HOW truly blessed it is when we see Jehovah working in His rich, free, and sovereign grace in the calling out of His dear hidden ones and when the efficacy of the blood of Jesus, it the pardoning of poor sinners, and cleansing them from all sin (thanks to our heavenly Father whose mercy endureth forever), is seen in the minds and consciences of sinners once dead in trespasses and sins! “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” (John 10:1616And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. (John 10:16).) “It is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.” (Leviticus 17:1111For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. (Leviticus 17:11).) “And the word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1414And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (John 1:14).)
The following incident will most blessedly show forth, that it is not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord.
A Christian sister, who feels constrained by God’s love to visit the sick, called at a house to see a dear sick one, and after speaking to her of the love of Jesus, and was about to leave the room, a woman, who was sitting there doing some needle-work, said, “I perceive, ma’am, that you visit the sick.” “Yes,” she replied, “and the poor too.” “Then, ma’am, I should like for you to visit a poor dying woman; she lives at L―,” which was some distance from the place where this conversation took place. “Oh, it is a long way off,” she replied. “Yes, ma’am, it is; but you can ride near there in a ‘buss; and you know that she has a soul that may be lost; do go to see her, ma’am.” The appeal was so earnest that she replied she would go; “and I do most earnestly believe,” said this sister, in telling this circumstance to another Christian, “that the devil put every obstacle in my way that he could to hinder my going. I went very reluctantly to see her; and when I came near the place, I found that I had left my pocket-book at home, with the name and address in it. I went in the lane where she resided, and then began to reason on the dirty place, and thought I could never go down there.” But still her unwilling feet went forward, and in a short time she was in the room with the sick woman, who she found lying on a bed, very ill indeed. She was a person nearly forty years of age, whose husband was at sea in a ship belonging to the royal navy, and she, during his absence, was at a place of service, in order to get a little money towards the maintenance of her family; when so employed, she took a chill, which brought on fever, and ended in a galloping consumption. She was also so very deaf, that it was only by calling loudly into her ear, and that very slowly, that she could hear what was said to her.
The Christian sister with much difficulty and effort, called loudly into her ear, about the blood of Jesus, and what it could do for her: “Do rest on the blood; trust on nothing but the blood; it is only the blood that can save your soul; tell God about the blood.” And in such a strain only could she speak to her―she could do no more, neither visit her again; the task was too great for her, it made her ill. So she made the circumstance known to a Christian brother who took with him another brother; and on Sunday, April 16th called on her. They spoke to her in the same strain, and left, after commending her to the Lord.
On Wednesday, April 19th one of then brethren, with another, paid her a visit, and found her more free in conversation, and eager to hear what was said to her about her soul, am the love of Jesus. “Tell me about it again,” she would say, “tell me about it in another way I do not understand you.” “Do you know Christ to be your Saviour? Do you believe that Jesus died for you on the Cross? Do you feel before God as a lost sinner, only fit for judgment?” &c. These questions were pointedly put to her; and the answers from her were hopeful but not clear. The person who first spoke about her to the Christian sister, was also present, and in earnest prayer, but not loudly, they interceded for her, before the Lord; and on rising from their knees, found her turned over on her face with her head and one arm hanging over till bed, as if she had been trying to hear the prayers. She said she could read, and did so during the night. The 3rd chapter of John’s gospel, and Romans 5, were turned down for her to read and after supplying her with some tracts, they left the house. It would be right perhaps to state, that her cough and sufferings were dreadful. “It seems to me,” she would say, “that I am pressing together.”
The next evening she was visited by two sisters, when she said that “she was prepared to die, she was so happy, she knew that Jesus was waiting to receive her.” And in answer to the question, “How long have you felt so?” she replied “from three o’clock this morning. Two gentlemen were here last night, and prayed with me and now I want to see them again, to tell them how happy I am in Jesus, I was able to hear their prayers;” and no one, she said, could imagine the hours of agony she had passed through. She had prayed earnestly to the Lord to forgive her, her sins, and now her heavy load was gone; all washed away in the blood of Jesus; the Lord was her Saviour, and he was precious to her. She was called on by friend on April 23rd and 24th and was found rejoicing in the Lord, and waiting for Him to call her home. She was longing to depart, and was able to give her children up to the Lord.
On Saturday, May 6th the two Christian brethren who had before called on her, paid her another visit. She was in a great deal of bodily pain, and very deaf, but she had no fear of death. The next day, Sunday morning, a Christian sister called on her; and to her she said that “the Lord was precious to her; more precious to her than ever; I am longing to go.” She was told that she must wait the Lord’s time; she replied, “Yes; but if He was to call me now, I am ready.” This was at one o’clock, and at five she fell asleep. Her sister was present, and states that she “died so happy.” Just before this, she said to her sister, “Don’t you see Jesus there, in the corner of the room, with His arms outstretched to receive me? My mansion is all prepared. Do not cry, dear Emma; prepare to meet Him too.” She smiled sweetly, and never spoke more.
And now my dear reader, are you through God’s mercy enjoying health? Have you been kept from a sick bed and severe illness? so was this dear one for many years; and God can withdraw these blessings from you. It is the Lord that gives, and it is the Lord that can take away; and should God cut short your days, what hope have you? Have you been living without hope and without God in the world? God’s Word declares man to be forgetful of Him; but “He hath appointed a day in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead.” (Acts 17:3131Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. (Acts 17:31).) “Flee from the wrath to come.” “We pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:2020Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:20).) “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” (Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31).)
But, dear reader, if you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, then follow on to know the Lord; seek to be like-minded to Him, and may Christ say unto you, “I was sick, and ye visited me.” Christ sent out His disciples in twos. It was two that Jesus met in the way to Emmaus; and Paul took Silas; Christian found a fellow-pilgrim in Faithful, and when God took him hence, he overtook Hopeful, and they helped, instructed, supported, comforted, and strengthened each other along the King’s highway, to the end of the journey. May the God of all comfort bless you; and may you be able to comfort them that are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith you are comforted of God. Amen.
What is the greatest hindrance to persons receiving the gospel for the salvation of their souls? Their religion. With an open Bible, and all the outward privileges of this land, many sit down in self-satisfaction. “Their table is a snare and a trap,” like that of Israel. (Romans 11:99And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them: (Romans 11:9).)