SOME years ago, there lived at Ipswich an old man who kept a large stick handy to break the head of any person who dared to cross the threshold of his door. The clergyman of the parish in which this old infidel lived was himself an old man, but one who feared God, and mourned in secret over this unhappy old parishioner of his. Time was hurrying on, more than eighty years had passed since this old infidel was born, and really no man seemed to have the courage to visit him; but there lived in the same town a woman who, if she feared God, did not fear man much, and looking to the Lord to lead her, went just where she believed He would have her go, and, as people said, did in her own way a deal of good. To this person at length the good old clergyman spoke about the old infidel, told her just the state of the case, how he threatened the life of any parson, or Scripture reader, who ventured to come to his house, and then asked her if she would go. At first she was a little staggered, but soon recognized the application thus made to her as that which God would have her heed, and she consented to pay the dreaded old man a visit. Looking to Him whom she served for wisdom and courage, away she went. As she drew near to the old man’s house, there he was at his door with a broom in his hand! This rather made her quake; but on she went, looking unto Jesus. She was well known in the immediate neighborhood, as engaged in the very work this old man despised and hated, and presently the old man’s eye fell on her, and immediately he advances towards her, broom in hand! She hardly knew whether to advance or to retreat; but in a moment the old fellow began sweeping the path before her feet, backing towards his own door, and saying: “Ma’am, John the Baptist prepared the way for Christ, so I sweep the path before you.” Many of these infidels do, in their secret hearts, believe more than they allow themselves to acknowledge; indeed, for the most part, they believe too much for their peace of mind; they love sin, or rather their own way, and hate God who they think interferes with their happiness and prosperity, and so try to persuade themselves that there is no God, and read infidel publications to fortify themselves in their adopted infidelity. This perhaps may reach the eye of some bold-faced infidel who, if he were honest would yet own that there are moments when he questions much his own principles. Oh, it is a miserable thing for a Man to fight against God; for it is certain that He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He hash ordained (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)); that He will “brink every word into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil” (Eccles. 12:1414For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. (Ecclesiastes 12:14)); and, moreover, will overcome when He is judged! (Romans 3:44God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. (Romans 3:4).) Only conceive man, guilty, puny man, bringing GOD to the bar of his little judgment-seat! Oh, how many there are who are practically doing this who yet would be sorry to be classed among the infidels!
Well, this good woman felt relieved by the way the old man accosted her, and said, “I was or my way to pay you a visit.” “Were you?” said he. “Come in, it is my birthday. I have been out to get a pot o’ beer, and you shall come and drink my health.” In she went, and sat down; and when the old man had also taken his seat, she said, “This is your birthday, is it not?” “Yes,” said he, “it is.” “Well, do you know,” said the lady, “that unless you are born again you will go to hell?” This was plain speaking and it told. The old man’s jaws dropped. HE seemed staggered for the first time in his life and after a moment asked what she meant. The lady found that the door was opened to her indeed, in more senses than one, and pressed or the poor old sinner his wretched condition. HE listened most attentively, and when she arose to depart requested her to come again.
The word of God had proved to be quick and powerful the foundations of the old man were destroyed and he felt miserable. Oh! what a mercy to have our refuges of lies swept away and to have torn from us, however rudely, the covering we have been weaving for ourselves. Very shortly after this the old man broke his leg, and then, while confined to his bed, he welcomed the visits of this servant of Christ, who directed him to Him who, when we were yet without strength, in due time died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:66For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:6).) The details onward from this moment I do not remember; for I am speaking of that which the “elect lady” herself told me twenty years ago. I only call to mind in a general way, that on that sick bed he sought Him who is always found of them that do seek Him in truth: he sought Him who as a Shepherd had sought out this poor wandering sheep, and laid it on His shoulders rejoicing.
This story I relate as another instance of the kindness and love of God our Saviour. What love can match that love? What must be the value of that sacrifice for sin which can meet the case of one so long hardened in his heart against Jesus? O God! what has not sin done that it can steel men’s hearts against thy love, and lead them to spurn from them that only thing that can afford one moment’s solid peace even here?
What an instance, too, is this of God’s choice of the instruments He will use, link by link, unto the accomplishing His own kind and fixed purpose. It was the love of God shed abroad in the heart of the old clergyman that moved him to take such interest in one whom be felt that his own direct instrumentality could not reach; it was the secret but sure influence of God on his mind that directed him to the “elect lady” I speak of, as the most likely person to yet at this old sinner. Does not this story also show how God takes up so often the weak things of the world, and things which are despised, to confound the things which are mighty? and how, when He has a strange work to do, He can find the fitted instrument, the instrument indeed of His own fitting, who, going forth in His name, shall find the heart already prepared of God that God designs to bless. GOD it is who devised the means that His banished be not expelled from Him (2 Sam. 13:1414Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her. (2 Samuel 13:14)); that means is the cross of Christ, the death of Christ upon the cross, the just for the unjust. God it is, as we have seen, who fits and fills the human instrument to thunder words that shall arouse the sleeper, and then to pour the oil and the wine into the wounded conscience. God it is who, by the Holy Ghost, reveals in the conscience the virtue of that precious, precious blood which cleanseth from all sin! so that the saved by grace through faith are forward to exclaim, “Of Him, through Him, to Him are all things.”
These lines may, perchance, meet the eye of one of the many who in these days spring at one leap into an easy profession. Well, I say nothing against sudden conversions; for if there is conversion to God, God’s hand must be in it, and it will then be effectual; and He can work suddenly as well as gradually. But when He does work He does convince of sin, in some more poignantly than in others, and then He gives no rest until He gives peace in believing, peace through the precious blood, purging the conscience thereby from dead works, henceforth to serve HIM. My dear friend, when and how was Christ revealed in you? If you are not born again you will ye to hell, as this faithful Christian lady said to the old scorner.