A SHORT time ago the writer was visiting the residence of an elderly lady on business.
He was invited into an upper room, where he found her busily engaged in reading a newspaper; and, as his business was of such a character as not to interrupt, she continued her reading.
When his work was finished, the thought suddenly occurred to him, “If my Lord and Master were here, He would not leave this room without first setting forth the way of eternal life." As he stood considering in what way he should open a conversation, he caught sight of a very large Bible.
Going up to it, and turning over its leaves, he said to the lady, “You have here a very old and valuable book.”
She very politely answered, “Yes, that book has been in our family many years.”
“Indeed! then I should judge you understand something of its contents?”
“I ought so to do," she replied.
He then remarked, “I have on my mind a very serious question, and how glad I should be if you could answer it.”
“Oh, tell me what it is! I will try to answer it to the best of my ability.”
“Some time ago I was exercised with the solemn thought of appearing before God.
Now, were I to die before evening, can you tell me in what way I could stand before God justified and saved?”
Having paused a few seconds, she replied, “I know of no other way than to keep the Ten Commandments.”
“Ah! but stop, "she said," does not that mean the ceremonial law?”
“Well, I don't think so; but if it does, I am afraid to say that either moral or ceremonial law is the ground of a sinner's justification before God.”
“I am afraid you are wrong," she said.
He replied, “I remember reading in the Bible, ' Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth ' (Rom. 10:44For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. (Romans 10:4)). ROM 10:44For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. (Romans 10:4) Now, can you tell me for what purpose the Son of God came into this world?”
“He came to die for sinners; and, if you believe on Him, and keep the Commandments,
I believe you will be right.”
He then said, “I stand here inquiring as to the way of eternal life, but are you not directing me wrong? First, you tell me to keep the Ten Commandments. Secondly, you tell me to believe in Jesus, and keep the Commandments; but here God says that if I believe in Jesus, I am justified from all things, from which I could not be justified by the law of Moses. Whose words shall I believe, yours or God's?”
She answered timidly, “Believe God's words,”
“Oh," said he," I will believe God's words; they are words of life. I am saved through believing them, and shall go to heaven: God says so. How cheering How comforting! Oh, the love of God! Would not you be happy if you knew you were now pardoned and saved?”
She answered anxiously, "Yes, I should.”
He continued, "Oh, take the place of a sinner before God at once. Believe on Jesus, and thou shalt be saved, for God says so. But, remember, it must be JESUS ONLY.”
Before they parted, she informed the writer that she was about eighty years of age, that she had attended preaching for many years, and had had the word of God, the Bible, in her possession or within her reach from childhood. Yet, with all these advantages, she was like too many in circumstances equally favorable, ignorant of the truth that “a man is not justified by the works of the law," nor by works and Christ, but that, if saved at all, the sinner must be saved by JESUS ONLY.
It need scarcely be said the writer was thankful for the interview. It was a season not easily to be forgotten. “The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God," cut down every prop, removed every difficulty, settled every question, and pointed this unestablished soul to JESUS ONLY
H.