HAVING called to see an old man of eighty-three, who had known the Lord for many years, after speaking to him a little about the One whom he loved, the state of his health, &c., he commenced to narrate to us a few of his bygone experiences. As we left his cottage, struck with his practical remarks, we thought others besides ourselves might profit by them.
He first told us about a poor ignorant neighbor, who was fast failing in health. Knowing that the old man was a Christian, he asked him one day to come into his cottage and make a prayer for him.
Being many years delivered from the systems of men, and having learned the vanity of ready-made prayers, &c., he gladly responded to his neighbor’s request, but added, “If I can’t come and pray for you without being a machine, I shouldn’t be any good to you at all.” And following him into his little home, he poured out his heart to God in earnest prayer to bless him.
One day our old friend himself fell ill, and the minister of the parish, a kind, well-intentioned gentleman, of good social standing, called to see him. Commencing to speak to him about his state, in case his illness should end in death, he received an unexpected reply to the effect that the question of his soul’s salvation was all settled long ago, that he knew he was saved, and was assured that if death were to overtake him, he would be with Christ forever.
His surprised visitor suggested whether it were not presumption to talk in that kind of way?
“Ah, sir,” replied the old man emphatically, “the reason you say that is because you follow your own thoughts, whereas I take this blessed Book for my guide,” putting his hand on the Bible which lay beside him.
“But it is impossible for any one to know he is saved; you must keep the commandments of God.”
“But I do know; and though it is quite right for us to keep God’s commandments, which ones do you mean, sir? Do you refer to those which you read aloud every Sunday, and to which the people reply, ‘Lord have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law’?”
“Yes, you must keep them.”
“But you don’t keep them,” said the old man decidedly; “at least, if you do, you are the first one that ever did. No, sir, we are not under law. We are saved by faith, not by works. And Christ said to such that the end of the commandment is love, and that we should love one another.”
His visitor seemed thoroughly puzzled, and after kindly ministering to the old man’s temporal needs, rose to go.
A short while after, he called again, but the patient having recovered, he had returned to work, and he only found the wife at home. Expressing his fears about the state of her husband’s soul, he thought to find sympathy from her, but was still more surprised to hear the same clear and decided testimony as to her salvation, and the assurance of it from her lips also.
A little later the old man, who earned his living by laboring on farms, was thatching a rick when the minister went by on horseback. Bidding him “good day,” he expressed his glad surprise that he had recovered so quickly from his illness.
“Well, sir, it was the Lord’s doing. Both my neighbors, who were ill at the same time, were taken away. But He raised me up. Still, if it had been otherwise, and I had died, I know I should have been with Him forever. My salvation was all settled long ago.”
The positive way in which he had spoken about keeping the commandments, and his personal salvation, seemed to puzzle the minister more than ever, insomuch that a few days after he called again on the wife, and inquired whether the husband had anything against him?
“Oh, no, I can answer for him, sir, he has nothing against you. I don’t believe he has enmity or hatred in his heart against any one.”
“Well, by the way he spoke, I thought it must be so. But upon considering it, I thought perhaps he was not quite clear in his mind after his illness.”
“The fact is,” concluded the old man, as he narrated in substance the above, “when you come to yourself, people who are not converted think you are out of your mind!”
He then spoke further of the Lord and his joy in Him, adding that, although his eyesight was failing, he carried a lot of Scripture in his heart, and fed on that, when he did not get anything fresh. “But,” said he (for we had reminded him of several precious truths in the course of our visit), “you have given me some fresh meat to feed upon.”
The Word of God ever abides true: “The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Cor. 2:1414But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14)). Whether minister or layman, high or low, rich or poor, there is no way of salvation for any but through faith in Christ, and His precious blood. It is not a question today of the righteousness of man, but of the righteousness of God. He is not now demanding from man a legal obedience to the ten commandments, but pardoning and justifying in righteousness all who have failed to keep them, but who trust in Christ’s finished work. All who take the ground of the law are necessarily under the curse attached to disobedience, for where is there a sinner who keeps it? As our old friend said to his visitor, “If you do, you are the first one that ever did.”
No, dear reader, commandment-keeping, though right in its place, as that in which the Christian, justified by faith, delights in by the Spirit, never was a title to heaven, and never will be. God’s Word is plain. Salvation is “not of works” (Eph. 2:99Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:9)); “not by works of righteousness which we have done” (Titus 3:55Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (Titus 3:5)); “not according to our works” (2 Tim. 1:99Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, (2 Timothy 1:9)). If it were so, why did Jesus die? “Now Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth” (Rom. 10:44For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. (Romans 10:4)). Blessed be God, what man could not do He has done. God sent His Son. He magnified the law, and made it honorable. And He laid down His holy, sinless life, for all. God is glorified in Him, and on the ground of His death and blood-shedding, is ready this moment to pardon and justify every one that believeth.
The great question for you, reader, as for all, is, Have you judged yourself before Him? And have you believed on His Son? The moment you trust in Him from the heart, His precious blood will cleanse you whiter than snow. Then the Spirit will shed God’s love abroad in your heart, and henceforth it will be your delight, not to break the least of God’s commandments, but in His power to walk in them. Have you believed? Could you say in the hour of weakness; and with death right before you, like our old friend, that all was settled long ago, and that you know you would be with the Lord forever if you were taken from this world?
E. H. C.