“`If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new,’ and everything is changed to me,” said one who had lately come to know Jesus, the Son of God, the center of that new creation, where “all things are of God.” “My thoughts go after other objects altogether from what they did before my soul was saved. The things of this world have very little interest for me now, but the things of heaven are becoming most precious to me. My heart is cold to what I would like it to be. I wish I loved Jesus more. I have tasted enough of heavenly joy to make me long to enter into it more fully. I should like to know better what that bright inheritance of the saints above is, for which God, in rich grace, has made me meet through the blood of His Son.”
As I listened to these longings of the new man, this child of grace, after the native air of heaven― those breathings of the life which is hid with Christ in God, seeking its objects of desire in the things which are above, where Christ is―I sighed for enlargement of heart, increased spiritual energy, to see afar off into the things of God, to feed by faith upon Him who is the “Bread of our God,” and to rejoice more fully in that prospect of glory which is in reserve for those who are bought with the blood of God’s dear Son. These lines came to my mind, and I repeated them to the sick man, whose words I have quoted. He reclined, in much weakness of body, on a sofa by the fire. I drew my chair closer to him, and his young wife sat on my other side: ―
“Who shall to me that joy
Of saint-thronged courts declare,
Tell of that constant sweet employ
My spirit longs to share?
There, in effulgence bright,
Savior and Guide, with Thee
I’ll walk, and in Thy heavenly light
Whiter my robe shall be.
But who that glorious blaze
Of living light shall tell?
Where all His brightness God displays,
And the Lamb’s glories dwell.
God and the Lamb shall there
The light and temple be,
And radiant hosts forever share
The unveiled mystery.”
“Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” For a moment the thoughts contained in these verses filled our souls, and the reality of that glory to which grace leads called forth united praise. Then the sick man said ―
“None of us think of these things, or speak of them, as we wish we could, but God gives the soul a glimpse of the glory that is before some times.”
“He does; and if our minds were more spiritual, the soul’s vision of glory, and entrance Into the reality of things unseen as yet, would be brighter and more constant; for it is written, ‘Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him; but God hath revealed them to us by His Spirit’ (1 Cor. 2:9, 109But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. (1 Corinthians 2:9‑10)). Thus, even here, whilst waiting to enter the inheritance of the saints above, and to see Him who is the blessed center there, we have seasons of joy unspeakable and full of glory. “Yours,” I added, “will soon be unhindered enjoyment, for I think, dear friend, you will shortly lay aside your ‘earthly house of this tabernacle,’ so that you may go to be with Christ.”
“Yes, I feel it will not be long,” answered he, “till I leave all here.”
His wife began to shed tears, not able quite to forget her loss, when the one she loved should have received the better portion. He knew her heart, and that she would seek to rejoice in his joy, so he added, “It will be better with me then, for I shall be with Jesus. How well it is we both know Him! We will only have to be parted for a little while! I am going to no strange place. When the change comes, it will be well with me; but how very different are poor G. M.’s prospects. A friend was here last night who came from his bed-side, and though he is an unconverted man, he said, `What I have heard today from the lips of G. M. makes me shudder. He does not believe there is a God―at least, he says so―and he spoke such daring things about the Almighty, and what the Bible said about heaven, eternity, and hell, I could not bear to listen to him. ‘
“Do you think,” added the sick man, looking to me, “you could pay a visit to this poor scoffer? At first it might be trying, though I don’t think he would break out before you. God can make him hear what He would give you to say, and cause it to be a blessing to his, soul. At one time I used to think G. M. a kindly fellow―we worked together in the same shop―but when he took up these profane notions, he grew very sullen, and rough in his ways.”
I promised I would try to see this one whom Satan held in the darkness of unbelief, and I asked my friend to pray that God would make His Word enter as a sharp sword into his heart and conscience, so that he might learn it is “The fool (who) hath said in his heart there is no God” (Ps. 53:1); and that “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Prov. 9:1010The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. (Proverbs 9:10)).
From that day the Lord’s people prayed that God would turn this infidel from his folly, and make him one of Wisdom’s children. In the sovereignty of His grace He had marked out the skeptic for blessing, and by the Spirit the hearts of the saints were led into fellowship with his mind, and prayer abandoned, till we were able to praise God who had glorified His grace in the salvation of this soul.
Did the children of God remember that the Holy Ghost lays as a burden on our spirits that which it is on the heart of God to do, we should have more simple faith in Him when we pray, and the words of our Lord would keep us in calm confidence as to the result of our prayers. “What things soever ye desire, when ye pray believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them” (Mark 11:2424Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. (Mark 11:24)) We pray in His name, who said, “Father, I thank Thee, that thou hast heard me, and I know that you Nearest me always” (John 11:41-4241Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. 42And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. (John 11:41‑42)).
