DOUBTLESS many persons today consider the age of miracles has passed. Some even go the awful length of questioning the miracles recorded in the Scripture. Well, they do not give evidence of grace in their hearts. They appear strangers and foreigners to that happiness known only to the children of God. So we tremble for their state in that dread day when the thoughts of all hearts shall be revealed.
I now wish to direct attention to one or two remarkable providences of modern days. The reader may recollect “Pleasant Memories” in the Gospel Echo for September, 5903. The speaker on that occasion, Mr. W. H. Knowles, told me that on the eve of his departure for the then young colony of Australia, an introduction was given him to Mr. Westmacott, one of the principals of the shipping company. He journeyed from Burton-on-Trent to London, intending to see him and the Exhibition on the next day. This gentleman showed him over the vessel, told him the outfit required, adding, “You must need some refreshment, Mr. K.; come with me.” When nearly finished, he said, “You must excuse me, Mr. W., I can’t account for it; a strong impression has taken possession of me, that I must return home tonight.” Mr. W. said, “Oh, don’t think of it, come round to my house.” He went, and was there shown many objects of interest from the colonies. The conversation turned on the exhibition of the morrow, and the financial benefits likely to accrue to his visit there. He saw that Mr. W. was diverting him from his intention to return; so he said, “You really must forgive me, Mr. W., I must say goodbye.” Next morning inquiring friends at home asked had he seen the exhibition; why had he returned so soon. He could not explain. The enigma had a terrible solution. That night the train by which he should have returned was wrecked. Many were killed, including a local minister. So we may be assured the unseen protecting arm of providence was over him. Man is immortal till his work is done.
Before sailing from the land of his birth, an opportunity occurred to hear a noted preacher, John Angell James. During the walk home of nearly two miles, his partner scarcely spoke. He said, “You are quiet tonight, dear.” She replied, “Yes. Was it not a solemn sermon? I have been praying that if the child I am expecting should be a boy, that he may be a minister.” The prayer was answered. Mr. Knowles left three sons in Australia, the eldest one being a minister. On January 6th, 1905, this parent received the home call to join his partner, who, like Hannah, sought blessings on her unborn son.
Another instance is remarkable. I met on Barnham platform a christian gentleman, Mr. Thomas Gatehouse, of Broadbridge Mills (now entered into his rest). He mentioned that, being in Portsmouth on business, he said to his daughter with him, “Would you like to hear Mr. Martin, of Circus Church, this evening?” She assented. He was very struck with the sermon from these words: “Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” Returning home, his wife, who was then perfectly well, ventured to expostulate on his delay. He stated where he had been, and the impression given, that something was going to happen. She said, “Nonsense, Thomas you are always getting some crochet into your head.” In a week that wife was a corpse. We would add; “be ye also ready; for ye know not when the Son of man cometh.”
I will now give a personal incident. On one occasion, when a loved parent lay ill, related by the double ties of nature and grace, with a depressed heart, after importunate prayer for recovery, I retired to rest. At four o’clock next morning, a voice spoke in my ear, “The prayer of faith shall save the sick.” It awakened me. With a lightened heart, I anticipated the recovery which was graciously given.
I could give other evidences equally striking from my own life’s history, but for the present forbear.
Now, readers, allow me to ask if you are a friend of Jesus? Do life’s experiences dovetail in with the poet’s words;
“We two are so joined
He’ll not be in glory, and leave me behind.”
If not, how will you stand before the dread tribunal? What support do you expect in the hour of death? Of the righteous it is written “Precious in the sight of the Lord, is the death of His Saints.” But what will be your stay? The life of God in the soul must be begun here, or there will be no heaven hereafter.
You can easily tell to which company you belong. Do you LOVE His WORD. Seek to be much in prayer to Him, every day, nay, every hour; to sing His praise, to assemble with those in His house, who confess that—
“They seek a city out of sight,
Zion its name, the Lord is there;
He reigns in everlasting light.”
Do you seek by loving words to lead others to Him? Or do you love the theater, racecourse, and inn, the company of those who mock His HOLY WORD? If so, you have no need to be uncertain which sentence will be yours. A friend recently said he believed that all in their last moments knew where they were going. Of this I cannot say; but I will point to one instance amongst my own friends. When dying, after sight and speech had failed, he was asked if he felt Jesus to be still precious, to lift up his arm if able. Up it went, and fell back, while he passed on to join the host triumphant. May the God of Heaven, grant you like mercy, dear reader.
I may mention one other miracle of grace. A girl of thirteen amongst my own people suffering from a malignant disease, bleeding to death, lay with the sweetest composure looking forward to and longing to enter the realms of the blest, singing from an old favorite hymn book:
“There is a house not made with hands,
Eternal and on high;
And here my spirit waits and stands,
Till God shall bid it fly.”
Who could give this heavenly calm, this enviable serenity in the face of death, when just about to bid adieu to loved ones? Who can give this dying tranquility? None but JESUS. And she shall help to swell that magnificent chorus from thousand times ten thousand tongues:
“Crown Him, crown Him Lord of all.”
I will close with an instance of preserving mercy. Some two years since, myself and mother, feeling very unwell one Sunday morn, took in mistake for salts a deadly poison; the crystals were exactly similar. Violent retching set in, with deadly pallor. No help of man saved us, for not till two days had elapsed did we discover what we had taken. Then, to annul after symptoms, I consulted our doctor. He said we had each taken more than twice enough to kill us, and death usually resulted in a few minutes. Therefore in deep emphasis we add;
“Plagues and deaths around us fly;
Till HE bids, we cannot die.”
AUGUSTUS E. PARSONS.