IT is a great comfort to know that if a distressed cry goes up to God from any sin-burdened conscience, even if uttered in the most unlikely place, the ear of a Saviour God listens, and He stoops down to deliver.
London Bridge, with its crowds passing and re-passing, is scarcely the place in which we should have expected God to meet an anxious soul, but He has met and blessed more than one, even there.
A poor woman toiled wearily along. Her lot was not a highly favored one. Very few rays from the sun of worldly prosperity brightened her path. She was one of a numerous class known as “London poor.” Their condition seems inseparable from want and suffering. Their labors ill-paid, their homes in crowded alley or common lodging-house minister scant comfort to the inmates.
It was not the pinch of poverty or the struggle for daily bread which caused her steps to drag so wearily. A far deeper sorrow pressed on her spirit. She had become conscious of her need as a poor lost sinner, but as yet knew not the Saviour of sinners. Did you ever feel a load like hers?
Heedlessly the hurrying crowd passed to and fro, careless of want or woe, intent on business or pleasure. Not so the Lord of life and glory. From His seat, at the Father’s right hand, He gazed upon that moving throng and knew who it was in it that really wanted to “touch him.” Coming from the opposite direction to that in which the poor woman was going, were two godly women, whose hearts, like the disciples on their journey to Emmaus, were full of their blessed Lord and Master, and they “spoke of him by the way.” Just at the very moment they passed the poor woman, one of them quoted a verse of Scripture. They were soon lost amidst the bustling throng; not so their words. Unconsciously and unknown to them, that verse from God’s Word fell like healing balm on the troubled heart of the poor woman. It was the voice of the Lord Jesus from that bright glory imparting peace, life, light, and joy. The entrance of God’s Word had indeed given light. Her heart was filled with thanksgiving and praise. Her burden was gone. Her fears had vanished. With a joyful heart and elastic step she went on her way rejoicing.
It was several years after this I first met her. She was then seeking to serve the Lord, who had thus so graciously spoken to her, by looking after a little tract depot in one of the lowest quarters of London. Her face would light up, as she spoke of the words which fell from that Christian’s lips, and which proved a message of salvation to her. I cannot recall them now, but I often think it will be one of the joys in the day of the kingdom for those women to know, that whilst they were speaking together of the things concerning their Lord, the incorruptible seed of the Word was wafted by the Holy Ghost into the heart of that perishing woman. She passed out of death into life, from the power of Satan to God, lost the burden of her sins, and got light and blessing for her soul by a word from God through an unconscious instrument.
God who blessed her in this way is ready, waiting, and willing to bless you. Do you see yourself a poor, guilty, hell-deserving sinner? Are you seeking mercy? Do you really desire salvation? If so, let me tell you of another who got blessing on London Bridge. In many respects he was a striking contrast to the poor woman. He was young, intelligent, well connected, and knew not the sorrows of poverty or the struggle for bare existence. In the pursuit of his studies he daily crossed the Thames. He also war burdened, guilt pressed heavily on his conscience. It was a load he longed to get rid of but knew not how. His studies occupied his mind, but conscience made its voice heard, and he could truly say, “The burden of my sins is intolerable.” In this unhappy state he was crossing the bridge one day. All at once he looked straight up to Jesus in glory. His faith rested on a living Saviour. He heard no audible voice quoting a Scripture, but the moment he looked away from self to Jesus, and cast himself in all his sins and misery upon Him, the Holy Spirit filled him with a sweet sense of sins forgiven, and shed God’s love abroad in his heart.
From that moment his life was given to his Saviour. He became an earnest and devoted preacher of the gospel, and wrote many beautiful hymns of praise.
In some of them he expresses his feelings of the deepest gratitude and praise to a Saviour God for this great salvation.
You see by these instances that it is not needful to be abstracted from your fellow-creatures to get your soul saved. Look right away to the blessed Son of God, seated in heavenly glory. His precious blood has made an atonement for guilt. That same precious blood can purge your conscience and relieve it of its load.
He who was dead is alive again. He waits to be gracious. If you are conscious of demerit, the goodness of God is leading you to repentance. The highway to blessing is repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Soul-misery and soul-blessing are twin sisters. Christ is exalted a Prince and a Saviour to give repentance and forgiveness of sins (Acts 5:3131Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. (Acts 5:31)). The deeper the repentance, the greater the relief when the burden is gone.
God may be pleased to bless you through reading this magazine. He can equally well bless you without any human instrument.
Trust His word. Look to a loving Saviour. “Through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins.” You need not carry your load any longer. Repentance will not save you. It makes you feel the need of a Saviour. Jesus saves! Jesus only! Trust Him wholly, trust Him now!
H. N.