TWO little girls, named Alice and Laura, about ten and twelve years old, went one day to bathe in the river bed, about half a mile from their father’s house. This they had often done before, as there were pools of water, in which it was quite safe for children to bathe. So they went first to one pool, and then thought they would go to another. Laura stayed behind a little while. saying she would follow her sister; but Laura did not come; and Alice called her, but there was no answer. At last she saw her little sister struggling in some deep water; for Laura, instead of walking round the edge, had tried to go straight through a pool of water that lay between her and her sister. Poor little Laura! She had sunk twice, and was now becoming so weak, that she must soon have died had not Alice, who was much taller than herself, been able to come and drag her safe to the bank. But she had then become quite unconscious; and Alice had to rub her to make her warm, and hold her up as well as she could to let the water run out from her mouth. After a time she had the joy of seeing Laura open her eyes; and though looking very ill, she was able to walk home leaning on her sister. Their mother was much distressed at what had happened; and for some time they were not allowed to bathe again. How near to death had little Laura been! And I should like to ask each dear child who reads or hears this little story, If death came suddenly to you, would you be afraid? Would you take your sins with you into the presence of God? or have you by faith seen them all laid on Jesus, when He died on the cross? I knew a little girl, who, when she was asked “Where are your sins?” answered, “In the grave of Jesus.” She had read in the Pilgrim’s Progress, how Christian’s burden fell off his back into the grave of Jesus, and he saw it no more. But even before the Lord Jesus was laid in the grave, when He said on the cross, “It is finished,” the whole burden of sin, which He had borne in those terrible hours of darkness, was gone forever. And He rose from the grave to prove that the sins of all who believe in Him, are forever put away. God says He will remember them no more.
Will you learn Isaiah 53:66All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6)? and if you do not know the Lord Jesus as your Saviour, may the Holy Spirit teach you the meaning of those precious words; but if you do know this for yourself, may you prize your blessed Saviour more and more.
ML 09/03/1899