[The following letter was written during the time of the great awakening in Ireland, when so many realized the power of God unto their salvation through the Gospel. The writer is now with the Lord. The letter itself finds a place in our pages, not only because it is indeed an “Echo of Mercy,” — mercy, yea God’s rich mercy to the writer, a mercy, too, which all need, which all may experience, but also because we purpose inserting in an early number, if the Lord will, an interesting sequel, in the account of the conversion of another through reading it. — ED.]
DEAR FRIEND, — I want to tell you that I have at last found what I have long been looking for — Peace with God; and as this is a possession above all price, and as I long that others may enjoy it, I write to put before you this solemn question —
Have you Peace with God?
True peace of mind depends on whether you have or have not settled with God the great question about your soul’s salvation.
For many years I thought to settle it by leading a better life than, some of my friends; and, by considerable exertion, I contrived to avoid some of the grosser sins which I saw others fall into. I went even further, for I attended church regularly, making a point of going to evening service, teaching at the Sunday-school, taking the sacrament, &c. When I had an opportunity, I read the Bible to sick people, generally feeling a little better afterward, and on sundry occasions I spoke very seriously to men who I thought were really going to perdition.
Although I could not quite agree with Mr. T —, who had given up the world, and although I might go to some parties which he might not quite approve of, still I thought it would be very unreasonable if, after all my good deeds, I was to be damned in the end. In fact, I thought it was impossible that God could treat me so badly, when I saw so many others so much worse than myself; and yet the Word of God told me that “all my righteousnesses are as filthy rags,” and that “he that keepeth the whole law, and yet offendeth in one point, is guilty of all.”
I did not like this, and could not quite understand it; but, fortunately, it broke my peace of mind, and I was not at rest, for I saw that some people had got hold of something better than I had.
About a year and a half ago I met a dear friend who showed me that in God’s sight I was undoubtedly “guilty of all.” He showed me, further, that I was a sinner; and, whether I was a great sinner or a little sinner, it mattered not, for (as he said) the punishment of sin was death, and thus eternal death was hanging over me. But he showed me, also, that Christ’s death was sufficient, in God’s sight, to atone for all my sin; and that if I only relied on this I should be saved; independently of my own wretched good works, which could not even help to save me. All this was a sad blow to my castle of good deeds, in which I had so long been fortifying myself.
Satan, however, told me that I must first give up many things which I might think were wrong. I found that I could not give them up. Satan then told me I could not be saved. Alas! I wanted pardon and life. Then I thought I would come to Christ just as I was, trusting Him to save me from eternal perdition in the first place, and leaving the future entirely in His hands.
At once, He took me as I was; and, I may here add, has ever since nourished and cherished me as a member of His body.
For a long time I wanted to feel something, but I found I had nothing to do but to believe on His death as sufficient for all my sins, and to rely on His word; and, the moment I did so, I found in the Word of God that I had everlasting life, and, consequently, could never perish, for I stood “justified from all things” (Acts 13:3939And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:39)). This relieved me of my load; my life was at once changed from one of servitude to one of gratitude, and, being “justified by faith,” I now had “peace with God,” through my Lord Jesus Christ.
In fact, until then, I was religiously and respectably going to hell.
Can it be possible that you are in the same condition at this moment?
You stand now either amongst the saved or the unsaved. The difference is distinct as the sky-line of an eastern horizon. Your unsettled account of sin is the real bar to your peace of mind. I tell you that the smallest sin you ever committed involves the punishment of eternal perdition, for the holy God cannot admit one with the least spot of sin into His presence. But Christ’s death is, in God’s sight, a sufficient punishment for these very sins. Can you take it as such? If you can only rely on Christ now, — that is, on His death, as satisfying all God’s claims against you, — even as you read this, without waiting to be sorry for your sins, or until you are better, Christ’s death will be set down to your account. He will give you at once a life that is everlasting, and then you can never perish, for you are passed from death unto life. He says so in John 10:28,28And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (John 10:28) and verse 24.
The Lord had laid upon Him all my iniquities. He went with them all, as my Surety, into the prison-house of death. I might be in doubt as to whether He paid enough for all my sins, if He were still in the tomb; but the prison-doors are opened, and He is risen, and has gone to appear in the presence of God for me. God is satisfied; the uttermost farthing is paid. I dare not doubt it, for God says it; and there is now no longer any condemnation against me, a poor sinner, for “he that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.” If God is satisfied by the death of His own Son, with regard to sin, you are doubting His word, and putting dishonor upon Christ, so long as you remain unsatisfied.
And now, dear friend, I pray God to dispose your heart to think seriously of these things, and may He allow you no peace until you find peace in resting your soul on Jesus as your Saviour. — Yours faithfully, T. W. T.