Mr. R. was a God-fearing man. He was the father of six children, but was taken away from them when the oldest was twelve and the youngest but two years of age. None of the children knew the Lord at this time, and to human eye the case might have looked unpromising enough; but God honors faith, and this father had not counted upon His sure word in vain. Before the Lord called him home, he had been heard supplicating for his children, and commending them each by name to the blessed One in whom he had learned to trust. And, as we shall see, everyone of these dear children was brought under the power of the truth, and made to rejoice in Jesus.
Mr. R. had been an industrious man, and had managed well. Everything he touched seemed to prosper under his hand, and his house was characterized by peace and plenty. But after his death, all was changed; ill management soon brought pressure, and the poor mother had many a struggle through which to pass. At times her distress was great, and she was known to seek a quiet, secluded spot, and there cast herself upon the ground, and mourn and cry to the Lord. Her sorrows and troubles wore upon her, and in four years from the time she was bereft, she, too, was called away, and the children were left without father or mother. They continued together in the old homestead, among the hills and heather of bonnie Scotland, seeking to console and to help one another as best they could.
Not long after the mother’s death, one of the boys, Harry, was taken ill with scarlet fever. The disease took strong, hold of him and there was no hope of his recovery. The dear boy was very thoughtful, and evidently was concerned about his salvation. One day he asked the servant girl to get the Bible and read to him about the Passover. When the passage desired was found and read, Harry said, “Aye, that’s just what I want—its all in the blood.”
Have you, dear reader, learned the deep, important lesson that Harry learned in the hour of his extremity—its all in the blood? Your own efforts will never bring salvation; they will never win heaven for you. Nothing but the blood of Jesus will make you clean; it is through that precious blood, and. that alone, that forgiveness of sins may be known. As dear Harry said, It’s all in the blood.
After speaking in this way he asked the girl to read the chapter in Luke which speaks of Christ’s death; and when she had done so his heart seemed satisfied. He said, “That will do.” Next day he passed away to be with the Lord.
A few years later, the youngest child, then nine or ten years of age, got very sick and they thought she must die. Knowing the fears that her brothers and sisters entertained, little Mary became alarmed about her soul, for, although so young, she knew that she was not ready to meet God. There was a verse of a hymn that she had often read and sung; it ran thus,
“This Jesus did your sins forgive;
“He now invites us all;
“For us He died that we might live,
“Then crown Him Lord of all.”
She reasoned from this, If Jesus died that I might live, then I have life. But she was not fully satisfied with this. The Lord was leading His little one to Himself, but all was not yet clear. One day she was reading in her Testament, and she came to this verse, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.” This proved to be God’s word to her soul; its entrance gave light; now all doubts were gone and her soul was anchored on the Rock. The Lord restored health to the body also, and she was spared to grow up and to be a witness for Him.
Shortly after Mary’s illness an Evangelist came into their neighborhood, and the children went to hear him. A true sound went forth from his lips, and one after another of the four remaining children was turned to the Lord until all were rejoicing in Him. Then, in the fulness of their hearts, these dear young people started a prayer-meeting in their own house, and soon others came in and got help and blessing. An Uncle, who had something of an oversight over them, was bitter and much opposed, and he tried to stop their prayer-meeting, hut this was not allowed of the Lord. Something of reproach and persecution came from others also. People in general were saying these children were crazy; and they looked upon it as terrible presumption that they should dare to say that they were saved. But they went on, having the Lord before them, and seeking to please Him. And precious fruit was borne to the Lord, the uncle who had so opposed them being brought among others, to know Him.
Would that there were more of such faithfulness now! Then would there be fuller blessing.
ML 07/24/1904