Late one afternoon, in the end of December, 18―, I started in search of the dwelling of this poor man. I had been directed to a low part of the city, far from my own home. A wrong number was given to me, and having gone to the top of several long stairs without finding the house I wished, I thought I must give it up. The dusk was deepening, and these stairs were very dark; yet I was loath to leave work undone to which I felt God had that day sent me. On trying another door, I was told a man of the name I gave had died in that stair some months since, and they did not know of another. The one who had died was not the one I sought, for he lived four days previous to this. I was not diverted from my purpose by this information. They advised me to inquire at the neighboring dairy, and if the person I sought lay in any of the buildings near, I should hear of him. This was my clue to G. M.’s door, and in five minutes more I had knocked there. I almost feared to see it open, and yet felt I must go to the man, and speak with him. Never before did I so painfully feel my weakness to do that which I was persuaded God had given me to do. This was the way the Lord took to teach me and make manifest to all that God alone was the worker. “Not by might nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord” (Zech. 4:66Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. (Zechariah 4:6)).
The door was opened by G. M.’s wife, a young woman, to whom I was a stranger. I told her of the friend who desired to hear of her sick husband, and then asked if I might see him. “He is very ill today,” was her reply. “He has had a sad time with the cough, but he is quiet at present. You will not ask him to speak much? He is so weak, ma’am.”
I assured her I would be very careful, and then passed into her tidy little kitchen. Her husband lay on a small iron bed behind the door. I had gone quietly into the room, so he did not see me till I stood over him. His features were much wasted, for consumption had done its work extensively. When I spoke he raised his eyes, and I observed the clear glare so often present in this disease. In his case the love of God in the heart did not throw into this feature of the complaint that lustrous beauty which I have seen in others: here it was only the cold but sure mark of the wasting malady, and his face wore a dark, hopeless expression. The rather long black hair fell untidily over his forehead, whilst a bright hectic spot on his cheeks, and the bones of the face very prominent, told at once how ill he was.
I spoke of his sickness, and sought to sympathize. He said little, but seemed to wonder at my interest in him. As a sick man, I told him he claimed any kindness I could render, but what had brought me to him was to deliver a message from another. He looked inquiringly, and I met the cold, earnest gaze he fixed upon me, and said, Yes, I am come from the God of Heaven, whom through grace I know, to tell you He loves you. He wants you to hear of His love ― love so great that He gave His only Son to die, that the way might be open for you to become a child of God and an heir of glory.”
At once his face was turned from me towards the wall, but I could see the expressions that played upon it whilst I continued for a few moments to speak of God, of His love, and the crowning proof of it, the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, where God “made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Cor. 5:2121For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)).
I observed he began to shed tears, and I hoped the Word of God had entered his soul, and the love of which I spoke had melted his heart; but to the questions I put he would give no answer. I had to leave, wondering how God’s message had been received. His wife saw me to the door, and on leaving her I said, “I will bring your husband some wine and jelly, and hope soon to see him again.”
She thanked me, but did not say “Come!” From the poor man’s symptoms I did not think he would linger long, so I felt time was precious. I desired he would soon bow to Jesus, so that God might have some days or weeks of praise from the object of His grace before he should go hence. From the first I was persuaded this infidel would be saved.
SECOND VISIT
A few days after the first I paid my second visit. G. M. was very ill: his breathing very laborious, and the cough most troublesome. I had to wait some time before he could give me his attention. The jelly I had taken him drew forth an expression of thankfulness, and he, answered some questions as to his body, but with regard to God or his soul not a word. I felt if he would only speak I should know with what Scriptures to meet him, but he was silent; and as far as he was concerned I had to go on in the dark. God saw the workings of his mind, and my strength was to lean on Him. Love, and only love, could reach that heart. Death and judgment, in his folly, he might nerve himself to dare, but the love of God might, I thought, find an entrance into his soul. Filled with this thought, I took out my Bible, and read a few verses from 1 John 4: ― “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only-begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.... The Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.” Then I made a last appeal, and it drew forth words which encouraged me, and showed God had begun to work in his soul.
I said, “My friend, I would give much that you could say what is written in 1 John 4:1616And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. (1 John 4:16). Let me read the words to you, ‘We have known, and believed the love that God hath for us.’ Tell me, have you realized you must meet God?”
“Yes,” he answered, “I see that now ― there is no mistake, I must front Him; you tell me about God’s love ― I have seen none of it, I assure you.”
