WE were sitting over the fire, half a dozen of us, during the interval between an afternoon meeting and one in the evening, when the gospel was to be preached.
The moment was precious to each of us, because in a spirit of true and happy Christian intercourse we spoke truly to one another of the things of the Lord—things made clear to our hearts by His grace.
Allusion was made to meetings of a similar kind held in the same city many years before, the memory of which filled some of us with joy and thankfulness.
“I have a saying of yours,” said one of the company, “which I think you will remember”; and going to her desk, she brought a small piece of paper for my perusal. I wondered what saying of mine could have been of such deep importance as to warrant preservation for such a number of years as had elapsed since it had been uttered.
My curiosity was certainly raised.
On taking the paper I quickly glanced at the words, and in a moment admitted the justness of their having been kept.
This may seem that I felt proud of my preserved saying. Well, I felt thankful, anyhow, that such a saying had been cherished. The words were:—
“Shall I tell you what induced me
For the better land to start?
’Twas the Saviour’s loving-kindness
Overcame and won my heart.”
Ah, but these words, though quoted during my preaching, were no words of mine. The writer was a poet of high Christian character. His verse is well known, and is ofttimes sung, and deservedly. Right glad I was to have the fine old sentiment brought back to my recollection.
What sentiment? That my heart had been won by the loving-kindness of the Saviour. The sentiment is brimful of moral beauty. First, it speaks of a Saviour. That is charming to a soul that has felt and owned its utterly lost and guilty and helpless condition. Most charming when terror hardens and law condemns and conscience smites and judgment hastens. A lovely word, then, is “Saviour.” Second, we have a big compound word— “loving-kindness” —none too big. It falls sweetly on the ear.
Oh, how fond was the psalmist of that word! He says in Psa. 103, “Who forgiveth all thine iniquities.” Yes, all of them; and then, finally, “Who crowneth thee with loving-kindness and tender mercies.” Never did diadem shine more fair!
Love and mercy and forgiveness suited David just as they suit other poor sinners, like you and myself, dear reader.
And such it is for us, that there should be loving-kindness in the heart of that thrice holy God against whom all of us have hopelessly sinned.
Thirdly, it mentions the heart. Now the heart of man is really an awful thing; it is a sin-creating and sin loving and sin committing machine, a factory of fearful abominations, a spring of infinite moral pollution— “desperately wicked.”
It exists, naturally, in direct opposition to God. If it loves sin, and it does, it hates God. When the Son of God was here below, and was delivered by Pilate to “their will,” He was forthwith crucified. Such is the will of man—your will and mine.
Then how can it be broken, how can such a heart be won to God? That is just the fourth statement in our verse. It speaks of a “heart won.”
Thank God, myriads of such hearts have been won. And how? Let me quote one passage of Holy Scripture which should give you the key: “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me” (John 12:3232And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. (John 12:32)).
A lifted up, crucified Christ is the mighty magnet of attraction for all men; and if the gracious magnetism of Calvary shall fail to draw, then all the terrors of wrath shall fail to drive.
What attracted yonder dying malefactor? What turned him from hell, and drew him to paradise? A crucified Christ.
What caused the spectators to smite their breasts, and the proud Roman centurion to confess that “this was the Son of God”? The sight of a crucified Christ.
Friend, take your place in spirit beside the cross of Jesus; drink in the river of His loving-kindness toward a poor sinner like yourself, and you, too, shall smite your breast in self-abhorrence, and pass away a worshipper of this Son of God.
Your heart shall be won!
A heart won by love divine finds its all in Christ, and loves and lives for Him responsively.
J. W. S.