You say, Mrs. A—, that you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ?”
“Yes, sir; I believe every word that is said about Him in the Old and New Testaments.”
“But I rather think you do not believe all that is there said about Christ.”
“And why do you think so, sir?" Why have such a suspicion?”
“Because if you truly believe in Jesus Christ, and in 'every word that is said about Him in the scriptures,' the result would be salvation, pardon, and peace with God; but it is quite the contrary of this with you. You are afraid of God; and this is evidence that you are not looking at 'the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.' You are mourning, repenting, and bitterly lamenting sin, and earnestly crying for mercy, and yet, you say, you 'have no sense of being heard, and that your prayers, like stones thrown into the air, only fall back upon you with terror.' Are you not trying to make yourself fit to meet God by your own repentance, instead of throwing yourself, just as you are, upon Christ? And this is the reason why conscience upbraids you; for, indeed, you are only increasing your guilt instead of taking it away. You are not truly believing and trusting in Jesus.”
“Oh, sir, I tell you again, that I firmly believe in Christ, the Son of God, and that no poor sinner can be saved without Him, and I am striving and praying daily and hourly that He may save me.
“Well, Mrs. A—, you are praying and striving daily and hourly that He may save you; but are you willing to be saved without your praying and striving? Are you willing to be saved on His own terms, simply by faith in His atoning blood?
You must know that it is ' by grace ye are saved, through faith.' You must believe and be saved; and then pray and strive because you are saved.”
“But, oh, how can such a wicked wretch as I am be saved without fervent prayer, and striving to repent before God?”
“Your fervent prayers and repentance will never be accepted until you first accept Christ, as an all-sufficient Savior. Now, Mrs. A—, I want you to think most seriously on what you have just said. You said you believed truly in Jesus Christ, and in every word that is said about Him in the Old and New Testaments. Then you must believe that Jesus Christ can 'save to the uttermost all who come unto God by him,'—even the chief of sinners, and that faith in His blood saves the soul.”
“Yes, I do.”
“And you believe in the value and efficacy of this Savior’s blood in putting away sin?”
“Certainly, I do.”
“Then you believe it can save you?”
Here was a pause; at last the answer came, slowly.
“Yes, I do.”
“Then your faith has saved you; has it not?
Another long pause. Finally, she put the Inquiry:
“And is that salvation in a Savior’s blood?”
“Certainly it is, if you truly believe, as you say.”
And here came another most solemn pause. At last, lifting her eyes and hands towards heaven, her bosom heaving with deep emotion, and her eyes filled with tears, she exclaimed:
“Oh! now I see it! Now I see it! Blessed be God, now I see that I can be saved for nothing! I believed, but never before did I see the completeness of that satisfaction, which Christ has made for my sin; that I have nothing to do for my salvation, but to believe! Oh! sir, let me say to you, that this moment, a burden has rolled from my soul. Blessed Jesus! and is this salvation in Thy blood? How blind I have been these many years, to imagine that, in order to be saved, I should have to pray so fervently, repent so bitterly, and keep myself so pure from sin. Now I see that simple faith in that atoning blood can save any sinner, and save fully and freely; that it can save me! Oh, I am saved—SAVED FOR NOTHING! Glory! glory to God for this!”