WE do not well; this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace." So said the rejoicing lepers (2 Kings 7:9), as they spoiled the tents of the Syrian army; and so say we, as we see an inroad. made in the camp of Satan, and one who had been blinded by him delivered from the power of darkness, and translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son; and so, because we do not well to hold our peace, I feel constrained to write the following simple account of one of the most blessed cases of conversion I ever had the privilege of witnessing.
About eighteen months ago, I was asked to visit a young woman who was consumptive; I went as a Christian friend had done before me, and found her willing to listen, and manifesting interest in the Word of God, if not real anxiety about her soul. We continued to visit her, and during the summer of 1875 she recovered so far as Lobe able to get out; and was a regular attendant at the preachings; but with the fading summer her strength gave way, and she was again confined to the house.
Each time we visited her it seemed as though the exercise of soul was deepening, until it was quite painful to see her poor flushed face wearing such a look of intense anxiety. We put the gospel in all its simplicity before her, and pressed her to accept it in all its richness, its fullness, its glory; but apparently all in vain.
We pleaded with God for her in our prayer meetings, and in private; and as time rolled on, our concern for her increased as hers for her own safety increased likewise. At times it seemed as though she was going to close with the offers of our Saviour God; for, as I set forth the glories of the work of Christ, and God's satisfaction therein, so that He could be just and yet the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus; I have seen her face light up, but, alas, the next moment that gleam of sunshine was gone, and clouds again rested on that poor wasted brow: and her distressed heart would find vent by giving utterance to such words as, “Oh, that I knew it was for me," or, "Oh, that I could believe, if I could only say Christ is mine; my sufferings would all be as nothing.”
Thus it went on, and. probe her as we would, we could not find out what it was that was keeping her back from Christ, and preventing her getting peace. I saw her on a Thursday early in December, and took her a December copy of "God's Glad Tidings." After reading to and praying with her I again pressed her to accept Christ. She was failing then, as to her body, and it made me plead with her very earnestly; the burning tears chased each other down her sunken yet flushed cheeks, but still no peace, and in that state I left her, hoping that God would use the book I had left.
On Friday and Saturday I was unable to go, and at the close of the meeting on Lord's day morning, I was told that just after I started the doctor had called, saying she was sinking very rapidly, and desired to see me, adding that she was very much distressed in mind. I hastened to her house with heart uplifted to God that at last He would give a word that would lead her to rest with Himself, in the blessed person of His own Son. On reaching the house, I hastily mounted the stairs, and as soon as she saw me, she exclaimed, " I'm so glad you've come; " and then, as I turned toward the bed, she clasped her hands, and said “Sir, I've found peace, I'm saved.”
“Praise the Lord; and when did that come about?" was the response from me, to which she replied, "This morning," and again broke out in strains of praise and grateful love to Him of whom she could say now, "Christ is mine." I asked "How did you get peace, I should very much like to know?” Her answer carne thus," Well, sir, I prayed, and I asked the Lord to save me and give me peace; and I said, 'Here I am, Lord; all that I have, and all that I am, I give to Thee; and then the light seemed to break in; and I could see it all, how Jesus died for me; and that I was saved through Him; and peace and joy flowed in. And oh, I am so happy. And now, Sir, I want you to pray.” Thankfully I complied, and asked what I should pray for, to which she replied, “Oh, bless and thank Him for having saved me." At the same time her dear wasted face was radiant with the joy that was filling her heart, and flowing from her lips in strains of thanksgiving.
I kneeled, and poured out my heart in praise to God, and also in earnest prayer for the husband and children. It was a touching scene when I arose; tears of deepest joy stood in the brilliant eyes of that new-born soul; the whole expression of her countenance forming a contrast to her husband; tears were there, but tears of sorrow, while nothing but unmingled joy beamed in— hers it was a scene I shall never forget. I read to her Colossians 1:12, 13, 14, and then wished her good-bye.
Another of the Lord's people saw her in the afternoon, and another about eight o'clock at night. It was those who had visited her, and were desirous of seeing the change, and wishing her good-bye. A little after nine o'clock, she departed to be with Christ, to await the wondrous moment when He shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise. Blessed trophy of the patient grace of God! truly, the longsuffering of our God is salvation.
What hindered her entering into the blessed results of accomplished redemption, was unwillingness to give up self, for no sooner did she do so, than peace and joy were hers; peace deep as a river, joy unspeakable and full of glory.
A young Christian who waited upon her told us afterward that it was between eleven and twelve o'clock that she found peace; and she immediately began singing, and sang throughout, in quite a strong tone of voice, that beautiful hymn, which so sweetly told out her new experience—
“A mind at perfect peace with God;
O what a word is this;
A sinner, reconciled through blood,
This, this, indeed, is peace,”
And now, dear reader, do you know this peace and joy; and if not, why not? Surely, it is because you are clinging to self in some form. Let me beseech you, with all earnestness, as one who has learned, in some measure, the value of an immortal soul, and the value, too, of the precious Christ of God, to break with self, to accept Christ, to close with God's offered grace. "A new covenant will I make with you, saith the Lord, your sins and your iniquities will I remember no more." Close, then, at once with this gracious offer, let every shred of self go, and so shall you know the blessed result of self-surrender.
J. H.