THE subject of this brief narrative was a native of Ireland, and came to England as servant to a gentleman, who having died, he was left to seek employment as a day laborer. My first acquaintance with him was in the autumn of 1859. I was in the sick ward of the workhouse, passing from bed to bed, either to give a tract or speak a word as the case might suggest, when I observed W. C., who had been brought in since my previous visit. There was a venerable expression in his countenance, with his long gray hair flowing over his wrinkled brow, which at once attracted my attention; and, after asking him how he did, and the nature of his disease, I questioned him as to his state and condition before God as a sinner, and the ground of his confidence in the prospect of eternity. In reply he said, “I hope it will all be well;” but he was evidently occupied with his own doings, not having seen man’s utter ruin and helplessness, as “dead in trespasses and sins.” After dwelling awhile upon this, and his need as a lost sinner, I was enabled to speak to him of the complete salvation in Christ, for all who believe, and read to him Romans 4:5,5But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (Romans 4:5) with John 5:24,24Verily, 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) dwelling more especially upon the latter; and as the security of the one who heard and believed was presented to him, with deliverance from judgment, and his having everlasting life, the Spirit of God removed the bandage which had hitherto blinded his eyes, and he exclaimed with all the energy which his feeble strength could command, “I see it all now, I never saw it before, we can’t be unborn.” The effect produced through this knowledge of the truth, lit up his countenance with joy, and he gave repeated expression to his full heart, saying, “Praise the Lord, it is all of him.” From this moment he had found peace, trusting alone in the shed blood of Christ. In a few days I saw him again, when he eagerly welcomed me, and testified to the delight of his heart in having Christ as his eternal portion. His deep interest and concern for the welfare of those around him were most striking; his great desire was to see others brought to enjoy the same blessing as he himself possessed.
Another week elapsed and I was at his bedside, when I observed a marked change in his appearance: his eye was less brilliant, and certain symptoms indicated that his “earthly house of this tabernacle” was being taken down; of this he was himself conscious, but there was the absence of all fear.
“Not a cloud above, not a spot within.”
I read to him Isaiah 43:1,2,1But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. 2When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. (Isaiah 43:1‑2) and repeated that sweet hymn, “I have a home above,” which he fully appreciated; and after commending him to the Lord’s gracious care, I bade him farewell with the thought that I might see him again in the body; but at my next visit I learned that he “fell asleep” eight hours after I left him. His companion in the next bed bore pleasing testimony to his peaceful departure. “Absent from the body, present with the Lord.”
And now, to any who read this paper, let me ask you with all affection, if you are resting upon the same foundation as W. C. Are you trusting in the precious blood of Christ as your alone ground of confidence before God? If so, happy are you; but if otherwise, how sad your condition: you are lost and ruined, “having no hope, and without God in the world.” Oh, the desolation of such a heart! Every rejecter of Christ is unsaved, be he the most moral, or the opposite. Morality will not give you a passport into heaven; to rest upon such a basis, your eternal ruin must be the inevitable consequence, because you thereby virtually deny your condition as a lost sinner; hence, your need of Christ as a Saviour! Fatal delusion, if persevered in. What of your sins? They must be blotted out in order to obtain eternal rest; yet “without shedding of blood is no remission.” You have nothing to do; you can do nothing! “When we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” “To him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” In the faith of your heart look to Jesus who has died and risen again, and life, salvation, and peace are yours forever.
J. M. D.