MANY years ago, while the heathen worshippers of Gum-puttee’s temple at Ceylon were keeping one of their grand festivals, a man went to the well to get some water to boil the rice in, which they were going to offer to their idol. Just as he stooped to get the water, his foot slipped, and he fell into the well. The crowd, hearing of the accident, ran to the well and looked in, but not one of them offered to go down and try to save the drowning man. They only looked on and talked about the poor man, as if his danger were nothing to them, for the heathen think little of human life; and, you know, the Word of God says that “the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.” Not one of them seemed to think of offering any help, but, after looking into the deep well, walked back to their temple as if nothing had happened. At last one of the head men or chiefs came to the place and tried to get someone to dive into the water to save the sinking man, but no one would attempt it. The priest was known to be a good swimmer, and he was asked to do it, but coolly excused himself by saying that it would take too much time, as he had his duties in the temple to attend to, and he would lose a great deal if he stopped to got into the well. The poor man had been struggling in the water all this time, and at last had sunk to the bottom. Just at this moment a young man, a stranger to all present, came up, and, as soon as he heard that a man was in the well, he stripped off his outer garment, and sprang into the water. Again and again he dived to the bottom, and at last found the body of the man and brought him to the bank; while the hard-hearted heathen crowd, excited by the scene, gathered round the well, wondering at the courage and devotedness of the stranger, but more concerned to know who he could be than about the safety of the poor drowning man. The stranger was a Christian. He had once been a heathen like those around him, and I dare say would then have showed as little concern as they about a drowning man. But the grace of God had brought him to Jesus, by whom he had not only received the forgiveness of all his sins, but also power to serve the living and true God. Once he had no more pity than his heathen neighbors; his heart was as hard as theirs, and his nature and practice the same. There was “no difference.” But now, “the kindness and pity of God our Saviour,” which He had shown him, had taught him to pity others, and the grace he had received was not in vain.
Thus he no sooner heard that a man was in danger than he was willing to imitate his dear Master, and to risk his life, if needful, to save another. How strongly this shows the difference which grace makes! You know, if you put black and white side by side, it makes the black look very black and the white very white. So, when you see the hard-heartedness and shocking cruelty of the heathen crowd on the one hand, and the ready help which the one Christian gave on the other, without even being asked, does it not make grace a very beautiful thing? Does it not also show us how needful it is — how wretched man is without it even for this, world? And then, “the world to come!” Ah, what will those do who “die in their sins?” Even in this world they are “hateful and hating one another:” could they be happy even if they could go to heaven in this state? Impossible! But they cannot go there in their sins — no; and, more than that, “except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” You see, he would not be happy even if he could. His old nature would make him wretched — and not him only, but all around him. Thus his sins must be all washed away, and he must also have a new nature before he can enter the presence of a holy God, and be happy forever. Now this he can only get through a crucified and risen Christ, only by coming to Jesus “who died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, and rose again the third day.” So, then, no one — not even a little child — can be made fit for heaven and everlasting happiness but by Christ. Now, have you come to this blessed Jesus? Have you really believed in Him? If not, do not wait any longer, but come at once. But, if you do believe in Jesus, “be careful to maintain good works.” The Christian. I speak of put all that heathen crowd to shame, and proved before them all that the grace of God teaches us “to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live righteously, soberly, and godly in this present world.” “Go thou, and do likewise.”