The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1912, Page 19

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The Lutheran Pioneer.

19

“Yes, I do,” was the reply; “I have turned to
my Own way, much to my sorrow now.”

“In the next clause,” said the pastor, “we read:
‘And the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of
us all.” God says that too. Do you believe Him?”
it was solemnly asked.

The dying man was silent for a moment, and
then the tears started to his eyes, as he looked up
and said, “Yes, sir, I believe, and [ am satisfied.”

“Well,” said the pastor, “if God is satisfied with
the work of His Son and you are satisfied, there is
nothing more to be done, is there?”

“Nothing but to thank Him for His wonderful
love to the chief of sinners and for a free pardon,”
said the old man, folding his hands. Te lived for
about a week after this, rejoicing in the mercy that
had plucked a brand out of the fire, and then de-
parted in peace through faith in the finished work
of the Savior.

More than fifteen years passed away, and the
incident was forgotten under the pressure of much
work, when the same pastor was called upon to
visit an old Jady who was drawing near to the
grave and desired to see him. Going to the house,
which had a familiar look, he was shown into an
upper. room, and saw a white-haired old woman
who was reclining in an easy chair. She had but
recently returned from a long. visit to distant
friends. She was totally deaf, but an open Bible
lay upon her Jap, and she wrote upon a slate: “You
called to see my dying husband, and told him about
Jesus Christ, and read to him: “The Lord hath
laid on Him the iniquity of us all.’. I could hear
then, and the message was blessed to my own soul.
Since that time I have rejoiced in the faith that
He bore my sins in His own body on the tree. As
[ am about to depart to be with Him who loved me
and gave Himself for me, I thought I would send
for you, and tell you that the same text which gave
my husband peace gave me peace also.”

Surely, the soul that rests on the promises and
assurances of God’s unchanging Word will not be
confounded in the day of Jesus Christ.

A Bright Example.

During the war in Soudan a British officer lay
in much suffering and dangerously wounded on a
ficld of battle. JSarlier in the day he had received
a slight injury, or what he chose to deem such, in
his left arm; but he had kept his seat on his horse,

and not till toward the close of the decisive engage-
ment, when victory crowned the English arms, and
the enemy were in full retreat, flying from the field,
did the young officer receive his severer wounds,
and was carried by his men to a bank a little way
from the mass of the dead and dying.

A young surgeon, in answer to the call of one
of his own men, came up to examine his injuries,
but was waved off with the words, “Leave me for
the present; go to those who are suffering more,
and needing your services more urgently.”

The officer's servant expressed his disappoint-
ment at his master not having allowed himself to
be attended to, and received the response, “Fetch
me a drink of water, Colin; that’s what I long for
most;” and ere long the clear, sparkling draught
was at his lips, but yet untasted, when the eyes of
a soldier beside him opened, and a sound between
a gasp and a groan issued from the dying lips, while
the gaze of intense longing of the hungry eyes
spoke their thirst. ‘The untasted draught was held
to the parched lips and eagerly drained, and the
leok of gratitude, never to be’ forgotten, was ample
compensation.

While Colin was gone for a: fresh supply, the
officer, with his left hand and least disabled arm,
unhooked the soldier’s tunic, and, with an effort
beyond his real strength, managed to raise the dying
head, momentarily revived by the draught of water.
A hand was .groping: in his breast, and the officer,
following the movement, found a pocket Testament;
but it was an expiring effort, and too late. Yet one
word he heard as he bent over the face, and the
dying lips formed the name of Jesus. , Then the
features relaxed, and pain and suffering disappeared
from the countenance, and in their stead was a
look of perfect peace and rest.

The young soldier, who had fought his last for
his earthly sovereign, had entered into the presence
of Him whose.name was dearest to his gallant heart
and last upon his lips. The officer’s servant was.
once more returning with the fresh supply from
the little brook, which he had sought for higher
up the stream, for below it was mingled with crim-
son stains, and he found ‘the dead soldier nestled
on his master’s breast. ‘There was no question now,
death had claimed his victim, and two dragoons
coming up and kneeling down Were about to re-
move the body, which pressed on the wounded
officer.

“Stay, Colin, stay, sever a lock of his hair first.

He may have a mother;” and the nut-brown curl

.

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