When I was a boy at school I saw a sight I never can forget - a man tied to a cart dragged before the people's eyes through the streets of my native town, his back torn and bleeding from the lash.
It was a shameful punishment. For MANY offences? No, for one offence. Did any of the townsmen offer to divide the lashes with him? No, he who committed the offence bore the penalty all alone. It was the penalty of a changing human law, for it was the last instance of its infliction.
When I was a student at the university I saw another sight I never can forget – a man brought out to die. His arms were pinioned, his face was already as pale as death, thousands of eager eyes were on him as he came up from the jail in sight.
Did any man ask to die in his room? Did any friend come and loose the ropes and say: "Put it around my neck, I die instead?" No, he underwent the sentence of the law. For MANY offences? No, for one offence. He had stolen a money parcel from a stage-coach. He broke the law at one point, and died for it. It was the penalty of a changing human law in this case also. It was the last instance of capital punishment being inflicted for that offence.
I saw another sight, it matters not when – myself a sinner standing on the brink of ruin, deserving nought but Hell. For ONE sin? No, for many, many sins committed against the unchanging laws of God. But again, I looked and saw Jesus, my Substitute, scourged in my stead, and dying on the Cross for me. I looked, and wept, and was forgiven. And it seemed to me to be my duty to tell you of that Saviour, to see if you will not also "look and live".
And how simple it all becomes when God opens the eye. A friend who lately came from Paris told me of an English groom there, a very careless old man, who had during a severe illness been made to feel that he was a sinner. He dared not die as he was. The clergyman whom he sent for got tired of visiting him, having told him all he then knew of the way of salvation. But one Sunday afternoon the groom's daughter waited in the vestry after Church, saying "You must come once more, sir; I cannot see my father again without you". "I can tell him nothing new", said the preacher; "but I may take the sermon I have been preaching and read it to him".
The dying man lay as before in anguish, thinking of his sins, and whither they must carry him. "My friend, I have come to read to you the sermon I have just preached. First, I shall tell you of the text: 'He was wounded for our transgressions'. Now I shall read". "Hold!" said the dying man; I have it! Read no more. He was wounded for MY transgressions". Soon after he died rejoicing in Christ.
Poor philosopher, you have only found out a new principle in science! Happy groom you have found in Jesus Christ a Saviour for your precious soul!
