I WISH I could relate to you, as it was once told to me, an account of a lady in Scotland, and of the way in which her doubts and anguish of soul were removed. It was during a revival, in which several persons known to this lady had been brought to Christ. Among the rest, a particular friend of hers had been converted.
Feeling some measure of concern herself, she went to a servant of Christ who was laboring in the place, and told him she was unhappy.
He replied that he was glad to hear it.
Astonished at this, and somewhat offended also, she told the minister what efforts she had made to obtain salvation; how she had read and prayed, but still seemed as far from peace as ever.
He told her that it was not by anything she could do, but by what Christ had long since done and finished on the cross, that she was to be saved.
All seemed dark and mysterious to her, and she left; resolving, however, to call on her friend, who had recently been converted. She did so, and asked her what she had done to obtain the peace of which she spoke.
“Done! I have done nothing I It is by what Christ has done that I have found peace with God.”
The lady replied that this was what the minister had just been telling her, but that she could not understand it.
She went home with her distress greatly increased; and, shutting herself up in her room, she fell on her knees, resolving that she would never rise till her soul found rest and peace.
How long her agony continued I could not say; but nature became quite exhausted, and she sank to slumber.
While thus asleep, she dreamed that she was falling over a frightful precipice, but caught hold of a single twig which overhung the abyss beneath. By this she hung, crying aloud for help.
Then a voice from below, which she knew to be the voice of Jesus, bade her let go the twig, and He would receive and save her.
“Lord, save me!" she cried.
But the voice again answered, “Let go the twig.”
She felt as though she dare not leave hold, but continued crying, "Lord, save me!”
At last, the One below, whose voice she heard, but whom she did not see, said, in the most tender, solemn tones, " I cannot save you, unless you let go the twig!”
Self-desperate, she let it go, fell into the arms of Jesus, and the joy of finding herself there awoke her.
The lesson taught her by her dream was not lost upon her. She perceived that Jesus was worthy of all her trust, and that not only did she need no twig of self-dependence, but that it was holding to the twig that kept her away from Christ. She let all go, and found Jesus all-sufficient.
“Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
“Through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins, and by Him all that believe are justified from all things” (Acts 4:12; 13:38, 3912Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)
38Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:38‑39)). ACT 4:12; 13:38-3912Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)
38Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:38‑39)
W. T.