Various are the ways the Lord has of bringing souls to Himself. Sometimes He sends a tide of blessing, many are suddenly brought to a sense of their danger in the dire necessity of their case; they let go all hope in themselves, and, like one who has fallen from a ship into the raging sea and gladly grasps the rope let down for help, they cast themselves just as they are on Christ, the only refuge from the storm.
Others hear the words of love, the gospel of the grace of God, as if they never heard it before; the heart is attracted, is taken captive; they wonder that they were so long deaf to the calls of the loving Saviour, they find such a rest in Him as they never dreamed of before, the heart seems to overflow with praise, and they go on their way rejoicing.
Very different was the case of one spoken of in the following incident.
While staying one summer at the coast, I often visited some of the Lord’s poor people, who lived at a little distance, and was much refreshed. A day of heavy rain prevented me on one occasion from doing so. I looked to the Lord for work, and the case of a family near, who were living without God in the world, recurred to my mind. I had been several times to see them before, but found them so much engaged with their worldly affairs that they cared little for the things of eternity. I will go once more, I thought, and in a few minutes was at the house. I had the same reception as before, no repulse for myself, but no welcome for the message I carried. As I was leaving, I said a word as to the danger of despising the precious blood shed on Calvary, and, much discouraged as to the result of my visit, I crossed the passage leading to the outer door, when a feeble voice from the stair leading to the attics said, “What did you say just now about the blood of Christ?” Turning round, I saw a very old woman with all the marks of extreme poverty. She said, “I am very ill, I must soon die. I have been seeking the Lord for fifty years, and still carry the weary burden of sin. I have been a great sinner; tell me, is there hope for such a one? I am afraid of death.” “What you want to know,” I said, “is the love of God. The Saviour sought you all those years you were so unhappy, only trust him now: ‘The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin.’” As I was leaving, she said, “Will you come back and see Me?” I promised to do so.
In a day or two I again visited the old woman, and read the 53rd chapter of Isaiah, and tried to press home the words, “The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” “I wish I could say,” she replied, tremblingly, “that my iniquities were laid on Him.” I commended her to the Lord, feeling, as I went home, sure that He would soon speak peace to that troubled heart. Some days passed, and a neighbor told me the old woman was dying and wished to see me. I lost no time in going to her. As I entered the room a gleam of sunshine came in at the little window, showing more fully the poverty of the abode. In a bed on the floor lay the old woman; her relations had all forsaken her in her illness and distress, but a kind neighbor stood by the bed and said to me, “She has been asking often for you during the day, now she seems to be unconscious.” Bending over the bed she said, “―has come.” She did not seem, although in a measure aroused, to recognize the name, and the woman said, “She spoke to you one day on the stair about your soul;” she turned around immediately, and, seeing me, with a great effort she sat up in bed. “I want to take your hand,” she said. I went to her; eagerly she clasped my hand and said, “You told me of the precious blood of Christ. I believe the Lord sent you to me that day.” “And you have rest now?” I said, “you know the Lord laid all your sins on Jesus?” “Yes,” she replied, “I have peace with God through Jesus Christ; I die happy!” I left, thanking the Lord for His goodness. In one or two hours after, the spirit departed to be with Christ. No more doubts nor fears, no more poverty nor sickness, but perfect rest forever.
Many souls are in the same state that poor woman was in during the years she said she sought the Saviour: doubting and fearing, yet with gleams of hope, they know not why, that ere they leave this world they will be prepared for heaven; many of the Lord’s people, they say, were all their lives in darkness. No such teaching as this is to be found in the Word of God. Of those who were brought to Christ in the days of the apostles, each had his own story to tell as to the means used, but the result was always the same; they knew their sins were forgiven, and they confessed Christ with joy before the world.
Reader, no offer of salvation maybe given you at a dying hour like that in the case before referred to. You may be taken suddenly, or the body be so racked with pain that you cannot think of, spiritual and eternal things or the Lord may come suddenly, which to His people is their brightest hope. There will then be no time for settling this momentous question.
O! cast yourself on Him now, who hath said, “Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out;” because, “Now is the accepted time and now is the day of salvation.”
F.