On a summer Lord's day evening many years ago, a young man walked the streets of London, downcast and weary. He had been living a dissolute life, with the usual result of a tarnished reputation and an empty purse. He planned to sail for New York the following morning; and a Christian friend, who had vainly sought to stop him in his downward course, pleaded with him to go this last night in England to hear Rowland Hill preach.
Surrey Chapel was filled that evening with an eager crowd brought together to hear the faithful, but often grotesque, preaching of that earnest man. It may have been curiosity that led the young man there; but at any rate he found himself seated in the congregation.
Mr. Hill's text was: "We are not ignorant of his devices." He read it and abruptly proceeded: "I was walking along the street the other day," he said, "and saw a drove of pigs following a man. This excited my curiosity, for, as you all know, pigs are uncommonly queer animals to drive. When you want them to go one way they invariably take another. But this man seemed to have no difficulty; the pigs followed, jostling and grunting after him, as eager as possible.
"I walked along behind the drove; and to my surprise I found they were going to the slaughter house. Reaching it, they went in without hesitation, and the door closed behind them. I waited till the man came out, and asked him how he had managed to lead them so easily.
"The man laughed and said, 'Maybe you did not see the bag of beans under my arm. I knew I would have my morning's work cut out for me taking them there, if I didn't humor them a bit. So I got some beans, which they particularly like, and dropped them along the road. You saw how they scampered along picking up the beans, never suspecting they were going to the slaughter.'
"And this is the way," continued the preacher, raising his voice, and turning his penetrating glance right on the pew where the young prodigal sat, "that the devil is leading some of you captives at his will right down to hell. He knows full well how to please and lead you on. He drops his beans right along your pathway. Very soon for some of you the last bean will be picked up. Then the gates of hell will close behind you forever.”
The young man was condemned on the spot. The story of the beans, with its striking application to the wiles and devices of the devil in ruining souls by scattering the world's follies in their path, carried the arrow of conviction to his heart.
Next day he did sail for New York, and his anxious friend waited for news of his arrival. At last it came, and with joyful surprise he read, "I am glad to tell you I am a converted man. The words of that earnest man, Rowland Hill, especially the opening words about the devil's beans, surely awakened me. I saw where I was heading, how Satan was luring me on, and what my doom and destiny must be. By the grace of God I am saved, to follow the Savior, and walk in His path.”
Reader, are you being led on to death and hell by the devil's beans? The "pleasures of sin," often very palatable, you will taste for the last time some day. Then the agonies of hell, the closing of hell's door behind you, the doom of the damned, will be your portion forever.
Today a God of love yearns over your soul, and wants to save you. Christ is able, ready, and willing. "Turn ye, turn ye, for why will ye die?”