SUNDAY after Sunday at one time an aged couple, whose dress and appearance bespoke their being of the poorest of the poor, were in their accustomed place in a little mission room, with eyes riveted upon the preacher. They were peddlers, and dwelt in a common lodging-house in the town.
Like Lydia of old, poor Mercy B. attended to the words spoken by the preacher; the Lord opened her heart, and thus, after seventy-eight weary years of sorrow and sin, during which she had lived according to the course of this world, God gave her peace―she believed on the Lord Jesus Christ to the salvation of her soul.
“That was a blessed night,” said she, speaking of it afterward, “when I heard that grand story of Jesus’ love to a poor old sinner like me. Bless the Lord for His mercy to Mercy B.”
A new life now opened to Mercy B., a life of faith in the Son of God, who loved her and had given Himself for her. New trials came, too: trials that shook the poor earthen vessel, but made manifest the precious life enshrined therein. She knew that God loved her, and had given her everlasting life; now she was to learn to know Him in His character of her heavenly Father.
Mercy B. was conscious of God’s eye being upon her, and that He guided her as she went her daily round. She often said, “When I go to a house with my basket, I look up and tell my Father in heaven that He knows I want to pay my way, and then He tells the people of the house to buy of me; and I’ve always enough.” Yes, it is written, “Your Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.” (Matt. 6:3232(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. (Matthew 6:32).)
Our aged friend went regularly every day to a Christian’s house to have a portion of God’s word read to her. She found it as necessary as her daily food. It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Matt. 4:44But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4).) The one who read to her will long remember her eager attention and intelligent questioning. She would repeat a text until it was fixed in her memory, then literally feed upon it. Luke 15 was her favorite chapter, and those who visited her were invariably requested to read that portion to her.
The first time I went to see her keeps still fresh in my memory. It was a severe winter’s day. The husband was on the bed fast asleep. “Poor mon,” said Mercy, “he be tired out. I be bad with my chest today, so he’d to go out alone with his basket. A lady gave he some coal, and it was heavy to carry. You see, ma’am, we be old, but God is very good to us. Didn’t He care for me, and spare me for seventy-eight years, and then take me to that preaching where I got rest? It is rest He gives. ‘I will give you rest,’ He says, and He means it. I ne’er heard such love before, “and she repeated with emphasis,” God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’”
“I had heard about God, but I didn’t know Him, and I can’t read, so of course I never read the Bible. I was born in Wales among the mountains, far away from anybody to teach me, but I know all things work together for good to them that love God, and Jesus loves me and teaches me better than anyone else could. Yes, He do love me and talk to me, and I do talk to Him. I’m sure I ne’er wash my hands, but what I think of the cruel nails in His hands. Oh, what pain for the likes o’ me! But sometimes I wish my body were in the grave.”
“Why, how is that?”
“I feel such a poor thing, so unable to care for myself.”
“But you were just telling me how God had cared for you; will He not love for evermore?”
“Yes, He will; but I be old, and can’t work like I used to, and what if I can’t pay my rent?”
“Were you able to pay it yesterday?”
“Yes.”
“And have you enough to pay it today?”
“Yes, my husband brought home ten-pence, and our rent is only seven-pence a day.”
“And you have coals, bread, tea, sugar, more than you want for today. You’re not trusting Him, dear woman. He hasn’t changed since yesterday, for He is ever the same.”
The big tears rolled down her cheeks as she exclaimed, “How He do love we!”
“Yes, and He goes on loving those who believe in Him, and Christ says He will come quickly and take them to be with Him forever! Won’t that be good?”
A bright smile lit up her withered cheeks as she nodded assent.
“Before I go, shall I read to you?”
“Oh, please, yes,” and she rose quickly and brought me a large print Testament, which she told me a gentleman had given them; her husband spelled the words in it, but “she couldn’t understand his spelling.”
“What shall I read you?
“The fifteenth chapter of Luke, please.”
As I read, many times she exclaimed, “He were all in rags,” or “His father kissed him.” We talked together of the joy of the Father’s house, and how it is written, “they began to be merry,” and how that we had not to wait till we reached heaven to enjoy it, but that it began even now. Then Mercy sat in rapt silence, her heart too full for speech.
A few days after this, Mercy fell down and sprained her wrist. This was a severe trial for her, as it was with difficulty she could carry her basket of goods, but she proved the goodness of God, and His sufficiency to meet her every need. She little knew that her days were numbered, and that her God and Father was preparing her for home, but so it was. As her bodily weakness increased, she expressed her desire to go into the workhouse for a fortnight’s rest. Her christian friends felt that they could not let her go there, and help was given, supplying her need. Within that fortnight the rest she had so craved came, and she quietly passed away to be forever with the Lord. E. E. S.