IN a small village, in the county of Norfolk, a friend and the writer were scattering the printed ministry, and speaking to those who received the tracts, as opportunity occurred. Coming to the house of an old man of eighty, and saying, “How do you do? will you take the Word of God?” The old man said, “Yes! walk in.” We accepted the offer, walked in, and asked him about his soul and his prospects. The old man knew the Lord, believed in Him, and said he had eternal life.
“Quite sure?” said we. “Yes,” replied the old man. “Well, how do you know?”
“Because God says it,” was his answer. That was the best news we had heard in that village. He had got eternal life, God said it. He was happy in the Lord, and, said he, “Bless Him, I have known Him a many a year.”
He was a member of society, but his minister had not called to see him, nor any one else belonging to that flock, that he was aware of. “How did you learn that you had eternal life?” said we.
“Oh! it was through that book,” pointing to a well-thumbed Bible; “that’s where I learned it, that’s the place to learn God’s things, in His own Word.”
We liked this old man, and so we said, “Shall we sing?” He would be glad if we would, and so, as best as we could, we sang: ―
“Safe in Christ, the weakest child
Stands in all God’s favor;
All in Christ are reconciled
Through that only Saviour.
Safe in Christ! safe in Christ!
He’s their glory ever;
None can pluck them from His hand,
They shall perish never.”
He liked the first verse and the chorus; it was all new to him, and so we went to the second verse.
“Once their sins on every side
Seemed to tower o’er them;
Christ has stemmed the angry tide,
Been through death before them.
Safe in Christ,” &c.
“Ah! bless the Lord,” said he, “that’s it. I do like it; I am glad you are come; don’t know who you are, but the Lord does.”
We read together that Book which suited him,—that Book out of which he learned he had eternal life, and then sang again,―
“Dead with Christ they’ve crossed the sea,
Passed through condemnation;
Well they may triumphant be,
Saved through God’s salvation.
Safe in Christ,” &c.
By this time the old man began to warm to the subject, and lifted his stick up and down heavily, whilst he sang in a very trembling eighty-year-old voice, ―
“On the resurrection side,
Death’s dark sea behind them,
All their sins beneath the tide,
None can ever find them.
Safe in Christ,” &c.
“Now by faith the justified
Know that God is for them,
To the world they’re crucified,
Glory is before them.
Safe in Christ,” &c.
Now, dear reader, the old man was eighty, and had eternal life. How old are you, and have you got eternal life? Well, someone says, “I hope so;” and, dear soul, I reply to you, “I hope you have.” And God’s Word says, if you have, you “shall not come into condemnation” (judgment), John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24). Do you ever read “that Book,” God’s Book? Did you ever read that God loved you? Yes, you! I don’t know you, but God does; He knows all about you and every thought of your heart. Do you know Him and His love? Open up that Book at John’s Gospel, the third chapter and the sixteenth verse. There’s a wonderful statement for you! and it’s all about God’s love and God’s gift to the world. Have you received the gift? You cannot buy it, nor merit it; it’s a gift, God’s gift, His Son Jesus. Have you received Him? If so, you have life, “eternal life, and this life is in his Son.” W. T.