“The life of grace and mercy now, and the life of glory and happiness hereafter; is it not, sir?”
“Yes, assuredly: this is the fruit of the death of Christ, and thus he ‘opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.’ As bread and wine strengthen and refresh your poor, weak, fainting body in this very sickness, so does the blessing of his body and blood strengthen and refresh the souls of all that repose their faith, hope, and affections on him who loved us and gave himself for us.”
Tears ran down her cheeks as she said,—
“Oh, what a Saviour! Oh, what a sinner! How kind! how good! And is this for me?”
“Fear not, dear child. He that has made you to love him thus, loves you too well to deny you. He will in no wise cast out any that come to him.”
“Sir,” said the girl, “I can never think about Jesus and his love to sinners, without wondering how it can be. I deserve nothing but his anger on account of my sins. Why then does he love me? My heart is evil. Why then does he love me? I continually forget all his goodness. Why then does he love me? I neither pray to him, nor thank him, nor do anything as I ought to do. Why then such love to me?”
“How plain it is that all is mercy from first to last! and that sweetens the blessing, my child. Are you not willing to give Christ all the honour of your salvation, and to take all the blame of your sins on your own self?”
“Yes, indeed, sir, I am. My hymn says,—
‘Blest be the Lord, that sent his Son
To take our flesh and blood;
He for our lives gave up his own,
To make our peace with God.‘He honoured all his Father’s laws,
Which we have disobeyed;
He bore our sins upon the cross,
And our full ransom paid.’”
“I am glad you remember your hymns so well, Jenny.”