“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to THY Word.”
A FRIEND of mine was coming on a train once when five of the nine in the carriage began to play cards; they were evidently sharpers, and before long challenged others to play with them, but all declined. At last they turned to my friend and said: “We can see by your face that you fully understand the game; come, take a turn.” “I did know the cards once, but it is so long since I played that I forget.” “Nonsense! you could win all our money, if you only tried,” they said. “Perhaps that would not be very much, anyway I will not attempt it. Five of you are enough for your game; we will look on,” he replied.
As they still pegged away at him, he at last said: “Gentlemen, I tell you I cannot play; but there is one thing I can do.” “What is that?” they asked eagerly. “I can tell fortunes.” “Capital! Will you tell ours?” “If you wish it, but I warn you it may not be very flattering.” “What card will you want?” “The five of spades, please.” And it was handed to him with expectation of great sport. “I shall require one other thing, if you do not mind,” he further said. “What?” they asked a little impatiently.
“A Bible.”
They could not produce one. “No, but you had one once,” said the fortune-teller, “and if you had followed its precepts you would not have been what you now are. However, I have one.” And to their dismay he produced it. A pistol would hardly have been a more unwelcome object. But the fortune-teller began: “Gentlemen, you see these two pips at the top of the card? I wish them to represent your two eyes; this one in the middle, your mouth; and these other two your knees. Now, in Revelation 1:7,7Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. (Revelation 1:7) I read, ‘Behold, He cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see Him.’ This corner is the Nazarene, who shed His blood for sinners like you and me; and your eyes shall then see Him, when you stand before Him to be judged. That is the future of your eyes,” he continued. “Now concerning your mouth and knees, let me read Philippians 2:9-11,9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9‑11) ‘Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things on earth, and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.’ From this I foretell that your knees will bow to Jesus, and your tongue that used to say, ‘Gentle Jesus,’ and ‘Our Father,’ will have to confess that He is Lord of all. Your eyes will see Him, and when you see Him your knees will grow weak, and you will fall before His majesty.”
They got more than they bargained for, but he gave them some more: “Gentlemen, that is only the first reading of this card; now for the second, if you please. These five spades represent five actual spades that are already made, and may ere long dig the graves of you five sinners, and then your souls will be in hell crying in thirst for a drop of water, and you will wish you had never been born.”
The five card-sharpers were getting more and more fidgety, but it was useless, for they could not get out, as the train would not stop until it reached Reading. “Gentlemen,” continued the fortuneteller, “you may escape this terrible future, and my fortune not come true, if you will do what I did, and perhaps I was the worst of the six. My eyes saw Jesus dying upon a cross for ME, in my stead, bearing MY doom. My tongue confessed Him Lord, and my knees bowed to Him in lowly submission. If you do this, I can foretell the very reverse of all I have said. I have told your fortunes, as I promised, and if I am right, you ought to cross my palm with a shilling apiece; but I do not wish your five shillings, I will be content if one of you will promise to try the Saviour whose blood cleanseth from ALL sin.”
They would neither pay nor promise, but as the train pulled up at Reading they tumbled out as if the carriage had contained a smallpox patient, leaving my friend in possession of the five of spades. “Stop,” he cried, “here is your card,” which he tossed after them.
Recently walking near his home at Shepherds Bush, London, he was accosted by someone saying: “Good evening, sir.” “It is a good evening, if ALL your sins are forgiven,” was the rejoinder. “Yes, and I am glad you are still at it,” replied the stranger. “Still at what?” “Telling fortunes.” “That is not my line.” “Well, you told mine more than ten years ago.” “I think you are mistaken,” said my friend. “No, anyone who has once seen you can never mistake you.” He then recalled the ride from Oxford to Reading. “Ah! I remember, and you left like a lot of cowards, without paying the fortune-teller.” “I am your payment. Your words came true of three of us; three spades have dug their graves. The other one I saw at Reading a few days ago; he is anxious to be saved from the fortune you foretold and is attending religious meetings. As I parted with him I said, ‘Sam, don’t forget the five of spades.’”
“And what about yourself?” “When you saw me I had been to a sister’s. I was right down miserable. Mother had just died; calling me to her bedside she had said, ‘William, kiss your mother, and I leave you this scripture, “Behold, He cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see Him’” (Rev. 1:77Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. (Revelation 1:7)). When you quoted these very words it seemed as if my dear mother rose up and frowned upon the cards. That text followed me. I drank and drank, and drank again, but continually I heard, ‘Every eye shall see Him.’ At last I went to California for the gold diggings. As soon as I landed, having nothing to do, I stopped to hear some singing. The singers formed a little procession, and I followed to a mission. When the young man got up to speak he gave out his text, ‘Behold, He cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see Him.’ It was more than I could stand. That night I bowed my knees in submission, saw Jesus as MY Saviour, and with my tongue confessed Him.”
He was soon going back to the diggings, but that one interview was good payment for the fortune-teller. W. L.
A Letter From a Belgian Soldier
“Monsieur, ―In the midst of the tumult I am happy to have a moment for you, to send this little witness of sincere affection, and to tell you above all how happy I am in Jesus, our King and Saviour. What a companion! What peace His presence procures for us in the midst of the trials and dangers which surround me daily! I prove every day His care. How many times I have felt myself in the shadow of His hand, and His mighty arm! I pursue my way in joy, rejoicing in an incomprehensible peace. He has been my salvation, and He is my strength. I write you, my dear sir, for this reason, to exchange some letters, and to speak of the love of our Heavenly Father, for it is a great consolation to me, who am between life and death. ―J. J. C., 3e Bataillon, 4e Compagnie. Armée Belze en Campagne.”
If any of my readers would like to write to this dear soldier, I will give them his address, or forward letters.