ANNIE B―was the only child of her mother, and she was a widow—a bright intelligent girl, and one who was the subject of many prayers.
For several years I had known her mother and aunt, who were both decided Christians. Annie had through them been in contact with the truth from her very infancy, but it appeared to have made no real impression upon her.
She was a thoughtless girl, who, when spoken to about her soul was always ready with a light and careless answer― “Time enough to grow good,” or some such expression.
She was not by any means constitutionally strong, and having got a severe cold, she found it difficult to throw it off. Her mother, anxious about her, took her to one of the leading physicians, who prescribed, and said she would be better in a little while.
However, she did not improve, and after a considerable time was taken to another doctor, who declared her to be hopelessly ill, both lungs being affected.
About this time, I met her aunt, who told me, with tears, of the sorrow which had come upon them. I asked if I might go and see her; she thanked me, and said they would be glad.
I called on several occasions, but failed to gain admission to the poor girl, who I heard was rapidly sinking. She did not like to be spoken to, and consequently did not wish to see me, so I could only lift my heart to the Lord, and join with others in prayer for her.
One day a marked change for the worse came, and she feared she was dying, and without Christ. Oh, who can tell the awful solemnity of such a position―the very light and truth she had been so long in contact with, only enhanced her condemnation! To pass into eternity from the midst of the Gospel light which shines in this day, in which the truth as to salvation is so widely preached, without having accepted the message which it brings, is indeed awful to contemplate, and thoughts such as these arose within her.
She was now most anxious to see me, and begged of her uncle to send for me. Hearing of the change, and of her desire to see me, I arranged to call that afternoon at an hour which would be convenient to her.
On entering her room I found her propped up in a large chair, her mother seeking to place her in a position in which the poor weary body might find some ease. I sat down beside her, and after a few inquiries as to her state of health, I put the direct question, “And now, what about your soul?” Her poor anxious face is now before me, as she shook her head and sorrowfully said, “I am not prepared to die.”
“Is not that a solemn condition to be in?” said, I. “What a solemn thing to have to do with a holy God, who is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity, and who is now looking into the very secret chambers of your heart. He not only knows all that you have done, but He knows what your thoughts have been, and what He says of your heart is this, ― ‘The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? I the Lord search the heart’ (Jer. 17:99The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9)). What a solemn thing, that even now He is searching your heart.”
I could see by the play of her features that the Word of God was having its effect upon her, and felt sure that she was having to do with the One who was telling her all that ever she did (John 4:2929Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? (John 4:29)). I then solemnly asked her, “Now in the presence of God, who is here, and in the light of what He has said about your heart, what have you to say for yourself?” She lifted herself in the chair, and with an energy which surprised me, said, “I deserve to go to hell, sir.”
“Thank God,” I said, “that you have reached this point, and now I want to tell you of another thing. I want to tell you what God’s heart is, and what His thoughts about you have been.”
I then pointed to the love of God who gave His Son to die, and quoted John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Using several other passages, I told her of the perfection of the work which the Son had accomplished, and which had so perfectly satisfied God’s holy and righteous claims about sin, that He can now be just and the justifier of the ungodly―of the one who believeth in Jesus, and that upon the ground of His work. He is sending out a message of peace to every poor sinner who will receive it; a message which comes to us Where we are, finding us where we are, and tells us that, “Through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins; and by him all that believe are justified from all things” (Acts 13:38, 3938Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:38‑39)). Also, “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief” (1 Tim. 1:1515This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:15)).
“Now,” I said, “are not you a sinner, and does not that word ‘sinners’ describe you far better than if it were ‘A. B.,’ for I know another of your name, and it might mean her, but that word ‘sinners’ takes you in? Now, if God is perfectly satisfied with what Christ has done, I ask you what have you to say?” All this time she was listening as one for whom life and death were hanging on what she heard. I repeated my question, “God is perfectly satisfied with what Christ has done, and I now ask what have you to say.”
Again she lifted herself in the chair, and with clasped hands said, “I am satisfied, too.” Then falling back in the chair, she burst into a flood of tears. The joy which filled her heart could find no richer way of expressing itself, and the calm restful expression on her face spoke volumes which words could not convey.
Her mother, aunt, and myself could not refrain from mingling our tears with hers; we were a feeble expression of the “friends and neighbors” who were called to rejoice with Him who found His sheep, or of those who were called to have part in the “music and dancing” which told out the father’s joy in having his lost one found―that precious one who was dead and alive again.
I sat for nearly an hour with her, and deeply did my soul enjoy the power and grace which had so manifestly come in, and brought this precious soul into perfect peace.
During the interval, till she departed to be with Christ, I was a constant visitor at the house, and the simplicity of her faith, the fullness of her joy, and the brightness of her testimony to those around her, filled the heart with admiration.
When asked by a friend, who was surprised to find her rejoicing, when she had found peace, she replied, “On last Saturday evening.” “And what gave you peace?” Her answer was, “It was when I came to know that God was satisfied with what Christ had done.”
In speaking to another, she said, “I always knew I was a sinner; but until that evening I never felt that God was looking into my heart.”
One day, finding her low and seemingly depressed, fearing that Satan was tempting her, I asked if she ever had fears for the future? She looked reproachfully at me, and replied, “Oh, no, I am never afraid of anything.” In this happy condition she shortly departed to the Lord.
And now, dear reader, one word for you. As God looks into your heart, and sees all that is there, and tells you what He thinks of it, what have you to say? Is it, “I deserve to go to hell”? And if so, as you hear the blessed tidings that God is perfectly satisfied with what Christ has done, is your answer, “I am satisfied, too”? If not, you are yet in your sins, the judgment of God is impending over you, and the wrath of God may at any moment overtake you. “How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?” (Heb. 2:33How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; (Hebrews 2:3).)
“Awake I awake! thou sleeper,
Why still amongst the dead?
The day of grace is passing,
Soon will its hours have fled.
The grace which thou art slighting
Soon, soon, will cease to flow,
From righteous indignation
Then whether wilt thou go?
Awake! awake! thou sleeper,
No longer slight the call,
Nor trifle with the judgment
Which on thy head may fall.
E’en now the clouds do gather,
Which soon may burst on thee,
Awake! awake! O sinner!
To Christ, the Saviour, flee.”
G. W. F.