“I CANNOT give many details concerning David’s conversion. But I well remember aunt J. T. saying to me during the preaching in the old (Pottery) turning-house, ‘Have you not a word for this poor lad?’ pointing to David. I at once spoke to him, and was delighted to find that he had passed from death unto life, while listening to the gospel that memorable night. His answers to my questions were given with that quiet assurance that ever afterward characterized him.”
It is now twenty-eight years since that memorable night, when God was pleased in the riches of His grace, to save every unconverted person present, at that preaching in one of the shops of the old pottery. There was nothing of nature to please or attract, but the quiet presentation of the gospel of God. It was however, as the above writer states, at the meeting after the preaching, or just at its close. Never before had I witnessed such a remarkable instance of divine power, whilst slowly repeating these blessed words of Jesus, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)); and then, “Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: and by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.” (Acts 13:38, 3938Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:38‑39).) Yes, these words fell upon the company with the power of the Holy Ghost. Some fell on the forms and seats, and some against the wall. David, then twenty years of age, was leaning weeping against the wall, when the writer of the extract above, said to him, “David, are you anxious to be saved?” “Nay,” he said, with that calm and heavenly assurance that so sweetly marks a new-born child of God, “I am not anxious to be saved; I am saved; I have everlasting life.”
Never once during his twenty-eight years after, did I know him reason, or doubt these precious words of life. He was a man of no excitement or demonstration, but of calm rest in God. His great delight was to lead the young to that precious Savior who spoke to him on that memorable night. Yes, even to the last, after many months of extreme weakness and suffering, scarcely able to sit up in bed, indeed, propped up with pillows, he had the young men around him, to read the word of God. The love of Christ had impelled him to learn to read after his conversion.
A few brethren had met with him in his chamber for some time, also to read with him John 17 His soul had been filled with adoring joy, as they dwelt on this wonderful unfolding of the Savior’s love. They read until they reached the glory in verse 24, “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me.” This closed the scene, “absent from the body, present with the Lord.”
We gathered around his remains, soon to be raised in glory, and incorruptibility. True, he had been a child of toil, and had worked in a coal mine all his days, until strength failed. But we felt his dignity as a child, a son of God, a joint-heir with Christ. There was no hearse, or pageantry. Brethren carried him to the body’s resting-place, and neighbors wept around his remains; and as they heard of the grace of God to him, twenty-eight years before, all seemed to feel that the funeral of a nobleman, a queen, or an emperor, if unsaved, would have been a vain show, as the body, in that case, would have had to remain until the resurrection of judgment—how terrible compared to the unspeakable joy, at the certainty we had, that David’s body would be raised to share forever the glory of Christ!
If called to die, reader, have you that blessed certainty? Yea, have you, like David, heard the words of Jesus? Have you believed on God who sent Him? If so, you have eternal life, Jesus says so. You shall not come into judgment, you are passed from death unto life. Ah! it is no little matter to have eternal life, the life of the eternal Son of God. Have you believed the proclamation of forgiveness of sins, through Jesus? Are you in Him? Blessed truth, “in him, every one that believeth is justified from all things.” It was true in David’s case. It is true of you if you are a believer. He heard the voice of the Shepherd, and He gave him eternal life. He was not anxious to be saved, or vainly seeking salvation by sacraments or law-keeping. He could say, “Nay, I am saved.” Can you say this? If not, whatever your position in this world, you are poor and wretched.
C. S.