During the first visit of Henry Moorhouse to America, he was the guest of a cultured and wealthy gentleman who was greatly blessed by the simple testimony it was his privilege to hear. This gentleman had a daughter just advancing into womanhood, and looking forward with bright anticipation to a gay and worldly life.
One day she entered the library and found the evangelist poring over his Bible. Begging pardon for the intrusion, she was about to retire when he looked up and said in his quiet and tender way: "Are you saved?"
Equally direct, she could only reply, "No, Mr. Moor-house, I am not."
Then came another question: "Would you like to be saved?"
The young lady thought for a moment of all that is meant by salvation, as well as all that is meant by the lack of salvation. Again she frankly answered: "Yes, I wish I were a sincere Christian."
Then came the third question, asked very solemnly and earnestly: "Would you like to be saved now?"
Upon this searching thrust her head dropped and she began to look into her heart. On the one hand her wealth and position in society made the world peculiarly attractive; and on the other hand stood the Lord Jesus Christ, who must then and there be received or rejected. No wonder the struggle in her breast was severe! But as the realities of eternity swept before her vision, she raised her eyes, and calmly, resolutely said, "Yes, I want to be saved now."
The supreme moment in her history was reached, and the evangelist was led by the Holy Spirit to guide her wisely. He asked her to kneel beside him at the sofa and to read aloud the 53rd chapter of Isaiah. This she did in tones that became tremulous and broken by sobs.
"Read it again," said Mr. Moorhouse, "and whenever you find 'we, "our,' and `us,' put in `I, "my,' and `me.' Read it as if you were pouring out your own heart before God."
The weeping girl again read: "He is despised and rejected of men; a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief: and I hid as it were my face from Him; He was despised, and I esteemed Him not. Surely He hath borne my griefs, and carried my sorrows; yet I did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted."
Here she broke down completely, as the thought of her personal relations to the Lord Jesus in His sufferings for the first time flashed into her mind. But, wiping away her tears, she read on: "He was wounded for my transgressions, He was bruised for my iniquities; the chastisement of my peace was upon Him; and with His stripes I am healed; I like a sheep have gone astray; I have turned to my own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him all of my iniquities."
She was silent for a moment, then exclaimed with deep emotion: "Oh, Mr. Moorhouse, is this true?"
"Dear child," he answered, "does not God say it?"
Again she was silent for a time; but at length looking up, no longer through the tears of bitter grief, but in joy and adoring gratitude, she said: "Then I am saved, for all my iniquities have been laid on Him."
She arose from her knees with the peace of God that passeth all understanding.
Friend, do you know that Christ died for you? See Him by faith nailed to the cross for your sins, suffering in your stead, taking your place under the curse of God's broken law, making atonement with His precious blood for your soul. Accept His mighty sacrifice as for yourself alone. Then you can enter into the gladness of knowing that "there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus." Rom. 8:11There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:1).