L―B —, a young girl working in a manufactory, became very anxious about her soul. Each time that she attended the Gospel preaching, her misery increased, and more than once she wept bitterly, as she listened to the solemn warnings of judgment on the impenitent, mingled with the invitations of God’s rich grace.
Her companions in work wondered what was the matter with her. Content with the form of godliness, and without the sense of their lost condition before God, they could not understand L—'s unhappy face and constant tears.
“What ails you?” says one. “What do you cry so for?”
“I’m afraid I shan’t go to heaven,” answered poor troubled L —.
“Not go to heaven! Why, they will let you pass the door of heaven like the rest.”
Poor girls! they sought in their ignorance to comfort their young workmate; but all was in vain. Blinded by Satan, they had no idea of their need of the true and only title to enter the glory of God,—the precious blood of Christ. Like thousands more, they hoped to go to heaven on the ground of religious form, and, as they judged, a comparatively harmless life. But this was poor consolation for the troubled one. No really anxious soul’s fears were ever allayed by such like vanity. L — B — had heard the Gospel too often to be so easily deceived. She had no hope of entering heaven’s gate thus, and her heavy heart and tearful face continued to tell of her deep unrest of soul.
One day, however, after the Gospel had been announced, the preacher had a conversation with her. The moment of deliverance was at hand. The Word of God did its work. The old, old story of His boundless love reached the heart. A living Saviour and His precious blood was what she wanted, and that was the blessed news announced to her. She left the room, and went home, crying bitterly.
A day or two later, two Christians met her in the street of the little town. It was scarcely necessary to ask her of her state. Her countenance, bright with joy, spoke for itself, and told of the peace within that had succeeded days and nights of soul trouble. The lips at once confessed Christ, and the knowledge of God’s grace, and the value of the precious blood, as that which had cleansed her from her sin.
But Satan, loth to lose his prey, made one more effort to rob her of her joy. As evening came on, he assailed the young believer, and doubts and fears filled her soul. An almost sleepless night was spent in Doubting Castle, and between five and six in the morning she rose to find out the preacher, and to seek comfort in her fresh trouble. A few plain Scriptures, and a little explanation of the value of the finished work and precious blood of Christ, soon dispelled the mists, and the young soul was happy and free. Her bright face, &c. told to all around, and to the surprise of her workmates, who could not understand it, the reality of the work of God in her soul.
Dear reader, how do you expect to enter heaven? Are you vainly thinking that you will be let pass like the rest? Be assured your hope is utterly vain. The door will be shut close and fast against you. The form of godliness and a harmless life are no title there. The only passport to the eternal glory of God is the precious blood of Christ. “Without shedding of blood there is no remission,” and no entrance there (Heb. 9:22). Your righteousness is nothing worth. It is Christ you need. “Whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins” (Acts 10:43). “The blood of Jesus Christ his (God’s) Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). Will you trust the blood?
E. H. C.