THERE is in South Devon, near the banks of the river Dart, a secluded little town, in which stands a pretty, well-fitted Cottage Hospital.
We resided in this place for a short period, and had the privilege of being a recognized visitor at the Hospital, which gave many opportunities of telling the sick and dying of the Savior, who gave His life at Calvary's cross for sinners.
We were introduced one evening to a new patient, named Ernest F—, a tall young man about 24 years old, whose thin, pale face and hacking cough plainly told that he was in consumption. He had been in the army, but was discharged owing to ill-health, and sent home to die. His manner was anything but courteous, and breathed a spirit of discontent, but he listened attentively from time to time to the Word of God, and became specially interested in the story of the Passover in the land of Egypt. (See Ex. 12)
The early chapters of Exodus record the birth of Moses, and the interesting details of his upbringing as the son of a princess in the court of Pharaoh, and his subsequent call to be the leader of God's people, Israel.
The Pharaohs had held this great family as slaves for many years, but the time had come for their deliverance, and the King was called upon to let them go.
He refused, and divine judgments, increasing in severity as time went on, fell upon him and his people, till at last God stated that the firstborn of man and beast should die.
But as God is both righteous and gracious, He provided a means by which anyone could be preserved from that terrible loss, but by one way only could that be attained. The people must take a lamb, kill it, and put its blood in a basin, then take a bunch of hyssop, dip it in the blood, and sprinkle the door-posts and lintels. This done, they were instructed to stay indoors. The destroying angel would that night pass over the land, but on whatsoever house God saw the blood there the destroyer would not enter.
We explained to Ernest F— that the lamb typified the Lord Jesus Christ, whose blood was shed at Calvary for sinners, and that there is such value in His blood that God will pass over every sinner, who takes shelter beneath it. To merely accept the “Historic Christ " in a general way in the type is like going just as far only as the blood in the basin, which, unless by faith applied to the door-posts, would have been of no avail. Christ must be accepted as a personal Savior. Each sinner must individually get beneath the shelter of His precious blood or be lost forever.
Thank God, the result of our conversation was that Ernest F— became deeply exercised in his soul, and most anxious to know that he was safe for eternity.
He definitely accepted Christ, and in the most simple way awaited his departure from this world. He became agreeable and patient, and bore a simple testimony to the fact that he would soon be with the Lord Jesus, and looked forward to meet his mother, who had died some little time before, also trusting in Him. He died, and almost his last words were, "Nurse, I am going home to my Heavenly Father.”
Shortly after his death we saw his doctor, who claimed to be agnostic. He said, "Thank you so much for visiting our hospital. I have never seen so great a change in a patient as in Ernest F—. He came in a most disagreeable and discontented young man. He died one of the happiest.”
What had wrought the change? He had realized that he was a lost sinner. He saw that the Lord Jesus had shed His blood for sinners. He believed in his heart that He died for him, and believed what God has said, "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life." (John 3:36.) He rejoiced in the fact that the believer "shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death to life." (John 5:24.)
Reader! Do you own that you are a sinner? Have you come to the Lord Jesus as such, and been saved?, If not, why not? Remember time is fleeting. Decide now! F. W. C.