THE subject of this story, William B., was once a careless man and a drunkard, but God was pleased to reveal Christ to him. He and his wife heard that they were lost and ruined sinners, and that nothing but the blood of Christ could wash away their sins. They both became happy Christians, and together trod the heavenly road.
William soon began to work for the Lord who loved him. As he and his wife were constantly reviled for their religion by the people with whom they lodged, they removed to the house of a widow. William spoke to her of Jesus and His love to poor sinners. To his surprise, he found that this was no new tale to the poor widow. With many tears, she told him that in years gone by she had been led to believe in Christ, to know Him as her Saviour, and to rejoice in His salvation. But she had left her first love; the world had taken hold of her heart and drawn it away from her Lord; little by little she had backslidden, till now she seemed to have no love for Him, nor any hope of heaven.
William's earnest words fell with power on her soul, and his heartfelt pleadings at the throne of grace on her behalf were heard and answered. The Lord revealed Himself afresh to the widow, and healed her backslidings, and she was full of thankfulness to God, who had not left her to herself, but had sent His servant to bring back His wandering sheep. Truly, there was joy in that humble home, as together they blessed God for His love and grace to them.
When William was first brought to God he was unable to read, but as he desired to study God's word for himself, he set diligently to work, and soon was able to spell out a chapter in his Bible.
One Sunday evening he was speaking in the street of Jesus' dying love. His language was simple, but his heart was full, and out of its abundance his lips spoke. As he finished speaking a man came up to him, and told him that his words that night had saved him from self-destruction. "My children are in want of bread," he said; "I have no work, and I cannot bear to see them starve, and my drinking has done it all. I meant to drown 'myself tonight, but I dare not face the judgment you have been speaking of; I am a lost sinner; what shall I do? "
The word of God was brought home with strong power to the poor drunkard. He saw himself a great sinner, but he also saw Christ a great Saviour. Joy filled his heart and he, who a short time before had left his home intending never again to enter it alive, returned to tell his friends what great things God had done for his soul. He soon procured work, and as he no longer wasted his money on drink, he was able to give his family food and clothes. No one would recognize the poor drunkard in the respectably dressed working man now raising his voice to warn sinners to flee from the wrath to come, on the very spot where he heard the same warning which was to him the power of God unto salvation.
For several years William and his wife lived in the widow's neat little house. They were as a son and daughter to the lonely woman, but at length she was taken ill, and it was evident she was soon to be called away. Night and day she was nursed by her Christian lodgers; by them, too, the mangle was still kept at work, that the widow's wants might be supplied. When William came home from work he always went to her bedside, and her face would light up with pleasure at his approach. As the end drew near she was filled with peace and joy. “Oh," she said, on one occasion, " I bless God for sending you here; you have been the means of all my present joy." Soon after she peacefully passed away in the arms of her faithful friends.
William B. is still working for his Master. His chief desire is to bring lost sinners to Christ, and eternity alone will tell the result of his humble labors. In such a changed life is the witness of what divine power in the soul really is. M. M. D.