A few years ago I was making a little evangelistic tour, preaching the gospel at various places. I was accompanied by two other servants of the Lord whose hearts were deeply interested in the salvation of the lost. Going from town to town we had frequent opportunities of conversation with our fellow passengers in the train, and of handing to them little gospel booklets.
We were leaving a town on the coast when there entered the train a middle-aged man who took his seat opposite to me. He was inclined to be sociable, and began to speak about the weather and the crops. On the rack over my head I had a good-sized flat leather case, such as commercial travelers often use for their samples. I had specially designed it for carrying hymn sheets and gospel booklets for use at our meetings. Seeing this case, he at once thought that I was a commercial traveler, and said, "What line are you in?”
"Heavenly goods," I replied.
"Get away with you," was his surprised reply. "You do not expect me to believe that!”
"Indeed I do," I rejoined. "It is heavenly goods, and heavenly goods only, that I am showing just now.”
"But what are they?" he asked.
"The proclamation to sinners of pardon and peace with God; telling of eternal life as His gift through faith in His blessed Son, and that whosoever will believe the gospel may now have the knowledge of salvation.”
My reply was evidently unsatisfactory to him. He said nothing, but looked very incredulous. At this point my two companions chimed in: "Oh, it is quite true what he says; that really is the line he is showing.”
By way of confirmation of their words, they produced some little handbills announcing the meetings we were to have a day or two afterward in Auburn. He had no more questions for me, so I thought I would put one or two to him.
"What about your own soul, my friend? Are you saved?”
"Ah, that is what no man can know.”
"I beg your pardon! It can be known. I know that I am saved, and you may know the same. You have heard the gospel many a time in your day, I suspect?”
This evidently awoke in his mind old memories, and with a softened tone he said: "Yes, when I was a boy and lived in this district. But that is long ago. You see, I have lived in the city most of my life. When I was a boy here I used to hear about those things, and think about them, too; but when I crossed the state and got into the busy city, I flung all thought of religion overboard. I just set myself to make money.”
"And you have made it?" I asked.
"Yes, I have done well in that line. I have come North now to see my old friends and the old places, and to enjoy myself.”
"And the money you have made has made you quite happy, I suppose. Are you all right for eternity?”
"Indeed, I am nothing of the kind. Money does not make a man happy, nor save his soul.”
"Quite true," I replied; "and I think if you are a wise man, you will now seek to get the riches that are abiding, everlasting, and satisfying. In other words, you had better secure the 'heavenly goods' that I am speaking of. Would you not be the better for their possession?”
"I believe I would," said he; "but how am I to get them?”
Then followed a plain conversation as to the gospel, up to the station at which he had to leave us. He seemed much interested as he listened. On leaving, he took a gospel booklet or two with thanks, and a notice of the meetings.
On the following Lord's Day, both afternoon and evening, I saw him among the listeners in the hall where I was preaching the gospel. I had no opportunity of further personal conversation, but his face was shining with the joy of one who has found the preciousness of Christ.