ONE Sunday evening a preacher had been speaking upon the subject of the dying thief, and in closing, likened the mercy of God to a golden chain, which, as it were, He holds to us from His throne on high. "If we," said he,” by simple faith lay hold of that chain, He will raise us to Christ's throne in glory."
The service over, the speaker returned home weary and discouraged. Time rolled on, and the sermon itself was almost forgotten, when one day as he was passing through the town, in which he had preached, a poorly-clad woman stood and looked very hard at him, as if she would first be certain as to the person to whom she desired to speak. Presently she came to him and eagerly inquired his name, and when she heard it, she, with a countenance lit up with heavenly delight, and eyes filled with tears, exclaimed—
“Oh, sir, I have long wished to see you, for I have a dying message to give you. Do you remember preaching a certain sermon in which you spoke of the sinner sunken in sin taking hold of the last link in mercy's chain, and being raised to the height of glory? "
“I remember something of it," he replied. “Well, sir, my son was present that night; he has since died, but before he passed away he called out for you. As we did not know your whereabouts, his wish to see you could not be gratified. These were his last words; Mother; tell the gentleman I have hold of the chain.'
O the glory of the grace
Shining from the Saviour's face,
Telling sinners from above,
God is light, and God is love.