HOW varied are the ways in which God deals with souls, and how many different means He uses for bringing about His own purposes of blessing!
This is well illustrated in the following authentic narrative. A Christian lady, interested in the salvation of souls, met another Christian at a seaside place in England, and they were mutually drawn together. The latter of these (whom we will call Mrs. S —) was much concerned about the health of her husband, to whom she was tenderly attached. The other, Miss —, gave her a book, “The Shadow and the Substance,” asking, at the same time, if her husband would like to read it.
Mr. S — ‘s life had been, indeed, most blameless. He was a devoted son, husband, father, &c. — a character which could not outwardly be touched. In fact, as regarded his outward life, he was all that could be desired, and his illness caused universal sorrow, especially as he grew worse and worse.
Several months passed before the two friends already referred to met again — this time in a railway carriage; when Mrs. S — said that the book given to her had spoken in blessing to her husband. So much so, that he had read it again and again, and had purchased copies to give away. Miss—was very thankful to hear that the book had been of use, and several months passed before they again met. On the next occasion Miss-learned that Mr. S — was exceedingly ill. The symptoms of his disease had rapidly developed, and the doctor said that the end was near. Mrs. S―also stated that he had lost his peace of mind, and was terribly assailed by the evil one. As this conversation took place in the street, and was hurried, Miss― promised to call in the evening. She did so, and found poor Mrs. S― almost beside herself. Her devoted husband, to whom she had always looked up, whose life was so blameless and exemplary, was in despair. “No hope!” was his cry. Satan was in the room, he said. He had been a hypocrite, and the hypocrite’s hope must perish. Mrs. S — said it was a scene no words could describe. He would see no one; his old, well-known clergyman called in vain. Letters from Christian friends brought no comfort. The very heavens seemed brass. Mrs. S―thanked Miss—for her letters, as they brought comfort to her although not to her husband. Days passed, and the darkness increased — it was truly a thick darkness “which could be felt” — but One was there who had been through the deeper darkness, who alone had been forsaken of God―
“Deeper depths were known to Him”—
and He was about to appear for this sorely tried one.
One evening Miss — found Mrs. S — in a state of untold agony. She described a scene in that sick-room which recalled the account in the “Pilgrim’s Progress” of Christian passing through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, and the awful fiends on each side. Miss — felt she had no words of comfort to offer, she seemed paralyzed. She left feeling very despondent. During the night sleep fled, and she lay seeming in spirit to be in that darkened room where the invalid lay. Words which had encouraged a devoted servant of God, Mr. —, recently departed, came into her mind but Satan seemed to say, “You are not Mr. —.” She owned that this was indeed true, and cried to the Lord to bring some scripture to her mind to meet these fiery darts. While thus in prayer to Him the following verses came very distinctly before her: — “When I see the BLOOD, I will pass over you” (Ex. 12:1313And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. (Exodus 12:13)).
Satan had been vanquished by the Word of God, and she could now leave her tried friend in the Lord’s hands and fall asleep.
Next morning these scriptures came back vividly to her mind, and sitting down, she wrote them out in full, and sent them by an early post to her friend. Having done this, she felt assured that the Lord had undertaken all for her.
The sequel proved that this was indeed so, for the next day she received a letter from Mrs. S —, saying she had read the verses to her husband, who said, “Read them again.” Then with the added words, “I see it must be the BLOOD,” a great calm filled his troubled soul. Satan was defeated. Divine peace instead of sorrow and anguish now possessed Mr. S― ‘s heart. He had experienced the truth of the words, “He hath made peace by the BLOOD of His cross.” During the few days he lingered, he requested again and again that those verses on the precious blood should be read to him.
The day before his death, the clergyman, Mrs. S —, and her daughter were in the room, when, after bidding the clergyman good-bye, he said in a loud voice, “Safe in the Everlasting Arms.” The bright smile which lit up his features was truly triumphant. These were his last words, for he never spoke again. Next day he departed to be with Christ, in whose presence, with all the redeemed, he will join in the never-ending song, “Thou art worthy... for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy BLOOD.”