On Lord’s Day evening, March 2nd {1890}, beloved C. S. preached the gospel of the grace of God in Sheffield, and evidently with great joy and the consciousness of the presence and blessing of the Lord. We happened to be in the West of England at that time, and preaching at the same hour in Taunton; and in writing to him the next day, spoke of the help and comfort the Lord had given us by His Spirit in declaring the gospel from Rom. 5:8-118But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 11And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. (Romans 5:8‑11).
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement [reconciliation].
He replied the next day, March 4th, saying,
I think I never felt more the deep reality of the gospel than on Lords Day evening, and from the same words as you had at Taunton. I got ready to go to see you this morning, but was seized with cold just at the time for starting. So I have deferred my visit. The cold affects me much. But we are in the Lord’s hands . . .
Referring to the truth, he added,
I feel more and more, it must be Christ and the whole church of God . . . May He lead us in His paths.
From some of those who were present that evening, we heard that his word was with great power. This was the last time he preached the gospel on a Lord’s Day, and it was evidently, both to speaker and hearers, a very solemn time. No doubt, he felt (as the Lord’s earnest servants, advanced in life, must do) the possibility that each time they have the sweet privilege of announcing the glad tidings it may be the last, and that, not only on account of the uncertainty of life, but because of the coming of our Lord; for His coming cannot be far off, it must be near, and, perhaps, nearer than any of us think. At any rate, it is a most blessed manifestation of the goodness and mercy of God, to find, after more than fifty years of preaching up and down England, Scotland, and Ireland, the life-giving, soul-saving gospel of His grace, that any of His servants find more liberty and joy in announcing it at the end of their course than when they began. And why? Because they increasingly realize that it is God’s glad tidings, that it is concerning His Son, and that it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth. Precious considerations! We believe that no tongue can describe the delight the Lord’s servants have when they see sinners broken down before the Savior, and, through His cleansing blood, having to do with God. We read that “in the presence of the angels of God, there is joy over one sinner that repenteth.”
All who knew beloved C. S., can testify that his preaching was not a mere rehearsal of the way of salvation, or a formal exposition of the word, or trafficking in unfelt doctrines; but when he spoke of the Savior’s love, His death, blood-shedding and triumphant resurrection, his whole soul seemed longing for his Master to be honored in the salvation of sinners, the deliverance of those who were in bondage, and the building up of His saints.
On March 10th, the anniversary of his birthday, he wrote to his daughter, Mrs. A., saying.
I have entered my sunny 70th year . . . I would remember David in all his troubles, and sing with him Psa. 34 . . . I feel assured, however stormy may be the path of the little that remains, I am entering my sunny year of 70, and shall in a few more days at most, be in the kingdom and the glory of Him who has loved me, and died for me. Oh, His mercy, and His grace upon grace for these past 69 years, He only can know, for it is infinite. We ought to expect Him to-day, and this is the cure for every care of to-morrow.