Once more, may I not plead with you to return to God, because of the precious love of Christ? Love, I know, has great power to move. You will remember how in that wonderful book, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” there is a singular instance of the power of love. Miss Ophelia had been laboring to train up that wicked girl biopsy, but she would not learn anything, though Miss Ophelia tried to make her say the Assembly’s Catechism, in order that she might know all about it. But one day, Eva, the little five, (the very gospel incarnate, just as Miss Ophelia was the picture of the law,) sits down by her side, and says to her, “Topsy, why will be so naughty; what is it makes you so wicked?” “Miss Eva,” says Topsy, “it aren’t no use any being good nobody loves me.” The little girl puts her arm round her neck and kisses her, saying. “Why I love you, Topsy, and it grieves me very much to see you so naughty.” “Oh!” said Topsy, “I will try to be good if you will but love me.” Love had won the poor child, and had subdued her. Well, now, perhaps you are saying, “If Christ would but say he would love me, I think I could repent that I ever sinned against him; I think I would be willing to give him my heart.” Soul, if that is what you say, he does love you. He loved you and gave himself for you. Behold his cross—is there better proof of love than that? See his flowing wounds; hear how he groans; behold him dying! “It is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,” and he saves them because he loves them. Oh! if that love will woo you, it is indeed in plenteous abundance flowing down to you now. “Ah! well,” you say, “I cannot do enough for him.” If that be true, I am glad you have got as far as that, and I have finished when I have told you an anecdote which I trust will do us all good.
A missionary was preaching to the Maori tribe of the New Zealanders. He had been truing them of the suffering love of Christ, how he had poured forth his soul unto death for them; and as he concluded, the hills rung to the thrilling question—”Is it nothing to an who pass by? Behold and see if there be any sorrow like unto his Borrow?” Then stood forth a plumed and painted chief, the scarred warrior of a thousand fights, and as his lips quivered with suppressed emotion, he spoke. “And did the Son of the Highest suffer all this for us men? Then the Indian chief would like to offer him some poor return for his great love. Would the Son of God deign to accept the Indian’s hunting dog? Swift of foot and keen of scent the tribe has not such another, and he has been to the Indian as a friend.” But the missionary told him that the Son of God had need of no such gifts as these. Thinking he had mistaken the gift he resumed—”Yet perchance he would accept the Indian’s rifle? Unerring of aim, the chief cannot replace it.” Again the missionary shook his head. For a moment the chief paused; then as a new thought struck him, suddenly despoiling himself of his striped blanket he cried with childlike earnestness, “Perhaps he who had not where to lay his head will yet accept the chieftain’s blanket. The poor Indian will be cold without it, yet it is offered joyfully.” Touched by love’s persistency, the missionary tried to explain to him the real nature of the Son of God; that it was not men’s gifts but men’s hearts that he yearned for. For a moment a cloud of grief darkened the granite features of the old chief; then as the true nature of the Son of God slowly dawned upon him, casting aside his blanket and rifle he clasped his hands, and looking right up into the blue sky, his face beaming with joy, he exclaimed—”Perhaps the Son of the Blessed One will deign to accept the poor Indian himself!”
Is that what you say this morning? You would give Christ this, and that, and the other. Soul, give him your heart. Say to him now,
“Jesus, I love thy charming name,
‘Tis music to my ear;
Fain would I sound it out so loud,
That earth and heaven might hear.”
And then it is done; the compact is concluded; the work is over; thou art in the arms of Christ, thou lovest him and he loves thee. He wounded but he has healed; he killed thee but he has made thee alive. Go in peace; thou art loved much; thy sin which are many are all forgiven thee.”
“This article originally appeared here at Bible Bulletin Board.”
