By:
Edited by Algernon J. Pollock
MANY years ago in my native town there lived an infidel, a painter and glazier by trade, having a small business of his own. He lived alone, and spent his week-ends playing cards with two companions. They were often seen at the window in a room above the premises which overlooked a piece of spare ground, occupied on Sunday evenings by a few earnest godly preachers, who draw immense crowds to hear the sweet story of God’s boundless love to perishing sinners. May can trace their conversion to these open-air meetings, which were always largely attended.
The infidel was much annoyed as he could not help seeing from his window the crowds gather, and the sound of the singing created no end of contempt in his mind. However he resolved on a plan to stop these meetings. With the assistance of his two friends he arranged to interrupt the speaker with threatening language. Strange to say the one who had agreed to insult the speaker was speechless.
The infidel grew impatient, and boldly shouted out himself, “Before I would stand up there and make a fool of myself like that preacher I would prefer my tongue taken out.”
It did not stop the preacher as he continued his faithful pleadings for sinners to accept Christ as the only Saviour for the lost. At the close, prayer was offered on behalf of the hearers that they might receive God’s offers of mercy while in the day of His Sovereign Grace, also for the scoffers that they might beware of their danger as God is not mocked.
Nothing more was heard of the infidel until twelve months had passed when it was known he was suffering from cancer on the tongue, and had to undergo an operation and have it removed. With no hope of recovery, as death faced him, he thought of his conduct twelve months previous, and became deeply anxious about his soul. He sought forgiveness from the preacher he had insulted, who by this time was in China as a missionary.
However one of the speakers was called to his bedside, who was welcomed by the dying man. With tears in his eyes he made known how unhappy he was and how he had spoken to the preacher twelve months before. Well-known verses from God’s word were read to him and prayer was offered. The dying man accepted the Lord Jesus as His own personal Saviour. During the short time he lived he bore a bright testimony. With his Bible on his breast he made signs and pointed to the verses which were now his stay and comfort and blessed hope for eternity.
“How vast, how full, how free,
The mercy of our God!
Proclaim the blessed news around,
And spread it all abroad.”
How vast! ‘whoever will,’
May drink at mercy’s stream,
And know that faith in Jesus brings
Salvation e’en to him.”
Ninian Hill.