ON one of the fine autumnal mornings we have lately had, I was seated alone in a second-class carriage, on my way to York, when at one of the small stations a respectable country-looking man entered the carriage. He readily began to talk about matters of local interest, and as soon as a fitting opportunity presented itself, I asked him kindly and plainly if he had ever been anxious about his soul, and if he had salvation?
“I know a great deal of Scripture, sir.”
“But have you ever been distressed about your state as a sinner before God?”
“No, sir, I have always felt very comfortable.”
“But that may be a false peace, my friend; so opening my Bible I read, God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.' Now, my friend, you see here that those who believe on the Son whom God hath sent have salvation, that is, they will not perish, but have everlasting life. And again in Rom. 5:1,1Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Romans 5:1) we read, Being justified by faith, we have (not we shall have when we die, but have now) peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.' A present peace, arising from the knowledge that we are justified; and all through the work of Christ.”
“O yes, I know Scripture very well. I have been a great reader of the Bible ever since I was fourteen years of age, and there is no part of it with which I am not acquainted. You cannot name a portion of it that I do not know.”
“And yet with all your knowledge of Scripture you are not saved!”
“No, I cannot say that I am.”
“Then of what use is all your Bible knowledge?”
“Why, sir, there are so many sects that I do not know which to believe; one says one thing, and another quite the opposite.”
“But, my friend, you are not called on to believe men, but to believe God. It is God's word about His beloved Son, you do not believe, though you have read it so much, and for so many years.”
“Yes there is not a day that I do not read the Bible.”
“Very likely, but you have not yet believed on the Son whom God hath sent into the world to save sinners.”
“I want you to see that if there were ten thousand more sects, and they were all preaching different things, that you still have not to look to what they say, but to what God says in His word. And in His word He points you to His Son crucified as the only ground of peace, the only way of salvation. Why not then now take God at His word, and rest only and entirely on the finished work of Jesus, the all-cleansing blood of Jesus, which alone can purge you from sins, and make you fit for God's holy presence?”
At this time, our train drew up, and my fellow-passenger and I parted, perhaps never to meet again. I call attention to this conversation, because I have no doubt that many more are alike deluded, thinking because they read a certain portion of the Scriptures daily, and diligently attend to some other duties, that it must be well with them as to eternity. One is always thankful that any read the Scriptures of eternal truth, and it is sorrowful to think how much they are despised; but to rest in duties of any kind, with hope of salvation thereby, is to refuse God's gospel and to set at naught the value of the atoning work of the Son of God; for "He that believeth on Him is not condemned; but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:1818He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:18).)