THE WORD WITH POWER.
"Jesus, who lived above the sky,
Came down to be a man and die.
And those kind hands that did such good,
They nailed them to a cross of wood.
And, out of pity, Jesus said,
He'd bear the punishment instead."
An aged woman sat alone by the fireside, when Mr. —— came in, and simply exclaimed, as he looked out at the window, "The Lord said, 'I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance' (Mark ii. 17). 'Not the righteous.' What a mercy that is." No more was said, and Mr. —— left the room, but at night, when in bed, the aged one said to her sister, who occupied the same room with her, "Mr. —— came into the room below, and, as if speaking to himself, uttered these words, 'I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Not the righteous. What a mercy that is!' and he went out, and said no more, but they made the tears roll down my face. There is hope for me."
"A word in season" the Lord alone can give to be effectual. Then, "how good it is." Bless His holy name, He shall have all the praise, for ever and ever.
D. F.
August, 1888.