THE following striking instance of a way-side hearer's heart being changed into good ground, for the Word of God to take root in, has just reached me from a correspondent. I will give you the account of it in her own words.
“It had been my custom," writes my friend, “every month or so to visit a dear old soul, who for many years had been a regular attendant at church, and who by the strict observance of her religious duties hoped it would be all right with her when she came to die.
“If asked what part of the Word we should turn to, it invariably ended in our taking the fourteenth of John. The many mansions' she loved to hear about. But there was no apparent growth in her soul.
“After an absence of a few months I again called on Mrs. B—. The welcome was the same, only now her face was beaming with delight. An inward joy was there.
“’What is it makes you so happy?’ I said.
“’It is a little book. I have saved it for you, and been wishing for you to come in that you might see it. Such a nice little book, you never read anything like it before.'
“‘What is its title?’
“` Oh, my memory is bad. Only a little book. It came in an envelope by the post. I read it two or three times. It has done me so much good. I am so happy.'
Too aged to move quickly, at length the book was produced from a place of safe keeping, and she held it up in her hand as she came to me.
“` Safety, Certainty, and Enjoyment!’ I see," I exclaimed.
“` How did you know the book?
“` Why, I lent you a copy of the same a long time since, and you read it and returned it to me without comment.' And without its having produced any impression.
“` Oh, but it could not have been the same as this. You have not read my book.'
“‘Yes, I have, and know it well.'
“But not until I assured her the writer was personally known to me, could she be convinced the two books were the same.
“Now she saw her safety in Christ. No longer trying to be good, she had learned to trust another, and settled peace was now her portion for the few years granted to her. Only a few weeks since she passed away to be forever with the Lord. In her last hour, ' the only son of his mother, and she (very many years) a widow,' was standing over her weeping. She exclaimed with surprise,—“'What are you crying for? For me, for me? when I am so happy. Don't cry for me.'
“Soon after she quietly fell asleep.
“The same little book has gone on another mission, it is in the hands of an anxious soul.”
So far my correspondent, and now to draw the lesson from her dear old friend's case. What is remarkable about it is simply the totally different effect produced by the very same little gospel book at different times.
The first time it was given her the effect was nil. And why? Because her heart was not in a state to receive the truth it contained—truth specially suited to bring an anxious soul into peace and joy, and which has been often used of God to that end.
And what was there in this old woman's state which hindered the word from working? She was self-righteous, self-satisfied. "By the strict observance of her religious duties, she hoped it would be all right with her when she came to die." Was she singular in this? By no means; it is the case of thousands in the religious world around us. Nor is it novel. Adam and Eve were the first self-righteous, self-satisfied sinners. The fig-leaf aprons, the invention of their own hearts, and the works of their own hands, were what they relied on; and I doubt not, with as implicit confidence as that of the strictest Ritualist of today. But would their works stand the all-searching test of the presence of a holy God? Not for a moment. Immediately they heard His voice they hid themselves. They were afraid. Why? Because they were naked. However satisfactorily they hid this fact— the knowledge of which was the result of their sin— from each other, they knew they could not hide it from God by their own works. Their works, their aprons, were the very proof of their guilty knowledge, for in innocence they required none, they had no shame in one another's presence, nor fear in God's (read Gen. 3 prayerfully, and see for yourself). And so with the religious professor and formalist. His very profession, the very forms he relies on, the good works (Scripture calls them "dead works") he practices so assiduously, are but proofs of a guilty conscience, which he seeks to appease.
The next case of self-righteousness, and self-reliance is that of Cain, who "brought of the fruit of the ground an offering to the Lord” (Gen. 4:33And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. (Genesis 4:3)).
Proof that he felt his guilt, and desired to propitiate God. But how? With the fruits of the earth on which the curse of God rested. Fruits, albeit, wrung from that ground by the sweat of his brow. And so through all the sad list, from Adam to Cain, his son, from Cain to the Pharisee, who went up to the temple with a publican to pray (Luke 18:9-149And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. (Luke 18:9‑14)),—a parable of our Lord " spoken unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others " (verse 9): from this Pharisee, through Saul of Tarsus, whose perfect ground for confidence in the flesh he recounts in Phil. 3:4-64Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 5Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 6Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. (Philippians 3:4‑6), down to the most modern form of Ritualist, " who, by the strict observance of religious duties, hopes it will be all right with him when he comes to die.”
But, my reader, you may not go so far as this. You may only be trusting to an ordinary amount of religious respectability, strict teetotalism, the social improvement of the world, being “as good as my neighbor," " paying my way, "or" doing my best.”
You may only be trusting to some or all of these, that “it will be all right with you when you come to die." But if such is the case, be assured, and that on the authority of the God with whom (and not with your fellow-sinner) you have to reckon (Rom. 14:11, 1211For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. (Romans 14:11‑12)), be assured it is all wrong with you. As wrong with you as with your first parents, when they had nothing more than their self-made aprons to cover their nakedness before God. As wrong with you as with Cain, when he “brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord” (note Gen. 4:55But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. (Genesis 4:5), first clause).
As wrong with you as with the Pharisee in the temple when he stood, in all his self-justification, unjustified before God. As wrong with you as with Saul of Tarsus, who with all his reasons for confidence in the flesh, Was the chief of sinners.
As wrong with you as with our poor old woman, who, though a regular church attendant, and communicant too, I believe, had no joy, and did not grow.
And now let me ask you, if a religious professor, have you joy, do you grow? And if not, why?
Be assured if you have never rested for your soul's salvation on the finished work (John 19:3030When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. (John 19:30)) of Christ, by faith—if you have never trusted His shed blood, of which God witnesses that IT cleanses from all sin (1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)), and believed in Him who shed it—in Him " that liveth and was dead, and is alive again for evermore " (Rev. 1:1818I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. (Revelation 1:18))—be assured it is all wrong with you, and if you will not accept this testimony now, on the infallible authority of the Word of God, you will wake up to the truth of it at the great white throne of judgment (Rev. 21:11, 1511Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; (Revelation 21:11)
15And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. (Revelation 21:15)), when it will be too late forever, and when it will be no more possible to have your name written in "the book of life" (verses 12, 15).
But do you say, Is there no chance for me? Yes, dear anxious soul, as much chance as for our first parents when they had owned themselves guilty (naked) before God. “Unto Adam and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them" (Gen. 3:2121Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them. (Genesis 3:21)). As much chance for you as for Cain if he had accepted it. “A sin, offering (Heb.) lieth at the door" (Gen. 4:77If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. (Genesis 4:7)). As much as for the Pharisee, who might have gone down to his house justified as well as the other, had he taken the same place as the publican, " God be merciful to me THE sinner " (Luke 18:13,1413And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. (Luke 18:13‑14)).
As much as for Saul of Tarsus who, in " the glory of that light," " above the brightness of the sun at noonday," " the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ," at His right hand, surrendered all confidence in his " own righteousness which is of the law," and rested wholly, and implicitly, and entirely, in that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God, by faith." That is, he gave up his own right-doing and himself as well, and believed in the right-doing of God in raising up Jesus our Lord from the dead, after having delivered Him to die for our offenses. For He had so satisfied His claims, and glorified God in His death, and that for our sins, that God in simple right doing raised Him again. So that being justified (i.e., cleared from all charge) by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
There is. as much chance for you as for the dear old woman who gave up resting in her observance of religious duties as her hope of salvation, and rested on the WORK of Christ for safety, the WORD of God for certainty, and lived to please, worship, and serve Him, and thus found enjoyment.
W. G. B.