A SERVANT of God was a short time ago brought into H— Infirmary for the benefit of surgical advice. It was a time of much trial both to himself and his wife, who, having formerly been a hospital nurse, now resumed her duties that she might be with her husband.
The Lord had loving purposes, however, in bringing them there, and they were soon able to bless Him fox it all.
The day before they came into the Infirmary a poor Negro sailor was admitted, suffering from acute lung disease. He had formerly been a slave in South Carolina, but was liberated at the conclusion of the war between the Northern and Southern States of America. He was taken ill at sea during a voyage to the Baltic, and was put ashore at H—, and received into the Infirmary. Mr.— often heard him coughing during the long, silent hours of night, in the adjoining ward, and inquired who it was that seemed so restless. Being told it was a poor negro who was once in slavery, he expressed a great desire to see him; so, when Paul (that was his name) was well enough, the nurse let him get up for an hour every morning, and brought him to her husband’s bedside. Mr.— spoke to him about the love of God in giving His Son to die for poor sinners, but his soul was then in utter darkness. In prayer he was commended to God, who alone could enlighten and give power to the word spoken.
Paul could scarcely read at all; but Mr.— made him commit to memory some verses of scripture, especially the 16th verse of John’s third chapter: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Paul was very punctual in coming to see his friend, who was confined to bed with an injured limb, and listened with great attention to the good news of the salvation of God.
About this time a man died in the bed opposite to Paul’s. The dying man said, aloud, his sins were all forgiven. The nurse, sitting by his bedside before he died, read to him out of John’s third chapter, beginning at verse 14— “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life,” not knowing that those were the very verses that her husband had been teaching the poor negro. She observed his large eyes fixed upon her, but he did not say a word, and then left the ward.
The next day she supposed Paul was not so well, as he wished to stay in bed that morning but about two o’clock an assistant-nurse ran to her, and said, “Come to Paul he is mad.”
She hastened to his bedside, and found him sitting up in bed, and surrounded by patients and assistants. His hands were clasped, and his eyes uplifted, the tears streaming down his cheeks, while beads of clear water stood upon his black, woolly head.
He was calling out, “Any time now, God! My sins are all forgiven! I die any time now!”
“Dear fellow,” said the nurse to herself; “it is enough to make him shout,” It seems that when he knew his sins were forgiven him, he took a mug of water that stood beside him, and threw it over his head, saying, “Lord, baptize me, and take me home!” It was not long before the Lord answered that prayer.
The nurse, seeing he was much excited, bid him lie down and rest, while she went and told the good news to her husband—and together they thanked the Lord, After this, Paul related the incidents of his conversion to his sick friend, and wished him to write to his mother in America, and to tell her of his newfound joy, saying, “If I get home, I will read that third chapter of John to them.”
Paul soon got well enough to leave the Infirmary, and went to work with a kind master for a fortnight.
When asked one day if he enjoyed the Lord’s presence, he said, “No; me enjoy de Lord— not His presence, but Himself.”
It was not long, however, before he re-entered the Infirmary—worse as to his poor body, but very happy in the Lord. His bright testimony there will not soon be forgotten. It was his joy to speak of the One who had redeemed him, and the Testament given to him was studied with assiduous attention.
Mr. and Mrs.— now left the hospital,
though the latter continued to visit him up to the time of his death, which was not far distant, One day, on visiting him, she said, “Well, Paul, how are you today?” He replied, “I’m pretty bad, Mum, but my trust is in Christ. I leave it all to Him.”
Another time it was said, “Paul, there will be no black men in glory.” “No, Mum,” he said; “I’m washed white in the blood of the Lamb.” When asked if he wanted anything, he answered, “If anything, it is more faith.” He often spoke of his God and his Jesus. His great desire was that his poor mother might know the love that had sought and found him.
The day that he died he sent for Mrs.—, and asked her to send nine shillings—all he had—to his mother in South Carolina, and to tell her to read the third chapter of John, and that he was going home to be with Jesus. He continued, though suffering much, rejoicing in the Lord. Ten minutes before he died he said, “Christ is precious,” and then passed quietly away to be forever with Him—absent from the body, present with the Lord—having been, through simple faith in Jesus, “made meet to be a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light.”
Dear reader, can you, like this poor Negro, say, My sins are all forgiven? Have you believed God’s message of love? for we are told (Rom, 5:8) “God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Those who know the Lord will recognize in this true story the personal love of the Lord Jesus. “He calleth his own sheep by name and leadeth them out.” Then He reveals Himself: “I know my sheep, and am known of mine” (John 10:3-143To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 5And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. 6This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. 7Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 11I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 12But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 13The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 14I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. (John 10:3‑14).)
H.