I was brought up religiously and taught to read and reverence the Bible. In our home the Sabbath was rigidly kept, and the whole family had to appear in the village church, morning and evening. My father was a God-fearing man, but I never heard him speak of salvation as being a present possession. He was "seeking it earnestly." There was nothing in the preaching to show how a sinner could be saved and know it, and I do not remember ever hearing anyone say they had salvation.
A family came to the neighborhood, and two of the sons began Sunday evening meetings. A good many went out of curiosity to hear what they would say, as "lay" preaching was altogether unknown in our parish. They read a chapter, spoke shortly and simply on it, and finished by each telling the story of his conversion. That did arouse opposition, and a lot of hard things were said behind the young men's backs for their "presumption." But I did not think it presumption at all, for they showed from the Word of God simply and clearly that it was within the reach of everyone of us to be saved, and as sure of it as they were.
"He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed."
"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid upon Him the iniquity of us all."
I put in "me" and "my," and read the verses as a personal confession of my own faith in the Lord Jesus, and I had the knowledge of my salvation that hour. Years have come and gone, but my soul is still at rest in Christ, "by whose stripes I am healed."