SOME years ago, two soldiers belonging to one of the regiments of the British Army, stationed at Gibraltar, were, by the grace of God, brought to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Though living on this secluded spot, and with few opportunities of hearing the glad tidings of the Gospel, yet they were led to read the sacred Scriptures together; and the voice of God, speaking in His own blessed word, to the heart of one of these men, enabled him to rejoice in the pardoning love of God. The conversion of the other followed soon afterward, and under circumstances so deeply interesting, that the narrative may serve to interest and to edify many of the Lord’s dear children, and at the same time lead some anxious soul to that fountain which has been opened for sin and for uncleanness. Zechariah 13.
One evening these two soldiers were placed as sentries at the opposite ends of a sallyport or long passage leading from the Rock of Gibraltar to the Spanish territory. One of them, as we have seen, from the reading of the sacred Scriptures, was rejoicing in his Saviour; while the other, from the same cause, was in a state of deep anxiety, being under strong convictions of sin, and earnestly seeking deliverance from the load of guilt that was pressing upon his conscience.
On the evening alluded to, one of the officers, who had been out dining, was returning to the garrison at a late hour, and approaching the sentry posted outside the sallyport, and who was the soldier recently converted, he received, instead of the usual challenge, the words, uttered in a loud voice, “The precious blood of Christ.” The man was absorbed in meditation on the glorious things that had recently been unfolded to him, and filled with devout gratitude and love. He soon recovered his self-possession, and gave the correct challenge; but his comrade, who was anxiously seeking the Lord, and who was stationed as sentry at the other or inner end of the sallyport, a passage specially adapted for the conveyance of sound, heard the words, “The precious blood of Christ,” mysteriously borne upon the breeze at the solemn hour of midnight. The words came home to his heart as a voice from heaven: the load of guilt was removed, and the precious blood of Christ spoke peace to the soul of the sin-burdened soldier. He was afterward, with others of his regiment, drafted for service in India, and proceeded to the island of Ceylon, where a long career of usefulness opened up before him, and where he became the honored instrument, in the hands of the Lord, for the completion of a great and important work. Soon after arriving in Ceylon, his discharge was procured from his regent, that he might fill the office of master of the principal school in Colombo, for which he was well qualified by a good education in early life. He soon acquired an intimate knowledge of the Cingalese language, and as a translation of the Bible into that tongue was lying in an unfinished state, owing to the death of the individual who commenced the work, he set himself to the task, and completed the Cingalese version of the Scriptures, which was afterward printed by the British and Foreign Bible Society in four quarto volumes.
The remainder of his life was spent in India, devoted to the service of his Lord and Master; and ere he was called to his rest, the converted soldier became possessed of an intimate acquaintance with no less than thirteen languages.
While the latter part of this interesting narrative is a striking illustration of the wonderful way in which God provides instruments for carrying on His own work, how much of comfort and instruction does the former portion of it convey to every poor, heavy-laden soul.
Dear reader, are you, like the soldier on the Rock of Gibraltar, in anxiety about your soul’s eternal peace and safety? Then remember the words which the midnight breeze wafted to his ear — “The precious blood of Christ.” Yes, it is indeed precious; for it is the blood of God’s own dear Son, which cleanses from all sins. Peace comes to the souls of all those who have faith in the blood of Christ. Romans 3:25.
Jesus Christ gave His life as the redemption price of all His people; “ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, such as silver and gold ... but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” 1 Pet. 1:18, 19. Think of the dignity of Him who suffered as a victim, and then will you not say that His blood is precious? Remember that in the blood only is safety. Read Exodus 12, and there you will see that when the angel of death was marching through the land of Egypt, every Israelite was safe; but his safety was secured by the blood sprinkled on the lintels. So with all the Israel of God. They shall be safe in the day of the Lord’s vengeance; but it will be because Christ, their Passover, has been sacrificed for them, and the blood of that precious Passover-lamb has been applied to each heart and conscience.
Remember that in the blood only there is cleansing. It is not to be found in tears of sorrow and remorse, or in any Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus; but it is the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, that alone cleanseth from all sin. 1 John 1:7. Apply to it in faith; wash there, and you will be clean; the leprosy of your foulest transgressions will be taken away. “For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh; how much more shall the blood of Christ, who rough the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” Hebrews 9:13, 14. Remember that through the blood only there is peace. You will not find it in yourself, or in your doings. For no sinner ever has or can make his peace with God. Jesus made peace through the blood of His cross. Colossians 1:20. No peace for a guilty conscience, no rest for a distressed, sin-burdened soul, but in the peace-speaking blood of the Lamb of God. True, solid, lasting peace can only flow from a sense of forgiveness, and this again can only be found in Jesus, “in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” Ephesians 1:7.
Remember that by the blood only is there access to God, and boldness to enter into His presence. In no other way can you approach God acceptably, than by faith in the blood of His Son. The High Priest among the Jews, on entering the holy place made with hands, which was but the figure of the true, did not appear there without blood; and sinners, who by grace are made kings and priests unto God, have boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus. Hebrews 10:19. It was only at the mercy-seat, sprinkled with blood, that the High Priest, as the representative of the people, could meet God and find Him propitious.
Atonement and intercession are inseparable, and none can be interested in the latter, who are not depending on the former.
Finally, remember that to the blood of Jesus the redeemed in heaven attribute their glorious position. “And they sung a new song saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests; and we shall reign on the earth.” Revelation 5:9, 10.
Dear reader, may the Holy Spirit sweetly reveal to you the value and efficacy of the blood of Jesus. Trust in it for safety — apply to it for cleansing — depend on it for peace — confide in the intercession of Him who shed it — and then, out of a heart filled with devout gratitude and praise, will you be ever ready to unite in the apostolic ascription, “Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” Revelation 1:5, 6.