SOME years ago a preacher of the gospel found himself in a village where a band of bright earnest Christians was overjoyed to welcome him, and delighted at the prospect of hearing him.
But the hopes of these Christians were dashed to the ground when the preacher announced that he felt guided of God to go to another village to preach.
It seemed strange. The other village was unresponsive to God’s things, dead and dark spiritually, whilst their village was just the reverse, filled with those who prized God’s Word, and who delighted to encourage His servants. It seemed puzzling, but the preacher felt he had got his marching orders from headquarters, and that he must obey.
In due time he found himself in that other village, a tiny place that boasted neither church, chapel, nor meeting house. A stranger he walked through the place; he knew no one in it, and no one knew him. He wondered what he should do. He retraced his steps. On the outskirts of the village was a barn in a field. The Spirit of God seemed to fell him that this was, the place where he had to preach.
Impelled by the influence he entered the barn. In it were two cows and some hay. The Spirit of God bade him preach. He hung back. It seemed the height of absurdity for him to speak under such circumstances.
But a voice seemed to say to him, “Are you My servant, or your own master?” He replied, “Thy servant, Lord.” “Then do what I bid thee,” came the unmistakable answer.
He opened his Bible, read a portion, preached a good gospel sermon, prayed and retired. The whole affair seemed so foolish that he determined that he would not divulge the evening’s proceedings to a living soul.
Years rolled by. The circumstance had almost passed out of mind, at any rate actively. One day he was preaching in London. At the close of the service a stranger came up, and asked him, “Were you ever in such and such a county?”
“Certainly,” was the reply.
“Did you ever preach in such and such a village?” was the next inquiry.
The preacher, by his manner and hesitation, showed that the question was unpalatable. The questioner urged his question, telling him he had a good reason for asking. The preacher replied to the question most reluctantly in the affirmative.
A third question was asked. “Did you ever preach to two cows and some hay in a barn just outside the village?”
The preacher was fairly nettled, and was inclined to lose his patience, but being pressed on the point, again answered in the affirmative.
Then the questioner grasped the preacher by the
hand, saying heartily, “I thought I recognized your voice again. I thought I was not mistaken. All those years ago I was disturbed whilst poaching, and hid myself for safety in that barn, under the hay. I fell asleep, and must have slept for hours. I was awakened by hearing your voice. I made sure that God must have meant the address for me. You thought the address was given to two cows and some hay, but in reality it was meant for me and for me alone, and God used it to my salvation.”
In this striking way did God bring the preacher and the hearer together.
Reader, does not God mean to speak to YOU, and that by this printed page? Has this great matter of your soul’s salvation not occupied YOUR attention as yet? God grant that it may from this hour.
God’s way of salvation is plain in His holy Word. It says, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)). This one verse is enough for the earnest seeker. May God bless it to YOU.
A. J. P.