“In your foolishness,” I replied, “you once said, ‘There is no God.’ Now you believe you were wrong in that, and you will yet see your present thoughts of God are wrong also. In your heart you are now an enemy of God, but Christ died for those who were the enemies of God. Let me read what Scripture says about that: ‘Having made peace through the blood of his cross.... And you that were alienated and enemies in your mind, by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh, through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight.’ (Col. 1:2121And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled (Colossians 1:21)). That is unlike what you or I would have thought to do for an enemy! That is what God has done, for He gave Christ, His only Son, to die for His enemies. Does not that show what a loving God He is?” I then pleaded with him to trust the God of love, to hear His message and to believe, that God might love him with the same deep love with which He loved His only Son. I left G. M.’s bed-side feeling I had given him Scripture, with which God would have him occupied.
Shortly after this I went to see the sick man, who asked me to call upon the skeptic, and learned that the tears I saw him shed on my first interview, which so encouraged me, were tears of anger. He felt too ill to resent my speaking to him of things from which his whole soul revolted, and consequently had to hear what I said. My first visit greatly displeased him, and he said to his wife, “I hope that lady will never again come here; I have no wish to hear of such things.”
“The Lord pondereth the heart.” He is over all. He carried on His purpose of grace, and heard the prayers of His people. After my second visit G. M. was greatly softened, and avowed to his wife he was glad I had come. “I felt inclined to listen to her today,” he said; “I think I would be better off if I were a Christian, but it’s not the easy thing that lady says it is.”
THIRD VISIT
In less than a week I called again, and as I drew near the side of the bed, G. M. held out his wasted hand. It was the first welcome I had received since going there. He was very ill, and it was painful to sit by him. I saw my visit must be very short, so I at once asked if he had yet trusted in Jesus as his Savior? “No.” was the answer he quickly gave me. I was about to speak, when he added, “I cannot believe God loves me. He would not make me toss about on this bed of pain if He did. I am so weak now.”
I read to him these verses from Job 33, “Why dost thou strive against him? God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not.” God speaks that man may be aroused to the fact that he is going to eternal woe; but how does God speak? The Scriptures tell us, “He is chastened with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pains; his flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen.”By dealings like these man is awakened to the fact that he is drawing near to the grave: then he is willing to hear God’s message, and cries to be delivered. The cry reaches the ear of the Savior God. He is gracious unto him, and saith, “Deliver from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom.”Jesus is that ransom. God tells the awakened soul of Him who “His own self bore our sins in his own body on the tree”(1 Pet. 2:2424Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. (1 Peter 2:24)). God saves the one who believes that word and receives Christ as his Savior: “As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name “(John 1:1212But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12)). The sufferer’s interest was fully gained, and when I rose to go he said, “Pray to God to make me a firm believer in His word, that my soul may be saved from hell.”
Slowly the good seed was then sown. His desires were God-ward now. He prayed unto Him, but did not yet know God was favorable unto him, nor had he seen “His face with joy.”
He had said, “I will arise and go to my Father.” That blessed word, “Come,” had entered his soul, and He who began the good work perfected it to the praise of His own name.
FOURTH VISIT
A few days later I made my fourth visit, expecting to hear praise rising to God for grace received. When I was seated G. M., said, “I believe what you have told me, and this sick bed has been God’s way of breaking me down. Without this illness I should still have been a poor ignorant wicked man, on my way to the pit.”
“Then you can say you are on another road, now?”
“I am not going to hell,” he answered.
“You must be on your way to glory then-you are saved, are you not?”
He did not speak; it seemed too much for him to say. I thought he might be occupied with his believing, or his feelings, rather than with the Savior and His finished work for him. I read some Scriptures leading his soul more directly into contact with the person of Christ, where He now is, in the glory of God, as the blessed finisher of faith. I told him, also, of the witness He has sent from that glory to those who believe on Him, telling them by the Holy Ghost that their sins and iniquities God remembers no more. He seemed to get rest of through these, and said, “I see it all now, and ‘God is love,’ and this bed shows that, too I could not say so the last day you were here.”
The Scriptures I quoted to him were, “We are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Heb. 10:1010By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (Hebrews 10:10)); “The Holy Ghost is a witness to us... their sins and iniquities I will remember no more” (Heb. 10:1515Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, (Hebrews 10:15)); “The worshippers once purged should have no more conscience of sins” (Heb. 10:22For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. (Hebrews 10:2)). Then I sought to show G. M. God now looked upon him as “accepted in the beloved” (Eph. 1:66To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. (Ephesians 1:6)); that Christ’s place in God’s presence is the believer’s standing, “As he is so are we in this world,” (1 John 4:1717Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. (1 John 4:17)), “Of him are ye in Christ Jesus;” and that all we need to make us fit for the presence of God we have in Christ Himself, “Who of God is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption” (1 Cor. 1:3030But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: (1 Corinthians 1:30)). “Being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:11Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Romans 5:1)). Such is the rest into which this poor man entered. He knew his sins were gone, he rejoiced in the favor of God, and he wanted to be called into the presence of his Lord.
