IN a barracks in the South of England a group of soldiers could be seen busily engaged in a game of cards, and cracking jokes, when the entrance of a gentleman with a Bible in his hand interrupted them. He proved to be the Army Scripture Reader, and with a cheery “Good evening, men,” he sat down to read to them from the Book he held, and to tell them of the wondrous love of God. The men just then seemed very indisposed to listen to him, and they began to mock and ridicule the solemn words of warning of the Scripture Reader. One man in particular was so loud in his railing, and so mocking in his demeanour, that as the Scripture Reader was leaving the room he turned to this young man and asked him in a kind voice the following question: ―
“What is your name?”
In unmistakable Irish the young man replied, “And Shure me.
name is Paddy M―
“Indeed,” replied the Scripture Reader, “then how old are you?”
“How old is it I am? Well, bedad, an’ it’s twenty-five years old I am, to be share.”
“Then,” replied the Scripture Reader, in a solemn yet kind manner, his voice shaking with loving emotion, and his eyes filled with tears, feeling as only those can who have an intense love for precious souls, “Then, Paddy M―, you are twenty-five years dead in trespasses and sins.” He then left the room, with a silent prayer rising from his heart to God on behalf of the young mocker, perhaps thinking of the time when he himself was a young, thoughtless soldier, before God’s grace had changed his heart.
As he left the room every man shouted out in mockery, and Paddy loudest of all: “Paddy M― twenty-five years dead in trespasses and sins.” The very barracks rang with these words, and with the laughter that accompanied them. Soon after Paddy got up to go to the canteen, and as he rose to leave, his comrades all shouted out: “There goes Paddy M―, twenty-five years dead in trespasses and sins.” When he got to the canteen the news had traveled there before him, and they all shouted out, “Clear the way for Paddy M―, twenty-five years dead in trespasses and sins!” and as he called for his pot of beer they all cried again, A pot of beer for Paddy M―, twenty-five years dead in trespasses and sins!”
This went on for a few days, for wherever he went he was saluted with the words, “Paddy M―, twenty-five years dead in trespasses and sins.” Ah, what a time the devil was having! But, thank God, he defeated himself. At first Paddy laughed a good deal, but after a few days he could not get rid of the words of the Scripture Reader, they seemed to burn into his heart. When he went to bed he could not sleep for, ever and anon the words, at first laughed at, but now fraught with such terrible significance, rang in his ears and caused him to change from the lively Irishman to a sullen and morose man. It was God striving with him, and at last Paddy went to the Scripture Reader and explained all his feelings, and asked his forgiveness. God saved Paddy M―’s soul; for soon after, he trusted the precious blood that cleanseth from all sin, and instead of being “dead in trespasses and sins,” he was made “ALIVE UNTO GOD.”
“Darkly the shadows gather
Over thy guilty head,
Sitting in darkness, sinner,
Dwelling ‘mid the dead.
Now on the broad road treading,
Think of the awful goal;
Where are thy footsteps wending,
O immortal soul?”