WE have lately read the following interesting account of how an anxious soul found peace with God. The writer says: —
As I sat in the front part of a room, a young Roman priest slowly paced to and fro at the other end of it. He was nobly born—son of one of high rank in the army. From a pious mother he had received deep convictions about his soul. “What shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” followed him through all his studies and travels. Tormented by this, he at length entered the church, not to satisfy ambition, but if possible to find peace of soul. His lank form, his long face, pale and thin—his entire being—indicated suffering; and, without knowing why, I felt myself drawn to him. I remembered, as it were but yesterday, the agony of my own heart before knowing eternal redemption; and thinking that perhaps he suffered from the same cause, I at once asked him: “Have you peace with God, my dear friend?”
“Peace with God,” said he. “What do you mean by peace with God?”
“It is the effect,” said I to him, “of the forgiveness of sins. It is like the consciousness that would exist in the agonized spirit of an unfortunate criminal condemned to be guillotined, to whom a messenger comes suddenly, bringing this dispatch from the Emperor: ‘All your crimes are forgiven you; go forth in peace!’”
“Then,” replied he, “I have not peace with God, for I have never yet received such a message from God. For nearly three years I have been imprisoned between four walls, exercising the greatest severities against myself. I have fasted, prayed, ill-treated my body, until I am reduced to what you see, but I have not yet received this message from God.”
“You are a sincere man,” I said to him; “you are not one of those religionists who affect a heavenly air, and within have nothing but lust and wickedness.”
“How should I not be sincere, sir, when I know, that it is with God Himself I have to do. Appearance, you know, is only for this world. Reality is for eternity. A thousand times a fool is he who sees no further than this world. For my part it is eternity that occupies me.”
“Blessed be God! Blessed be God, my dear friend! He has shown you the curse of the law of God against every breach of that law; according to Galatians 3:10,10For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. (Galatians 3:10) ‘Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them;’ and as you are not a hypocrite, but knowing well that you are violating this law constantly, even in spite of yourself, you at once apply the curse to yourself, well knowing in your conscience that you merit it.”
“That is it exactly! You have just laid bare my heart; that is my state precisely. I see the just wrath of God against me, and I much desire to be able to appease or escape it.” I took out my Bible, and pointing to Galatians 3:1313Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: (Galatians 3:13) he read, “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.” Suddenly his languid eyes lit up. The message of peace had come to him through the WORD.
“Do you understand now,” said I, “why Jesus upon the cross must needs cry out, ‘My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?’”
“It is clear, quite clear,” replied he. “If Christ has been made a curse for me, in order to redeem me from the curse of the law, it follows that He Himself sustained that curse. He thus becomes a substitute for me.”
The heart of the young priest was evidently quite overcome. A pardon so sudden, a salvation so sure and so free, almost frightened him; he could scarcely believe himself in his proper senses. He appeared afraid to wake himself up, lest he should find his anguish had been calmed only by a cruel dream—cruel because of its very sweetness.
It was not a dream. It was the truth which had set him at liberty, according to John 8:32: “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” After this he gave himself much to the Scriptures, his peace became more settled, and his expression of suffering gave place to one of profound rest.
Dear reader! Have you this precious peace with God? Do you know what it is as a guilty, lost sinner, to be reconciled to God by the death of His Son?
Nothing else is real. All other peace is false. You must have to do with God. You are accountable to Him. His word must decide. Jesus, the Son of God, is the judge. What did He say? “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment (condemnation); but is passed from death unto life.” (John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24).) Would you not be happy if you were quite sure that you had eternal life? Well, hearken then to Jesus, receive Him as your Saviour, and you have everlasting life!