LIKE some sheriff’s officer who, with the boldness of legal right, enters and takes possession of the hitherto undisturbed home of some bankrupt spendthrift, this question has, many a time, forced an unwelcome entrance into the heart of a determined unbeliever.
Conscience will have the “last word,” and many a stout-hearted sinner has, before now, quailed before that sentence, while conscience has loudly echoed the last word― “TRUE!”
Among the many of this class is found the name of one who afterward wrote the well-known hymn―
“How sweet the name of Jesus sounds
In a believer’s ear.”
John Newton had a praying mother, and at a moment when it seemed least likely that her prayers would be answered, the longed-for blessing came. He was far out at sea at the time, and with no fear of God before his eyes. With the purpose, no doubt, of whiling away an idle hour, John Newton took up one day a religious book. He had not long had it in his hand before he was led to ask the question, “What if these things should be true?”
The thought filled him with terror, and he closed the book. Having contrived, as he thought, to put away the solemn question, he retired to his hammock till the next watch. But God had not done with him. God can knock at the heart’s door as well as make His voice heard within. That night amid the darkness he was awakened by the dash of waves. A violent storm had arisen since he lay down, and a terrific sea was now sweeping the ship’s deck. He soon found that the cabin where he lay was fast filling. A cry arose, “The ship is sinking!” All was confusion and alarm. Twice he made for the deck, but was hindered. Once the captain met him on the ladder and bade him return for a knife. As he was returning for it, another man went up in his place, and was washed away by a wave that was just then breaking over the ship.
This, John could see, was a merciful interposition for him; and now thoughts of home and of those whom he had loved affected him greatly. He cried, “O God, save me, or I perish,” “The God of the Bible forgive me for His Son’s sake,” “My mother’s God, the God of mercy, have mercy on me.”
The cry was heard. John Newton was brought to Christ, brought to see the value of His precious blood. His soul was saved.
You would like, perhaps, to know a little more of his inner exercises at this time. Here, then, is his own account of it.
“In evil long I took delight,
Unwed by shame or fear,
Till a new Object struck my sight
And stopped my wild career.
“I saw One dying on a tree,
In agonies and blood,
Who fixed His languid eyes on me,
As near the cross I stood.
“Sure never to my latest breath
Can I forget that look;
It seemed to charge me with His death,
Though not a word He spoke.
“A second look He gave, which said,
‘I freely all forgive;
This blood is for thy ransom paid;
I die that thou may’st live.
“Thus while this death my sin displays
In all its blackest hue,
Such is the mystery of grace,
It seals my pardon too.”
Oh, my reader, THESE THINGS ARE TRUE!
WHAT THINGS?
“The things concerning HIMSELF,” Jesus, the Son of God (Luke 24:2727And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. (Luke 24:27)), the things concerning God and the way He has taken to make His heart known to sinful men; the things concerning Him who knew no sin, yet who was “made sin” for us; concerning Him who came to the cross as a holy victim that God might by the very act, which was the execution of His judgment upon sin, express His love to the sinner.
“Upon the cross this record’s graved,
Let sin be judged, the sinner saved.”
Yes. “These things” are true, my reader, and we warn you with affectionate earnestness against closing your heart against them. Another has well said that “HELL IS THE TRUTH DISCOVERED TOO LATE.”
The fool hath said in his heart, No God; but conscience tells him of sin and its certain reckoning. Scripture tells him of a God ready to pardon, of a God who is as righteous in gratifying His heart by saving a repentant sinner, through the blood of Christ, as He will be righteous in the exercise of His “strange work” in judging every sinner who rejects Christ. “Hear, and your soul shall live.” Refuse, and your soul must perish.