IN a quiet corner of a large, well-known room, situated in one of the most fashionable watering-places in England, a group of young girls, not many weeks since, had gathered around their teacher. Open Bibles were in their hands, and many an eager, thoughtful countenance told of deep interest in the afternoon's lesson. "Service for the Lord" had been the subject of meditation during that happy hour in the Sunday-school. Some of those young hearts had been stirred to their deepest depths, as they were reminded of the wonderful love of a Saviour who had died for them, and redeemed them to Himself, henceforth to claim them as His servants—His friends. Doubtless some of those Christian maidens would go forth, refreshed and encouraged, with hearts more fully consecrated to the Lord who has bought them, to prove in after hours of labor and conflict that they had not that day gathered round the word of God in vain. Already the hands of the clock were pointing to a quarter to four. Ten minutes longer, and the class must be dismissed.
The sound of hasty feet coming down the aisle caused the teacher to look around. A shade of momentary annoyance at so late an interruption passed over her brow, as she recognized one of the members of her class, and one whom she had cause to fear was not as punctual in her attendance as she might have been. But the girl was not alone, for by her side was a companion, a stranger of, apparently, eighteen years of age. With a half-hesitating air, as if unaccustomed to such a scene, she seated herself near her friend.
The teacher's eye was on the clock. Little more than five minutes remained; yet her heart was in her work, and, seeing that both girls were comfortably seated, with an earnest, but silent prayer for wisdom how to use the precious moments that were left, she once more addressed the class.
“Dear girls," said she, as her gaze rested upon one and another of that interesting circle, "we have been speaking much this afternoon of service to the Lord. It is a sweet subject, and those of us who know and love Him will, I trust, learn at His blessed feet how to serve Him acceptably. But can you each say, I know Him; I will serve Him; I love Him because He first loved me? ‘I fear there may be one in this group who has not yet ‘passed from death unto life,' one who has not yet been turned from the power of Satan unto God.'
“Satan, the enemy of your soul, would do all in his power to keep you from accepting the blessing which God offers you. He would lead you to believe that service of any kind must please God; but, sinners as we are by nature and practice, no good deeds of ours can ever bring us into His favor. Is there not one present in this little number who would like to know Jesus as her Saviour? From the heights of glory the blessed Lord Jesus came down to seek and save the lost.'
He by the Eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God. He bare our sins in His own body on the tree,' and put away our guilt `by the sacrifice of Himself.' Then God raised Him from the dead, proving that His righteousness was fully satisfied. And now, to each one here, comes the gracious word—' Though your sins be as scarlet they shall be white as snow.' Accept the pardon He now offers you. Then you, too, will learn to serve Him. How sweet is His service! All His ways are ways of pleasantness—all His paths are paths of peace."
The teacher paused, for already the superintendent had risen to announce the closing hymn. Surely it was by the direct guidance of the Holy Spirit that the words were so peculiarly appropriate to what had preceded them.
Looking over the teacher's hymn-book, Sarah M., the last new corner, joined in singing the words of the first stanza; but she paused as she reached the second. God was working in her heart; not lightly might she use words of such deep meaning and importance.
“I love my precious Saviour because He died for me,
And if I did not serve Him how sinful I should be.
I know He makes me happy, and hears me when I pray;
By faith I'll cling to Jesus, the Bible says I may.
And since I've found the Saviour (the first link in the chain),
I'll trust in Him forever, till heaven at last I gain.
I love that blessed country where tears are wiped away,
I want to live with Jesus, the Bible says I may."
Quietly and reverently the scholars knelt in prayer; but Sarah M.'s emotion had visibly increased. Sobs were audible in that quiet schoolroom, while fervent prayer ascended to God for blessing on the seed sown that afternoon.
Lovingly did the teacher plead with that sin-stricken soul, when all other members of the class had retired. But Sarah M. could not believe that the good news was, indeed, for her. Like a terrible mountain of guilt she saw the sins she had committed. God, in His great love, permitted her to see the depth of her need, that she might better learn the all-sufficiency of the atoning blood.
Anxious, dejected, and at times in an almost despairing condition, Sarah remained for two whole days; but at the end of that time the light broke in upon her soul. Again she heard the gospel of Christ, the blessed news of what Christ is and what He has done for sinners.
Again she heard of peace and pardon through the blood of His Cross; and like a little child she received the message for herself. Joy unspeakable filled her heart as she heard the words of Jesus—" I am come to seek and to save that which was lost."
"I can sing to-day, teacher," she said, with a beaming countenance, on the following Sunday, when the closing hymn was again announced. "The Lord has given me something to praise Him forever and ever."
Dear young reader, have you ever learned what it is to be at peace and rest beneath the shelter of the atoning blood? If not, delay no longer. You may be happy to-day; for Jesus still says, "Come unto Me, all ye that are weary ‘and heavy laden, and I will give you rest." “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out."