“‘WILL you say a few words, Doctor, to a brother in deep distress about his soul?”
The speaker was a devoted servant of Christ, now gone to be with his Master, who spent all his spare moments in preaching the gospel. His occupation was that of a cabman, and his cab, which was his own, had on it what he called “the heavenly coat of arms.” On the panel of one door was painted “God is love,” and on the other “God is light.” At night, when his gray horse was comfortably stalled, he might be often seen at a street corner, as with bull’s-eye lamp fastened to his waist, he read the Word of God, and then preached the good news to the passers-by.
Anyone who entered his cab was at once confronted by a large printed card, on which were the words, “Behold the Bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet Him.” He was driving me on my rounds, and I had just come down a long common stair from seeing a patient, and was stepping into the cab, when he thus addressed me.
It was a terrible day of rain, and drivers and horses were fairly drenched; but standing by his side was another man with whom he had been conversing. He too was a cabman, and Peter J―had been conversing with him while their respective fares were engaged indoors.
Turning to the anxious man, I soon found him to be a really awakened soul, but the deluge of rain made it impossible to carry on a conversation at that moment, so I asked him if he could not come and see me in the evening.
“I shall not be off the stand till eleven o’clock,” said he.
“Never mind,” I replied; “you come to my house at eleven o’clock, and I will be ready for you.”
That evening, a few minutes past eleven, the bell rang, and the poor drenched cabman came in. Before saying a word to him about his soul, ‘I made him sit down to eat a little hot supper, which I felt quite certain he must need. He sat down, ate one mouthful, and then pushing the plate from him, said: “Beg pardon, sir, but I’m that wretched I cannot eat any more. Oh! what am I to do to be saved?”
A long conversation followed. The sweet story of the love of Christ was unfolded, the value of His blood declared, and the estimate which God had of His work asserted. The truth entered his soul, faith grasped the simple gospel of the grace of God, his soul passed into peace, joy, and liberty, and he exclaimed: “Thank God, I see it all. I believe Jesus; I see that He died for me, a poor lost sinner; I trust in Him; I believe His blood has washed all my sins away. I see it clearly.” And tears of joy rolled down his cheeks.
I then suggested our thanking God for this grace to his soul, to which he gladly assented. We got on our knees, and I thanked the Lord for His mercy to this anxious soul. No sooner had I finished than he broke out in a stream of praise and thanksgiving the like of which I have rarely heard from a newborn soul, and immediately after breathed the most tender and fervent petitions to God for the salvation of his wife-a sure sign of new birth. When we have learned the goodness of God for ourselves, we always desire that others should share it. And if we can impart the news of it to them, we seek so to do.
Getting off our knees, I begged him now to sit down and finish his supper. Again he seated himself, took one mouthful, and then again pushing the plate from him, said: “Beg pardon, sir, but I am that full I could not eat another mouthful. I’ll away home and tell the wife what God has done for my soul.” And rejoicing in Christ, he departed.
Reader, do you know anything about this fullness of joy, this satisfaction in Christ? Have you yet learned the blessedness of God’s forgiveness? Perhaps you are an anxious soul? Is it so? Very likely you began this year careless about your soul, but God’s Spirit has wrought in you, and now you have a desire to be saved. If so, do not procrastinate. God always blesses earnestness. Turn to Jesus now. Come to Him as you are. Believe His love. Trust His precious blood. Pillow your soul on His bosom of changeless love. He will not cast you out. None are too bad, too vile, too far off for Jesus to save. You trust Him. He will save you.
Are you “wretched” or “full”?
Do you ask the question, “What must I do to be saved”? Hear the divine answer, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)).
W. T. P. W.