AT the close of a gospel service, the preacher asked such as knew the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour, to speak to those near them about their souls. Oh! how I longed that evening to tell other; how much the Lord had done for me, but more courage seemed needed than I could muster, and the company began to disperse Left almost alone in the great building, very much depressed at my faint-heartedness, I sauntered to the door, purposing to seep grace to be a more faithful servant in the future. A woman with a little girl stock in the porch, but I was so occupied with myself that I had almost passed them, whet I felt constrained by one word, ― “now.” This word in a moment so filled my mind that I turned to the woman, and asked if it were well with her soul.
She burst into tears, and, in her distress said that she dared not leave the place without having the question of her soul’s welfare settled, and that she was lingering in hope of someone speaking with her. Reentering the hall, we sat down, and or hearing again the glad tidings of the Saviour’s finished work, the woman with joy received Him, and went away praising God.
This poor woman was a seeker. She knew her need of a Saviour; she knew what it way to be lost; she knew something of the reality of eternity, and so she realized the truth of that passage in Prov. 8:1717I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. (Proverbs 8:17), “Those that seek Me early shall find Me,” and, to her joy, she learned that the blessed Son of Man came into this world “to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:1010For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10))
Let me ask any reader, who is still undecided, to go back to the time when first the strivings of the Holy Ghost with him were known. How long ago is it? And are you yet unsaved? How often since that first awakening has the tender, pleading voice of Jesus been heard at the door of your heart? Yet, again and again, you have answered, “Not yet—not yet—a little more delay, a little more pleasure.” But what shall it be when this little more time is spent? What then, when this life is gone by? The rich man said to himself, “Soul, take thine ease,” and God’s words to him were, “Thou fool,” and he died, and was lost.
For a few moments, calmly and soberly look the matter of eternity fairly in the face. What are you doing? Resisting the Holy Ghost. Terribly solemn is the position in which you, who once were near the kingdom, stand at this moment. Sins and iniquities are piled up like a great mountain, and the wrath of God is abiding on you (John 3:3636He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36)), yes, abiding on you—and yet, —oh! miracle of grace! —within your reach, as it were, are shelter, peace, and rest.
Oh, come to Jesus now—just as you read these lines—tell Him all you know yourself to be, a guilty wretch, deserving nothing but an endless hell, a sinner without strength, and with no merit and no hope but in Him, and just cast yourself, in all your helplessness, upon Him, and here is His blessed word, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:3737All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37).)
A few nights after the incident narrated at the commencement of this paper, we were speaking to one, who in answer to the inquiry if she knew what it is to be lost, replied, that she had known it years ago, and that she knew it that night. But even the thought of hell failed to arouse her from the state of indifference into which she had fallen. Time after time had the Spirit of God striven with her, and as often had she resisted Him.
We tried to pray for her, but could not. She seemed as hard as a stone. Never, while I live, shall I forget that face with its hardened look, nor these words, “Let him, alone”― “Ephraim is joined to his idols: let him alone.” (Hos. 4:1717Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone. (Hosea 4:17).) A. L. M.