Part 13 (1/2)
Here we have a vivid description of Christian waiting, in expectation of results. When we take into consideration that this woman was fifty years old when she commenced directly to work as a missionary, we know that she was fully equipped for the task, and entered upon it with all her energies of heart. St. Paul says, in his letter to the Church, at Rome, that ”tribulation worketh patience.” Now, there are many G.o.d-fearing ministers who cannot stand a rebuff. There are many good Christian people, and some of them excellent workers in the Sabbath-school, who could not stand to be looked upon coldly, much less to have the door slammed in their face. I am sure they would give the work up in despair, if, after they had attempted to reach some stranger several times, and had not succeeded. But, oh, here is a weak woman, for years visiting another of her own s.e.x, year after year, remonstrating earnestly and patiently, and lovingly with her, in order to lead her to Christ. Is not this the way that G.o.d deals with us? Line upon line, precept upon precept; here a little, there a little.
Surely, he is the Lord G.o.d, ”merciful and gracious, long-suffering, slow to anger, abundant in goodness and in truth.”
What does Christ say in the Apocalypse? ”Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come unto him and will sup with him, and he with Me.”
Does not the Holy Spirit work in this very same manner? Patiently!--oh, how patiently, He strives, He pleads, He warns. Was it not the Holy Spirit in this woman's heart, that, led her again and again to visit this home? Yes, most a.s.suredly. Oh, that this self-same spirit would whisper to every reader of this memoir to go and do likewise!
See how beautifully Divine Providence harmonizes with the Spirit's work, and with those who faithfully toil in the vineyard. How unique the operation. Sickness is the efficient cause.
But we must constantly remember that it was the almost incomparable faith of this woman in the G.o.d of Jacob, amid the greatest difficulties and discouragements, that gave her such remarkable success.
Incompetency for Christian work is a lack, not only of patience, but of faith in the great love of our G.o.d, and the triumphant death of Christ, and the persistent power of the Holy Spirit, combined with a humble trust in our own capabilities to do valiantly for Jesus. These are the allied forces in waging war against the powers of darkness in this wicked world. Christ said, ”As the Father hath sent me, even so send I you into the world. And greater works than these shall ye do, because I go to my Father.” Confidence in the word of our dear Incarnate Lord is the warrant, not only of the stability of G.o.d's method of saving souls, but in the progressive propagation of Christian principles. There is growth in work for Christ, as well as in nature. And our younger brethren would do well to remember that like this woman, we must expect success, or we will never get it.
Dr. McCosh, the President of Princeton College, made the following remarks in an address before the General Conference of the Evangelical Alliance:
”It is useless to tell the younger naturalists that there is no truth in the doctrine of development, for they know that there is truth which is not to be set aside by denunciation. Religious philosophers might be more profitably employed in showing them the religious aspects of the doctrine of development; and some would be grateful to any who would help them to keep their old faith in G.o.d and the Bible with their new faith in science.”
Again, in his book on ”Development,” Dr. McCosh says:
”It is no use denying in our day the doctrine of evolution, in the name of religion or any good cause. It can now be shown that it rather favors religion by its furnis.h.i.+ng proofs of design, and by the wonderful parallelism between Genesis and geology.”
In this part of Mrs. Knowles' diary, the careful reader will observe a most dramatic account of human nature, under the controlling power of the Holy Ghost. The woman whom she had long visited was at last conquered. The city of the soul was successfully bombarded. The sorrow for sin, the sad lamentation over a misspent life, the flinging of her arms round the neck of the missionary, the urgent request, ”Oh, pray for me, that the Lord may have mercy on me, and save my poor soul,”
together with the statement of transition from shadow to suns.h.i.+ne, from grief to joy, from alienation to adoption, reveal to us the judiciously connected operations of the deity, in the salvation of immortal souls brought about by the power of prayer.
Why should we remain incredulous about G.o.d's willingness to save sinners, after such a marvellous manifestation of Divine mercy?
_Brought to rejoice in Christ as her Saviour._--The term ”brought,” is a very emphatic Scriptural one. It ascribes the glory, and honor, and power of man's deliverance to the free, sovereign, unmerited favor of G.o.d. David sings:
”I waited patiently for the Lord. And He inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
”He _brought_ me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay:
”And He set my feet upon a rock, and stablished my goings.
”And He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praises unto our G.o.d; many shall see _it_, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.”
A judicious acknowledgment of the sovereignty of G.o.d as the author of salvation is essential to Christian calmness and courage, and continuance in the path of duty. Man may break his promise, but G.o.d never. Man's objection to G.o.d's methods of salvation arise from a desire to take the glory to self, and the disposition to discontentment on the one hand, and a feeling of distrust on the other. Let us learn, from the foregoing account of the conversion of this woman, to isolate ourselves from man's ways of working, and accept G.o.d's communications regarding His approaches to the avenues of the heart; knowing that He will ultimately send the converting power of the Holy Spirit to the soul of the most hardened and obdurate sinner.
We must go back once more to Mrs. Knowles' narrative, and observe that among the princ.i.p.al causes of her success with the poor and fallen, was not only her intimate acquaintance with G.o.d's dealings with both saint and sinner, but her marvellous and confirmed habit of always offering a short prayer at the bedside of the sick and suffering and dying. There was, therefore, elicited the pungent request, ”Oh, pray for me,”
corroborated by the impressive e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.n of confidence in her fidelity to the divine command, ”Call upon me in the day of trouble, I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.” How inexpressibly encouraging it must have been on this occasion to hear the remark, ”I know you will pray for me,” accompanied with the look of earnestness and helplessness, realizing that G.o.d alone could restore her to her accustomed health and strength.
Who can tell of the grat.i.tude and gladness that sprang up in this woman's heart in answer to earnest prayer on her behalf, for her recovery which G.o.d was graciously pleased to bestow? The donation of the dollar to the other poor woman recently returned from the hospital, was conclusive evidence that she joyfully appreciated what great things G.o.d had done, not only for her soul, but for her frail body. Let us learn, dear reader, from the foregoing account of G.o.d's dealings with His dear departed saints that, in the first place, we must not be weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not, for, as Mrs. Knowles says, ”Our work may seem at the time fruitless, yet we may safely leave the seed in His hands, who maketh it grow and bud and blossom in His own good time.”
In the second place, we must remember that to be actively engaged working for G.o.d's glory is the best and surest, and, in fact, the only safe remedy for disappointment and discouragements in aggressive Christian work. ”In many instances,” she says, ”a Bible that I have left, neglected at the time, has through another's teachings become precious.” We can speak from heart-felt experience on this point, for some of the sweet psalms and hymns we sang, perhaps thoughtlessly, in the days of sunny childhood, are to-day the most soul-stirring, imparting fire, force, and fervency while working for Jesus. Here is one of them:
I think when I read that sweet story of old, When Jesus was here among men, How He called little children as lambs to His fold, I should like to have been with them then.
I wish that His hands had been placed on my head, That His arm had been thrown around me, And that I might have seen His kind look when He said, ”Let the little ones come unto Me.”
Yet still to His footstool in prayer I may go, And ask for a share in His love; And if I thus earnestly seek Him below, I shall see Him and hear Him above.