ON the south-east coast of England stands a favorite watering-place, with its magnificent harbor and splendid fleet of fishing vessels, its grand old chalky cliffs presenting a charming appearance as the harbor is entered from the sea.
Now it was in this fine old town there lived the subject of my brief narrative.
It was on one of my visits to this place, many years ago, I made the acquaintance of a somewhat remarkable character, who at that time had not long passed the prime of life.
I found him in one of the back streets of the town, sitting in a small shed which he used as a workshop, for by trade he was a cobbler.
Many a time have I wended my way to that little shop, and conversed with him upon subjects that deeply interested us both, while he, sitting upon a stool, was mending a pair of boots.
It was a great pleasure to see his face beam with delight as he spoke of the great things the Lord had done for him, and how He had had compassion on him.
One day when I dropped in I found him pondering over the twenty-ninth chapter of Isaiah. After speaking together as to its general meaning, he drew particular attention to the eighth verse: “It shall even be as when an hungry man dreameth, and behold, he eateth; but he awaketh, and his soul is empty: or as when a thirsty man dreameth, and, behold, he drinketh; but he awaketh, and, behold, he is faint, and his soul hath appetite.” He seemed much struck with this passage as being applicable to so many in the present day. They live; they dream; they awake, their soul is not satisfied. They thirst; they dream they drink; they awake, they thirst again. Thus it is with those who seek satisfaction in the pursuits and pleasures of this present age, and who have not made the eternal God their refuge: with them it is a dream. But, alas I how many will have a fearful awakening when they awake to shame and everlasting contempt (Dan. 12:22And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. (Daniel 12:2)).
Little by little I learned from him some of his past history, together with the story of his conversion, which I will now give you, trusting that it may not only prove interesting, but be of real blessing to some whose eyes may fall upon these pages.
In his earlier years Dick (for that was the name by which he was generally known) went to sea, and during the years he was a sailor he lived a reckless life, having no fear of God before his eyes. He went from bad to worse till he ultimately became a confirmed infidel.
Was he happy, think you, dear reader, while he thus sought to persuade himself that there was no God? Far from it; for at times, in hours of solitude, be found it difficult to stifle conscience, that inward monitor which God, in mercy to His creature man, has placed within every breast.
Sometimes as he lay in his bunk at night, thoughts of God, the God whose existence he denied, eternity, that eternity he refused to believe in, would trouble him. What do you think he did on such occasions? He had recourse to the infidel writings of Tom Paine and Voltaire, which he kept under his pillow at night that he might read them by the light of his oil-lamp in order to dispel thoughts of eternity, and bolster himself up in the belief that there is no God and no hell.
After some years Dick gave up his sea-faring life, and took up the occupation in which I found him engaged. It was during this period that the Lord began His gracious work in his soul, by causing him to feel the unsatisfying character of all things here, and created in his heart a craving for an undefined something he was conscious he did not possess.
Is this your experience, dear reader? Have you grown weary of the pursuits and pleasures of earth? Do you sigh for something less transient, something more satisfying, something more stable, which you have long proved this world cannot supply? If so, depend upon it God is speaking to you; hearken to His voice, turn not away.
It was on one of those lovely starry nights when the full moon shone in all its silvery splendor, that Dick took a stroll on the pier, restless and dissatisfied, without God and without Christ in this world. Looking at the full moon he prayed to it thus— “O moon, be thou my witness that there is something here (placing his hand upon his breast) that I want, which I have not got.” Poor fellow, he had no knowledge of God, nothing within but an aching void which became more and more intolerable as day after day passed by.
How suitable at this time would have been those blessed words of Jesus to the poor woman at Samaria’s well: “Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him, shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:13, 1413Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. (John 4:13‑14)). But these words he knew not.
How many there are in this poor world today who are wearily treading this barren waste, tired and dissatisfied with everything here, yet knowing not where to turn for comfort and rest. Is it so with you?
Now it came to pass about this time that a dear servant of the Lord obtained a hall in this town in which to preach the gospel. Many crowded to hear the preacher, and among others, who should creep into the hall one night but Dick. Ashamed to be seen there, and fearing lest he should be noticed, he took a seat at the back.
The word was with power and demonstration of the Spirit, carrying conviction to the conscience of poor Dick. Thinking that someone must have spoken to the preacher about him, he became angry and left the hall, vowing he would never enter it again. But before a fortnight had passed he was again found there, a listener to the precious words of life and peace. This time with conscience more deeply ploughed and heart reached, in brokenness of spirit he received the word as a little child, and confessed the Saviour he had so long denied.
Reader, have you thus received and confessed Him? Years have passed away, and Dick too has passed away from this scene of toil and sorrow into the joy of his Lord.
These facts which I heard from his own lips are indelibly engravers upon my memory, and I trust that their simple recital may be blessed of God to some precious soul into whose hand these lines may fall.
It is stated of Grimaldi, the once noted clown, that he said to a friend on one occasion, “Little do the people who listen to me night after night know that while I appear to be so happy, and keep my audience in roars of laughter, behind all this apparent happiness there is in my breast an aching heart.”
Be assured of this, dear reader, there is none but Jesus can give you true happiness, and certainly none but He can save your precious soul. For it is written, “There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:1212Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)). Listen to His invitation: “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matt. 11:28-3028Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28‑30)).
“O turn from this sad empty world away,
Its smiles deceive, its joys last but a day;
Its friendship passes with the passing hour,
True happiness is not within its power.
Why seek its favor, or its worthless gain?
All it can give is labor, sorrow, pain;
But Jesus life eternal doth bestow,
Come, then, to Him with all your grief and woe.”
E. M.