Who of my readers that has been to Woolwich and walked on the common has not noticed that strange looking round building, like an enormous bell tent, raising its head amidst a nook of trees, just inside some earth works, called the Repository — its own name, the Rotunda, from its circular form? Originally it had been erected in one of the parks of London, to enable the then Prince Regent to entertain the allied Sovereigns in 1814 after the peace then lately made; but subsequently it was transferred to its present situation, to serve as the receptacle for all sorts of military curiosities, models of fortresses, specimens of arms, ammunition, and such like.
Perhaps my reader has on some bank holidays or other recreation time, gone into the Rotunda and looked around, lost in wonder at the multiplicity of things to be inspected, and wondering where to commence, until accosted by the retired non-commissioned officer of the Royal Artillery, whose duty it was, with the assistants’ under him, to care for the contents, and also conduct visitors round the building, explaining this, and answering questions as to that; and if so, I suspect more than details connected with the military trophies and models has reached your ear. The then superintendent was ever seeking for opportunity to speak of that Saviour, whom he knew died for him, and for that Master, whose service is perfect freedom. He was ever on the look out to attract sinners to Christ, telling them of Him and His finished work for such.
Beloved J—D—! your work is over. Your crown is won. Your warfare is accomplished. Thou art gone to be with Him who loved thee and gave Himself for thee, as thou didst well know; and enjoying the truth of it thyself, didst seek to bring others into the same circle of blessing, of which Christ Himself is the magnificent Centre, His Blessed person, His atoning, and God-accepted work.
My reader, let me ask you, should you have ever been spoken to as to your eternal interests by the one above alluded to, how is it as to your soul? Will J —D — rise up in judgment against you, or will you be among those, many, thank God, who will rise up and call him blessed? May J—D — being dead, yet speak.
Well, I had not visited the Rotunda for fifty years; not since my father, resigning his appointment in the garrison, left for a distant part of the country; but almost infantine recollections (I was about seven then) are not easily effaced, and I remembered and asked for many objects which as a child attracted me. May it be so with you as to some word spoken by your father or mother, now in glory, lain dormant in your memory for half-a-century perhaps, be quickened and vivified by the Holy Spirit and bring forth fruit, like as I have seen grains of wheat taken from the Mummy pits in Egypt, when put into the ground in this country, watered of the dew and rain from heaven, shined upon by God’s sun, spring up and bear fruit even after 4000 years of apparent deadness.
But to return. My last visit has left its indelible mark on my memory, as talking over days gone by and persons departed, J—D—was kindly showing the round, and in between his explanations we heard little words about the wondrous ways and love of God in picking up such fellows in His grace. Amongst other things we arrived at a model for saving life from a wreck. One could not but be thankful at a life-saving apparatus amidst so many death dealing weapons. While explaining its working, which at once seemed simple and effective (the model consisting of a wreck on shore, but from the shore to the ship thick ropes had, been made fast, along which was the representation of a large basket, in which was seated a doll, depicting the person coming safely ashore from the breaking-up wreck), J—D — said this very model gave him the opportunity of putting the Gospel to a party he was showing round the place.
He went on to say it consisted of a very stately lady and several young ones with her. She had driven up in her carriage, and having alighted at the door of the Rotunda, was being escorted round the place. On coming to this model, our friend was giving details as to its working and showing off its merits, when the lady threw up her head and turned up her nose and said, “I don’t think anything of that; the people can only be saved one at a time!”
“That is how God saves sinners, lady,” replied J —D—; “and that is how you must be saved; one at a time, lady,” with much respect but firmness.
“What do you mean?” drawing herself up and not a little offended, said the haughty woman; “I don’t understand you.”
J — D — repeated his remark, called forth by the lady’s retort as to thinking nothing of the life saving apparatus, as people could only be saved “One at a time!” and obtained the attention and interest of the whole party, as he sought to show God’s plan of salvation; His love, His gift of Jesus, the sinner’s need and helplessness, and how that salvation is an individual, “One at a time,” personal matter, and in his own meek and quiet manner pressed the truth home, till all, even the proud dame herself, were sobered and softened, and at the end thanked him.
“The day” alone will declare the result as to the hearers; the speaker was clear of their blood; his responsibility ended, theirs commenced. May that bow, drawn at a venture, have been used by God to carry the polished shaft of His truth to both heart and conscience of each individual of that party. Will each and all of them meet their teacher, where he now is, with Christ, the “far better;” or — oh! the terrible alternative, rejecting the truth, be lost forever? If the former, they will then own, if not before, “Yes, J—D —, you WERE right; it WAS one at a time!” My reader, have you owned to this? To the “One at a timeness — the individuality of salvation? Not by parishes, or streets, or in families, but “one at a time,” one by one, individual.
One has only to go to the word of God to see this. Take the jailer at Philippi (Acts 16), what was his cry? “What must I (not we) do to be saved?” and the Apostle’s answer, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and THOU (not you, plural) shalt be saved.” How dear people speak of “our Saviour,” “our Father,” do they not? But the moment they are asked, “Is Jesus your own Saviour? do you know God as your own Father?” how they bristle up, just like the lady in question, and often say, “What is that to you? mind your own business.” Patience, dear friend, it is my own business, the blessed, happy business and privilege of every one who knows, on the warrant of God’s word, that they are saved, to seek to lead souls individually to that more than lifesaving apparatus from temporal shipwreck, to the Christ of God, the Saviour of sinners, but the Saviour individually, “one at a time.”
Will you give up the vague generality of “our” for “MY?” the individual one at a time, “MY?” Don’t think it presumption to do it, dear friend; quite the reverse.
Was it presumption in the chief of sinners to say, “He loved ME, and gave Himself for ME?” “I know Whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He will keep that which I have entrusted to Him?” Was it wrong for Job to utter, “I know that MY Redeemer liveth?”
Presumption in Job and Paul, was it? No, you would not like to say that, but “I am such a sinner.” Are you? thank God, then, you know and own it; but you can’t be more than “chief of sinners,” or say, “I am vile,” with Job, “I am undone,” with Isaiah, “a sinful man,” with Peter; but having said all that, get oil, as He would have you, Who died for you.
I the chief of sinners am, BUT Jesus died for ME! Yes, the individual “I,” “Me” “one at a time,” instead of the unsatisfactory and unsatisfying “OUR.”
Well, dear reader, may God, Who used the blowing of rams’ horns to knock down the walls of Jericho, the crow of a cock to arouse Peter’s conscience, reach your soul, bringing you on your face before Him, and learn He wounds to heal, He kills but to make alive. Then you may know, and that before you lay down this little paper, that while what God offers is a full, a free, an eternal salvation, it is individual, personal, “One at a time” salvation. Then you will rejoice in Him as “God MY Saviour,” and rejoice in “He loved me and gave Himself for me,” And don’t put it off. The wreck of the poor world is fast going to pieces, “Now is the accepted time; today, THE day of salvation.” S. V. H.