"Truly His ways are wonderful," said a friend, who had just heard the following story.
"God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform.”
A brief visit to loved ones came to a close, and, on driving to the station, we noticed our little girl of four summers holding a little book in her hand, which was found to be a text book, taken from grandma's table. Its owner, however, would not take it back.
"Let her keep it," she said; "it's only a text book.”
On arriving at home the text book was put away in a drawer, and forgotten; but it had a mission to fulfill quite unknown to us. Many months after, as I was packing some little books to take away to my next scene of labor, the text book turned up, and was put in with the rest, almost without a thought. The little book traveled upwards of a hundred miles, and was destined to have a history all its own.
Our work began on a bright autumn morning. On the second Sunday evening a woman came in quite careless. During the service she was convinced of sin, and went to her home miserable. The night was spent, not in quiet rest, but in deep heart-searching and sorrow. Monday night found her at the service again, and at the close she remained to tell her sad tale, and to ask the way of life. John 14:66Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6) was turned to, and we read, "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me." She left, still without life.
That night we had a prayer meeting in the house of my host, and the burden of our prayer was.
"Lord, save this woman.”
Tuesday night found her at the meeting again. She listened most eagerly to the Gospel message, and again remained, and cried, "What must I do to be saved?" The answer given was the Apostolic one, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31). In reply she said, "It's no use; I cannot believe. I am lost, I am lost!”
I repeated the lines,—
“Believe it, O sinner, believe it,
Receive the glad message, 'tis true;
Trust now in the crucified Savior,
Salvation He offers to you.”
Yet she left apparently without hope. Prayer was made for her continually. The next day I determined to find out where she lived, and before setting out I searched for some suitable book to give her, when my eye caught the title, "Text Book," and straightway it was put into my pocket. With little difficulty I found the anxious inquirer, when again I sought to bring her to the Savior's feet. On leaving, I asked her to accept a little text book, "The Redeemer's Counsel." My prayer all the afternoon was, "Lord, use the little book for Thy glory.”
That night she was at the service, but it was needless to ask if the burden was gone.
"O," said she, "that text book was a Godsend! It pointed me at once to Jesus. 'The Redeemer's Counsel' to me was, "'Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.' I came to Him, and He at once gave me rest.”
"Come unto Me, ye weary,
And I will give you rest,”
O, blessed voice of Jesus,
Which comes to hearts oppressed!
It tells of benediction,
Of pardon, grace and peace,
Of joy that hath no ending,
Of love that cannot cease.
It gave us great joy to see her simple trustfulness from that day. A short time after, a letter came expressing thanks for the text book, and enclosing $1.00, requesting me to buy five other text books to give away to others who might be passing through similar soul trouble.
As I thought upon the case of my poor friend, grandma's words were recalled, "It's only a text book.”
But did it not contain "The Redeemer's Counsel"? God Himself used the little book to the salvation of one soul.
Reader, have you an unused text book? Use it. It may contain some message from God to you.
" 'Come unto Me:' it is the Savior's voice,
The Lord of life, who bids thy heart rejoice.
O weary heart, with heavy cares opprest,
`Come unto Me, and I will give you rest!'
"O dying man, with guilt and sin dismayed,
With conscience wakened, of thy God afraid!
'Twixt hopes and fears, O, end the anxious strife,
`Come unto Me, and I will give you life.'”