So said one, a few weeks ago, to a surgeon in the Middlesex Hospital. She had met with a fearful accident—was all but crushed to death—and carried into the hospital. When the surgeon was examining the nature and extent of the injury, she asked him plainly, “Can I live, sir? Can I get better?” The answer was a solemn one: “No; impossible.” But, happily for her, she was prepared for it, and received it, solemn as it truly was, with great presence of mind. Though life was ebbing fast, she was enabled to raise her hands in the attitude of praise, and exclaimed, “Thank God this did not happen yesterday!” Soon after she passed away to the presence of Jesus in the paradise of God. When absent from the poor crushed body she was present with the Lord. We have not the satisfaction of knowing all she said and felt before she died, precious and interesting as these moments must have been; but we know all was peace as to the salvation of her soul. And a loving Savior was there; only the light of His presence could comfort and sustain her heart amidst the overwhelming realities of that trying moment.
“Safe in the arms of Jesus, safe on His gentle breast,
There by His love o’ershadow’d, sweetly my soul shall rest.
Hark! ‘tis the voice of angels, borne on a song to me,
Over the fields of glory, over the jasper sea.
Jesus, my heart’s dear refuge, Jesus has died for me;
Firm on the Rock of Ages, ever my trust shall be.
Here let me wait with patience, wait till the night is o’er;
Wait till I see the morning break on the golden shore.”
It has seldom been our privilege to see or hear of a more striking instance of the Lord’s sovereign grace, or one more distinctly marked with the merciful and loving hand of the Lord, than the case of this young woman.
Great zeal has been manifested by many Christians during the “mission week,” in many parts of London, in order to induce all ranks and classes to attend these services, and in numberless instances the Lord has blessed these efforts to the salvation of precious souls. Our young friend who met with so violent a death was one of these.
A lady—one of these praiseworthy, zealous workers—observing a young woman with rather an undecided appearance, but not far from the church door, invited her to come in. The girl at first refused; after a little more kind entreaty, she made the excuse of having no bible. The lady at once said, “I will lend you mine.” Being thus overcome by such love and kindness, she accepted the bible, and went in. God was working there. She soon felt His power in her conscience. Her sins—oh, how many, how great—rose up before her! She was thoroughly broken down, and wept very much. Several talked with her; at length she found peace in believing. Now she knew Jesus as her Savior—she was cleansed by His blood, and saved by His grace forever. “Whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it; and God doeth it that men should fear before him.” Eccles. 3:1414I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him. (Ecclesiastes 3:14).
The lady, as we may well imagine, was greatly interested in all that had taken place during that eventful evening. When about to part, the girl gave back the bible to her kind friend; but, as the Lord would have it, He so filled the heart of His servant with love to her new child in the faith, that she said to the girl, “No, I will not take it back; you must keep it; but let me write something in it.” She then marked, as we understand, some portions of scripture, for the young woman to read by herself with prayer. Having handed her the bible, they parted, but to meet no more in this world. It was their first and last meeting in this life, but soon to meet where no accident can ever separate them, and where they will live and love, and dwell together in the eternal sunshine of their Savior’s presence. What joy it will give to speak of their first meeting then, of that memorable bible, of the short, but rough, journey home! And what deep springs of praise such tender recollections will open up, as one after another join the happy throng, to speak of His love, and to be sundered no more forever!
This same lady, being in the habit of visiting the Middlesex Hospital, happened to call there the following day, when one of the attendants informed her that a bible, with her name in it, had been found in one of the beds. Greatly surprised at hearing this, she had the bible immediately brought to her; when, to her still greater astonishment, she found it was the very “bible she had given to the young woman the previous evening. Then the whole tragic scene was laid before her—the accident, her last words, her death, her dear bible. The lady’s feelings, if ever to be described, must be so by herself. The reader must imagine, as the writer does, the joys and the sorrows that must have agitated her mind for the moment. The scenes of the past evening would flash, quick as lightning, through her mind. The preaching, the weeping, the confessing, the believing, the rejoicing, the parting. Yesterday, a thoughtless sinner; last evening, a saved soul; this morning, crushed to death; this afternoon, in heaven. What a crowding of the most momentous events in human history within the brief space of twenty-four hours! But this is not all, thank the Lord.
