MRS. S―was dying, and she knew it. A poor peasant woman, living with a married son and daughter-in-law, she had but few comforts in this world, and yet the prospect of leaving it was a very gloomy one to her. Death in one of its direst forms―by cancer―was very close to her. To live, was simply an agony; and yet she dared not die, for very terror of meeting a God who was a stranger to her. A stern stranger, too, she thought Him, for as yet she knew Eat that He was the God of love.
Her life had been shameful, so her neighbors said, but we shall draw a veil over the details of it; enough, that God knew all about it, and yet He loved her. Yes, reader, He loved her, ―loved that poor sinful woman so much, that He gave His only Son to die for her.
Does this statement startle you? If it does, I fear you have not yet learned how unfit you your-self are to meet God. “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Tim. 1:1515This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:15)). Ponder that word, for if you cannot take your place on the same platform as that on which she stood in His presence, Christ has died in vain for you.
Mrs. S― looked back on her past Me, and the retrospect was appalling to her. She owned herself vile; therefore God’s time had come to reveal His love to her, and I will tell you of the way He took to do it. The wife of the Pastor who sometimes visited her, heard of the poor woman’s illness, and (herself newly converted) called to see her. Her heart was melted at the sight of her sufferings. She spoke soothingly to her, and the voice of sympathy is very sweet to the ear of suffering. Her confidence was gained, and she soon told her visitor that she had found out that she was a great sinner.
Gladly her friend told her of the One who is called Jesus, ―the Saviour, ―the Sinner’s Friend. How sweet that name is! She spoke of the deep, deep love that had brought Him down to die for the chief of sinners, to hang upon the cross in agonies for them; bearing the punishment of their sins, that they might not have to bear it. She told her that God had said, “It is the blood which maketh atonement for the soul,” and of how the blood of His own most blessed Son had been poured out for her on the cross; of how God had forsaken Him, because our sins were on Him there; and of how He had cried out, “It is finished.” That the wonderful work which He came to do was done; and then, when all had been accomplished, that He was laid in the grave, and rose again, triumphing over it, an incontestable proof that God’s righteous claims against the sinner were forever satisfied. She read to her the verse that had brought peace to her own soul.
I will tell you what it was, reader, because it has brought peace to many a sin-burdened soul besides. May God bless it to you! It is in Romans 10:8, 98But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:8‑9) ― “The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart; that is, the word of faith which we preach; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thy heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” That, with many another beautiful gospel verse, she read to her; and at last she saw it all, for her blind eyes were opened. She saw her very own sins laid upon the head of the blessed Son of God (just as if He had died for her alone), and her only claim to the merits of that death that she was a sinner, because it was for helpless good-for-nothing sinners that He had come to die.
Ah! it is a grand thing to be able to take one’s place as utterly vile, for it is of such God says, “Deliver him from going down to the pit; I have found a ransom” (Job 33:2424Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom. (Job 33:24)).
At once the poor sufferer’s heart was filled with joy. She found Christ, and in Him all she needed. Terror gave place to confidence, for she saw that God’s own Son had undertaken her cause, and she feared not to leave it in His mighty hand.
Her sufferings were now intense, yet she scarce heeded them, so mightily did the consciousness of the Lord’s love sustain her. She had heard One voice, sweeter, ten thousand times sweeter, than the sweetest earthly voice, and she longed to be with the One who had spoken peace to her soul.
Jesus’ name was music to her ear. What cared she now, though the affection of those she loved best was becoming estranged because of the loathsomeness of her disease, and they would have been glad if she were gone!
There is a superstition which prevails among the Irish peasantry, that if there are wild birds’ feathers in a bed it is impossible to die upon it. So they took her from her bed, and laid her upon a pallet of straw. For some days longer she lingered, enduring agonies, many a half-muttered moan suppressed; while ever and anon, from those parched and suffering blanched lips, issued forth the bright song of praise. Above all others she loved these words, and sang them loudly, while those around her wondered, ―
“And when on that bright day I rise
To join the anthems of the skies,
Above the rest this note shall swell,
My Jesus hath done all things well―
My Jesus hath done all things well.”
She is with Him now; and throughout all eternity her heart will rejoice to sing the song of praise, begun in pain and feebleness here, for He is “worthy.”
Can you not trust this blessed Lord Jesus? His breast, what a pillow it is for the dying head! His truth and His love, what a resting-place! Whatever your life may have been, His word to you is, “Come unto me” (Matt. 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)); and, “him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:3737All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37)). E. L. W.