ONE evening I felt deeply exercised about speaking to my three boys, —Robert, Alfred and Philip, as my heart was very heavy concerning their soul’s welfare. I told the boys that I thought of them while I was at work during the day in the shop; and when I awakened at night they were still before me. Life being so uncertain, and their path being beset with many dangers which might at any time overtake them, and thus usher them into eternity without having Christ as their Saviour. Before retiring, I as usual, commended them to God, with all our needs, praying very earnestly for them in a special way. I awoke in what seemed to me, to be the middle of the night, and heard someone crying, and calling me. It was Alfred, who said,
“O, I am so afraid!”
“Afraid of what?” I asked.
“I am afraid the Lord might come and I would be left in all my sins. They are so many.”
The boy fairly shook, and after quieting him a little I told him what the Lord Jesus had done for such sinners as he; putting the gospel before him in simple words, and directing him to the Lord. He then asked me to pray with him, after which he was so happy, and he embraced me and kissed me, saying,
“I am happy because I know that my sins are forgiven, and I belong to Him. Before this, I was always afraid of the scripture:
‘The day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.’ 1 Thess. 5:2.
But now if He comes, He will take me to be with Him.”
After a little he said, “I wish Philip and Robert were saved too.” Then he called,
“Philip, are you sleeping? Philip, are you sleeping?” But Philip gave no answer. Then he said to me, “Let us pray for Philip and Robert that they may be saved too.” After we prayed he quietly went to sleep. The next morning, Alfred, (of his own accord) said to Philip,
“Philip, if the Lord had come last night where would you be now?”
“In heaven,” he answered.
When I heard that, I asked. Philip how he could say so, since I had not heard of his conversion before, —although he was once deeply troubled about his sins. He replied, “Is it not written in the Bible that whosoever believes on the Lord is saved, and has eternal life?”
“Yes,” I said, “that is Bible truth, but do you believe on Him, and have you accepted Him as your Saviour?”
“Yes,” he answered frankly and honestly. Then from my heart I said,
“I am so glad!”
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” John 5:24.
“Whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:15.
ML 02/06/1927