A True Incident.
SOME years ago, a lad employed in one of the large steel works in an important seaport and manufacturing town of South Wales, was sent by one of the “roller-men” to fetch something for him in another part of the building.
As he was running across the iron-plated floor, which is in many places as slippery as ice, his foot slipped and became entangled in the wheel of a bogie, which is the name given in the works to an iron barrow with a long T handle. Upon the barrow there lay a bloom of steel, about seven feet long and eight inches square, at white heat, and some men were employed in wheeling it from the steam hammer to the mill. In falling the poor boy was thrown down on his face, and, upsetting the barrow, the hot steel fell across his back as he lay upon the floor.
It was, of course, impossible for anyone to touch the red hot steel with the hand, but the men ran as quickly as possible, and seizing some iron bars, removed the burning mass from his back. The man who cut off his clothes told me his flesh fell from him in charred shreds. After this the boy, who stood in the midst of about sixty godless, swearing men, put his hands together and said: “O God, only yesterday I was fighting with another boy, and now I am dying; have mercy upon me, and forgive all my sins, for Jesus Christ’s sake, Amen.” This prayer went right home to the hearts of these men. It was not only a cry of agony, but self-judgment, and yet full of faith. It is impossible to describe the frightful sufferings which that boy endured, or the terrible condition in which he was carried for over two miles before reaching the hospital.
I had every Saturday evening for some years past visited the hospital to which he was taken, to hold services, and speak words of comfort to the patients in the different wards. While reading in my study on this particular day, I heard a distinct voice say, “Go down to the hospital.” Thinking perhaps I had made a promise to one of the patients, I tried to recall it, but failed, so continued my reading, when the same words were repeated. I went at once, which was on Thursday, contrary to my usual custom. It does seem remarkable that I was, led to do this, for as soon as I arrived the Matron came out to me, saying: “Oh! I am so glad you have come today; I was thinking of sending for you. A poor boy has just been brought in who has been frightfully burned in one of the steel works; he is in such great agony, and I do not think he can live many hours.” I hastened up to the long ward, which contained about twenty-five beds, where I found the poor fellow placed upon an iron bedstead. As I entered the ward, there seemed a strange and solemn silence brooding over it. There was no subdued conversation going on as usual between the patients in the beds, or between the little groups of the convalescent gathered round the windows or the fires. Feeling that every moment was of great importance, I went at once to the boy’s bed, which was placed in a corner near the door. For this I was thankful, as it gave me the opportunity of speaking to him more privately than I could otherwise have done. His body was covered with wadding soaked with oil, and a cage of iron was placed over him to prevent the bed-clothes touching him.
“My boy,” I said, “you are in very great pain I fear,”
“Yes, sir, ―dreadful pain.”
“Do you know that you are a sinner in God’s sight?”
“No, NOT NOW, sir.”
“Tell me why you are not a sinner NOW.”
“Because,” said he, “when the accident happened I prayed like this: ― ‘O God! have mercy upon me, and forgive me all my sins, for Jesus Christ’s sake. ―Amen.’”
“But, my boy, do you think that because you offered that short prayer to God, asking for mercy and forgiveness of your sins, that they are all pardoned?”
“Yes, sir, everyone.”
“Praise the Lord!” I thought. Oh, what simple and yet grand faith the lad must have to grasp the willingness of a loving God to pardon a penitent sinner. It was, indeed, like the parable of the publican, in the Gospel, who said, “God be merciful to me a sinner”; who, we are told, went down to his house justified rather than the Pharisee. And also like the penitent thief upon the cross, condemning himself, but preaching the guiltlessness of Him who “was numbered with the transgressors, and who bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors” (Isa. 53:1212Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. (Isaiah 53:12)), to Whom he cried, acknowledging Jesus as “Lord, remember me when Thou comest in Thy kingdom.” No sooner was the penitent’s prayer offered than the gracious answer came (as it will to all who are willing to ask in faith, as he did) from Him who, although in the agony of death, would freely embrace the opportunity of showing forth His wondrous forgiving love; snatching, as it were, a very brand from the burning; giving him the blessed assurance of pardon and peaceful felicity― “This day shalt thou be with Me in paradise.” Oh, what matchless love and grace, shown to one who had but a short time before railed against Him!
I felt anxious to know that the dear boy was not resting upon any false foundation. I therefore selected several portions of Scripture that I thought appropriate and read them to him. After talking with him for some time, it rejoiced my heart to find that he evidently knew the way of salvation through a crucified Redeemer, and seemed to fully comprehend the epitome of the glorious Gospel― “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” After singing and praying with him I left, little thinking that I should ever see him again alive in this world; but the Spirit of the Lord was evidently guiding the whole matter, that I might have the experience by which I could give testimony to the world of God’s wonderful power and saving grace, as manifested in this true incident, which, I rejoice in being able to testify, has been such a great blessing to many.
