ON the 16th day after the battle of Gettysburg, I entered the room where a young wounded captain was apparently near to death. As I entered he was roused from his stupor and beckoned me to his bedside, and threw his feeble arms around my neck.
“Oh, my father, how glad I am to see you! I was afraid you would not come till it was too late. I am too feeble to say much, though I have a great many things to say to you; you must do all the talking. Tell me all about dear mother and sister.”
I soon perceived, by the appearance of those in the house, that there was no hope of his recovery. But as I could no longer endure the agony of suspense, I at last inquired of the doctor, “Doctor, how long do you think he can live?”
“Not more than four days. He may drop away at any hour.”
As I entered the room with the dreaded message of death pressing on my heart, the eyes of my son fastened on me.
“Come, sit by my side, father. Have you been talking with the doctor about me?”— “Yes.”
“What did he tell you? Does he think I shall recover?’’
There was a painful hesitation for a moment.
“Don’t be afraid to tell me just what he said.”— “He told me you must die.”
“How long does he think I can live?”— “Not to exceed four days, and that you may drop away any hour.”
With great agitation, he exclaimed, “Father is that so? Then I must die! I cannot, I must not die! oh! I am not prepared to die now. Do tell me how I can get ready! Make it so plain that I can get hold of it. Tell me, in a few words, if you can, so that I can see it plainly.”
‘Twas no time now for tears, but for calmness and light, by which to lead the soul to Christ, and both were given.
“You want to be forgiven, don’t you?”
“Oh, yes! This is what I want. Can I be, father?” — “Certainly.”— “Can I know it before I die? “Certainly.”
“Well, now, father, make it so plain that I can get hold of it.”
“Do you remember while at school, in—, you came home one day, and I having occasion to rebuke you, you became very angry, and answered me with harsh language?”
“Yes father, I was thinking it all over a few days ago.”
“Do you remember how, after your anger had subsided, you came in and threw your arms around my neck, and said, ‘My dear father, I am sorry I abused you so. It was not your loving son that did it. I was very angry. Won’t you forgive me?”
“Yes, I remember it very distinctly.” “Do you remember what I said to you as you wept upon my neck?”
“Very well. You said ‘I forgive you with all my heart,’ and kissed me. I shall never forget those words.”
“Did you believe me?”
“Certainly. I never doubted your word.”
“Did you feel happy again?”
“Yes, perfectly.”
“Well, now, this is the way to come to Jesus. You just confess your sins fully and frankly to God, and He will forgive, for He hath said,
And again, ‘Him that cometh to Me I will in NO WISE CAST OUT.’ Will you trust HIM? —His love and His finished work! Will you?”
He turned his head upon his pillow, and asked me to leave him for a little. On my return to my son’s bedside, he said—
“Father, my dear father, I don’t want you to weep any more; you need not. I am perfectly happy now. God has forgiven, me. I know He has, for He says so, And I take His word for it, just as I do yours, and I know He has forgiven me, for He-says so.”
The captain still lives, for it pleased the Lord to raise Him up, and he is very happy in leading others to the same forgiving and blessed Saviour, whose pardoning grace he first learned in the military hospital, and he always remembers in speaking to others of God’s glorious gospel to ‘MAKE IT PLAIN THAT THEY MAY GET HOLD OF IT.’ My dear reader. do YOU know the Lord Jesus as your Saviour’? It is an awful thing to reject the Saour’s offered grace and love. Remember, Christ is the only safety. Trust it the precious blood of Jesus, which cleans. eth from all sin.
Glad Tidings.
ML 10/22/1899