AS SOME soldiers were starting, for the seat of war, a Bible colporteur obtained permission to converse with the men of several of the regiments. A young man of a bright and intelligent countenance, addressed the colporteur thus: “Sir, they have convinced me of the necessity of getting the Word of God, but alas!” continued he in a gentle tone and with a sigh, “I have not a cent left wherewith to make this precious purchase.” “That does not signify,” the colporteur quickly replied, “if you have a great desire to possess a copy, it shall not be said that a Christian allowed you to go to a foreign shore without giving you one, even should it be at my Own cost.” Then drawing a New Testament out of his pack, the colporteur handed it to him. But what was his surprise and grief; when the young man broke into a loud laugh, saying, “You are done, my fine fellow. I am jester number one of the regiment. Ask ray comrades. It is as clear as the sun that shines, I have made a fool of you. When I am dead—,” he was going on with a flow of profane language, when the colporteur stopped him, saying: “Yes, yes, after death, the judgment will follow, and what judgment? Listen how the Lord Jesus speaks, ‘Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.’”
For a moment the young soldier, ceased to laugh and appeared silenced; but his levity quickly returned.
“Give me back the book,” said the colporteur. “Nay, nay good man,” replied the mocker, “I should be ashamed so to affront you before such a respectable company. What would my comrades think of you, were they to see you taking back with your left hand what your right hand had just offered. Your book will be of use to me; it will do to light my pipe.” Then making the military salute, in a grotesque manner, he walked away.
“Lord, forgive him.” cried the colporteur, “he knows not what he does.”
Fifteen months passed away when the colporteur came to a village three hundred miles from the spot where the young soldier had taken the New Testament from him. On entering a kitchen of an inn, he found the people of the house in deep grief. Enquiring as to the cause of their sorrow, the landlady, with interrupted accents and many tears, said “Only a few hours ago my son, my only son, the joy of my life, was placed in the silent grave.” The colporteur listened to her sad story, telling of the departure of her dear son for the Crimea; and of his return from the battle field to his home, only to die in the mother’s arms. He felt a tender interest in the recital, and, to abate the grief, begged of her to listen to the reading of a few lines out of a good book just suited to the hour of sorrow. He then turned to several passages, when the woman quickly left the room, and returned, bringing with her a New Testament of the same size as that of the colporteur’s, and handed it to him. With great astonishment he. read on one of the blank leaves: ‘“Received at —the day of —, despised first and badly used, but afterwards read, believed and made the instrument of my salvation. I. L., of the fourth company of — regiment of the line.” In an instant the colporteur’s mind thought of the young jester. Was it indeed the very Testament that had been taken by the young mocker? Yes, it was the same! On close inspection several leaves were missing and it was concluded that they had been taken to light the soldier’s pipe. But this work had been stopped and many more precious words remained to inflame with the love of God the soldier’s soul. The colporteur made further enquiries, and learned from the bereaved mother that her son had told her, that the evening before the battle, serious thoughts of the words of the man whom he had mocked came suddenly on his mind. He remembered his warnings and was troubled. To pacify his mind, he took from his knapsack the sacred volume which had become his advisor. As he turned over the leaves, what was his astonishment when his eyes read those precious words, “God sent not His son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:1717For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (John 3:17). Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” Matt. 9:2828And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. (Matthew 9:28).
While pondering the passages, the sound of the drum called him to the ranks. In a short time he was engaged in the deadly struggle, and many were the dead and dying that lay stretched on the ground. The young mocker was found among the wounded and for several days was on the brink of death. He gave up all fun and jesting and became serious. His New Testament was then his bed companion, and it brought conviction, light and comfort to his soul.
After having lain many weeks in the hospital in a foreign land, he came home. His wound re-opened and he felt he was drawing near to the grave. The torn Testament was constantly in his hands, am only shut up to give place to prayer and meditation. Through the teaching of the Holy Ghost, he saw increasingly the need of a Saviour. Christ was all his desire. Feeling the saving power of God’s grace, he entreated all who visited him to be reconciled to God, through faith in the Divine Redeemer; and with His sweet name on his lips, he calmly departed in the joy of Eternal life.
We see in this the power of Divine truth and the riches of Divine grace. Many a man, who in the apparent security of life, has rejected the Bible and jested with sacred things, has turned pale in the hour of danger and gladly turned to the Holy Book for light and mercy. “Is not My word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?” Paul was also a blasphemer, but the riches of Divine grace turned him into the preacher of Divine love. But let not sinners abuse such acts, but humble themselves in the sight of the Lord.
ML 11/18/1906