In one of the wealthy homes of London lived a little girl named Mary.
She had parents to educate her, servants to wait upon her, and carriages to ride in. There seemed a great deal around this child to make her happy; but Mary was not pleased and satisfied with those things that please and satisfy other little ones. She knew she often did those things which she ought not to do, and left undone those things which she ought to have done; this filled her heart with fear and trembling. What could save her from God’s displeasure? Where could she flee for refuge?
Before she could read, she treasured up passages of the Bible which others read to teach her, and went away by herself to ponder them over. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart,” Mary often heard from the sacred volume. “But I do not love Him,” she said to herself; “I do not know how to love Him; neither do I love my neighbor as myself. I love Papa, Mamma, and my sister best of all. Did ever anybody love God with all their heart, and their neighbors as themselves? Did God really mean so?” She was required to be Christ’s faithful servant and soldier, and fight manfully under His banner. This amazed her greatly. “I am sure I do not fight, neither do I know what to fight against,” thought she. Mary asked many questions upon these perplexing subjects, but she was bid not to trouble herself upon such matters. “The Bible is not so strict as it seems to be,” they said. This eased her for a little while; but Mary was seeking after her Saviour, and could not be long put off. It was forgotten by Mary’s friends, that as children sin and do often bitterly feel the weight of their ill-deserts, they must seek forgiveness and peace through Him who was bruised for our transgressions, and by whose stripes we are healed. When Mary was seven, a pious servant-girl came into the family, who, observing her serious turn, sometimes spoke to her upon those subjects dearest to Mary’s heart. As soon as this was known, she was sent away; but she left some little books behind which the child hid away and read. Mary read the little books, where she found it was not joining any particular people that could save her, but it was believing in Jesus Christ. Still the way seemed very, very dark. “Oh!” she cried, being greatly burdened, “what can it be to know my sins forgiven, and to have faith in Jesus? If I were to die a martyr, I could do it; or to give away all I have; or, when I grow up, to become a servant, that would be easy; but I shall never know how to believe;” and the little girl was filled with grief and apprehension. Then the words of the hymn:—
“Who on Jesus relies, without money or price,
The pearl of forgiveness and holiness buys,”
came to her mind, and the Holy Spirit opened her eyes to behold and her heart to embrace its precious truth. “Rely on Jesus! I do, I will rely on Jesus,” she cried aloud; “I will trust Him as my Saviour; and God counts me righteous for what He has done and suffered, and He has forgiven all my sins for His sake.” Joy and gratitude filled her bosom. Before, everything seemed easier than to believe; now, the way of believing seemed easier than anything else. Thus the light of the glorious gospel broke upon Mary’s mind; she became a lovely disciple of the Lord Jesus, and grew up a devoted Christian woman.
Children, are you not sometimes burdened on account of your sins? It is not resolving to do right, or resolving to pray, or resolving to read your Bible, or wishing or hoping that will take away the burden; it is trusting the Lord Jesus Christ; He will wash your sins away in His precious blood which cleanseth from all sin.
ML 05/24/1903