TWELVE years have elapsed since the events of this little story, now recorded, took place. I was then stationed in the district of N―, in the heart of India, and living without the fear of God. A Christian friend, who had resided near me for about five years, had never ceased to pray with me and for my conversion, and at last his prayers were answered in the following manner.
On a cool October morning, a number of the Europeans resident in the locality assembled in the cemetery, to witness the consecration, by the Bishop of C―, of an extension of it. The bishop was accompanied by Captain P―, chief magistrate of the district. After walking in procession round the boundaries of the annexed ground, a hymn and prayer concluded the ceremony.
As we dispersed, Captain P― asked me to accompany him to a neighboring river, and give my professional opinion as to the practicability of throwing a masonry dam across.
As we stood with a Hindu subordinate magistrate, close together, between some trees and the river, a shot was fired at him, from behind me, and the bullet passed near our heads. Captain P―, who faced the would-be assassin, instantly snatched a riding-whip from my hand, and rushed at him. As I turned, a second shot took fatal effect, and Captain P―, who had broken the whip over the man, staggered backwards, dead.
For the first time in my life, I felt conscious of the awful reality of having to meet God unprepared. I might be in eternity in a moment, and my soul lost forever.
I bent for an instant over the prostrate body of my friend, and seeing that life was extinct, I slowly retreated towards my horse, facing the murderer, who followed me up, pointing his revolver at me. By this time the Hindu magistrate had escaped, and I rode off rapidly to the police station for assistance.
Suffice it to say, that after a fierce struggle, in which he killed another man, this perpetrator of a double murder was captured.
It may be explained here, that the assassin was a Mahomedan fanatic, and his object was to kill, not Captain P―, but the Hindu magistrate, for dismantling a mosque, and he affirmed that he shot Captain P― only in self-defense.
Deeply moved by these events, I went, as desired by the widow of Captain P―, to tell her how her husband met his death. She was, however, so overwhelmed with grief, that she could not see me; so the bishop, who was with her, came to me in the drawing-room, and, after narrating the facts to him as above, I requested him to pray for me. This he earnestly did, commending me to God, who had mercifully spared my life, that He would work a work of grace in my heart to His own glory.
That evening Captain P — was interred, with impressive ceremonial, by the bishop, in the cemetery, at the consecration of which he had assisted in the morning: The criminal was tried, condemned, and eventually executed.
During this time I suffered great distress of mind, and could scarcely sleep, the thought recurring, that I, who was not ready for death, had been mercifully spared of God, while P―, who was a Christian, had been taken instead.
I thus realized that God had, as it were, given me a new lease of life, in which to confess Christ, otherwise I had undoubtedly perished in my sins, and suffered eternal damnation.
My Christian friend, who had so long prayed for me, at this juncture sought again to lay plainly before me the way of salvation. One day, while in great distress of soul, he handed me a little magazine, God’s Glad Tidings for September 1878. In an article entitled, “The Justice of God,” it was clearly explained, that, “there is none righteous, no, not one,” but that, “being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:11Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Romans 5:1)).
I pondered these words several days, and tried hard to have faith, but still remained in doubt. One night having tossed about sleepless, in great trepidation, lest this call should pass and my soul be lost forever, I came to an end of myself and all trying, and cast myself entirely on the mercy of God.
Instantly light flashed into my soul, and, quickened by the Holy Spirit, I knew, that having believed, I had faith, was therefore justified, and had passed from death unto life. I shall never forget the blessed peace which filled my soul, as I sprang out of bed, and knelt down, praising God, whose mercy endureth forever.
I lay down with a calm sense of rest, never before experienced, and have ever since enjoyed settled peace. It is now with humbled yet thankful spirit, that I acknowledge God’s goodness in using my feeble testimony to the awakening and blessing of others.
Should this simple story of how the Lord brought me to Himself meet the eye of any careless, indifferent one, such as I was, I would earnestly beseech that one to decide for Christ at once, while God waits to be gracious, ere he is suddenly overtaken by eternal judgment.
The first is exemplified in that marvelously gracious utterance of the Lord Jesus:— “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)).
God looked down from heaven, as we read, and saw that there was none righteous among the children of men, no, not one; in that “all had sinned and come short of the glory” of God (Rom. 3) Was His arm therefore shortened that it could not save? No thank God! “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly” (Rom. 5:66For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:6)). And “herein is love, not that we loved God, bit that he loved us.”
Surely this is enough to constrain all the love of our hearts in return!
The other aspect presents forcibly the awful consequences of rejecting God’s freely offered salvation, with the object of mercifully arresting and compelling attention. “He that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:3636He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36))
Let no one delude himself that there is any escape. “As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me” (Rom. 14:1111For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. (Romans 14:11)). How terrible the position of those who have to confess too late that “Jesus is Lord.” We are told regarding the rich man that “in hell he lifts up his eyes, being in torments;” and that “there is a great gulf fixed,” which they that would pass cannot (Luke 16:23-2623And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. (Luke 16:23‑26)). Sinner! can you say “the love of Christ constraineth” me? If not, then, as in my own case, I adjure you by the fear of eternal condemnation to accept Christ now.
Tract and book distributors, been couraged, and continue to sow in faith. “Let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Gal. 6:99And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. (Galatians 6:9)). T. K.