Had it not been for the bible, she might have passed off the scene without her christian friends’ knowing what had become of her. They might have wondered why she never came back to any of the meetings, and they might have concluded that the case was not a genuine one. Many, we doubt not, will re-appear at last whom we have lost sight of in this world. But the bible led to her identification. A telegram was sent to her mother. And now came out the sweetest part of her wonderful history during that eventful day. It appears that she had written to her mother immediately on her returning from the meeting, and posted her letter before going to bed. And it is from this letter that the state of her mind is best known. She asks her mother’s forgiveness before she sleeps; beautiful witness of God’s light shining in the conscience.
Without professing to be exact as to words, the facts—as we learned them from the lips of one who entered most heartily into these mission services, and is personally acquainted with the particulars—are these:—She was a maid servant, but had been so utterly careless and thoughtless, if not wanting in all right feeling, that she had not written to her mother for two years, and had not been in any place of worship for six years. But now she must tell her mother of the Lord’s goodness, of her own naughtiness, and ask her forgiveness before she rests. What grace, we may exclaim, for all heaven to interest itself in such an one! This is a character of grace far beyond our comprehension. But such is the grace of God. The purposes of His love must be accomplished. He who numbers the hairs of our head, can prevent one being injured until His blessed work of grace is done. He knows the end from the beginning, and can provide for the future. We know nothing of tomorrow, and must daily put all our trust in Him. And sweet and sure is the promise, “Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.” Psalm 2:1212Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him. (Psalm 2:12).
But what of the poor mother! Scarcely had the joyous news of the daughter’s conversion and complete change of mind reached her, when the telegram arrived to say what had happened. What a day for that mother! But she could not realize it all at once. What does all this mean? says the bewildered mind, as sorrow follows hard upon the heels of joy. But there is no bitterness in the cup; the bitterness of death is passed for all who believe in Jesus. It comes, though in the roughest form, as the messenger of peace; it comes to close the pilgrim’s weary path, and conduct him to the realms of eternal rest.
May the Lord raise up many with good heart to invite and entreat lost and careless sinners to come to where the gospel is preached, especially to where God is working. Have faith in Him. Be much in prayer. It is work for eternity. When all the monuments of human fame shall have crumbled into dust; when all that bore the name of human greatness or human glory shall be entirely forgotten; the saved soul shall abide forever, a monument of redeeming love and of christian zeal. Speaking of the two who have been occupying our thoughts, which, we may ask, will know the deeper joy when they meet above? To know this we must wait till then; but in the meantime may we be unwearied in this work of faith, this labor of love. How truly thankful that lady must now feel who did not take the first “ no’ for an answer, but persevered till the poor Christless soul had entered the place where God was working. May we remember the Master’s word, “Compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.” Luke 14.
But what of those who have been often invited, and still refuse to come? Were they to be removed suddenly, what must the end be? Far away from God, and Christ, and heaven, and happiness; in the dark, distant, regions of hopeless despair. No more loving invitations, no more tears of tender interest, no more mission weeks, no more gospel services, no more companying with those that fear God—all is past; the door of mercy is closed, and the arm of mercy is withdrawn forever. Come now, we entreat thee; the work goes on, and never more than now. Great numbers are being gathered in. God is working by the gospel everywhere. Come where His grace shines and where faith triumphs by the power of His Spirit, and thou wilt surely be saved. Come with that expectation and no disappointment can be thine.
“Come,” said one, a little while ago, to a rough-looking man; “you come in to the preaching—you will find; Jesus there.” With this in his mind, “You will find Jesus there,” he entered. At a late hour he was still in his seat, and, when spoken to, he repeated the words. “You will find Jesus there, I was told, and I want to be sure that I have found Him before I leave.” All is well, and well forever, when the heart is so set on having Jesus. No heart ever was set on finding Him that will not possess Him, and enjoy Him forever. Come, Ο come, my dear reader, take thy place; it may be in the preaching-room, but be sure that in thy heart thou art at the feet of Jesus, and thou wilt never rise from these blessed feet unsaved. The mighty work is done, the ransom is fully paid, thou hast only to believe the gospel, and rest by faith on the unfailing word of the living God. “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God.” 1 Pet. 3:1818For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: (1 Peter 3:18).