JOHN HAMBLEDON, the actor, before his conversion had many narrow escapes from death. In speaking of his experiences on the Pacific Coast at the time of the discovery of gold in California he says: " Once I was delivered from drowning when the long reeds were entwined around my body in deep water and prevented me from swimming; another time I well-nigh perished in crossing a vast desert; another time pistols were loaded, and blood-thirsty men sought my life; another time Mexican bayonets were pointed at my breast; yet another time a terrible disease laid hold of me, and so hopeless did my case appear that my comrades put me down under the shelter of a tree, and felt so sure that my hours were numbered that they began to prepare my grave nearby, into which it was their purpose to cast my poor emaciated body when the spark of life had fled. I shall never forget the horrors of that situation as I seemed to feel life ebbing away, and the dread hereafter, even eternity, looming upon my benighted soul. There I lay without one ray of Gospel hope to cheer my guilty soul, but only a certain looking for of judgment and fiery indignation. There I lay a wreck in the prime of life, and to all appearances drifting fast from the shores of Time toward the vast ocean known as Eternity, for whose dark expanse I had no chart or pilot to guide me.”
Thank God, John Hambledon's life was saved; and better than that, he obtained the forgiveness of sins and became the happy possessor of eternal life as a free gift from God (Romans 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)). By faith he saw Christ dying in his room and stead, and found joy and peace in believing. He immediately commenced to preach Christ and Him crucified, and God greatly owned his ministry in the conversion of sinners. The same One who delivered John Hambledon from going down to the pit is willing to, save you. Do you believe that you are a guilty sinner deserving of nothing but wrath and woe? If so, He who is "mighty to save" is willing to blot out the past and justify you from all things. Hearken to His royal proclamation: "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" (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)). "The Blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin." Believe on Him at this moment and be saved for eternity. A. M.