A PREACHER of the name of M —, who worked with much blessing for many years as garrison chaplain in Stuttgart, was without doubt prepared of God for intercourse with the often rough and hardened soldiers. Of energetic disposition, through the grace of God he knew how to wield the Word of God as a sharp two-edged sword, so that many who thought themselves invulnerable were reached. The fear of man he knew not either in his daily intercourse with the officers or others in high position, or in the midst of the soldiers, when he lifted up his powerful voice, and with unwonted earnestness and energy spoke to them of their souls. For the light-minded and the hard-hearted he was a regular son of thunder.
One day he was sitting reading, in his study, when a knock came at the door, and upon his “Come in” a richly liveried servant entered, who begged him to come to his master, who seemed to be approaching death.
“I will come directly,” replied M―, and a few minutes later he stood by the bedside of the sick one, a man of high birth, in the midst of all kind of pomp and luxury of this world. He lay on the costly couch, with distinct traces of anxiety and unrest upon his countenance. He had drunk of the cup of sin to the dregs. He had mocked God and eternity, spending his days in rioting and dissipation, and now, although only thirty-six years of age, was a decrepit old man. No wonder that his eyes did not look up with joy. He had always sought to delude himself that eternity was a fable, and the existence of God a dream, and that heaven and hell only existed in the illusioned imagination of a fanatic. While in the midst of the noisy current of this world and its pleasures he had been tolerably at ease; now, however, it seemed that his fine-spun arguments had left him in an inextricable difficulty. At least he had already for some days felt an inexplicable unrest, and this unrest had induced him to allow the earnest military chaplain to be called to his bedside.
In the meantime M―was not the only visitor. It appeared that the sick man feared to be alone when he received the Lord’s message. Perhaps he still hoped that the preacher of the gospel, and the testimony to unseen things, could be overcome by the arguments of unbelief. He took care that one of his light-hearted boon companions, who, like himself, for a long time had rejected all faith in God and eternity, should be present during the preacher’s visit. The sick man’s friend was likewise a man of distinguished position, and dressed according to the rank of a staff-officer of the army.
M―greeted him with all the honor which was due to his position, but, without being further disturbed by his presence, immediately approached the sick one. Leaning over the dying man in a friendly manner, he commenced to speak to him of the love of the Saviour, inviting him to come to Him while it is caned today; also, he pictured before him the fearful loss of a soul which passed without Him into eternity.
He seemed, however, resolved not to listen to M―’s words. As he had one of his friends by him, he felt himself strong again, and was ashamed to confess in his presence that his rest had left him, and that he was so fainthearted and pusillanimous as to think of eternity.
As soon as M―perceived that, he began in a more serious tone to speak of hell, and of eternal perdition, to which every impenitent sinner was fast approaching. He spoke of the righteousness of God, which it is impossible to mock, and he pictured the terrible judgment of those who hardened their hearts, and seared their consciences as with a hot iron. The staff-officer listened to this for some moments in silence; and although he showed manifestly his discontent, yet be did not dare at once to interrupt him. However, his patience was soon exhausted.
“You would do better, if you kept your words to yourself and went off home,” said he to the preacher angrily. “I don’t believe that my friend wants your help. He will perhaps die. What do you want to embitter his last moments for, and fill his mind with your illusions?”
“I shall do what God wishes from me,” answered M―, quietly. “He wishes to warn this sinner for the last time; therefore has He sent me here; and woe to me if I am silent! God grant that your friend may yet be truly aroused. It is better now to believe that there is a place of torment than to open the eyes in the midst of it, in the fire that never shall be quenched.... It is better...”
“Stop! stop!” cried the officer, in an angry tone; “go and display your wisdom where you please; go and make old women and children shudder with your tales. We have happily got rid of such follies long ago. All you have just said is a lot of nonsense and lies, not worth the thought of a sensible man. We live and we die, and that is all; there is nothing after death.”
Now M―, rising up in all his strength, silently approached the officer, placed himself before him, and looking him straight in the face, said, in earnest and searching tones, “DO YOU KNOW THAT FOR CERTAIN?”
A thunderclap coming suddenly from a cloudless sky on a sunny day, could not have produced more fright and astonishment than this unexpected query appeared to do in the heart of the startled officer. For a moment he stood as one petrified; then he turned, seized his hat and gloves, and hastened out of the chamber without saying a word.
