ONE afternoon, on a sultry day in the summer of 1864, wearied in making house-to-house visits, the air of the over-crowded houses at H— being so oppressive, I turned into a quiet little street, and opening my Bible, read aloud the story of Naaman the leper (2 Kings 5).
Attracted by such an unusual proceeding, several persons gathered around me, and others stood at the doors or at uplifted windows, and listened to the wonderful ancient story.
I next told of sin, of its leprous character, of the blood of cleansing, and in conclusion urged each hearer to—
“Prove the value of the Blood
Of Jesus crucified.”
I was about to leave the street when a woman with a pleasant face, and neatly dressed, came out of a house opposite to where I had been standing, and approached me, saying respectfully, “Pardon me, sir, but will you come and speak to my brother?”
“Gladly, madam," I replied, and followed my conductress into the house.
“None of your preaching here; a lot of canting hypocrites! None of it here; that's what I say.”
Such were the words which greeted my ears as I followed my conductress into the room from which the sounds proceeded.
There, on a mangle sat a big man about forty years of age, clad in a butcher's blouse. There also were his wife and three children, one a little cripple girl about six years old.
My entrance put a stop to the loud talk of the man, and sitting down on the mangle beside him, I took from my pocket some books, and gave one with pictures to the little cripple. Then selecting a copy of a monthly magazine, I read to them one of the interesting stories it contained.
“How pretty!" said the little cripple.
“It's beautiful" exclaimed the wife.
“Not much the matter with that," added the man.
Folding up the paper and offering it to him, I replied, “You are welcome to this, my friend; and I will soon come and read to you again.”
For many weeks. I regularly called, and each time read other interesting stories. The man was very civil, and the little cripple was delighted to see me.
Very soon the wife was induced to attend the Mission Services, and after a year had passed away, in answer to earnest and persevering prayer, one night the husband came to the meeting, and heard the tale of redeeming love.
The man was a porter in Newgate Market, and his condition was that of those whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: their feet are swift to shed blood destruction and misery are in their ways; and the way of peace have they not known" (Rom. 3:14-1714Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17And the way of peace have they not known: (Romans 3:14‑17)).
About this time the wife saw that he was making great efforts and forming strong resolutions to leave off his wicked habits and to free himself from his evil companions.
In 1865 their eldest daughter (a fine young woman, aged nineteen years) came home from service very ill; she rapidly grew worse, lingered a few weeks, and died.
I was present at her death. The mother supported the dying girl in her arms; the brothers and sisters stood around weeping; the father placed himself at the foot of the bed, and tears streamed down his face as he looked on the heaving chest, and heard the quick heavy breathing of his departing child.
Addressing her brother and sister, the dying girl said, "Be good children to father and mother; and think of Jesus, and love Him, and you will meet me in heaven.”
Turning to her mother, she continued, "Mother, dear, you do love Jesus, and Jesus loves us all, and you will meet me in heaven.”
"Then, my child, you are not afraid to die?" asked her mother.
“No, mother, why should I be afraid?" answered the girl. “Jesus has suffered for our sins, and God has said He will spare all who trust in the blood of Christ, the same as He did the people in Egypt. I am going to heaven, and you will meet me there.''
And the mother kissed her child, and the child kissed her mother.
For a few moments nothing was heard but the labored breathing of the girl, the smothered sobs of the children, and occasionally a half-suppressed groan wrung from the almost brokenhearted father.
“Father!”
“Yes, my child.”
“Come to me; let me kiss you.”
And they kissed each other.
Father, will you meet me in heaven?”
He weeps, but answers not.
Again, in voice calm and firm, comes the inquiry, "Father, dear, will you meet me in heaven?”
And the father falls on his knee, and buries his face in the bed-clothes, and bitter sobs and groans shake his strong frame.
Again, with increased emphasis, the daughter asks: “Father, WILL YOU MEET ME IN HEAVEN?”
“Oh! my child," replies the man," God helping me, I will meet you in heaven.”
“Then, father, you must give up the drink"; and having said those words, her head dropped back on the mother's arm, and her spirit entered into Paradise (Luke 23:4343And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. (Luke 23:43)).
