WHILST staying a few days in a little village, I called upon a youth who was paralyzed.
Having expressed my sympathy at seeing him so helpless, and having given him a few tracts, I left; feeling unable to speak to him personally about his soul in the presence of his friends.
The following days were very wet, and the floods rising, the road became almost impassable for foot-passengers.
I now asked the Lord, if it were His will, to cause the rain to cease, the floods to go down, and to let me see J. H. alone, and to give him a message of pardon from Him.
Very soon the sky cleared, the rain clouds passed away, the floods went down, and the morning of the very day on which I was to return home, I had the desired opportunity of again visiting him, and started, hoping that the Lord who had answered part of my prayer, would answer it all.
On arriving at the house, Mrs. H., his stepmother, asked me in at once, saying as she did so, “You will not mind seeing J. alone, will you? His father is gone to London, his sister is out, and I am busy.”
The second answer had been given, and surely the last, a message for his precious soul, would be given, too.
After a few inquiries, I asked him, “Now you are lying here so often alone, and suffering, have you the joy of knowing that all your sins are forgiven?”
He looked sadly at me, and answered, “No; my sins hang over me like a thick, black cloud. I never thought of them when I was strong and well, but now they hang over me like a thick, black cloud.”
Isaiah 44:2222I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee. (Isaiah 44:22), came to my mind: “I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins; return unto Me; for I have redeemed thee.”
I repeated this and many other verses to him, seeking to show that salvation was through the finished work of the Lord Jesus, that He had done all, suffered and died, and that now he had only to receive freely, by faith in Him, the pardon He bought with His blood.
Several months later I was again on a visit in the village, and went to see poor J. I found that he was much worse in body, and obliged now to be upstairs and to lie in a little bed boarded at the sides lest he should fall out, his poor legs and arms being fastened to prevent their drawing up.
Mrs. H. said, as we entered the room, “J., I have brought you a visitor. I wonder if you will know who it is?”
On approaching near enough for him to see my face, he exclaimed, “Oh! yes, I know. It is Miss C.”
I replied, “I did not think you would know me again, J., not having seen me for so long.”
“Know you?” he answered, “I shall always know you;” and J.’s poor pale face looked so bright that I felt sure he knew and believed the love that God had to him.
“Have you found peace, J.?” I asked. “Oh! yes,” he answered, “a long time ago; and I am so happy now.”
I stayed some time, and then left, bidding him good-bye until we meet again, when caught up together at our Lord’s return.
The neighbors said it was a privilege to be with him; he was so happy, rejoicing in his Saviour’s love, and I heard that he told his father that my visit was the means of leading him to Jesus; so all the prayer was answered.
ML 12/13/1903