HE is getting old now, for many days have passed since that fatal day, in October, 1885, when, under the orders of the Luba chief, noble James Hannington, who had left peace and plenty in Britain hardness to endure hardness in making known the glad tidings of salvation in Central Africa, was cruelly murdered in cold blood.
Yet he who perpetrated such a dastardly deed, with a view to keep out the white man's Gospel, is now a regular student of the Word of God at a mission station in Uganda. Behold the former murderer, touched by grace, become so docile as to nurse the babe of one of the missionaries. And they have hope that "the Gospel, which is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth" (Rom. 1:1616For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16)), will find its way into old Chief Luba's heart.
"What! a murderer saved!!" Yes; if the old chief puts his trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, he will find the Word still true: "The Blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us 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)). And if you, whoever you are, with murder, and all other sins, in your heart (Matt. 15:1919For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: (Matthew 15:19)), put your trust in that same precious blood, you, too, shall be cleansed from all sin, have your heart purified by faith, and may, with the Luba chief, and myriads more, ascribe all glory unto "Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood" (Rev. 1:55And 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, (Revelation 1:5)).
Shall grace be your happy portion now, or gloom be your eternal portion? Settle it now, for "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." HyP.