A GENTLEMAN was walking on a country road, when his attention was attracted by a little child crying piteously. He went to her and asked what was her trouble. “Oh, sir,” cried the child, “my sister is in the ditch.” The gentleman looked into the very deep ditch, but could see nothing at first, but presently saw a little child held fast in the mud and bushes. She was nearly drowned and it was no easy matter to save her. But he succeeded, and put her on her way near her home.
Now, is not this like the case of the sinner? He is in the mire of sin. He tries to get out, and the more he struggles the deeper he sinks in, till at last he gives up and thinks he is lost. Then comes One who goes down where the sinner is and brings him out. “Thou hast brought me out of the horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.” (Psa. 40:22He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. (Psalm 40:2))
The gentleman might have stood by the ditch all the day, but that would never have got the little child out of it. And so it was with us. He had left His bright home on high, and came down to us, and He has brought us up out of the ditch. And He has washed away all the evil from us, and has put a beautiful song in our mouths. “Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (Rev. 1:5, 65And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 1:5‑6).)
S. E.