A YOUNG shepherd one night, instead of tying up his dog indoors as usual, put him in a shed near his house, and went to bed. After awhile the dog began barking loudly. The shepherd, seeing no possibility of sleep with such a noise, got up and went to see what was amiss, and let him out. No sooner had he opened the shed door, than the dog, possibly in his fury not knowing his master, flew at him, and bit his hand. What horror in a moment filled the young man's mind! He remembered all the terrible stories he had read in newspapers, of people dying from dog-bites, and thought he should die thus, and he was unprepared! Wholly overcome he went indoors, and lay down on his bed, almost stunned at the thought that shortly he might have to meet God.
This event was the turning point in his life. He realized fully what it was to be a sinner in the presence of a holy God, and began crying to Him to be saved. After this, when alone with the sheep, he would pray till he was really exhausted. For two long weary years this went on, and sometimes he would think he was saved, and then again he would be plunged into the depths of despair.
After this time a gospel meeting was held in a cottage two miles off; and the young man went to it, to see if he could get any help for his poor soul. He sat eagerly listening, while the speaker said: “Now, friends, if you want to be saved, you must look away from yourselves entirely. Jesus has accomplished on the cross all that is needed that sinners might be saved. Look not inside at your feelings, but look to Jesus, and at what He has done." The shepherd's eyes followed the speaker's upraised hand, and the truth flashed into his mind directly—" Jesus has finished the work, and, by my believing on Him, God says I have eternal life." And, reader, you should have heard him putting such a stress on that word “hath," when telling his neighbors what the Lord had done for him. You may guess he did not want much pressing to go down on his knees and thank the Lord for this full salvation.
More than twelve months have passed away since this happened; and he is still so full of joy that those who, like him, know the Savior's love, can but rejoice with him.
Reader, do you understand anything of this joy? Have you grasped the fullness of Christ's salvation? W. C.