WONDERFUL GRACE.
John Dickson, a farmer in the parish of Ratho, near Edinburgh, was long a stranger to the riches of divine grace. He paid no regard to the sacred ordinances, or, if ever on the Lord's Day he entered the house of God, it was more for a desire of ridiculing than profiting by what he heard. The Word preached did not profit him, not being mixed with faith.
In this dreadful situation was he when his wife died, after bringing into the world an infant daughter. The good providence of that gracious God who calleth the weak things of this world to confound the strong had ordained that the nurse of this child should be a woman of exemplary faith, who walked in the Spirit, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost. The carnal mind of the father still continued at enmity with God; but he was, ere long, to be brought to a full conviction of his own unworthiness, and a delightful experience of the riches of redeeming love.
The child, being now about twenty months old, and beginning to prattle a few words, was one day sent for by her father, who was sitting after dinner with some of his profane acquaintances. To his great astonishment the child repeated, two or three times, in its infant tones, "Oh, the grace of God!" These words made a deep impression upon the father. He began to reflect upon his sins, and the power of that grace which cleanseth from sin, so long the subject of his impious ridicule. The Holy Ghost had opened his heart, and now brought him, like a sheep that had been astray, into the fold of divine love. Since that time he has walked as becometh one called in the Lord, bringing forth fruit meet for repentance. The words which, through the grace of God, became the happy instrument of his conversion were the customary ejaculation of the godly nurse, and had thus been learned by the infant. So truly was the Scripture verified that "out of the mouths of babes and sucklings the Lord hath ordained praise."
R.
Endeavour to be always patient of the faults and imperfections of others, for thou hast many faults and imperfections of thy own that require a reciprocation of forbearance. If thou art not able to make thyself that which thou wishest to be, how canst thou expect to mould another in conformity to thy will?—Thomas à Kempis.