ONE Monday morning, as an artisan was carelessly watching a gipsy encampment on Tooting Common, a gentleman entered into conversation with him, the latter explaining that he was a stranger in those parts. Presently he put this question to Thomas Percy: "Are you saved?" and received an honest “No," in reply.
“I am very sorry to hear that. Have you a bible of your own?"
“Yes, I have got a bible down at Southampton," said Thomas.
The servant of God expressed his sorrow that Thomas had no bible within reach, and learning that there was a bookseller in the village, gave some money to Thomas, begging him to buy himself a bible, and read a certain portion. "Ask the Lord to open your eyes, and to prepare your heart to receive the truth."
“Yes, sir, thank you, I will," said he, and again said, "I will be sure and buy the bible."
Thomas made off at once for the shop, saying to himself meanwhile: "Let's see; it was the . . . chapter of . . . I was to read." He had his hand on the handle of the shop-door, when he heard someone tapping at a window on the opposite side of the road, and looking round, whom should he see but Gaffer George at the window of the "Fox" public-house. George beckoned Thomas to come over and have a glass, and at the sight, Thomas let go the handle of the door and went over to the "Fox," saying to himself: "I can buy the bible presently."
Once inside the “Fox," however, the time passed swiftly. Having "just one glass” led to his having more, and in the end Thomas did not leave the public-house until it was “turn out” time. I need scarcely add that the bible was not bought, nor can Thomas to this day remember what chapter it was he had so definitely promised he would read. “When anyone heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart." (Matt. 13:1919When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. (Matthew 13:19).)
When Thomas told his wife how he had acted, she was much grieved, and said, “I wish you had bought the bible." Now Thomas was naturally affectionate, and loved his wife dearly; but the power of old associations was so great that he could not break away from these. He would sing a song or crack jokes with his free-and-easy companions, who thought him rare good company; but he knew all the while that his faithful wife shed many tears on his account, and that she often prayed for him. Indeed, when Thomas saw his wife go down upon her knees to pray, he endeavored, but happily without success, to persuade her out of her habit.
The Lord has His own way of accomplishing His own gracious purposes. Thomas's health became very indifferent, and he and his wife decided to leave London for a while, and to visit some relatives in a village in Dorset. One morning, Thomas had occasion to go to a place about two miles from the village, he had intended to take the high road, but, without knowing exactly why, turned down a lane instead. He had not proceeded far before he came across an old countryman, dressed in a long smock frock, sitting upon a heap of stones, busily cracking them.
“All alone," said Thomas to himself, as he recalled his own workmates and associates; what a wretched life that man must live!" But as he drew up, the stone-breaker bade him " Good morning" in a cheerful voice, and at the same moment a linnet upon the opposite hedge began to sing sweetly.
"You must feel very lonely out here," said Thomas.
“Lonely!" exclaimed the countryman with surprise, “How can I be lonely with these beautiful flowers on all sides of me, and with the birds around me singing so sweetly, and much more, while the One who made the flowers and the birds is always with me? I am seventy-six years old, and I have been a follower of the Lord Jesus for forty years. Do you know the Lord Jesus? "
"No, I don't."
“It’s a blessed thing to know Him," said the old man, his face beaming with happiness as he spoke. And then out of the abundance of his heart he spoke of the preciousness of the Person of Christ, of what He is to the sinner who trusts Him, and of the joy that flows from simply believing in Him. He told Thomas of Jesus amazing love to poor sinners, how He suffered, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God; how He glorified God, and how God is glorified in Him.
This was not the sort of talk that Thomas relished, and when the old man wound up with an earnest and heart-stirring appeal to Thomas to repent and to close at once with God's salvation, he felt very vexed for having turned down into the lane, and wished he had kept to the high road. Still, in spite of himself, there was a power in the old man's words that riveted him to the spot, for the old man evidently knew Whom he believed.
“Then you don't know the Lord Jesus? “he said.
“No, I don't. I wish I did."
“He is ever with me—in the early morning, all through the day, and even until night," said the old stone-breaker, with a smile.
“Well, I must wish you good morning." The old man took Thomas's hand, and, holding it firmly, said, “What is your name?”
“Percy." “But what is your other name?”
“Thomas."
“Well, Thomas Percy, I shall pray for you; I shall pray God to save Thomas Percy." Then in the assurance of faith divinely given at the moment, the old man added in a firm tone of voice: "And I shall meet you in heaven."
“I trust you may," said Thomas, passing onwards.
All the rest of that day, go where he would, and look in whatever direction he might, the old man seemed ever before his eyes, and his words to ring continually in his ears. The next day was very wet, obliging Thomas to keep indoors, but his searching of heart increased rather than otherwise.
A glorious summer's day succeeded, and Thomas set off in search of the old man whose words he could not endure two days before. But he was not to be found. However, at the side of the stone heap, Thomas lifted up his heart to God, and prayed earnestly that the old man's prayers on his behalf might be answered.
A few days after his conversation with the stonebreaker, Thomas returned to London, and, I grieve to record it, to his old ways and companions. In the workshop, the theatre, the music hall, or the tap room, he was as active as ever, but, go where he would, and seek as he might to fully occupy his mind with worldly amusements, the old man's words," Thomas Percy, I shall pray for you," were ever with him. His very efforts to stifle wholesome convictions only made it more and more apparent to himself that there was in his heart an aching void, which the pleasure of this world could never fill.
After a time Thomas came to Southampton, and there, away from his former associates, he became more and more miserable, till one day he said to his wife he wished they lived near to someone who would talk to him as the old stonebreaker had done. Another change of habitation brought him to the Isle of Wight. He had not settled down there more than a few days, when one evening, as he was sawing wood in his garden, the next-door neighbor came up, saying, " Shall I come over and lend you a hand? " The proffered help was as readily accepted, as gladly rendered.
“Are you a Christian?” his neighbor presently asked. "No, I am not."
“That is very sad. Would you like to be one? "
“Yes, I should very much," said Thomas.
“Let us come indoors and have a little chat." And night after night these neighbors met to speak and to hear of God. Thus at length did Thomas hear again what the stone-breaker had spoken to him years before. He soon got to long for the time to come for his neighbor to drop in to tell him more of the good news. The stone-breaker's prayer was answered. “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God " (Rom. 10:1717So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17)). Thomas was delivered from the bondage of sin and death.
All has been changed with Thomas Percy for a long time. It is now his delight to tell others of the great things the Lord has done for his soul. His heart rejoices when he finds his shop-mates inclined to listen to his testimony to Christ, and Him crucified! In former times others prayed for him. Now it is his unspeakable privilege to pray for others.
And Thomas Percy prays that this account of God's great mercy to himself may be productive through grace of good results in your soul, dear reader. The pleasures of this world are but husks; Christ is "the bread that came down from heaven." “If any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever." “Buy, and eat, ... without money and without price." A. J.