"It is all a gift, ain't it, ma'am?”
These were the words that greeted my ear as I entered a little dwelling in one of the narrow streets of H—. The beaming countenance of the poor sick man as he uttered this, and my knowledge of the state of anxiety and distress in which he had previously been, made it easy to understand his meaning. But an indefinable pleasure in hearing him explain himself, and tell out his whole soul on the subject, made me ask: "What is it that is all a gift, Samuel?”
"Why, you see, ma'am, as Mr.— was preaching last night, from Romans 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23) to the end, it made me feel worse than ever.
I knew he would speak to me, if I went to him after; but I did not feel I should, so I came home and took the Book, and my wife sat down and I read that chapter—and read on, and on, till I came to this beautiful verse: "The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
"It is all a gift, ain't it, ma'am? And, after what the major said about being 'justified freely by the grace of God, through Jesus Christ,' I seemed almost to get hold of the gift—and wife did the same—and said she saw it to be all a gift, too. We did not read any more just then, but praised the Lord. It's just as you and the others told me, it's all a gift, ain't it?”
"Yes, Samuel, it is all the free grace of God to us poor sinners.
`God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son; that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
"By grace ye are saved; 'it is the gift of God'; and He has graciously given you to know that He who spared not His own Son, will freely give you pardon, peace, holiness and eternal life.”
"O, yes, not quite so clear at all times, but somehow God helped me to put up a prayer for it, and then I felt lightsome again, a deal more lightsome than when I was well and in work even.”
Samuel did "get stronger." Though apparently in consumption, it pleased the Lord to restore him to health. He immediately began reading the Scriptures and praying with his family, and each succeeding visit was a striking exemplification of: "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart." Psalm 19.