IN the village of B― there once lived a half-witted man who was a widower, and whose house was kept by his daughter Charlotte. Now, poor Charlotte was also rather weak in mind, something like her poor father; but, for all that, she had got what too many of the wise in this world have not. What do you think that was? By grace she had been brought to know Him of whom too many who think themselves wise do not care to hear. They may be wise and clever as to the things of this world, but surely they are fools for eternity; are they not? And, besides, is there anything in their world — the world they love so much — is there anything so precious as Jesus? I trust you are able to say, No, there is not indeed. Well, poor Charlotte had got Jesus. To have Him who is all heaven’s Delight, who was God’s Delight from all eternity, was a blessing indeed; and, though she might be thought weak by the worldly wise, you see she had One with her and for her who is stronger than the strongest, and better than the best on earth — a Friend that stieketh closer than a brother —
“A Saviour from sin and from thrall.”
But poor Charlotte had to bear a good deal of persecution, for the rich and the great of the village where she lived were against her because she would worship the Lord in the Lord’s own way; and so even the naughty boys and girls of the village took advantage of her lonely and helpless state to worry and tease her and her poor half-witted father. But at last, when her father was dead, she removed to a distant place, where I trust she had more peace and quietness for the remainder of her days on earth. But, at any rate, she was not left long in this poor wilderness; for the gracious Saviour who loved her and gave Himself for her after a few years took her home to be forever with Himself. A short time before she fell asleep she was visited by one who called himself a minister, and the following conversation took place between them: —
“You are very ill, Charlotte.”
“Yes, sir, I am.”
“I fear there is not much hope of your recovery.”
“I am told there is none, sir.”
“Well, have you made your peace with God?”
“No, sir.”
“Do you not think it is time you began to do so?”
“It was made by Jesus, sir, when He died upon the cross.”
“But you were not then born.”
“Neither was I born when Adam sinned; and yet, ‘by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed on me, but now I live through Christ.’”
This was more than her well-meaning, but mistaken, teacher could understand; and, after telling her how much he pitied her for her foolishness, he wept away, thinking that a weak mind had led her into error.
But which was the wiser of the two? He thought she could make her own peace with God; she knew that Christ made peace by the blood of His cross. He thought she was to do something to get it; she knew that Jesus said, “It is finished.” Now, you see, one was wise in his own eyes, and the other was like a little child, just taking God at His word, and simply believing what He had said. You know Jesus said, “Except ye become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven;” and it was that which just made all the difference between poor Charlotte and her would-be teacher. If she was weak-minded by nature, she was, by grace, “strong in faith, giving glory to God.” If he was strong-minded by nature, he had neither grace nor faith.
Which would you wish to be like? I am sure you will say that it is better to be like poor Charlotte than like the other person, and I hope you will take God at His word as she did; that you will believe what God’s Word tells you about Jesus; and so, by trusting in His precious blood, you will know that your peace has been made by Him whose last word to us upon the cross was, “It is finished,” and whose first word to His disciples after He rose from the dead was “Peace be unto you.”
J. L. K.