The calm sea shone like a mirror, and reflected on its placid bosom the clear blue sky and white fleecy clouds, while nearer the shore the soft verdure that crowned the neighboring heights was reflected in living green. Young children were playing merrily on the smooth, soft sands, while their mothers and nurses were reposing under the pleasant shade of the high cliffs, occupied with their books, knitting, or pencils, according to their various tastes or duties. The day was too hot for walking. I had myself come down to the beach to enjoy a peaceful hour; and seeing a young party with whom I was acquainted, I sat down near them. After watching the children some time, and assisting them to construct the castles, dykes, and canals, about which they were so busy, I turned to their governess and sat down by her.
Having some reason to think she was one who loved the Lord Jesus, I ventured to accost her by saying, “Well, my dear young friend, What are you doing to serve the Lord?”
“I!” she replied quickly, “Nothing.”
“How is that, if He has redeemed you, loved you, washed you?”
“But I do not know this; I am not a Christian.”
“How is this? I thought you were. You seem very anxious about the souls of your little pupils, you like to hear the gospel preached; you seem to like to speak and hear of the love of Jesus.”
“Yes, but I do not know that He is my Saviour. I fear I have no right to love Him; I think if I had, I should not be so often cross to the children; I should not have such worldly thoughts; my mind would not wander in prayer, as it does. I should like to know that I am a Christian, but how can I think so while I feel so sinful?”
“The truth is this, Miss H,” I replied, you want to see fruits of faith before you will believe you have the root. You will not believe that the foundation of the house is laid, because you cannot see the roof and chimneys. Let me try to explain myself by a parable.
“A certain king, having large and boundless wealth, resolved to adopt some of his subjects into his family, and to give them all the privileges of his own sons. He did not choose his adopted children exclusively from his nobles and gentry, but he made a general proclamation to his subjects to the effect, that whoever would, might become the king’s son or daughter.
This proclamation was from time to time repeated and re-echoed in every alley and garret through his empire. Some accepted the invitation; more rejected it. Among those who had heard of the king’s gracious offer was a young girl of low degree. Her heart burned to be the kings daughter, But how should she attain to this honor? She was poor, without friends, without education; her clothes were ragged and dirty, and her whole appearance forbidding.”
“‘Can this invitation be for me?’ she exclaimed.
“‘Yes, for you,’ replied the king’s messenger. ‘What must I do then?’
“‘Only go to the palace door and knock till you are admitted.’
“The messenger left her; but the next day, again meeting her, ‘Why have you not gone to the palace?’
“‘O, sir! I have been trying to mend up my clothes; and today I shall borrow a bit of soap to wash them.’
“‘Go just as you are,’ he replied.
“‘Why are you yet outside the palace gate?’ said he another day. ‘You are losing a great deal of time.’
“‘Sir,’ she replied ‘my speech is so uncouth; I want to take a few lessons in grammar, and to learn how to behave.’
“‘You will never learn court manners,’ said he, ‘till you go to court. ‘You will then be in the king’s company, and will learn from him how to behave, and how to speak; and as to your rags and dirt, you will never be free from them while you live in this filthy alley. Besides which, when you enter the king’s palace, he will take from you all your filthy rags; he will cause you to be thoroughly washed in a fountain kept for the purpose; and then you will be clothed in entirely new garments. So you are wasting time in making all these preparations.’
“The young girl thus addressed was at length wise enough to take her friend’s advice; she rose up, went straight to the palace gate, knocked as though she expected to be answered, and walked in as soon as the door was opened. She was washed, and clothed, and instructed. Gradually she learned the habits of the family. She enjoyed the love and care of the king all her life, and was as happy as a queen.
“Now, Miss H.,” continued I, “if you will but consent to knock at the palace gate—that is, if you come to God by faith in His dear Son, He will at once admit you into His family. He will wash you in the blood of Jesus Christ His Son which cleanses from all sin. He will take away the filthy garments of your own righteousness, in which by nature is all your trust. He will clothe you in His own righteousness. He will make you a daughter of the Lord God Almighty.”
“Ah!” replied my friend, “but the girl in your parable knew very well when the door was opened. If I could but see the door opened, I should know I could enter in and be saved.”
“In that difference lies the difficulty; and in that the blessing. What the Lord wants in you is not to act by sight, but by faith. He hath said, ‘Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.’ Can you simply take Him at His word?”
This was all that this dear young woman needed. The door was open for her, He was ready to receive her. All that was required of her was to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.