SOME time ago a Christian whose wife was in bad health left home with her and their child to spend a few weeks in German Switzerland, hoping the change of air and scene might be used to restore her. One day they went for a walk with a Swiss officer and his wife in neighboring wood, to enjoy the cool shade from the burning August sun. After rather a long ramble, coming to a suitable spot to rest a while, the husband handed his wife a camp-stool that he, had brought with him, and the rest reclined quietly on the moss. There they talked some time together, when suddenly one of the party missed the child. One after another called him loudly by name, thinking he could not be far off, but no answer came.
All were filled with anxiety, especially the poor mother. Again one or the other called, but the voices were drowned by the noise of the wild mountain stream that rushed over the rocks close by. Then they hastened to and fro in every direction to find the little one, but all in vain.
With a heavy heart the husband left his wife, who looked deadly pale, and plunged deeper into the wood. On he went, up and down amongst the rocks and trees, now running, now walking, then stopping again and again to call with loudest voice possible, but finding at every step that the wood became wilder and thicker, and the way more difficult. The perspiration streamed from him, and his knees began to tremble under him through the great exertion and intense anxiety which he was in. He cried to God for the child, but it seemed to him as though the heavens were closed. Profound silence reigned, and finding that he had already spent an hour in the search, he began with a heavy heart to retrace his steps, He would go back; help must be obtained; he must get the villagers to come and search the wood; the child must be found. Such were the thoughts which ran through his mind. Then all kinds of dreadful suggestions came before him.
Had the child fallen into the wild mountain torrent and been dashed to pieces against the rocks? or had he fallen over one of them? Was he alive or dead? And then his heart trembled for the consequence for his poor wife, already in ill-health.
Then came the hope that he might have been found during his absence, and, gathering his little remaining strength, he pressed towards the place where they had lost him. This was not easy to find, for he had entirely lost his way; but looking up to the Lord to guide, he found himself after a while at the same spot, But no one was there. There stood the camp-stool, but that was all. Where were they? Were they still in the wood? or had they gone to the village to call for help? or had they taken his wife home? He sank exhausted on the stool, when—ah, what is that? A piece of paper fastened to it, with a few words written in pencil,—" Rudolf is found; we have gone back to the hotel, and await you there," with the name of the officer underneath.
Found, found; saved! In a moment he was freed from all fear, from all anxiety. He believed the writing, and, sinking down upon his knees, praised the God of all grace aloud. Now he could return in perfect rest of spirit, with the camp-stool on his arm, looking from time to time on the precious message that his child was safe; and a little later could rejoice, together with his wife, over their little one. In her anxiety to find him, she had gathered strength to aid in the search, and had found him playing by the stream, whose noise had drowned their voices; and the officer had fixed the writing to the camp-stool to announce the good news.
And why, think you, dear reader, that we have brought this simple story of a child lost and found before your notice? Because we have a wonderful message for you from heaven itself,—the good news concerning Jesus, the Son of God, who came into this world to save, and which this forcibly illustrates.
When you learn that you are a sinner, wandered from God, with no way of deliverance from the errors of your life, no answer to the voice of conscience, no peace for the heart, no salvation for your never-dying soul,—then is this good news indeed for you. It is the testimony of God, in His own written word. Believe Him. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, whom. He gave to die for all, whose blood cleanseth us from all sin, whose finished work brings eternal life and salvation.
Bow down before God, mistrusting all your own foolish and misguided efforts to save yourself in your own strength. Read the good news, believe it, and you will cry out jubilantly, Found, found! saved, saved!
We ask you, dear reader, would it not have been very foolish for the father to have doubted whether the news of the finding of the child were true, or whether it was meant for him? The written communication was enough. He believed it unquestioningly. He lost all anxiety, and went home without doubt or fear, even with praise and thanksgiving, knowing for certain that he would see the child there, and that all would be well.
FR. GN.