MANY were the weary months the subject of this paper had spent, when abroad, in the vain search for rest of heart by means of good resolutions and prayers. At one time upon the hill-top, and at another in the valley; today rejoicing, and tomorrow despairing; at one moment coming to Jesus as Saviour, shortly afterward dreading Him as Judge; he realized in very truth those sad lines which are so expressive of the state of many a soul at the present day―
“‘Tis a point I long to know,
Oft it causes anxious thought, ―
Do I love the Lord or no?
Am I His, or am I not?”
Is this your state, dear reader?
At length, one Lord’s Day evening, in a dissenting chapel in Hertfordshire, during the course of an address based upon 2 Samuel 23:1515And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate! (2 Samuel 23:15)― “Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!”―utterance was given to the following words, which he had never noticed before, and now admired as peculiarly beautiful and striking― “My sheep... shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand” (John 10:2828And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (John 10:28)).
But days and months passed away, and from his memory these words likewise passed away, thus leaving the point he longed to know still a matter of uncertainty and doubt. Prayers, good resolutions, self-examinations and regrets, were carried on with unabated vigor, until (for so the Lord had ordered it) a gospel magazine fell into his hands, the first chapter of which was founded upon the words― “My sheep... shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”
They were at once recognized, and an interest in them was again revived, the mind being drawn off for awhile to Jesus, from whose lips alone such gracious words could proceed. As before, so now, they were admired—but only admired, and not received into the soul “mixed with faith.” However, the Lord was still waiting to be gracious.
Many weeks after this event there was a Church of England missionary meeting in the town, and he was present. Being somewhat dejected and cast down, he had chosen a seat in a remote corner of the room, from whence he listened with an earnestness those only can understand who have known what it is to sigh and long for peace.
Amongst the speakers at this meeting was a dear clergyman, who had formerly been a missionary in India. At the close of an affectionate and solemn address, he turned his face towards the anxious one, and pointing at him with his finger said, with never-to-be-forgotten emphasis and power― “I believe that when once a sinner becomes a child of God, he is always a child; when once he is known as a sheep of the Good Shepherd, he is always a sheep― ‘my sheep... shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.’”
It was enough. The truth was known at last. The cords that bound him were loosened by the hands of the Good Shepherd; and peace and joy flowed into the troubled heart, and calmed the anxious soul which the truth had now set free. Thus the long and bitter experience of Romans 7 was exchanged for the glorious sunshine and liberty of Romans 8.
Coming out of the meeting that night he ran to his home with a joyful heart, repeating over and over again to himself those precious and soul-emancipating words― “Never perish!” “Never perish!” “Never perish!”
Dear reader, are you one of the sheep of the Lord Jesus? He says― “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”
“Peace, what a precious sound!
Tell it the world around
Christ hath made peace!
Our souls are brought to God
By His awning blood,
And crowned with every good:
Christ hath made peace.”
N. L. N.