A POOR man who had been a thief, and very violent and wicked, was brought to know him whom to know is life eternal; and on being asked one day, the cause of the wonderful change, he said: “It was the crucifixion did it, ma’am. Punishment did me no good. It was it that made me so bad; but I was bad to begin with, and it could not change me. I was flogged and handcuffed and had irons on my legs, was in the ‘darks’ and solitary for many a day; and everything done to me I kicked against, and hated those that did it. I cursed and swore at them; and when I was silent, I did it more in my heart. Every stroke brought out a fresh sin. Nothing that I bore could pay my debt, for I broke the law again at every turn. It was all no use — no use to lay it on me. But oh, when I read of Jesus, how he was bruised for our iniquities and the chastisement of our peace was laid upon him, I saw that he could bear it. I was often dumb with my mouth like a man, and bit my lips till they bled, but he was dumb within like a sheep. When he was nailed he did not threaten. He submitted without a notion of rebelling, and this was the way he was able to pay up instead of us, for he was the Son of God and he had no sin. I see it plainly and I feel it. ‘The Lord laid on him the iniquity of us all;’ we could not bear it without becoming worse. This is what changed me, and I am a changed man.” —. Extract.
“The dying thief rejoiced to see
That Saviour in his day;
And by that blood, though vile as he,
My sins are washed away.”