I WOULD like my young readers to know a little about my conversion. I had just left school, and was about sixteen years of age, when I went for some months with my parents, brothers, and sisters, to a small, but beautiful, seaside resort. I did not want to go, for the place was very quiet, and having left school I wished to live a new life full of enjoyment. Indeed it was with great bitterness of heart and rebellion that I went, much to the grief of my parents. I had known for some time that if the Lord came I was not ready to meet Him; but I wanted enjoyment in this world, and felt that if I became a Christian that would all be at an end. Day by day I was weary of cliffs, sea, and sands; and often hid in some secluded spot to weep in my utter misery.
Now it fell out that one Sunday, when passing through a field, with a young friend, we came near a preacher addressing a number of people, who were standing or sitting upon the grass at his feet. My companion wished to go near, but I was too proud to do so, and promised to wait for her at the end of the field. However, while hurrying on to get out of hearing as fast as possible, I was arrested by these words, which rang out clearly and distinctly through the still air: "How wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?" (Jer. 12:55If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan? (Jeremiah 12:5).)
I felt that those words were for me, and indeed I heard no others. They made me feel still more wretched than before; I thought, Jordan means death, and God is asking me what I shall do when called to die. I felt that I was face to face with Him, and that I must answer the question. I tried to hide myself from the loving eyes of my parents, but they understood more than I thought, and were praying for me. I went to my room and tried to think, but I could only hear the solemn words, " How wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?”
Thus it continued until about the middle of the night, when falling on my knees, I cried “Lord, Thou canst, and wilt save us"! and immediately I felt my load gone, and I knew that I had passed from death unto life.
In the morning, what a change! everything seemed new, and the joy of my parents I shall not forget. My first wish was to win one soul for the Lord, and most graciously was my prayer answered. I had thought to whom I should speak or write, when a distant cousin of about my own age was brought before me, so I at once wrote to her, asking if she could say with me that God had pardoned all her sins. She answered immediately, "No one ever asked me that question before: all of you pray for me." Barely a week had passed when another letter came, containing the following joyful news: “Dear Cousin, I can now say with you that Jesus has pardoned all my sins. I have now 'peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ '" (Rom. 5:11Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Romans 5:1)); and she told me how that she had long been burdened with a sense of guilt when the first letter reached her.