SEVERAL years ago, I was induced by two young men to attend a gospel service on the evening of the Lord’s day in a chapel, in Wiltshire. The preacher, on the occasion, was a devoted, soul-winning, intelligent local preacher. I sat in the front seat in the gallery exactly facing him. The text was that wonderful Scripture, Isaiah 1:1818Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (Isaiah 1:18), “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” My attention was arrested by the passage itself, and also by the preacher’s clear and forcible presentation of the gospel to my conscience and heart. His aim was to set forth the infinite condescension and love of God to sinners, in stooping to reason with man about his sins.
His presentation of God in Christ, as the God of grace and love to sinners, was the very reverse of my preconceived thought, and as the word was applied by the Spirit to my sinful heart, it broke me down into softness, weeping and repentance. “What!” thought I, “is this a true, intelligent, and scriptural aspect of God? Is He indeed, in in finite condescension and love, reasoning with me about my sins, scarlet though they be? Will He make int scarlet sins as white as snow, my crimson sins as wool?” I saw all my former views and ideas of God to be utterly unworthy and erroneous. I had thought God was a vindictive Being, waiting to hurl me into perdition for my sins, but the gospel to which I was listening, revealed the fact that God was then and there saying to me, as it were, “Come, young man, let us reason together about your sins. Your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow, your sins are like crimson, they shall be as wool!” My poor, repentant, enlightened heart said, then and there, “This God shall be my God forever and ever; He shall be my Guide even unto death.”
At the close of the address a prayer meeting was held, and I was helped of God to go down from the gallery, and to walk up the aisle and bow down before the Lord, seeking mercy.
It was weeks before I was made conscious of peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, but this was presently, in a very clear manner, brought home to my heart by the Holy Ghost begetting in me love to God, because He first loved me.
This is now forty-four years ago! I have by God’s grace been enabled as a preacher to travel many, many thousands of miles, taking the gospel of Christ to my fellow-men, and now, at the opening of 1888, I have just revisited the village where I was converted, to conduct there a gospel mission. The Lord has graciously blessed His own word to the salvation of many souls. To Him be all the glory. I am now nearly sixty-three years of age, and hope by God’s grace, in street, lane or hall, in season and out of season. anywhere the Lord enables me, still to preach Christ, as the sinner’s only Saviour from sin and hell. My prayer is embodied in Acts 4. “Grant unto Thy servant, that with al boldness he may speak Thy Word.” Amen and amen. J.L.