On the following Saturday evening, as usual, I went to the hospital, and was surprised to find that he was still alive, though suffering great pain. When I reached the ward, with the Matron, I shall never forget the very touching scene I witnessed. At the foot of the lad’s bed were seated his father, and three young men by the side who saw the terrible accident. They were watching him, thinking every breath would be his last. I had not been there more than a few moments when, in a clear voice, the boy said: “Father, come and kiss me, FOR IN FIVE MINUTES I SHALL BE IN HEAVEN.” As you may imagine, he went, but with streaming eyes, and kissed his dying boy.
Then he said to one of the young men: “Jack, come you and kiss me, FOR IN FIVE MINUTES I SHALL BE IN HEAVEN.”
Again, to another: “Jim, come you and kiss me, FOR IN FIVE MINUTES I SHALL BE IN HEAVEN.”
Again, to the third young man, whose name I quite forget, repeating the same words: “Come you and kiss me, FOR IN FIVE MINUTES I SHALL BE IN HEAVEN.”
And was this all? Oh, no! In a few moments he seemed to gather up all his strength. He burst forth with one of the most powerful prayers I ever heard, so clear that it was heard through the whole ward, which was a large one; it was like the voice of another, and not that of a dying boy of about fourteen years old.
Yes, for so it must have been, as you, my dear reader, may imagine from the strain of such a prayer as this which he uttered: ― “O Lord God Almighty, have mercy upon my father, who has not been a praying father; he never taught me how to pray. Have mercy upon my mother, who has not been a praying mother. Have mercy upon my brothers and sisters, my uncles, and aunts, and cousins, and all my friends, and may we all meet in heaven at last, for Jesus Christ’s sake. ―Amen.”
A profound silence ensued; all the patients in that long ward were in tears; and when I went round to speak individually to them, many said, “I never heard anything like that before.” A solemn, hallowed influence pervaded the place.
I thought what they had seen, heard, and felt, had better be left to make a lasting impression upon their minds. My usual service, after such a wonderful display of the leading and power of God’s Holy Spirit and grace, might, perhaps, divert their thoughts from deep searchings of heart as to whether they were prepared for the final change.
Dear reader, are You ready for Heaven?
If not, when will You be?
What a momentous question; yet how lightly treated by the many, although surrounded by so many dangers. At any moment an accident, the slip of the foot, a runaway horse, the upsetting of a boat, a fall from a bicycle, a blow from a cricket ball, cramp while bathing, a thousand other unforeseen things might happen, being made unconscious, or even called away suddenly―What then? What will be the answer to the inquiry: “WHERE IS HE GONE?” Is it to be forever in glory with a loving Saviour, and the redeemed ones gone before, singing praise to Him who is worthy; or to that place where there is No Hope, No Rest, No Love, No Light, in fact, nothing to satisfy the craving of an immortal soul?
Dear reader, stop and think! Where are you going now? What will your last five minutes be?
You may ask, “Is it possible to be ready?” Surely, yes! or the Lord Jesus would not have said: “Be ye therefore ready also; for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not” (Luke 12:4040Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not. (Luke 12:40)).
St. Paul was able to say with confidence, “I am now ready to be offered” (2 Tim. 4:66For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. (2 Timothy 4:6)); and if it was possible for him to say this, “Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious” (1 Tim. 1:1313Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. (1 Timothy 1:13)), you may, if you will only come, like the Philippian jailer, being convinced of your sins, and feeling the need of a Saviour as he did when he cried, in the anguish of his soul, “What must I do to be saved?” How sweet and simple the answer, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)). O blessed salvation! What priceless worth! Yet nothing to pay!
Saved now; where I am, and how I am! do I hear you say? Yes! saved from all your sins; not in part, but the whole. God’s work is perfect and complete. Listen, thou longing, restless soul to the voice of Jesus in answer to one seeking rest: “Her sins, which are many, are (not going to be) forgiven:... Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace” (Luke 7:47-5047Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. 48And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. 49And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? 50And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace. (Luke 7:47‑50)). Will you, then, weary and heavy laden one,
Trust Jesus Now?
Oh, may the recording angel hear thee saying: “Yes, God helping me, I will take the Lord Jesus Christ to be my Saviour from today and forever.”
“A mind at perfect peace with God;
Oh! what a word is this;
A sinner, reconciled through blood;
This, this, indeed, is peace.”
Making inquiries after his death, I found that he had been in the habit of attending the Gospel Services of a very devoted evangelist, who preached in a large hall, where he had evidently learned the way of salvation, although he had not accepted or confessed it.
I was glad to hear some months after this occurrence that the dying boy’s prayer had been answered. The father was so very much affected by it that he could find no rest until he found it at the cross of Jesus, where true rest and peace alone can be found. The mother and some of her children shortly afterward were brought to Christ also.
My earnest prayer is that this touching story may be blessed by the Holy Spirit to all who read it.
“Our life hangs trembling on each fleeting breath,
Awaiting but the unerring stroke of death―
Who summons oft without a warning word,
As lightning strikes before the thunder’s heard;
Go―live prepared, then sudden death shall be
A sudden immortality to thee!”
“Ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the Lord” (Jer. 29:1313And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13)).
FRED. JNO. RAYNER