A Striking Conversion

THIS striking conversion is related by my grandfather in his autobiography: — “A godly, faithful minister, having finished prayer, looked round upon the congregation. He observed a young man shut in a pew who seemed to wish to go out again. Feeling a strong desire to detain him, the minister turned towards one of the members of his church and loudly asked him, ‘Brother, do you repent of your coming to Christ?’ ‘No, sir,’ he replied; ‘I never was happy till then, I only regret I did not come to Him sooner.’ The minister then turned to the opposite gallery and asked an aged member in the same manner, Brother, do you repent that you came to Christ? “No, sir,’ said he, I have known the Lord from my youth up.’ He then looked towards the young man, and fixing his eyes on him, said, ‘Young man are you willing to come to Christ? This unexpected address from the pulpit so affected him that he hid his face. The person who sat next to him encouraged him to rise and answer. The minister repeated his question, ‘Young man, are you willing to come to Christ?’ With a tremulous voice he answered, ‘Yes, sir.’ ‘But when, sir?’ added the minister in a solemn and loud tone. The young man answered, ‘Now, sir.’ ‘Then stay,’ said he and hear the word of God, which you will find in 2 Corinthians 6:2: “Behold now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation.” By this sermon God touched his heart; he came into the vestry after service, dissolved in tears. The unwillingness to stay at first was occasioned by the strict injunction of his father, who threatened to turn him out of doors if he ever went to hear ‘those fanatics’; therefore he was afraid to meet his father. The minister sat down and wrote an affectionate letter to the father, which had so good an effect that both father and mother came to hear for themselves. The Lord graciously met with them both, and father, mother and son were together received with universal joy into that church.”
Now, dear reader, let me ask you the same question the minister asked that young man. If you have not already come, “Are you willing to come to Christ for salvation?” There is none other can save. Oh, come now, as he did; do not wait till to-morrow or, it may be too late. Death may come and no salvation. Come now! E. P. Leakey