MANY years ago I was told by a lady of much refinement and considerable means, how the Lord had turned her from the gay frivolities of this world, to trust in the living God through Jesus. The record of this may help one similarly situated, or others.
This lady’s well-appointed home was handsomely furnished, and with a full complement of servants and carriage at her command, her life was easy, so far as exemption from toil was concerned. Her husband was kind and much attached, while affectionate sons and daughters were growing up around her, thus bringing much natural pleasure to the heart.
God, in His mercy, then stepped in on that worldly scene, and in His own perfect ways brought a blessing in disguise. For there came a time, when of that large family one and all were laid aside with scarlet fever. They were carefully tended by a skillful doctor, so that, with the blessing of God, all recovered with the exception of one, a girl who had been long delicate. She was then just entering her teens, and was somewhat deaf. No wonder then that she had become her mother’s special care, and also might have been justly called her favorite. That dear mother, however, was so affectionate and kind that she could only be loving to all.
God touched a tender spot, that her thoughts might be raised to Him in the sore distress of her bereaved heart, when her beloved child was taken. Alone, by the corpse, she sat all night in an agony of mind, only broken in upon, towards morning, as her eye lighted on a Bible in the room.
“Ah!” she thought, taking it up, “if there is comfort anywhere I shall find it here!” In a nervous hap-hazard way she opened the Book at the prophecy of Isaiah 2:18: “And the idols He shall utterly abolish.” “Yes,” she exclaimed, “God has taken my idol!” and hard thoughts of the all-wise One filled her mind in her sorrow.
Gradually, however, the light shone in from on high, and this precious soul saw, what in nature’s darkness she could not, viz., that she had been found out— “Be sure your sin will find you out” (Num. 32:2323But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the Lord: and be sure your sin will find you out. (Numbers 32:23)). “The entrance of Thy words giveth light” (Psa. 119:130130The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. (Psalm 119:130)). Thus had the heart of this suffering worldly mother been detected by the light of God on a page which she might never have scanned but for her bereavement. Her heart’s cherished idol had been taken, and she could only own to herself the justice and wisdom of God in this.
“Line upon line, line upon line, precept upon precept, precept upon precept,” became her portion, until she learned from the Scriptures, by the Spirit’s teaching, her true state before God. A sinner needing a Saviour soon found that a gracious Saviour was seeking her. As her understanding thus became enlightened, her heart got a new Object for its adoration. Like Mary of old, she then could say, “My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour” (Luke 2:46, 4746And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. 47And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. (Luke 2:46‑47)).
This was the happy state of that dear soul when I first knew her, and it was her joy to talk with me of our crucified, risen, and returning Saviour. By that short grave, where rested the dust of her beloved child, we spoke together, with full hearts of a love above and beyond that of nature. Now her dust rests there, and her spirit is with the Lord she loved “till He come.”
G. W.