HAVE any of my readers ever thought of the worth of one soul? The salvation of one soul must have cost the blood of the Son of God as much as that of one million of souls, and yet how many there are, who, being saved themselves, never ask, “Is my neighbor, is my friend saved too?” Let me tell you of one who sought to win a soul. Carry E. was a dear old woman, and at the time of which I am writing, was much brightened up in soul. Some gospel meetings were being held in her village, and saved herself, and rejoicing in it, she was most anxious that her children and her friends should share the blessing. One son in particular called forth her earnest prayers. He had been invited to the meetings and had attended one. Shortly after it I went to see old Carry. After praising the Lord for what He had done for some around us, we spoke of her son Sam.
“You see, Miss, last Monday was the revel at Merton, and I thought to myself, my son will go over there with his wife if I don’t try and stop him, and then maybe it will put all thought of his poor soul out of his head; so I put on my bonnet and I went down. When I got there Sam was standing at the door with his hat and coat on ready to go out. He did not seem half to like seeing me, and by and bye he said, ‘Be you going to stop, mother? I wish you’d come another night.’ So I told him how we might not be here another night, and that I could not often come so far, and presently he doffed his hat and coat and stayed there till it were time for me to go, near upon nine. Then I said, ‘Be you coming up to the meeting tomorrow night, Sam?’ ‘I don’t know, mother, maybe I shall.’ ‘Do, my son,’ I said, and I told him how I wanted him to hear the good words, and he consented.” And Sam came, and his earnest face told a tale of what was passing within, and his mother’s care and his mother’s prayers had their reward.
A few days later I went to Sam’s cottage.
It was a sultry summer afternoon, I can see it all now! There he sat, a black, unwashed collier, the water standing in a pan beside him ready for washing, the tea laid on the table both untouched. Outside in the lane lounged a group of his compeers, among whom he had generally been foremost; they were unheeded this afternoon; Sam was otherwise employed for an open Bible lay on the table before him. How glad my heart felt! and if I was glad; what must have been the joy in heaven? Think of it, Christian! “joy in heaven!” the unceasing joy of that blessed place intensified, while Father, Son and. Holy Ghost are occupied with one poor sinner turning from his sins to Christ. Do you know anything of fellowship with that joy? Do you know that you are “allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel”? Have you been faithful in your stewardship?
After words of greeting had passed, (and I must tell you that previously that cottage door had been wont to be shut somewhat hastily when any one who loved the Lord was seen approaching,) I asked Sam what he was reading. “Well, Miss, it’s just this; I’m looking to see if Mr. M.’s words be true, and if I can be saved by believing what the Book says.” I found that Sam wanted to be saved. And oh, dear reader, if you have an actual want or need in your heart, be sure it will be satisfied; “He satisfieth the longing soul.” The devil never created the desire to be saved in any soul, but God who put it there will most surely satisfy it. Sam had found out that he was a sinner: he had been gay, careless, and wicked, and he felt the burden of sin. Together we turned to some passages of Scripture. John 3:16,1816For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)
18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:18) were the first we looked at, and I showed him that God had done everything for sinners, and that believing it is now our part. “Whosoever believeth in him should not perish.” “He that believeth on him is not condemned.”
“Yes, Miss, I see, but mustn’t I feel it?”
“Look at the verses we have just read, Sam, and see if there is a word about feelings; no; and look at John 5:2424Verily, 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 5:24), that is very clear, ‘He that heareth my word, and believeth (not feeleth) on him that sent me, hath everlasting life.’ Will you take God at His word?”
“Yes, Miss, I should like to.”
“Well, look at one more verse, Acts 13:38, 3938Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:38‑39), ‘Be it known unto you, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins; and by him, all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.’ This you are to know, not to feel, and by it all who believe (not all who feel), are justified. It is plain, is it not that, according to these verses we have read, you are justified and have everlasting life by believing what God says? Is that true of you?”
“Yes, it is, if the Book is true, and I do believe it is.”
And Sam took God at His word that very hour; he believed, and he knew he had eternal life, not because he felt it, but because God said so, for, as Sam has often told me since, he had no “feeling” then, but yet he could and did thank God that he was saved, because the Bible said so, apart from any doings of his own.
We often read accounts of persons who are saved on their deathbeds by believing in the Lord Jesus, and opposers of the truth sometimes say they would like to see a man saved in such an easy way, (as they call it,) live and go on in his belief. Well, here is such a man; he is young and strong, and he is alive as I write this. Not long ago he was speaking of the Lord’s grace to him that summer afternoon, and telling me how his mates often troubled him about his religion, and. even about feeling and. falling away. “Ah” he said, “people wouldn’t talk so much about falling away if they’d look at the Lord. Seems to me, Miss, that what I do want is to keep just as close to Him as I can, that’s the safest place.” And when later we were speaking of a woman with a bad temper, he said, “I never used to think about my temper, nor care if I lost it, but now if I do, it do give me bitter times after.”
Having a new nature, he was aware of the old one, and found its trouble. Sam is changed—there is no mistake about it—he is not found even among the old set of men, but he is learning to be separate for Christ’s sake. When sorely tempted the other day to join in a quarrel, he went instead into the house, and taking up his Bible, he opened it, and his eyes fell on the words, “Blessed are the peacemakers.” God knows how to use His own word. “Is not my word like a hammer?” “It is quick and powerful,” and while it can break the rock in pieces, it can pour oil on troubled waters as nothing else can. Read, and use God’s Word and you will find it to be so.
Dear unconverted reader, what are you waiting for? Have you faith, or are you looking for feelings? Feelings change, but Jesus does not, nor does the Bible. Do not expect a fresh revelation to meet your particular case, or that God will do a new thing for you. No! God has done all, for Jesus said, “It is finished” when, 1800 years ago, God laid on Him the sins of those who believe. Thank God, those who credit this have joy and peace, but it is in believing, and not before. Let me entreat you not to excuse yourself for not being saved by waiting for feeling. Can you feel what you do not possess? Can a wife feel like a wife till she is one? No more than you can feel like a child of God till you are one and even when you are one, feelings will not prove it, but this Word of God will, and on it, on the work of Christ told out in its pages, you may stake your soul, for it “liveth and abideth forever, and this is the word which, by the gospel is preached unto you.”
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”
H. L. H.