PS.—Send me a verse, or something.”
Over and over again I read these words at the end of a letter from my brother, and deeply did I feel reproved by them.
I had been converted some years previous to this, and earnestly desired that my brothers and sisters might be too, so my letters to them generally contained a "verse or something,” written with prayer that the Lord would, in this way, awaken them. As no notice was ever taken of these, I began to be discouraged; and, thinking to please them, had written several letters filled entirely with things of the world. How gently the Lord reproved me!
I at once wrote to my brother, asked him about his difficulties, and requested him to open his heart freely to me.
His reply was, he believed the Lord Jesus died for his sins, but he could not see that his sins were really put away. He was in darkness, and was praying for light.
As simply as I could I pointed out to him how God had so loved the world, that He gave His only Son for it (John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)); that He laid all our sins on Him (Isa. 53:66All 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. (Isaiah 53:6)); that He bore them in His own body on the tree (1 Peter 2:44To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, (1 Peter 2:4)); how God is satisfied that they are put away, and has raised Him from the dead (Acts 3:1515And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. (Acts 3:15)).
Several letters passed between us, all bearing on this momentous subject, but still John remained in darkness. The New-Year holidays were approaching, and I looked forward with almost feverish hope to the time when I would speak face to face with this anxious soul. The time seemed to pass slowly, but at last it arrived. My brother stayed three miles from our paternal roof. During my stay he came home every night for a couple of hours. Amongst the stir of home associations we had no room for serious conversation, but I walked back with him, and those moonlight talks we had will never be erased from my memory.
The first night, we talked on Prov. 1:2222How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? (Proverbs 1:22), “How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? “Three classes, simpletons, scorners, and fools.
“Are you a fool?" I asked. “Do you hate the knowledge of God?”
“No, no," he said," I don't hate it.”
“Are you a scorner; do you laugh at it?”
Again there came an emphatic "No.”
“Then," I asked, " are you one of the simple ones,' who stumble at the simplicity of the Gospel?”
There was a pause; then, in a tremulous voice, and with a look bordering on despair, he said, “I’m a simpleton.”
Next night, as we set out for our walk, I repeated that precious verse—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)—where Christ says, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth, my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life.”
Heareth,—believeth,—hath; how simple
“But have I not to feel?" he asked.
“No," I replied, "you have only to believe.”
Slowly he repeated the verse himself, till he came to "hath." Then he cried, “I have it; I believe; I have everlasting life!”
Joy filled his heart. That New Year was the beginning of years to him, and time has deepened in his soul the reality of what then took place. It also encouraged me very much. While I was thinking my words were as "idle tales," the Lord was making the seed sink, in what afterward proved to be "good ground." It gave me a fresh impetus “not to be weary in well-doing," and enkindled a desire to "sow bountifully." M. R.