M― turned again to the sick one, and spoke anew of repentance and conversion, announced to him forgiveness or eternal destruction, heaven or hell, and then returned home.
The dying man was again alone. And now all his peace had entirely gone. The question, “Do you know that for certain?” rang again incessantly in his ears, and all that was in him answered, No! More and more he became assured that he was a lost sinner, and with fear and trembling he thought of God’s judgment-throne, which he had so often mocked at, and whose existence he had denied.
Early next morning he sent again for the garrison preacher to come and visit him. M―came, and found the sick one in the greatest distress of soul, and bordering upon despair.
“Oh, how I have longed for you to come,” he cried to M― as he entered. “Pardon me that I should have treated you yesterday in so rude a manner! You are right, your way is better than mine. I am not certain; no, I am lost, lost! You have certainty. I see it in your countenance; I perceive it in your words. Oh tell me, How can I obtain this assurance? where can I find rest?”
“By Jesus, and by Him alone,” replied M―, deeply agitated. “‘He is the way, the truth, and the life’ (John 14:6). He assures you also of forgiveness and salvation through faith in His shed blood.”
And now began the servant of the Lord to announce to this soul, thirsting after peace, the glad tidings of salvation, the blessed news of Jesus. And. God blessed His Word. The fortress was conquered, the hard heart was broken; and the same man who yesterday had still done his best to harden himself against every word of exhortation and warning, now bowed and called humbly on God to have mercy upon him. He only lived a short time, and then went peacefully and joyfully to meet death. All anxiety had disappeared, for he went to his Saviour in the eternal home above―that knew he for certain.
And now, dear reader, may we ask you the question, Are you sure of the salvation of your soul? Can you say also with all certainty that you are reconciled to God? and can you look death in the face with rest and joy? Or perhaps you belong to that class of persons which becomes daily more numerous, and who, like this officer, seek to get rid of every thought of death and eternity from their hearts,― and to convince themselves that the Bible is a good book, but not the Word of God,―and all that it teaches of God and eternity is just to persuade men to set up a wholesome barrier against gross evil, and to strengthen the good of their ways.
Or are you one of the fools the Word of God speaks of, which say, “There is no God”? If so, let us also put to you the question of M―, “Do you know that for certain?” Perhaps you will reply, “No, I do not know it for certain, but it is also impossible to know anything for certain. No one can be quite sure of this matter.”
Then, friend, we can assure you, that many thousands are sure, thanks be to God, and that He not only gives certainty, but also forgives everyone who comes to Him, and makes him fit for heavenly glory. And how have we obtained this assurance? The Word of God itself shows us the way. Listen to what the Lord Jesus says, “My doctrine is not mine but his that sent me” (John 7:16). “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself” (John 7:17). And the apostle John writes, “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself;... and this is the witness, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life” (1 John 5:10-12). And in Romans 8:16 we read, “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.”
There are several other passages besides in the Word of God, but these three suffice to show that you may enjoy certainty; and it is our earnest desire that you should not rest, until you are fully sure of your salvation and acceptance before God. God can and will make it clear to you. He is the living God, and He is the God of love, who willeth not the death of the sinner, but that he should be converted and live. Therefore turn to Him from your own way! The eternal welfare of your never-dying soul is at stake. Listen no longer to the suggestions of Satan, for he it is who seeks to blind your mind, lest the light of the gospel should shine into your heart. His endeavor is always to delude men, and to fill their hearts with unbelief or superstition, that he may ensure their eternal destruction. He is always a subtle foe. Therefore flee from him, and turn with a sincere heart to God, who offers you freely redemption and salvation in Christ Jesus―to God, who is Love, and who gives you time to be warned and admonished ere the day of grace shall have passed by.
Whoever neglects it, for him there remains only a terrible judgment. “It is appointed unto men once to die, and after this the judgment” (Heb. 9:27). And, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31). Therefore haste that thy soul may be saved! God is a reality; eternity is a reality; and judgment is a reality. Every mocker and despiser of the Name of Jesus will one day find it out to his eternal and immutable woe. They will be made to bow the knee before Him whom they have despised, and to confess that He “is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:11). They will, with all who have not obtained forgiveness and peace through the blood of Jesus, find their place in the everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels (Matt. 25:41). May you never belong to the number of those unfortunate ones. Hasten to Jesus whilst it is called today! He is ready to give the fullest certainty, to deliver you from all judgment, and to fill your heart with peace and joy. FR. GN.