THE postman is a welcome visitor at every door. People like to hear his knock, and run to receive their letters from his hand. Sometimes he is looked for with anxious fears, sometimes with joyous hopes. Sometimes he brings bad news, filling the eyes with tears and the house with gloom, sometimes he brings gladsome tidings, making the heart rejoice. Long and earnestly had Widow B― looked for the postman's coming. Her only boy had sailed for a foreign shore, and the full time for a promised letter, telling of his arrival, had expired. Day after day she watched, and saw the postman pass the gate. At length his knock was heard, and she bounded to the door. A letter from abroad was handed in addressed to her, but in a stranger's hand-writing. Anxiously she opened and read it, and burst into tears. Her boy was lying sick in a hospital among strangers in a foreign land. She believed the sad tidings, and her heart was filled with sorrow. Anxiety and fear filled her mind, and for many days she lived in suspense, dreading what the next mail might bring. The postman's knock was heard again, and she opened the door with a trembling hand. With joyful surprise, she received a letter in her own Willie's hand-writing, containing the joyful news that he was now quite well, and happy in his new situation. The widow believed the gladsome news, and her heart was filled with thanksgiving and joy, and she hastened to her next-door neighbor to make known the joyful tidings. The belief of the sad news filled her with anxiety: the belief of the glad news filled her with assurance and peace. Now, it is just so with us when we believe God's word. That word tells us of "tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man that doeth evil:" it says, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." When the sinner believes these solemn words as they concern himself, he is made anxious.
Reader, have you been made anxious by believing them, or are you at ease because you have turned a deaf ear to these solemn facts? You may be at ease in your sins, and happy on your way to the pit, but this is gained by closing your ears to the truth of God. Nevertheless God has spoken, and His word is truth. But the Gospel brings good tidings from the same God. It declares "Christ died for the ungodly," and "he that believeth on Him is not condemned." Whoever believes the Gospel's message is filled with peace and joy just as that widow was by believing her son's letter. It was not her feelings, or her experiences, but the words of the letter received by faith that gave her joy and peace, and it is belief of the truth concerning Christ and His finished work that gives peace with God and joy unspeakable. Theirs is the knowledge and assurance of salvation, and they say, "Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid.”