No ear for his despairing cry- It is a blessed thing to die, To know no sin, no tear, no sigh— To see our Saviour eye to eye,— THE LOST ONE FOUND. BY C. D. G. In the beginning of June 1843, I was requested by the Rector of to visit a young girl who was dying of consumption. The circumstances of her case, as detailed to me, were not very encouraging, and there were very few who could gain admission to her dwelling. The visits of her pastor, and another Christian friend, had been unremitting, yet apparently of little avail; for nothing could be elicited from her, betokening the slightest interest in those blessed truths, of which they longed she should be a partaker. Yet the Lord had marked this poor sufferer for his own, and was dealing with her, at the very time when all was apparently so discouraging. Being a relative of their pastor, I was readily admitted to the humble dwelling; but found it more difficult than I had even anticipated, to have any conversation with poor Sarah. The first few days I visited her, I could elicit nothing more than assent to what I said, sometimes not even this. Now and then, by an apparently great exertion, she would say, as I left the room, "Do come soon again;" and this was an encouragement, amidst much discouragement, to persevere. It was truly a case in which I was taught to feel that man could do nothing, unless the Spirit of God moved in the dark heart, and said, "Let there be light." Every day Sarah's weakness appeared to increase, and my anxiety increased, that she might know the truth as it is in Jesus, and that the grace of God which bringeth salvation might enter her heart, casting down what appeared to be an impenetrable barrier to our communication together. I could only remember her with earnest desire, before Him "unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known." On one occasion when sitting by her, I thought her countenance betokened a mind ill at ease; and on asking her if any thing troubled her, the tears rolled down her cheeks, as she answered, "I am not happy." It is impossible to describe what I felt at this moment -this long wished-for moment. I spoke to her of Jesus, who came to give "the oil of joy for mourning;" and that He was at that very moment ready to receive her-ready to bear the burden of sin-ready to give her rest. She replied, with tears, " I am so tempted, tempted in all ways." It was a delightful privilege to tell her of Him, who, "in that he suffered being tempted, is able to succour those who are tempted,” (Heb. ii. 18); and we united in prayer to the Lord and Giver of life, that he would take of the things of Jesus, and show them unto her. Her dear pastor visited her the following day, and his visit was much blessed to Sarah, whose hungerings and thirstings after righteousness were now intense. |