FEW are converted when advanced in life, and it is dangerous indeed to delay in the matter of the soul's, salvation, for who can tell when the summons may come? However, this little narrative may be a word of encouragement to some of the aged, showing that none are too old to come to Christ.
Charlotte Dear had been a widow for twenty years; her husband, a Christian man, fell asleep in Jesus in 1862, passing away suddenly.
After I received the knowledge that God, for Christ's sake, had forgiven me my sins, I had much anxiety for the dear old widow, whom I frequently visited, and often found reading the Bible. I spoke to her of the love and mercy of God in giving His Son to die on the cross for such poor sinners as we, but she only remarked, " Where did you learn all this? " and heard, with seeming indifference, the reply that God, by His word and Spirit, had taught me all I knew.
Twenty years and three months passed away after the departure of her husband, and then, one day, the widow confided to me that she was distressed about the condition of her soul. She was too sure she was not ready to meet God, and added the time had come for her to make open confession that she was not saved. And this she did to all who came in contact with her, and her anxiety was great indeed.
Many people called on her. The squire's wife, the doctor, and others. They asked how she was, and so on; but her answer in each case was, "I am lost. Are you saved? I never shall be saved. I am too great a sinner for God to save me; I am going to hell."
Such intense anxiety of soul, I never witnessed before or since. Various were the opinions of those who saw her; some said she was becoming insane, and the doctor thought that her remarks were caused by weakness of brain due to old age. But some saw in the aged woman's distress a sign that God the Holy Spirit was working in her, and hoped in due time light from God would dawn upon her soul. Neither was the hope disappointed, for, after three months of very deep sorrow of heart, and exercise of conscience, she broke forth by saying to her daughter, "I have faith. I believe that all my sins are forgiven, through the precious blood of Jesus. I am saved! Now I am going to heaven."
I was away from the village for a few days at the time Mrs. Dear first confessed Christ. It was one Wednesday afternoon, but I saw her on the following Sunday. I talked to her of the love of God in Christ, and said, "You believe in Jesus, and you are saved?”
She gave me a bright, piercing look, which expressed something very real, and said, “Give me your hand." There were several people in her room at the time. She held my hand in hers for an hour or more, adding, “Don’t disturb me."
No one spoke, and for the whole time she tittered such words as these,"Lord! lovest Thou me? Thou knowest that I love Thee. What! poor old Charlotte Dear! Thou knowest that I love Thee. Believest thou on Jesus Christ? Lord! Thou knowest that I believe."
“Repent and believe! Believe it is true;
A crown of bright glory is waiting for you."
It was a scene never to be forgotten.
After this her bodily strength in some degree returned to her. During the remaining two years of her life she often said, “I was on the brink of hell, just ready to drop in, but the Lord stretched forth His hand and saved me. I now have salvation through the precious blood of Christ, I now trust in Him by faith, I am going to heaven, to be with Him, and I shall see those gone before." She referred to a son and daughter of her own; also to her husband, mother, and brother. One day, in reference to her husband, she said: “He was a Christian, and many times he desired me to come to Jesus, but I refused—and then he was taken away so suddenly, and there was no parting word! I was left to mourn and grieve his loss all those years. Twenty years with a troubled conscience! But, oh! I now praise God, because He has saved me, and I was so unworthy."
One strange little incident may be added.
Mrs. Dear was the mother of thirteen children, but she had never been known to sing, no, not even to her babies. Now, however, in her old age, when the Spirit of God had turned her heart to praise, she actually sang, and sang loudly too.
Her last words were, “I am going. Come, Lord Jesus! Receive me." G. D.