The work in his soul had been gradual, and there was no outburst of joy when the darkness passed away and light arose upon him. A quiet calm of spirit characterized him, and thankfulness to God for the rich grace that had picked up one who dared to say, “There is no God.” He seemed ever to remember the hole of the pit from which he had been taken.
About this time I had to leave town for a fortnight, and when saying good-bye at the end of my fourth visit, I thought it was till in bodies of glory we should meet around the Lamb, singing the song of the redeemed: “Unto Him that loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood;” but G. M. lingered on, and I was permitted once again to stand by his bed-side.
Now he was on the edge of the border―land very near home. The open Bible lay on the coverlet of the bed, and a roll of hymns I had sent him from England hung at the end of his bed on the wall.
I asked if he had enjoyed the hymns, and in a very feeble voice he said, “I like best when Maggie” (speaking of his wife) “reads to me a verse out of the Word of God―I lie here and think it over.”
I lifted the Bible. It was open at the Epistle of John; so I again read to him those verses by which at first I had sought entrance to his soul. As I did so, tears dropped on the pillow―other tears from those I had seen before―not tears of anger now, but such as a deep sense of grace received drew forth. He repeated after me, “Not that we loved God, but that he loved us,” and added, “I can now say, what you wished I could say when I was a poor, hardened sinner, ‘We have known and believed the love that God hath to us.’” It was with effort he had spoken so much, and, as he finished, a minister of Christ entered the room. It was time for me to go, and in parting with G. M. I could only give thanks to God who had glorified the name of Jesus in the salvation of this poor man. As I passed from the kitchen the clergyman gave testimony to the grace of God and the blessed change wrought on that sick-bed.
He had known the dark-looking, sullen, and withal rough G. M., as one who had dared to question the existence of God. Now he beheld in him one of Wisdom’s children, a man who had condemned himself and justified God, a meek and lowly soul, in whose heart the love of God was shed abroad, and who waited the summons to go to be “forever with the Lord.”
Well may saints of God make their boast in His goodness. “He maketh rich, he bringeth low, and lifteth up: he raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory.” G. M. was brought so low that he looked into the pit to which his steps were hastening. He had said, “Pray that my soul may be saved from hell.” His cry was heard. The good news of the love of God reached him; sovereign grace gave him the hearing ear; the despiser wondered, but not to perish. He thought on God’s ways with him; light broke in on his soul, and he bowed to the Man in the glory of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. He believed to the saving of his soul.
Contrary to expectation, G. M. lingered another week, and then passed hence, just one day before the sick man who sent me to him.
Together these two had served in daily labor; on their death-beds each came to know Jesus, and both for a little season were witnesses of the grace that had reached them, and quickly following one another they entered the good land, for which they had title through the precious blood of Christ.
“Lord, I can see by faith in Thee
A prospect bright, unfailing,
When God shall shine in light divine,
In glory never fading.
A home above, of peace and love,
Close to Thy holy person;
Thy saints shall there see glory fair,
And shine as Thy reflection.”
Dear reader, is your soul saved? Have you been “made meet for the inheritance of the saints in light?”
You may blush at the plainness of my question, as one did lately, when I sought to make sure she was safe from those waters of judgment ready to engulf the neglecter of salvation. Make sure of your ground, for you must bear the judgment, if you do not know the Blessed One, who, in the bitterness of His soul, let the waves of God’s wrath close over Him. Jesus went into death and paid the ransom due for sin―
“Stricken, smitten, and afflicted,
See Him dying on the tree:
‘Tis the Christ by man rejected―
Yes, my soul, ‘tis He, ‘tis He.
Lamb of God, for sinners wounded!
Sacrifice to cancel guilt,
None shall ever be confounded,
Who on Thee their hope have built.”
God now heralds forth the word of salvation. Unto you it is sent. Do you believe the report? Have you received Christ? Can you now say of Him as the remnant of Jehovah’s people will, when they have received their Messiah, this same Jesus, and looked on Him whom they pierced ― “He was despised and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all?”
Beloved reader, before you close this book, bow to Jesus. Come to Him as a sinner. Own your vileness. See His worthiness. Condemn yourself, and justify God. Be a child of wisdom. Then Christ will see in you of the travail of His soul and be satisfied. He will grace you with His own beauty, rejoice over you with singing, and as “the beloved of the Lord” you shall “dwell in safety by Him.”
“Who shall separate us from the love of God... which is in Christ Jesus our Lord”? (Rom. 8: 35, 39.)