POOR E —! how often have I beheld her face with grief. So young in years, yet so abandoned. The very recollection of the sinful life she once led is now sufficient to cause deep sorrow of heart.
How could she ever sink so low in moral degradation? Ah! if in her earlier years she had been treated with more consideration and kindness at home, her after course of life had probably been far different. While she was to be blamed, she was therefore to be pitied.
And there were some dear children of God who did pity her, and sought, happily not in vain, to bring her within the circle of other influences, and to induce her to reform her character.
For all this, E — was deeply grateful, but reformation of character is not in itself sufficient to satisfy a longing soul. She was still a sinner in the sight of a holy God, a poor lost sinner. And perhaps she never saw this more clearly than when she received a note from a former companion in sin, which stated that the writer was now become a child of God through faith in Christ Jesus. She was indeed desirous of leading a better life in the future; but oh! those sins of the past, how could they be washed away?
I had just read before her a young lady’s simple and pathetic narration of her own merciful deliverance from all the cruel bondage and power of the enemy, and of the joy and rest and peace that had taken possession of her heart since she had come to Jesus; and was telling E — of Him in whose name is preached the forgiveness of sins, when she suddenly burst into tears and said, “I know He will never forgive me.”
When she had become a little more calm, I told her of Mary Magdalene, upon whom the Lord had mercy, and out of whom He cast seven devils, and referred to later incidents in her life which abundantly proved that “where sin abounded grace did much more abound.” But where shall words be found that shall prove adequate to testify of His amazing grace and love, who from His own veins supplied that precious blood which alone avails to cleanse from all sin?
Is this thy fear, dear unsaved one, that thy sins are too great for forgiveness? Then I would also tell thee of one who once ventured into the Saviour’s presence; and wilt thou not also venture, and take thy place at His feet? For the very fact that thou art a sinner proves thy need of that Saviour. He became the Saviour because we were sinners.
And she of whom I now speak stood behind Him and wept, and He turned her not away, though she was soon convinced that He knew what her former actions had been. Listen! He speaks of her before all. He says, “Her sins” — yet she abides in His presence, before Whom all is manifest. He proceeds, — “which are many” — He could not pass by one of them. What an exposure of herself to herself before all present; even now she remains. The Light is to her more attractive than the darkness. Oh the relief afforded to her sorrowing spirit by the utterance of the last two words of that one brief sentence — “are forgiven!” Who can wonder that she ceased not to kiss His feet, Who had forgiven her all? Many sins, but all forgiven!
Dost thou grieve, precious soul, that thy sins are likewise many? Then delay not to take thy place at His feet, Who waits to give to each repentant one the same gracious word of assurance. And must thou doubt it if He says it? Canst thou not believe His own words?
On that afternoon when I addressed poor E —and pointed her to Jesus, it seemed to her too good news to be ever true in her case, for as yet she knew not the greatness of His love.
Some time afterwards I saw her again, and now her wobegone look had fled. She smiled as she told me that now she knew He, her Lord and Saviour, had forgiven even her. And now in her hearing it was mine to bear witness to His speedy coming to take all His own blood-bought and blood-washed sheep home to the Father’s house on high. That while we are waiting for His sure return He would have us be up and doing, and seeking to win others, that they also may be saved, and rise with us to meet Him in the air. A. J.