It was New Year's Eve. A group of the young "men about town," most of whom were loafers and drinkers, had gathered in the barroom of the Park Hotel. Liquor was flowing freely and everybody was feeling rough and noisy. Samuel Roberts, the minister's wayward son, had drunk considerably, but was not yet really drunk. It always took a great deal to intoxicate him.
A pause came in the conversation as Joe Allen came in. He loved his liquor and hated all kinds of religions.
"They're having a watch-meeting over in the church," he announced. He stamped the snow from his boots and reached for a drink. "Why can't we have one here? We can all do something to make our meeting a success. Brother Eldridge, will you please lead in prayer?”
Eldridge was a glib-tongued fellow, a barber. He had just come into town and was anxious to gain friends. He dropped to one knee and gave a mock prayer.
"We will now sing a hymn," said Joe. His voice so exactly imitated a certain young preacher in the town that it brought roars of laughter from the crowd. And he "lined out" one of the hymns of the day with profane variations, and others joined in uproariously.
"Brother Samuel Roberts will now preach the sermon," announced Joe, "and we trust it will be for the spiritual good of all.”
It was a terrible, disagreeable suggestion to young Samuel, and he tried in every way he could to evade it. He even attempted to rush to the door, but they caught him and stood him up at one end of the room behind a table.
"Preach now, or treat all around!" they shouted. Poor Samuel! He had not the money for "treats all around" and it was a painfully reluctant lad who consented to "say a few words." Then he complained that he had no text.
"Try, 'The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak,'" shouted the irrepressible Joe.
Sam commenced, hesitating and mumbling, telling them that the spirit seemed very strong that night, and that as a result they would find that the flesh would grow weaker. He warned that they were all on the broad road to death, with a New Year about to begin, a time to make a break with the old sinful things, and start a new chapter in their lives.
"Why, I believe the fool's in earnest," said Joe in his usual sneering tone.
If Samuel, the minister's wayward son, was not already in earnest, something in Joe's words and tone went far toward making him so. Now he began to say what had been really in his heart for many years, but had been covered by his wicked, careless life. Statements he had heard from his father, fragments of remembered prayers from godly brethren, passages that he had learned from the Bible while a little boy at Sunday school—all came to him now with new force and meaning—faster than he could speak them. The crowd looked at first resentful, then surprised, then interested. Even the most drunken seemed suddenly sobered, and all soon began to listen in intense silence.
As Samuel went on, strange to say, he began to notice the effect his words were having upon his own heart. He knew that they were true. Then he began to ask himself: "If they are true, why don't you get down on your knees and beg an offended but merciful God for forgiveness?”
That is what he finally did, right in the midst of his sermon in the barroom. The effect was astounding. Of the company present two were converted to Christ before they left the room. They went away sober and serious. Though Joe Allen did not make a public confession, he was never again heard to say anything against religion, nor suggest another sermon.
That night young Samuel Roberts was snatched as a brand from the burning, and was for many years a living testimony to the saving grace of God.
How true is the Scripture that says, "He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise. He taketh the wise in their own craftiness." Job 5:12,1312He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise. 13He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong. (Job 5:12‑13), Those young men meant to mock Christianity and God, but He turned their folly into blessing as the power of His Spirit wrought conviction of sin and conversion of heart. How wonderful are His ways of grace and mercy!
Dear reader, have you ever bowed your knee in sincerity to Christ? Have you owned yourself a sinner and received Him as your Lord and Savior? He died on the cruel cross for your sins and shed His blood to cleanse you from all iniquity. He now knocks at your heart's door as you begin a New Year. Do you not hear Him? Will you let Him in?
"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will" come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me." Rev. 3:2020Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20).