Lord had done for him; but remembering his old “appetite for liquor,” and feeling he could be of no use to the blessed Lord who had just saved him, so long as it remained, he asked Him to take it away. His prayer was answered, and from that day he never had the slightest desire for it. Thus the Lord Jesus not only saved him from his sins, and “wrath to come” (Matt. 1:2121And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21); 1 Thess. 1:9,109For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; 10And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. (1 Thessalonians 1:9‑10)), but from “the love of strong drink”―a terrible monster that enslaves and damns millions of all classes of men, rich and poor, educated and uneducated, noble and ignoble. Jesus the Son of God is “mighty to save” all who, like Henry K―, come to Him “without a white spot” in them. “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:3737All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37)).
He reached the house, and full of the joy that flows from “the knowledge of salvation by the remission of sins” (Luke 1:7777To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, (Luke 1:77)), he told every one how the Lord had saved him. Being justified by faith, and having peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:11Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Romans 5:1)), he went to bed that night, and as he afterward expressed it, “slept like a babe that had been washed and put to bed.”
The Word of God which had been stored up in his heart by his parents, but long forgotten by him, now came back with wonderful power, and he began to preach Jesus the Saviour for the lost, right away. “We believe... and therefore speak” (2 Cor. 4:1313We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; (2 Corinthians 4:13)). Blessed answer of a faithful God to the faith and prayers of his parents. “All things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive” Matthew 21:2222And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. (Matthew 21:22); John 14:13, 1413And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. (John 14:13‑14)).
In school-houses and public buildings in various, parts of the country, he related the story of his conversion with touching effect, and with a heart full of “the love of Christ” pleaded with men to be “reconciled to God through the death of his Son” (Rom. 5:1010For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. (Romans 5:10); 2 Cor, 5:18-21). To the needy fields of Muskoka he carried “the glad tidings of the grace of God,” and “the Lord of the harvest” was with him. “The sheaves” that were given him there, and in other parts of the country where he labored for years, will be seen as his “joy, and crown of rejoicing in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming” (1 Thess. 2:1919For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? (1 Thessalonians 2:19)).
In “the blessed hope” of soon seeing his beloved Master at His coming, he labored for the salvation of the lost, but it pleased the Lord to call him home to rest and wait with Him for that bright and glorious morning without a cloud, when He comes to gather His Church, and present her to Himself without spot or wrinkle, in His own image, in His Father’s house (Rom. 8:2929For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Romans 8:29); 1 Cor. 15:4949And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. (1 Corinthians 15:49); Eph. 5:25, 2725Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; (Ephesians 5:25)
27That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:27); 1 John 3:2, 32Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. (1 John 3:2‑3); John 14:1-31Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:1‑3)).
For years Henry had suffered from heart disease, nevertheless he continued to proclaim the power of the blood of Christ to cleanse from “all sin” (1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)) until absolutely forbidden by his physician to preach.
The following extracts from his letters to his beloved wife describe his feelings.
... “Yesterday was very stormy, whether I got cold or not I cannot say, but I passed a rather disturbed night. I had no sleep up to about five o’clock this morning. Had a spell of dizziness, got up and lighted the lamp, went back to bed, fell into a doze, and awakened with a sort of a smothering or choking sensation. I awakened with the cry of ‘Come Lord Jesus! Come quickly!’ (Rev. 22:2020He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. (Revelation 22:20)).
Eternally saved through the precious blood of my Lord Jesus Christ, I have no fear of death... but should it be the Lord’s will to remove me suddenly before He comes, I hereby testify to His power and His grace, and the completeness of that redemption which He has purchased for me with His own blood, which cleanseth me from all sin.... The everlasting arms’ are around us all.... Good-night.”
After delivering his last gospel message in Linwood, just one week before the Lord called him home, he writes:... “I had great joy in preaching today. I took four questions: ‘Are there few that be saved?’ (Luke 13:2323Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, (Luke 13:23)). ‘Who then can be saved?’ (Luke 18:2626And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved? (Luke 18:26)). ‘What must I do to be saved?’ (Acts 16:3030And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? (Acts 16:30)). ‘Can a saved sinner be lost? I had freedom and utterance, and a large audience, and above all, the presence of Jesus, and power of the Spirit.”...
Sunday Night.
... “The doctor would not let me preach today... I am anxious about some of the souls of the people. It is much laid on my heart.... I seem to have something to do for Jesus here before I leave.... I am in a strait. Two men at Linwood are constantly before the mind’s eye.... If it please God I would like to preach here a little while longer; if not, His holy and blessed will be done. The Lord Jesus, my Master, does all things well.”
Linwood is still before him, and again he writes the same night.... “I have a great desire to preach again at Linwood, and speak with two men about their souls. This seems laid on my heart. I have just read John 6. The Lord direct me to do His will.”
Immediately after this, he wrote his last... “If I should pass away to be with the Lord suddenly, the mission money and the little book are in the paper box. I am the Lord’s in life or in death.”
February 28, 1897.
Shortly after writing the above, he was seized with a severe pain in the heart, and looking up, exclaimed, “My Lord!” Henry K― was absent from the body and present with the Lord who had saved him “by sovereign grace,” kept him “by sovereign grace,” and taken him home “by sovereign grace” to rest and wait with Him for the resurrection morning, when “sovereign grace” will present him and all the blood-redeemed people of God, in “the image of the heavenly,” in the Father’s house of “light” and “love” and “joy.”
Dear reader, has the Lord saved you yet? If not, come to Him now. He will receive, bless, and save you; only trust Him, and then you will be able to sing in unison with Henry K―and the writer― “Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion forever and ever” (Rev. 1:5, 65And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 1:5‑6)).
W. B―N.