One rainy Lord's Day evening two young men plodded along a muddy road. They were disappointed and somewhat discouraged at not having been able to hold a gospel meeting in the village they had left. Now they were returning to a town some miles distant.
Near a crossroads one suggested to his companion, a visitor in that area, that if he felt so inclined they might visit an old farmer who lived a short distance off the main road. He knew him to be in an inquiring state of soul; perhaps God would bless the visit, and so their long walk would not be a totally fruitless journey.
Only too glad for an opportunity to be used of the Lord, his friend consented, and in a few minutes they were on the way to the farmhouse. The twilight, deepened by a wet mist, set in before their destination was reached; but they soon arrived and received a hearty welcome. Upon entering, they found the old man sitting at the little kitchen window. He was poring over a large Bible which, with his spectacled eyes, he was attempting to read by the fast failing daylight. This was a good sign, they thought; and as he was alone, his wife having gone to a distant meeting, it was an opportunity for setting forth the Lord Jesus Christ.
This old man belonged to a group called the "doubters." Though taught from his youth the Bible and the Shorter Catechism, he had never been able to receive them in the childlike faith which the Scriptures enjoined. Like many, he "hoped" for acquittal in the great Day of Judgment through belief in the general "mercy" of God. He trusted partly in the sacrifice of Jesus and partly in his own honest walk and conversation. Attending regularly upon the ordinances of the church, he sought to bring up his family "in the fear of the Lord.”
One of the visitors asked the farmer what he was reading, and he answered that it was the fifth chapter of John's first epistle. "But," he added, "I don't 'see' it.”
Without further preface the visitor said: "We met three cows and two men as we came up the road; do you believe me?”
"Yes," replied the old man.
"How can you so readily believe my word, the saying of a stranger you never saw before?”
"Oh, I have no reason to doubt your word."
"Then you simply receive my witness to the fact?"
"Yes, I do.”
"Then turn to the ninth verse of the chapter before you. 'If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which He hath testified of His Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made Him a liar: because he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life; he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.'”
There was a solemn pause. Evidently the conviction of the simplicity of the truth was taking hold of the listener's soul. "The entrance of Thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding to the simple.”
The good wife returned home at that moment. She was a rejoicing child of God, and when told the story of meeting the cows and the men, immediately confirmed it, saying, "It was your brother Sandy and his neighbor driving the cows.”
Thus in the mouths of three witnesses was the fact established. It was called to the attention of the farmer that God has given on earth three witnesses to His accomplished redemption: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree (verses 6 and 8).
What more could man require? Believe them, and you will find peace.
The old man received light in his doubting soul and rested in God's precious Word. Now there was joy in that humble cottage, and after freely partaking of new milk and bread, they departed. How thankful they were to have been a help to the doubting old man, and to be used thus for their dear Lord's glory!