IN a day of hardened recklessness like the present, when God’s Word is being daringly ignored by so many, and even profanely quoted as subject for their worldly amusements, this witness of its convincing power is very welcome. The name of the writer we know not. But from the facts stated, we believe that its authenticity will not be honestly questioned; and put it into the reader’s hand just as it was received by the Editor. Take note of it.
In my youth I made the acquaintance of an eminent physician who had been very well known in a former generation. This was Doctor Farre, one who had twice been called to give evidence before the House of Commons, and one who had been commanded by King William IV to attend Lord Canning in his last illness, and report to His Majesty about him.
You see at once that Dr. Farre took a leading position in the profession of his day. He had retired in his old age when I knew him, and I want to tell you something he said to me about treating of some of his patients biblically. He observed that he had found frequently that the Bible was the medicine his patients required, and he gave me an example of what he meant.
A blind gentleman, suffering from severe mental depression, became his patient. Dr. Farre found that although he was a philosopher in his way, and very learned, he was a rationalist. The doctor heard all about his dejection, his want of appetite, his weariness and other symptoms, and then prepared to prescribe for him. “The medicine I shall recommend you, you will promise me you will persevere in taking?”
“Of course, doctor. I would not have come to you if I did not purpose to follow your prescription.”
“Good! Now I must inform you that I have carefully considered your case, and my prescription is, that you allow your daughter to read you a chapter of the New Testament every day.”
“But I don’t believe the Bible. There are statements in it which I cannot reconcile to my verifying faculty.”
“My dear sir,” said the doctor,” you have made me a promise, and I undertake to say, if you will carefully and perseveringly follow my prescription, you will get better.”
Some time passed away, and one morning the daughter called to see Dr. Farre.
“Oh, doctor,” she said, “my father is certainly no better, I think he is worse.”
“I am sorry to hear he is no better. How far have you read?”
“I have got to Mark’s Gospel; but he is as dejected as ever. Indeed, I think him worse.”
“Never mind. Persevere. Go on reading. I have great confidence in the prescription.”
Time passed on. The daughter came occasionally to report to the doctor all about her father. She read on through the Gospels, and still the depressions and the other symptoms were as bad, or worse than ever. And still the counsel of the great doctor was, “Go on reading.” And well and persistently the anxious daughter read on, chapter after chapter, through the Acts of the Apostles, and on right through the Epistle to the Romans. Alas for the philosopher, he seemed no better than when he began. But for his promise and the daughter’s solicitude, he would have thrown aside the prescription.
Listen! The daughter has got as far as 1 Corinthians 2. She has read verse 12― “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.” She has read verse 13―
“Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” And now she reads verse 14, and her, father is all intent upon the words! “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
“Stop,” said the father. “I am all wrong. I see now what I never discovered before. I have been bringing everything to the bar of my limited reasoning powers. I have rejected everything my so-called verifying faculty did not endorse. I thought it foolishness. I left out the important fact that spiritual truths must be learned not in words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth. I see I have been quite wrong.”
From that time the philosopher became as a little child, learning with docility the things which are “spiritually discerned.”
One day the good physician received a visit from the daughter. “I have come to tell you, doctor, there is a wonderful change for the better in my father. He is happy, and tranquil, and well!”
“How far did you read?”
What a joy to the physician! What a joy to the daughter! What a joy to the patient!
What joy, too, in the presence of the angels!
Reader, get well acquainted with the Scriptures. Do not neglect your daily portion. Remember the doctor’s remedy for depression, and accompany it with the prescription in Psalms 42:1111Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. (Psalm 42:11), which is repeated in Psalms 43:55Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. (Psalm 43:5), “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.”
“Remember the word unto Thy servant, upon which Thou hast caused me to hope.”