In one of the large steamers bound for India lay an engineer on his bed, suffering from a malady which, to all appearance, must soon end in death.
A mate of his came to his bunk one day, and in a frank way said, “Bill, you seem to be suffering a great deal.”
“Yes,” replied the sick man; “but, O Tom, the suffering of my body is nothing compared to what I am suffering in my mind. I am dying, and going to hell! ―do pray for me.”
Tom was speechless, but the poor sufferer continued, in tones of agony, beseeching him to pray. Torn said with sadness and distress, “I cannot pray, Bill, I have never prayed, and don’t know how.”
The dying man again besought him, when suddenly his mate recalled a verse of Scripture which when a child he had heard in a Sunday school. These are the words: “The blood of Jesus Christ God’s Son, cleanseth us from all sin.” So, falling on his knees he prayed, “Oh, Lord, here are two dreadful sinners; save my mate and me! One drop of Thy blood is enough for us both.”
They wept together, and prayer arose from those two hearts, to Him who loves to listen, and who needs not words well ordered and arranged, but understands a sigh, a groan, when the heart is too full to speak.
He heard their cry, and saw their tears of true repentance, and spoke peace to the troubled soul of the dying man. When some hours after Torn asked him, “Do you really believe?” he answered, “Yes, I do. I can see my way quite clear.”
Faith is the way of life;
Believe in Christ and live;
Fly to the shelter of His blood,
And peace with God receive.
Some time after, Bill, the engineer, passed away in perfect peace, in the full assurance that “the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, cleanseth us from all sin,” and that he, sinner though he was, was cleansed and made fit to enter the presence of Him who loved him, and is gone before to prepare a place in the mansions in the Father’s house for all who believe on Him.
The other engineer still lives to praise the Lord, who drew him, a poor lost sinner, to Himself; and he delights to tell of the matchless grace and love that snatched him and his mate as brands from the burning.
Surely the God of all grace and love can, and does, work in mysterious ways His wonders to perform, and whether on land or sea, can draw to Himself those who shall be to the glory of His grace.
“This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” E.S.