THE following incident is copied from a letter giving an account of a very interesting work of God in Russia:
Before closing I must tell you an event which happened last Sunday, and which showed again the wonderful ways of God. Mr. P. went with one of his friends to a distant village to preach the Gospel. Having gone about half way, suddenly one of his horses became lame, and it was impossible to continue the journey. They were expected at a certain hour, but were helpless. At this moment a country man came out of the woods which were by the way, and offered to provide a carriage and be the driver himself. Mr. P. willingly accepted the offer; and the carriage was soon brought from a farm in the neighborhood.
They had scarcely stepped in when the driver, an aged man of seventy years, turned in his seat, and told Mr. P. that he had tried to find him for more than three years, but that he never could succeed, because he had always arrived too late where Mr. P. had held a meeting.
Several times he had also gone to a distant village in the expectation of finding Mr. P., but each time he was disappointed, appointed, because the meeting was in another place. The poor man was almost discouraged, when God Himself overruled circumstances so that he could hear the glad tidings of salvation.
He told, with trembling voice, the troubles of his soul, his fear of death and his burning desire to find forgiveness of his sins; he said he did not know what to do. Then Mr. P. began to read to him a few passages of Scripture, which tell of free grace. the Gift of God, the love of the Lord. The old man listened with close attention; his heart began to apprehend the meaning of those precious words; his face shone with joy. Suddenly he exclaimed,
“O, it is enough! Now I possess what I have longed for! Thanks, thanks to God!”
The old man forgot, in his joy, his duty as driver. The reins and whip fell out of his hands, while big tears rolled down his cheeks, tears of joy and thanks to God; his lips were unable to express his gratitude. His happiness had made him dumb for the time.
Mr. P.’s young friend was obliged to take the reins, and drive the horses, as the old man was quite unable to do it. Mr. P. asked him to sit in the carriage, and continue to speak to him about Christ and His work, His love, and all that He has done for us, and about the place He has prepared for us with the Father.
The poor man, now our brother, listened with delight, only interrupting from time to time with an artless, childlike question. He cannot read, is very untaught, but now he possesses what he needed. He does not know anything but that Christ died for him, that He has washed him from his sins by His blood, and that has given hint eternal joy. Is that not wonderful!
Who would have thought that the laming of a horse could have led to the bringing of a soul to Christ!
ML 08/24/1924