IN one of the large steamers bound for India lay an engineer on his bed, suffering from a malady which, to all appearance, must end in death.
A mate of his came to his bunk one day, and began, in his frank, sailor like way, to inquire how the invalid was, saying— “Bill, you seem to be suffering a great deal?”
“Yes,” replied the engineer; “but, oh! Tom, the suffering of my body is nothing compared to what I’m suffering in my mind. I’m dying, mate, and going to hell! do pray for me.”
Tom suddenly became speechless, but the poor sufferer continued, in tones of agony, beseeching him to pray. At length he spoke, but with sadness and distress— “I cannot pray, Bill; I have never prayed, and don’t know how.”
The dying man again besought him, when suddenly his mate recalled a text which he when a child had heard in the Sunday school, and which, perhaps, had never come to his mind since. These are the words: “The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin.” So, falling on his knees, he cried— “Oh! Lord, here are two dreadful sinners; save my mate and me! One drop of Thy blood is enough for us both.”
They wept together, and prayer arose from those two hearts, unexpressed in words, to Him who loves to listen, and who needs not words well-ordered and arranged, but understands a sigh, a groan, when the heart is too full to speak.
He heard their cry, and accepted their tears of true repentance, and spoke peace to the troubled soul of the dying man; and when a few hours after Tom asked him “Do you really believe?” he was enabled to answer, “Yes. I do. I can see my way quite clear.”
Shortly after, Bill, the engineer, passed away in perfect peace, in the full assurance that “the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin,” and that he, sinner though he was, was cleansed and made fit to enter the presence of Him who loved him, and who is gone before to prepare a place in the mansions in the Father’s house above.
The other engineer still lives to praise the Lord who drew him, a poor lost sinner, to Himself; and never does Tom forget to tell of the matchless grace that snatched him as a brand from the burning.
Surely the God of all grace and love can, and does work, in “mysterious ways, His wonders to perform.” He knows where each precious stone is that is needed for that building, of which Christ is the chief corner stone; and whether on the land or the sea, with or without means, can draw to Himself those who shall be to the praise of the glory of His grace.
“This is a faithful saving, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” E. E. S—I.