AT the request of Mrs. S., a Christian widow, we started forth one fine summer’s morning to see her son, who had returned from his place of business in London very dangerously ill.
On entering his room we saw an interesting-looking young man stretched upon his bed, and tossing to and fro, his pale, pensive face expressive of great anxiety and pain. We sat down by his side, when the sun suddenly threw a blaze of light upon his face. He could not bear its light, so we rose, and gently drew the curtain to shut out its bright rays, secretly lifting up out heart to the Lord that He would arise upon the soul of this young man with healing in His wings.
We said a few words to the sufferer, hoping to discover the state of his mind, but he seemed to be in so much pain that he could not speak; so, after a short prayer, we had to leave him, with much grief, looking to the great and ever-present Physician to heal and sustain him, and to comfort his mother, who was well-nigh overwhelmed with the sorrow which had so suddenly and unexpectedly overtaken her.
On our second visit we found the young man in less pain, and soon discovered that he was suffering not only from pain of body, but from the pangs of conscience also, and that the weight of sin pressed heavily upon his spirit night and day, with the fear of coming death and judgment. We directed him at once to the one Saviour of the lost, and reminded him of His kind invitation to the weary and heavy laden to come to Him with the assurance that He would give him rest — rest from the accusations of a guilty conscience, its bondage and fear, through His own atoning blood, thus proving Himself in the experience of all who believe to be the anointed Saviour, of whom it is written, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me; because the Lord hath anointed Me to preach good tidings unto the meek He hath sent Me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified.” (Isa. 61:1-3)
Before leaving him again we took up his Testament, lying by his side upon the bed, and underlined the following words with a pencil: “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth. For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed.”
(Rom. 10:4-11.)
These words we asked him to read over and over again, praying that the Holy Spirit would give him light to see their meaning, and the fullness and freeness of the salvation there is in Christ. After a few words of prayer, in which, with much feeling, the young man joined, we departed.
The next day, on entering his room, we observed at once a great change in the expression of our young friend’s face — the overwhelming anxiety and depression were gone, and the sweet light of cheerful peace and hope beamed from his eyes. He stretched forth his hand, and took hold of ours with great warmth of feeling, and to our joy we speedily discovered that, in the night, the blessed Spirit had, through the words we had marked, so anointed his eyes that he had not only seen salvation in Christ, but, embracing Him and it, had found peace, and had entered into rest. His experience was indeed a sweet illustration of the truth of God, as expressed by the poet: ―
“There is a Friend we often miss,
E’en ‘mid the light of day;
And none so near, ‘mid grief or bliss,
Yet none so far away.
We often look, yet do not see,
And hear, but will not heed;
So blunder on in mystery,
And wonder none loth lead.
“We seek for gold, remaining poor,
For fame at any cost;
Then when we count life’s jewels o’er,
Oft find the best are lost.
We toil to build, and then confess
Our house is but a tomb,
And through our very weariness
Declare we have no home.
“This Friend once found, we find love’s store,
And pure unfailing light,
Where beauty blossoms evermore
With ever fresh delight.
True peace here shows her smiling face,
And hope which never dies,
Sweet sympathy with tender grace,
And joy which sorrow flies.
“Upon the lowly, broken heart
His face will only shine,
The light and love of Heaven impart,
Thus show that all is thine.”
After this great deliverance, our young friend continued to linger here in much suffering and physical depression for some months, but never lost his confidence in Christ, or sense of peace with God; and, stooping down to hear his last words, when faint and feeble in the valley of death, we caught the accents of his quiet and assured confidence and joy in the prospect of future glory.
Some few days, however, before his departure he said, “It is but right that I should tell you, dear friend, to the praise of Jesus and His free grace to me, that I have brought all this affliction upon myself. When I went, a few years ago, to my situation in London yielded to temptation, and, instead of listening to the voice of conscience and being influenced by the example, prayers, and parting words of my dear mother, I yielded to the solicitations of other young men with whom I was associated during the day in business. I accompanied them night after night to scenes of pleasure and dissipation, the ultimate issue of which, and other habits of sin, was the loss of my health and the development of this fatal disease.”
A few days after, having thus unburdened his heart, desiring to the last to exalt the love and grace of Christ, he departed, breathing forth his spirit into the bosom of his redeeming Lord. As we gazed upon his young, calm face in the chamber of death we praised God for another token of His salvation and grace to sinners.
This interesting incident and illustration of the love of Christ and freeness of His grace has also an aspect of love and warning, especially to the young. And what does it say? Remember the prayers and example of your parents when you first start in life.
Do not yield to the solicitations of those who would lead you only into scenes of dissipation, temptation, and danger. Remember the solemn words, “My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.”
Do not neglect secret prayer and reading of the word of God.
Lean not upon your own strength or wisdom to preserve you, but seek grace constantly from Christ to keep, guide, and direct you every moment. “In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.”
Remember there is no help in doubt or despondency, and that death dwells in despair; and let a deep consciousness of sin and weakness lead you at once to trust in Christ, resting upon His finished work only for your salvation and acceptance with God, and believe that the very faith by which you do this is His best gift, and declares that He has received you. And you will realize that such love, and peace, and liberty will flow out of this as will break the dominion of sin within, enable you to obey and follow Christ, and overcome the world, flesh, and the devil. W.P.B