A few months after the death of his daughter, something occurred which showed that the Holy Ghost was working mightily in the heart of the man. I missed him from his usual place at the meeting on the Lord's Day evening. On the following Tuesday he was again absent from the Bible-class. The next day I, called at his house to inquire after him, fearing he was ill.
With downcast looks and stammering tongue, he said: "Mr. F, I am a bad man." I shall never forget his look of horror and penitence as he continued, “On Saturday last I cursed my children; I am a wretch to do such a thing"; and as the tears started in his eyes, again he said: "I cursed my children, I did.”
He had returned from the Market the worse for drink; then went into the little back yard and lay down on a bench and fell asleep. The children were sent to awake him. While thus sleepy, muddled, and annoyed at being aroused, the "old man" showed itself in oaths and curses; but the Holy Spirit was there also, and His convicting power was felt. Horror-stricken at what he had done, the man felt himself to be “vile," and in bitterness of soul cried: “Woe is me! for I am undone, I am a man of unclean lips " (Isa. 6:55Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. (Isaiah 6:5).)
Brought now to feel his state, to see his condition as guilty and perishing, he found his desperate case was met by the boundless love of God in saving the lost through Christ Jesus; and when by faith he saw the Lord of glory take his place and suffer in his stead, with trembling voice he sang:
“Oh!' tis a wondrous sight,
All sights above:
Jesus the curse sustains,
Guilt's bitter cup He drains;
Nothing for us remains,
Nothing but love.”
One evening an experienced Christian visited him to converse with him, and to see the change which grace had wrought. With faltering lips the butcher told of the mercy that had reached him, adding, "I am like one of them things took out of the fire," referring to that scripture, "Is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?" (Zech. 3:22And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? (Zechariah 3:2)).
Henceforth was in him exemplified that which was written by the apostle Paul: "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works '' (Titus 2:11-1411For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. (Titus 2:11‑14)).
He left off swearing, and discontinued his drams. A gentleness of manner and a kindliness of speech became habitual to him; love filled his breast, and peace and concord dwelt at home. His wife and family felt the change, and praised the name of the Lord. He was now an "epistle of Christ" and a wonder unto many. With him "old things had passed away" (2 Cor. 5:1717Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)).
Till now he had been unable to read, but his set himself to the task. The cripple girl by this time had learned to read, and she became his instructress. A very touching and pleasing sight was it to see the big, strong man, with the little cripple on his knee, learning of her the A B C.
About this time he received from his sister, who was a Christian, and who for years had not ceased to pray for his conversion, a large-print book containing a selection of "The Sayings of Jesus.”
I well remember on one occasion with what pride and joy he spelled out very slowly to me, "Verily, verily I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life" (John 5:2121For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. (John 5:21)).
In the Spring of 1867, disease of the heart and lungs showed itself, and very soon it became evident to us all that his days on earth were numbered. But for nearly a year longer he continued to go to the Market at three o'clock in the morning, and' did a little work.
As he now constantly refused to go to the same excess of riot as formerly, his old companions spoke all manner of evil against him, and the clerks at the "Firm" joined in tormenting him.
On one occasion they hid his clothes, got him down, tied him hands and feet, put him into a sack, locked him up in a cellar, and then wrote to his wife, saying, "Your husband, Jack, is locked up. Tell the Parson to come and bail him out.'”
The poor wife came to me in a state of excitement, bringing the letter.
I immediately started for the City, but I had not proceeded very far before I met poor Jack coming quietly along.
On my telling him what we had heard he smiled, and said, "It was hard to bear, but I thought how much the blessed Jesus had to bear, and I asked Him to help me, and to forgive them.”
His health now rapidly failed, and he was unable to work. One day, about a week before he died, he went into the City carrying with him the book "The Sayings of Jesus." Arrived at the Market he called his mates around him; and several of the clerks, attracted by the proceeding, also drew near. "Gentm'n and Mates," he said, “'you know what Jack was; but the blessed Saviour has saved me; the blessed Jesus died on the cross for me, and He has pardoned my sins.”
Then he read to them "The Sayings of Jesus.”
A few days later, after having been at our Bible-class, he went home, and calling his wife and children and friends around him, he blessed them in the name of the Lord, and told them he was going to see the blessed Jesus and Susy.