THE toil of the summer day was over at last, and Mr. T’s shop was closed for the night; at least, so he thought. But there was a ring at the bell; it was the mail-cart driver, who had come in for a little friendly chat. He had recently met with an accident while driving the cart; it had been overturned, and he had been thrown out over the hedge.
“If your neck had been broken, John, instead of your arm, where would your soul have gone?”
The arrow struck home. All that John could stammer out in reply was, “To hell, I am afraid."
Several months passed, and Mr. T. was away from home on one of his business tours, when, at a house at which he called, he was accosted by an elderly man, whom he recognized as John's father, who asked him to see his son, who was seriously ill.
Mr. T. looked at his watch, and said, “It is only ten minutes before my train starts." But the anxious father was importunate. “If you mean to see him at all, you must see him now, for I fear he has not long to live."
“Train or no train," thought Mr. T., “this is God's call." So he turned back.
“Mr. T., do you remember having spoken to John about his soul, when he was thrown out of the cart? That word has stuck to him."
Yes, the question, “Where would your soul have been?” had searched the inmost heart of the poor sufferer, who lay exhausted with pain upon his bed.
“You are nearing eternity, John," said Mr. T. " Are you ready to go-ready to enter into the presence of God?”
“I don't know. I can't make out at all," was the disconsolate reply. He knew not whether he was lost or saved, but said, “I should like to be sure, one way or the other." Confronted with the solemn realities of eternity, all was uncertainty and gloom.
“Have you never read 'God is love'?" “Yes," John answered, “I have."
"Have you not read too that 'God is light'?" “I think I have read that somewhere."
“But have you not faced the fact ' that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all '?" enquired Mr. T.
"No, I have not thought much about it," answered John wearily, “only I don't feel ready to die."
“Ah, John! I know too well where you are, for I am sure there have been sins in your case, as there were also in mine; sins, deeds of wickedness, which I had myself committed, and which made me feel that I dared not meet God. Has it not been so, John? "
“Yes, it has," was the sorrowful reply.
“And now you are entering into the presence of Him who dwelleth in the light, which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see. How can you bear to stand before the great white throne, when the books shall be opened, and the dead shall be judged out of those things which are written in the books according to their works? Are you ready to die—are you saved, or are you lost? "
“Oh, I know! I know now! I am a lost soul. I am not saved. I never was." The poor sufferer trembled as he spoke. The Word of God, applied by the Spirit, had searched John through and through, and had laid bare his soul's most secret springs.
“You may think I am dealing hardly with you, John, at this your time of extreme weakness, in bringing before you such truths," said Mr. T. gently. “But this is God's way, His own blessed way of making you feel and know your need of a Savior. Now, concerning your lost condition, God would have you know the provision He has made. He has said, ' I have found a ransom,' and for whom—for the righteous or the sinner, for the saved or the: lost? "
“Oh, I know it is for the lost," he answered, “but I don't understand how." Taking the Bible, Mr. T. read from Lev. 1:44And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him. (Leviticus 1:4) these words, “And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him." " Who said It shall be accepted for him,' John?" and then, handing him the book, Mr. T. showed him that it is the Lord who speaks, and enquired, if such being the case, the Israelite could rest satisfied.
John was sure he could, and for this reason, “Because God had said atonement was made for him."
Mr. T. then turned to the words, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world"; also,” He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed," and asked, “Do you believe this?”
John believed, but he did not feel, and he hesitated. His friend pressed him earnestly to rest on the word of God—"With His stripes we are healed" and not to refuse the gracious word.
"No, I must not—I will not do that! I don't feel it, but I now take God at His word," exclaimed the young man earnestly.
“Well, John, ' let God be true, but every man a liar.' "
The end of this conversation was that John was enabled to say, “Yes I trust and I thank Him. I feel it too now. He has saved my soul! I know it now! Oh, I can praise Him! I can praise Him, for He has saved my soul!"
His testimony was bright, and his confession of his Savior clear and outspoken. He delighted to tell all who came near him what great things God had done for his soul.
And the same loving Savior, who was so gracious to poor John, waits to be gracious also to thee, poor anxious soul. Take courage, come to Him as John did, simply taking Him at His word. A. J.