The million-peopled city
Garwood, John
1853
Case of Usefulness among Out-pensioners, from the Scripture Readers' Association " Occasional Paper."
One case only of the benefit of visitation to the out- pensioners of will here be given. It is | |
112 | . taken from the ninth " Occasional Paper" of the Church of . |
"The following extracts from a Reader's Journal, which have passed under the eye, and met with the approval of the clergy in whose district the reader is located, may excite some interest. They present the case of an old weather- beaten sailor, who was brought to the knowledge of the truth, after 68 winters had passed over and whitened the old man's head. He had fought at the battle of , in Her Majesty's ship Clio, in , and had altogether been at sea upwards of 50 years, having earned a pension of 241. per annum: | |
"' .-After visiting the upper families of this house, I went into a little room on the first floor, where an old man was smoking his pipe. He wishing to know my business, I explained the purport of my visit, and entered into conversation with him. I soon introduced the subject of religion, and spoke of the love of manifested toward us in so many ways, especially in the grand scheme of salvation, whereby He saved us from eternal damnation. I then referred to man's ingratitude in return, and took out my and read . 1-3, when suddenly the old man's countenance changed, and he became greatly agitated. ' Oh !' said he, 'believe me, sir, for that Saviour I'd be torn to pieces, limb from limb, and yet I feel my heart as hard as iron. What shall I do? What shall I do?' I replied, 'The heart of man is, indeed, naturally hard; we can do nothing ourselves; we must go to , and pray for his Holy Spirit to purify and soften it. Do you ever pray?' | |
' No, never! I have given my blood for my country, and fought its battles, but never prayed to my God.' 'Then,' said I, 'believe me, you are in a very dangerous condition.' | |
'I know what you mean,' said he, as he arose from his seat, | |
113 | and shook his fist in my face; 'you mean to say, that, if I don't pray, I shall go to hell. I know I shall-I shall go to hell.' 'Be not terrified,' I said; 'the blood of cleanseth us from all sins: ask, and ye shall have; seek, and ye shall find. Ask his pardon, and you will not ask in vain. Seek his love, and 'tis already found.' The old man stood in the centre of the room and shook violently. At last he burst into a flood of tears, and wept like a child. I myself felt quite overcome by the scene. I could only lift up my silent petitions for him. When he was a little more composed, I offered to engage in prayer for him. 'Will you,' said he, as he took my hand, ' will you pray for me ? God Almighty bless you!' The old man sunk on the floor, and I knelt down and engaged in prayer. As soon as I had concluded, he grasped my hand with every token of grati- tude, and earnestly begged of me to call again as soon as I could, and whenever I could. 'Do you ever go to church?' said I. 'Never,' he returned, 'never.' ' Will you come on Sunday?' His eyes appeared to sparkle as he answered, ' I will, I will.' 'I shall look for you, mind.' 'Believe me, you will find me there. And now tell me when you will come again. Pray come soon. Come whenever you can, and you shall find me, though an old man, yet one who will listen to your every word. I will be your scholar-any- thing. And now, good-bye,' said he, grasping my hand till the pressure was painful, ' God Almighty bless you.' |
" ' July 6.-I called on the old man to-day, and found him at his breakfast, which consisted of bread and water. On inquiring how he felt, he replied, 'Very miserable.' He felt so guilty before God, he knew not what to do. What is worse,' said he, ' in my youthful days I had every instruction in religious affairs, and have read the and through and through, so that I have sinned against light and knowledge.' I told him, that in the eleventh hour I | |
114 | casts out none who come to Him, and that his blood can wash away the vilest sins. ' Come unto me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden.' 'Will you,' said I, 'refuse the invitation ? To-morrow is his holy day; let me see you at church.' 'You shall,' said he, 'if I go naked.' I then read 1 John iii., laying particular stress on the verse, 'Ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins.' I then engaged in prayer, which appeared much to comfort the old man; and, as I left the room, I had the gratification of seeing him prepare for the enjoyment of the same privilege. |
