THE first time I saw Mrs.—was at a meeting where her deep attention to the message of God’s grace then proclaimed interested me, and when on leaving she said with evident emotion, "Oh that I had heard words like these four months ago when I was ill," I resolved, the Lord willing, to visit her at home as soon as possible. This I did and was heartily welcomed; I found her open to conversation about her soul's eternal welfare. She had been very ill for some months, and during that time of suffering, her heart, which had hitherto been content with the form of godliness, was made to feel its power; anxiety seized her soul and she sought peace, but where it never can be found, by strivings of her own, and was as far from knowing it when I met her as when she first commenced the search. You may say, is that true? I answer, indeed it is. Man’s doings must entirely cease ere peace with God can be known; as it is written, "Being justified by faith we Have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”
"And if by grace, then it is no more of works, otherwise grace is no more grace." Think not of doing aught to please God when He has told us in the Word, that "they that are in the flesh," that is "dead in trespasses and sins," children of the first Adam, cannot please God, and what is more, Jesus Christ has left nothing for you to do. He said upon the cross, “It is finished.”
"When He from His lofty throne,
Stoop'd to do and die;
Everything was fully done,
Hearken to His cry—
‘It is finished.'”
He came into this dark scene to do the will of God, and to restore that which He took not away, but which man came short (and robbed God) of, even His glory: well, this perfect One to whom the Father bore testimony, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased," who "knew no sin," was put to death—"made sin for us," but God raised Him up, and seated Him at His own right hand in glory. And now the question for you is, Do you know Him? Do you believe that Jesus Christ who was crucified in weakness and raised by the mighty power of God, is the Son of God? Have you accepted, or have you rejected the "great salvation" He offers to all who believe on Him?
Mrs.—told me that she had heard of our meeting through another, and had earnestly longed to come, thinking that there she would hear words which would give rest to her troubled soul; and she had set out for this purpose, but Satan hindered and turned her steps aside by means of a friend. Again, another week she ventured, and again the adversary met her, and succeeded (this time by a sister) in sending her back. Once more she determined to come, and once more the enemy of souls tried his best to restrain by sending her daughter to meet her in the way; but this time she was not to be hindered. She sent the daughter home to wait her return.
I prayed, conversed, and read God's Word with her, and then left; I did not see her again for more than three weeks, and then the Lord sent me with His own message fresh and warm from Himself. He said, Go, and I went, not knowing what I should say, but looking to Him to charge me with the right ammunition. I found her at home, and met with the same hearty welcome as at the first. She had been to a hospital as an out-patient several times, but still looked thin and weak in body, which after inquiring into, I alluded to the state of her soul, and asked, had she found peace in believing? No, but she felt confident she should some day. I told her this was the enemy's work, that God's Word was Now. She then related an anecdote she had heard on this very subject, about a young man who when requested by some one to meet him for conversation about his soul in the morning said, "I can't wait till another time, I want it Now." I felt the power of the Lord was present to heal this wounded soul. It was wonderful to see the eagerness with which she listened with eyes intently fixed upon me, to the words He enabled me to speak, and the cry of her heart was, "I understand what you tell me, but somehow I can’t say it's mine. I repeated the oft heard words which now seemed clothed with life-giving energy, "Him that cometh unto Me I will in no wise cast out," and illustrated them by saying, if there were to be a school treat next week, and your little girl came to you and said, "Mother, may I go to the treat?" and you told her, Yes, what would you think if every day she came and repeated the same words, "Mother, may I go to the treat?" She replied, evidently struck with the thought, "Why I should feel she did not believe me.”
"Just so," I said. "You are making God a liar when you say you come to Christ, and then hope to be saved some day.”
"Oh, but," she said, "I do believe He won't cast me out.”
"Yes," I replied, "but there’s one thing you have never yet believed—not only that He won't cast you out, but that He has taken you in.”
I went to the door, but before finally leaving I turned and looking at her said, "Do you believe that He has taken you in?”
"I do," was the glorious answer.
I left her, but that night felt I could thank God that she now knew that peace which "passeth all understanding." The next day I met her in the street. It was raining, but under the cover of my umbrella we stood while she told me, with a heart overflowing with gratitude, that it was even so she was full of joy, and had been telling a friend that same afternoon of her newly found peace. "He (Christ Jesus) is our peace." "Having made peace by the blood of His cross, and you (the apostle is here writing to saints) who were once alienated and enemies in mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled.”
Dear reader, are you reconciled to God? do you know this peace—the living Christ? if not where are you going? "There is a way that seemeth right unto a man"—is this your way—does it seem right in your own eyes? Thus far then the Word of God and you are agreed; but hearken! "the end thereof are the ways of death." Did you never think of the end? then consider it now, and "turn ye, turn ye. Why will ye die?" A little school girl said, "Where are we to go to?" May you repeat the question in the singular number, and say, "Where am I to go, for I cannot take one more step in the road that leads to eternal woe?" The Word of God fully and completely answers your important question. "Ye must be born again." "How?" you say. "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:14,1514And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:14‑15)). You must come to the Person who says, "Him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out," and when you have come to Christ do believe like Mrs.— that He has, taken you in. Remember the Word, "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and to day, and forever.”
"My love is ofttimes low,
My joy still ebbs and flows;
But peace with Him remains the same,
No change Jehovah knows.
I change, He changes not;
My Christ can never die:
His love, not mine, the resting place,
His truth, not mine; the tie.
R. B.