DURING the early part of the American Civil War desertion from the Union ranks was of every-day occurrence. Few of the first offenders were executed when captured. No one seemed to realize, at the first, the gravity of the situation into which the two opposing sections of the States had placed themselves. But when a few months had passed, and several, hard battles had been fought without a settlement of affairs, the truth was forced upon the minds of both North and South that a fearful struggle was at hand, and that the war was real.
Discipline in the army then became most rigid. All deserters, when caught, were shot down without mercy, after a brief court-martial.
A soldier of the “stars and stripes” received word one day that his wife was sick, at the point of death, and desired to see him. He asked for a short furlough, but was denied it. The moment was critical, and not a man could be spared. He resolved upon desertion, and one dark night made off. Soon after he was apprehended. He did not betray the least sign of fear when captured. There was some delay in his trial, but when it ended, and he heard his doom pronounced, not a muscle of his features moved. When the hour of execution came, he still wore the same hard set expression, though his cheeks were ashen pale. He was blindfolded, and a score of glittering musket barrels pointed at his breast. Still he stood rigid and without a quiver. Just as the word to fire was about to be given, a cry was heard, “Hold!” A courier had arrived from Washington. He bore a pardon for the condemned soldier from the President. Unknown and influential friends had been working for him at the capital. Lincoln was a man of tender heart, and the deserter’s case was singular. Their pleas prevailed, and the only hand that had the right had signed the paper that was to save’ the culprit’s life.
When he heard it, he was completely broken down. Tears gushed from his eyes, and utterly overcome, he sunk in a heap to the ground.
What was it that unnerved the man who had passed through capture, trial, and almost execution, without a tremor or betrayal of emotion? It was grace—pardoning grace!
And this is something like “the grace of God that brings salvation” to the guilty sinner. It breaks him down. Judgment, by itself, but seldom does.
How often does it happen that some mighty “son of thunder” preaches of God’s judgment on the unbeliever in a manner truly awful, yet without effect. Perhaps he is another eloquent Apollos, “mighty in the scriptures.” He, first of all, apprehends his man. His pointed, almost personal remarks may give offense to some, but the guilty one must be hunted from his hiding-place. Once “captured,” he is “tried.” An overwhelming host of witnesses are marshalled―scripture after scripture is produced to prove him guilty. Then comes the verdict, “Guilty before God.” “Condemned already” rings out. Then the fearful punishment deserved, and awaiting him, is described, until the audience are reminded of the men spoken of in the Revelation, out of whose mouths issued “fire, and smoke, and brimstone” (Rev. 9:1717And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone. (Revelation 9:17)).
All this while the sinner sits unmoved. The preacher looks in vain for penitential tears, more precious in the eyes of faith than glistening diamonds. The culprit’s heart is hard, and weep he will not. He will not even “tremble,” as did Felix once, and as do the demons now. He resembles more Manoah and his wife, who, when the angel “did wondrously,” “looked on” astonished; that was all (Judg. 13:1919So Manoah took a kid with a meat offering, and offered it upon a rock unto the Lord: and the angel did wondrously; and Manoah and his wife looked on. (Judges 13:19)).
But, turning from his theme of terror, the preacher begins to speak of the mighty and amazing “grace of God.” He tells in simple words of the “love of Christ,” who died that the sinner might be pardoned, and set free. Now eyes are moistening, stony hearts are being stirred, and soon the once stout sinner sinks all prostrate at the Saviour’s feet. It is the power of pardoning grace. Reader, do you know it?
This deserter was condemned, and justly. So are you. “He that believeth not is condemned already” (John 3:1818He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:18)). Abraham Lincoln, the President of the United States, alone had power to pardon him and save his life. And through Christ alone you can be pardoned, and saved. Trust not those draped and shaven lying ministers of Satan who profess that they have power to pardon sins. “The Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins” (Mark 2:1010But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) (Mark 2:10)). And He is the only One that ever had that power. The deserter’s pardon was procured at Washington; there the work was done that saved him. And at Calvary pardon for the chief of sinners was procured. “It is finished” cried the dying Saviour when the work was done.
Unsaved, unknown reader, may such marvelous grace first gain, then govern you. May God give you now to know His pardoning grace, through Christ. Amen.
C. K.