TOM KEYES lived at Harbor Grace, Newfoundland, years ago. Tom was a wicked man, and was especially violent, opposing every form of religion. Once when the village was much stirred up by the earnest preaching of an evangelist, Tom declared he would stone him. But day by day passed and the stoning never took place.
One day he was told that it was the last day of the preaching, and if he intended to stone the preacher he had better hurry up. He said he would, and that evening found him at the meeting standing before the preacher’s platform with his arm full of stones, and one in his hand ready to be thrown. There was much excitement, but the preacher took no notice of the state of things and stood up to give out a hymn. He read the first verse:
“Extort the cry. ‘What must be done
To save a wretch like me?’
How shall a trembling sinner shun
That endless misery?”
At the end of the first two lines the stone which Tom had ready to throw seemed to drop out of his hand. At the end of the verse Tom fell down on his knees and cried to God for mercy.
Scripture says, “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), and Tom proved that the Saviour’s blessed assurance was then as ever made good. He soon found peace in believing, and in his after life he bore a faithful testimony to God’s saving grace. If the worst man in the village could be received and forgiven by the Lord, there was no need for any repentant sinner to hesitate or doubt if the Saviour would accept them too.
ML-12/01/1963