Cholera had broken out in the Crimea. Mr. G., chaplain of the Army Works Corps, was taken ill with it. Our missionary (Duncan Matheson) went to him and watched him till he died. Through the long weary hours of his last night, Mr. M. sat by his bedside, ministering to hint. As it drew towards dawn, the faithful chaplain, breathing out faith and hope, peacefully fell asleep in Jesus. On the “Scripture-reader” devolved the last offices of friendship, and keen were his feelings in transmitting the sad tidings to the widow and children far away. Just as the sun was setting, they buried him in a quiet spot, and Matheson addressed those present with more than ordinary impressiveness and power. He felt as if the disease had fastened on himself, and he spoke with the light of a near eternity in his soul.
Utterly prostrate, he reeled home to the old stable, and crept into his comfortless bed, where he lay sick, helpless, and alone for three days and three nights. Growing worse hour by hour, he was at length no longer able to rise for his only comfort—a drink of water; and despairing of life, he turned his face to the wall to die. This the hour of his extremity was God’s opportunity. The Lord sent to him, one who had formerly been a London City missionary. Coming to the door, he discovered the forlorn condition of the Scripture-reader, ran to his relief, and never left him, till he began to recover. “It was the sound of Mr. M’s voice singing Psalms”, said our missionary, “that first brought me to myself, and from that moment I began to get better.”
So it is God graciously cares for His own.
“The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”
When little Samuel woke,
And heard his Master’s voice,
At every word he spoke,
How much did he rejoice!
Oh, blessed, happy child to find
The God of heaven so near and kind.
If God would speak to me,
And say He is my friend,
How happy I should be!
Oh, how I would attend!
The smallest sin I then should fear,
If God Almighty were so near.
And does He never speak?
Oh yes! for in His Word
He bids me come and seek
The God that Samuel heard:
In almost every page I see
The God of Samuel calls to me.
Like Samuel, let me say,
Whene’er I read Thy Word,
“Speak, Lord, I would obey
The voice that I have heard.”
And when before Thee I appear,
“Speak, for Thy servant waits to hear.”
ML 06/19/1904