THE writer became acquainted with the subject of this paper more than forty years ago; and the acquaintance has been kept up in Christian fellowship ever since. Recently she has reminded him of her soul-exercises at that time; and he now refers to them in the hope that others, in their youthful days, may be known both in heaven and on earth as early seekers and happy finders. God has, through His servant Solomon, expressed His Own desire to encourage such. “Those that seek Me early shall find Me” (Prov. 8:1717I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. (Proverbs 8:17)).
S. B. was brought up in a small village in Rutland. At the age of six her father took her to a cottage meeting, where a certain local preacher was speaking to his hearers from the first three verses of the 14th chapter of John’s Gospel.
The first thing that struck our young friend was what the Lord said to His disciples after assuring them that there would be room for them in His Father’s house, “If it were not so, I would have told you”. She thought it so open and kind of Him to speak like that; and this decided her to listen to all that the preacher had to say about Him. In the course of his address he earnestly pressed his hearers to give their hearts to Him. This caused her to say within herself, “I should like to give Him mine, if He would have a little girl’s heart”; and then listened all the more attentively, hoping that the preacher would tell them how to do it. But this he did not do.
On reaching home, she asked her mother how to give her heart to the Lord; but before her mother had time to answer, she said, “Oh, I know”, and turned away to speak to the Lord for herself. In her own-simple way she told the Lord that she should like to give her heart to Him. “Please, Lord”, she said, “take it for Thyself, and make me love Thee.” She felt He had heard her little prayer and that He would take her for Himself. And no doubt the Lord does appreciate every such desire toward Himself.
But she had yet to find out the evil in herself ― evil connected with the heart she had been offering Him. Gradually, however, she did make the discovery, and a disappointing one it was. Indeed her mind became so disturbed and troubled, that she thought no one felt as bad as she did. Probably she did not then know that every divinely-awakened soul makes a like discovery, before settled peace is theirs. The truth is that, not understanding the glad tidings of God’s grace, she had been trying to meet the claims of God’s law. Many are doing the same, but there is a vast difference between the two. The law was given by God to Moses; and by it man’s love was tested. Grace was brought to light by Jesus Christ, and in Him God’s love was set forth. Tested by the law it was clearly proved that sinful men did not love God. In the glad tidings of His grace God plainly declares, and undeniably proves, that He does love sinful men; and in a letter written by one who regarded himself the “chief of sinners”, this precious truth has been put on record for us. (See Rom. 5:88But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)). “God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.”
(To be continued.)
GEO. C.