A WORKING miner was once travelling by rail between Blackburn and Manchester, when a gentleman who had the appearance of a Romish priest entered the compartment in which he was sitting. Now, this miner was one of those who had found salvation through Christ, and who knew experimentally what it meant to have his many sins forgiven: therefore wherever he went his desire was that others should know his Saviour and taste the joys of redeeming grace.
The train steamed out of the busy station, and as they were alone, and the miner desired to converse with his fellow-passenger about God’s boundless love, he respectfully offered him a booklet entitled, “The Leper Cleansed,” which was graciously received. After a careful perusal of its contents, the gentleman looked up and said—
“A very good tract this.”
“Yes, sir: it bears the name of Christ, and testifies to the virtue of His precious blood.”
“Perfectly true.”
“Yes, it is very important to know that man is lost: and the only way to God is through the redemptive work of Christ Jesus, for His blood, which cleanseth from all sin, can and does fit the guilty sinner for God’s presence: and apart from that, none can enter heaven.”
“How many belong to your faith?”
“I don’t know the number.”
“Indeed!”
“You must know, friend, that God’s Word states that there is ‘One Lord, one faith, one baptism,’ and ‘By grace are ye saved through faith’: and that the Lord Jesus once said, ‘I am the Door,’ and, again, ‘Ye must be born again.’ And mark, friend, these are the words of the Son of God, the Son of Man, the Alpha and Omega. Remember also that all other ways to God are spurious, even though they be religious and refined.”
“And what do you think of the Pope of Rome?”
“The Pope of Rome is but a failing man as you and I. He was born into this world a sinner as were all Adam’s posterity.”
The Romanist appeared not to like this candid reply, and for some moments sat in silence, which was broken by the miner continuing:
“My friend, let us make much of Christ, for God has given Him a name above every name, and crowned Him with glory and honor at His own right hand.”
“That is quite true, but do you not think that Pope Leo XIII. is the head of the Church?”
“Oh, no, for we read in Col. 1 That Christ is the Head of the Church, and that being true, it is evident that the Pope of Rome is not. If Pope Leo has been born again, and cleansed from his sins by the all-availing blood of Christ, he, in common with every believer, is a member both of the Church and of the body of Christ: for in 1 Cor. 12:13 we read these words: ‘For by one spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles.’ Neither your finger nor your thumb is your head: they are but members of your body. Moreover, the Apostle Paul, to whom was revealed the mystery of the Church, was but a member of that body.”
The train then slackened speed, and drew up to the platform, and the Romanist, bidding the miner “Good day,” alighted.
Oh, sinner, whatever man may presume to teach, the truth of God remains: “There is one God, and one Mediator, between God and man,” not the Pope, not the priest, not the clergy, but “the Man Christ Jesus.” There is a sure way to heaven, the new and living way, which is Christ, and Him crucified.
Therefore listen to the gracious words of the sinner’s Saviour, “I am the Door: by Me if any man enter in he shall be saved” (John 10:9). “I am the way. and the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me” (John 14:6).
“There is alone one way of peace,
One way alone to heaven,
Alone one way by which the vile
Can be received, forgiven.
That way is Christ, the Christ of God,
Who died on Calvary’s tree,
To save the guilty and undone,
And set the prisoner free.”
A. G.