An orphan girl was beginning to earn her living at a hat factory. She took much care and interest in her work, and before long she was placed in charge of an important branch of the business.
During this time she received a letter from a lawyer. He wrote her that through the death of an aunt whom she had never known she had inherited some property and a large sum of money. The girl thought at first that there had been some mistake, and that this inheritance could not be meant for her. She spoke to her employer about it, and he advised her to go and see the lawyer. She finally agreed to do so, and presented herself at the solicitor's office armed with many excuses in case she had made a mistake.
"There is no possible mistake," said the lawyer, "for your name is plainly written in the will, and no one but you corresponds with the name and description given."
He then showed her her name written plainly by her aunt. Emilie Brown had only to put her signature to a document, and immediately she entered into an inheritance that she had never hoped for, for which she had not worked, but which was the free gift of another.
The years went by. Emilie no longer worked at the hat factory. She lived in a peaceful little village with an old lady as her companion. Emilie was well known for her kindness to the poor and needy of that district, for she gave generously of her time and money for their good.
Many loved her for her gentle ways and thoughtful deeds.
But in spite of her many fine qualities, Emilie was not a Christian. She had never seen herself as a sinner before God and needing a Savior. She did not belong to the heavenly family who are "born of God."
While on a visit some distance from her home, she came into contact with some faithful preachers of the gospel. Listening to them she was awakened to her state as a sinner, and realized her need of a Savior. For several days she was in great distress and finally decided to go to see the preacher who had been the means of arousing her to a knowledge of her lost condition. She could not believe that so great salvation, the free gift of God, was really for her.
The preacher, who knew nothing of Emilie's history, tried to make it clear that the "good news" was for her. He said: "Suppose some rich person should leave you an inheritance. How could you be sure it was for you and for no one else?"
Emilie smiled, and suddenly grew red in the face. She well remembered the doubt that had assailed her on receiving the lawyer's letter.
"Would it not be," continued the man of God, "in seeing your name written in the will, and in proving that you are the one who fits the description given? Thus it is with Christ and the salvation which He offers. The Scripture says: 'Christ Jesus came into the world to save SINNERS'! Now are you a sinner?"
"Oh, yes," said Emilie. "I know that I am a sinner, and a greater one than I even thought I was. That is why I fear that salvation is not for me."
"But the Word of God which I have quoted says the contrary. Which will you believe: your feelings or God's Word?" Emilie was silent.
"The entrance of Thy words giveth light." The glorious beams began to penetrate the darkness of her soul, but she hesitated to confess it. On her way home the grand fact that for sinners, for the lost, Jesus came, and not for the righteous, seemed to shine in all its simplicity.
"Oh, now I understand," said she happily as she walked along. "It is for sinners like me; therefore it is for me! My name is in the will. The inheritance is for me, and I claim it." And she did; and thenceforth all her benevolences were done as unto Him who freely gave Himself that poor sinners might be saved.