I SHOULD like to tell you about two aged people whom I saw a few days ago, when I was visiting a “home” for the sick and infirm. I then heard from their lips such expressions of faith and confidence in God, that my heart was uplifted in praise to Him for that wondrous love, which is able to give true happiness, whatever the earthly surroundings and circumstances may be. One of these women, Mrs. M., lying on her bed, suffering great pain, made a touching and striking remark to me: “Long ago I gave my body and soul to the Lord Jesus Christ. He is my Rock and my Saviour, and I am well-cemented on that Rock!” This was said with deep feeling, and it plainly showed me that she knew how secure she was and is in Him.
βOn Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.β
It seems to me that this dear woman, in her simple way, gave utterance to a sublime truth; she knows that the sheep of Christ shall “never perish, neither shall any pluck them out” of His hand, that the believer is as truly connected with Him as the members of the body with the head; and it is her joy to rest in the assurance that, by God’s grace, she is so “well cemented” on the Rock that no storm can ever move her from that place of safety. “For who is God save the Lord? or who is a Rock save our God?” (Psa. 18:31.)
To see Mrs. S. I had to go to the top of the house, and I found her in a very small room, which she has “all to herself,” a privilege which she quite appreciates. For seventeen years she has occupied this “little chamber.” Many persons might think hers a very miserable lot, but if they were to pay her a visit, see her bright, cheery face, and listen to what she has to say, they would very soon change their opinion; it is probable that they would come away convinced that in all Queen Victoria’s vast dominions there is not a happier woman than Mrs. S.
I said to her, “Do you ever feel dull or lonely?” and, with a sweet smile, she answered, “With Christ in the heart, one is never lonely”
I then observed, “I have been told that, when little books or tracts are given to you, you throw them away—is that a true report?”
“Oh, quite true,” she replied. “I always throw them away, but not until I have read them first;” and then, as if she saw that I was expecting an explanation, she added, “I make them up into little parcels, open my window, often when the train comes up in the station just below, and throw my tracts out, asking my Heavenly Father to direct them to the right person, and make them a means of blessing. Although I am always up here in my little room, I know something of what is going on in the world, and when I think of the attacks now made on my Bible—my precious Bible!—men teaching that there is no eternal punishment for the unbeliever, it makes me all the more anxious to do anything that I can to circulate what is worth reading. And so, ma’am, as I cannot walk about and give away tracts, I am glad to throw them away out of my window.”
In answer to a question of mine about her eye-sight, she said, “I can see very well, thank God; I can see to sew. Lately I have had a little needlework to do, and so I have earned some money.” Then pointing to a neat black print dress, which was lying upon her bed, she said, “With my earnings I bought that dress, and made it. I thought to myself ‘All things are yours, and ye are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s,’ and surely my Lord would not have me go shabby when He possesses all things.”
A lady has lately given her a small paraffin stove, in readiness for next winter, to warm her room. “Ah,” said Mrs. S., “but I may be in heaven before then. I am looking for my Lord to come, and then we shall all be caught up ‘to be with Him.’”
As I sat in this room, with its bright, happy occupant, I was forcibly reminded of Madame Guyon’s lines—
βA little bird I am,
Shut from the fields of air,
But in my cage I sit and sing
To Him who placed me there.
Well pleased a prisoner to be,
Because, my Lord, it pleaseth Thee.β
“Perfect peace” is the portion of those whose minds are “stayed” on God; the love of Christ, His “perfect love, casteth out fear.” Reader, are you happy? Do you enjoy this “perfect peace”? Can you say, “With Christ in the heart, one is never lonely?” If not, I hope you will think seriously of what you have been reading about these two aged Christians, and may you, ere long, know what it is fully to trust in Him who is the Rock, the Fortress, and the Deliverer of all who come unto Him. H. L. T.