# The Lutheran Pioneer_St. Louis_1885_S43 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) The Lutheran Pioneer. 43 “God Says | am Saved.” Not long since, writes a Christian physician, I was asked to visit a young girl, about seven- teen years of age, who had injured herself, and was thought to be dying. I had known her fur some time, and was aware she was very del- icate, but on calling learned she had fallen out of bed, and received an injury to the back of her head, which would eventually prove fatal, it was judged. Being under the care of another surgeon, I had nothing to do with her treat- ment, so after making a few inquiries as to her bodily suffering, which was great (specially when moved by others, for she was almost completely paralyzed), I began to speak to her about the state of her soul. ‘Are you quite happy?”’ I asked. “No, sir.’’ “Why? Are you not saved?’’ “T am not sure.”’ “But why are you not sure? do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ?’’ “Yes, but I don’t feel saved.” “Do you feel lost?”’ “Yes, I do;’’ and she now began to weep. “Why do you know you are lost?”’ “Because Iam a sinner, and God’s Word says so.’’ ——UThon-you-_boliove His Word,— do you?”’ “Oh! Yes, sir, indeed I do.’’ “Well, then, His Word says, ‘Look unto Me, and be ye saved ;’ do you believe that?’’ “Yes.” “But are you looking to Je- sus?”’ “Yes, sir, but I don’t feel as I should like to.’” “Granted; but does it say, ‘Look unto Me and feel saved??’’ “'No.”’ “What then?’’ “Be ye saved.” ‘What?’ ‘Be ye saved.” ‘When is that, to-day or to-morrow?”’ “When I look.’’ “But are you looking?”’ “Yes, I am really looking to Jesus.’” “Then are you saved.’’ She paused a mo- ment and then firmly replied: “T don’t feel it, but God says I am saved. Isee it now.’’ The next moment her eye lit up, and her pallid face told the tale of a new spring of joy having been opened to her.’’ ‘‘Well,’’ I said, ‘if any one were to come in and ask you now if you were saved, what would you say?’’ “T would say ‘Yes.’” ‘‘And if they asked you how you knew it and were sure of it, what would you say?” God says in His Word, that whosoever believeth | in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life; and though I don’t feel it, I do believe what God says.” “Then you rest your soul on Jesus and on God's Word?’’ “Yes, sir, Ido; and I could die happy now. I'd like to go at once to Jesus.’’ “You have uo fears?”’ “No, none.”’ “No doubts?”’ “No; why should I? I see it all clearly. I'm only a poor sinner—and Jesus died for me— and I believe in Him—and God says I’in saved —and so I know Iam.” I had a little more conversation, and called THE LAST JUDGMENT. the joy the knowledge of God alone can impart. Leaving town for a few weeks, I found, on my return, that she had lingered about a month, giving a constant bright testimony of Christ to all about her, and full of quiet, calm rest and joy in Christ until the end, had at length passed to be forever with Him. And now, dear reader, a word with you about the state of your soul. Are you saved— or lost? Which? Don’t shirk the question. It must be answered soon. The longest life has its end. Who has given you a lease of long life? A long eternity you shall have. Where will you spend it? Another day may find youin it. Gone forever from earth, where Christ died, ‘suffered for sins once, the just for the unjust that He might bring us to God.”’ Gone where? With Christ? Or without Him? Would it be without Him? You tremble to say ‘“‘Yes.”’ List the voice of love speaking to you—speaking from heaven—‘Come unto Me”’—‘‘Lovok unto Me’—“I am Jesus’’—‘‘By “JT would say that I do believe in Jesus, and| Me, if any man enter in he shall be saved.” You have naught to do but take your true place as a lost sinner now before God. Acknowl- edge your sin. It’sall summed up in the sweet confession of the dying girl. May you this day be able to say like her, ‘I’m only a poor sinner—Jesus died for me—I believe in Him— God says I am saved and so I know Iam.” “Rise my soul! behold 'tis Jesus, Jesus fills my wondering eyes; See Him now, in glory seated Where thy sins no more can rise.” A Story of the Bible. Some years since, an American ship, sailing two days after to find her truly filled with joy|on the South Pacific Ocean, struck a hidden jand peace in believing. Her face shone with| rock, and speedily filled with water. The cap- tain and crew, seeing she would soon go to pieces, took to the long boat and started out to find land or a friendly vessel. For two weeks, they went on without seeing either sail or shore. On the morning of the fifteenth day, an island rimmed with coral reet came into view. As they drew near this, they saw the people of the island thronging the beach. The sight of these people filled their minds with the greatest anxiety. They knew that the inhabitants of many of the islands Were savages and cruel; and sit- uated as they were, they were afraid to venture towards the shore, lest a worse fate than that which had already befallen them might be theirs. If these half naked natives were only waiting to murder them, or sacrifice them to their gods, it were bet- ter for them to still trust the chances of the sea. While they were thus debating the matter, one of the natives dashed down through the surf, and, holding a book aloft, cried, in good English, and with a loud voice, ‘* Missionary !’’ ‘‘Missionary!’’ In an instant their fears were abated, and they turned towards the shore. The book they felt sure was the Bible; and the missionary had been there, to teach its blessed truths. Nor were they disappointed. The natives rushed to meet them, helped them through the surf, and, when they had gotten them safely to land, provided for all their wants with Christian kindness and love. Just such assurances does the Bible ever bring to human hearts. Infidels may scoff at it, and make light of its teachings; but to the doubtful and fearing, its presence is always a delight, and its power a sure defence. God help us to prize His blessed word more and more.—Young People's Monthly. WHATEVER is worth doing at all, is worth é doing well.