"' July 12.-As I approached the house, I heard the old man joyfully exclaim, ' He's coming ! he's coming !' Directly afterwards he came to meet me. When I went into his room, he said, last evening he went to Islington to his family, who lately left him, to beg a Bible, which they let him have; and since then, he told me, he had been reading it for hours,-he found the promises so sweet and precious to him. ' Oh,' said he, 'I feel so happy; God has removed from my heart that oppressive weight of sin! I find from this, his blessed Word, that the very vilest are received by Him, and I find it to be so with myself.' He pressed the Bible to his lips with every demonstration of joy, and, as he wept, said, ' These are not tears such as those you first witnessed. I felt then I must go to hell; now I feel that died for me. What reason have I to bless you for calling on me ! Had you never seen me, I might still be as I was. Oh, how gracious, how loving is God! Never have I experienced such sensations as those which now fill my heart. These are the happiest days of my life.' Read , and ., which I endeavoured to simplify as much as possible. Closed with prayer. | |
"' July 19.-He appeared delighted to see me, and imme- diately procured his , that I might tell him something about the things of . (I am happy to remark, that I | |
115 | had the gratification of seeing him both morning and even- ing at our church last Sunday.) He told me that on Sunday last, while in church, he felt as if each word had been addressed personally to himself, and that the comfort and instruction derived from that source had been very great. 'Did it want,' said he, 'a hundred miles to the house of God, I would go.' I discovered this morning that his family had lately left him in consequence of his daughter having stolen two sovereigns from him, on which occasion he punished her. He now thought, he said, of going to see her, in order to forgive her; for, as he felt that Christ had forgiven him so great a load of sin, he could no longer retain an ill- feeling towards any one, however unworthy, but would rather pray for her. Read . 31-39. He appears very humble. |
"' July 30.-He was very much pleased to see me, and appears in every respect humble and meek, as a Christian ought to be; and I feel gratified to say, that every visit finds him more and more improved in spiritual things. I see him regular at the house of God, and most attentive when there; in his own room I find the and his constant companions. He told me that all his friends had left him,-I was the only exception; but he was well compensated, as he would rather see me than any other individual in the world. No one, he added, could for a moment conceive the change of mind that had passed over him since he had known me: he would not exchange his feelings and condition for a coronet or the greatest noble- man's wealth in England. Read . He appeared very attentive. I explained several passages of , and closed with prayer. I have now no doubt of his being a sincere Christian. | |
"' August 12.-I am happy to say that this poor man is going on in the most satisfactory way. He told me he felt 2 | |
116 | the great necessity of watchfulness and prayer. ' Directly,' said he, 'an improper thought or feeling enters my mind, I betake myself to prayer and God's holy Word, and the temptation is soon vanquished; and now I wish to make a full profession of my faith, by being a recipient of the Lord's Supper.' I encouraged him in this wish; and having read a portion of (Rev. xxi. 22-27), closed with prayer. |
"' August 17.-I found him rather in a distressed state. He thought himself scarcely prepared yet to be a partaker of the Lord's Supper, at the same time he earnestly desired to be there. After a long conversation with him, I over- came his objections, and, his doubts being removed, I read ., and advised him to spend the afternoon in prayer and meditation. | |
"' August 24.-This poor man received the Lord's Supper last Sunday. He thought it the happiest day he ever spent. I had removed his doubts, he said, and he determined to go; but it was with fear and trembling he approached the table, yet he returned filled, enriched with God's presence and love. 'Oh, the happiness of that moment,' he observed, 'words cannot express it! and now, by God's grace, there shall I go till death prevents me.' This poor man appears, as it were, to mount the third heaven. He cannot think of God but tears of joy and gratitude bedew his cheeks; his soul appears to drink in with increasing joy the showers of God's Spirit. In his very countenance love and humility appear concentrated, and his respectful deportment is that which no Christian need fear to imitate. He sees the past in all its deformity,-the future in all its blissfulness; and daily, at the throne of grace, he zealously advocates the cause of those instrumental to his good.'" | |
