SOME time since, after a severe illness, I went to visit some relatives in Nottinghamshire, and though too weak to preach, I was able to visit a few people.
I had not been long with my friends when I heard of a woman, some two miles off, who was dying of dropsy, unsaved, but ' most anxious about her soul's salvation. I found her out without much difficulty, and after hearing from her all about her ailments, I spoke of eternal matters: the holiness of God, the horribleness of sin, the preciousness of the blood of Jesus Christ which cleanses from every sin, the value of the immortal soul, and the immense importance that, as she was so near eternity, she should seek its immediate salvation.
The dying woman assured me that she was most anxious to be saved; that she had wept, prayed, and done all that she could, but that she was nothing bettered, but had rather grown worse. I showed her from the Scriptures that Jesus had undertaken the whole responsibility of her salvation from first to last, that before He left the cross He said, " It is finished ";" that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day, according to the Scriptures " (John 19:3030When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. (John 19:30); JOH 19:3030When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. (John 19:30) 1 Cor. 15:3, 43For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: (1 Corinthians 15:3‑4)). 1CO 15:3-43For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: (1 Corinthians 15:3‑4)
She replied that it was all very beautiful, but that she could not "see it.”
"But I do not feel it," she replied; " and how can I know I am saved until I do?”
I replied, “Jesus said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)). JOH 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)
“Well, I hope I am saved," she answered.
I turned my back upon her as she was lying in bed, and whilst in that position I took my watch out of my pocket, and concealing it in my right hand, turned my face towards her again, and said, " Since I turned my back upon you I have taken my watch out of my pocket, and put it into my hand. Do you believe it?”
“Yes, sir, I do," she replied.
“But you did not see me take it out of my pocket, and place it in my hand, neither can you see it in my hand. How is it, then, that you believe me without seeing?”
“Because, sir, you told me so.”
“Then why do you not believe God without seeing when He says, ' He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life '?”
“But I must feel it, sir, first, before I believe I have it.”
“Did you feel me take my watch out of my pocket, and put it into my hand? and do you feel it is in my hand?”
“No, sir; I do not feel it is there.”
“Then why do you believe it is there?”
“Because you told me so.”
“I hope I am forgiven now," she replied.
“But do you hope I took my watch out of my pocket, put it into my hand, and that it is in my hand?”
“No, sir: I do believe that you have done with your watch as you have told me.”
“How is it that you find it so easy to believe me, a poor failing man, without seeing, feeling, or hoping, and yet cannot believe the unfailing and loving God?”
The Spirit of God made her ashamed of her wretched unbelief, and blessed the simple illustration to giving her “full assurance of faith.”
She lifted up her voice, and cried, "Blessed God, I will not treat your servant better than you. I do believe you now without seeing, feeling, or hoping; and because you say I have the forgiveness of all my sins and everlasting life, I know it is true.”
Should this meet the eye of an anxious soul, I would say that the road to peace is simply to believe what God says about Christ and His work, the sinner and his need: that faith is taking God at His word, and believing what He says, just because He says so; therefore, just where you are, as you are, and just now, receive the full, free, everlasting salvation of God as a gift to simple faith, without seeing, feeling, or hoping.
Take the blessing from above,
And bless God for His boundless love.
H. M. H.
A sinner is perfectly justified in believing what God says: “Being justified by faith, we have peace with God." “With the heart man believeth unto righteousness." All is established upon the value of the blood of Christ. "Being justified by His blood.”