Charlotte Elliott’s Conversion.
A young woman belonging to a reputable family was preparing for a grand ball to be given in her native town. Full of gay [happy, care-free] anticipations, she started out one day to her dressmaker, to have a dress fitted for the occasion. On her way, she met her pastor, an earnest, faithful man, and in the greetings which passed between them, he learned her errand.
Understanding, doubtless, the inwardness of the society ball, and the moral and physical evils to which it leads, he reasoned and expostulated, and finally pleaded with her to stay away. Greatly vexed, she answered, "I wish you would mind your own business!" and went on her course.
In due time, the ball came off; and this young woman was the gayest of the gay. But after dancing all night, laying her weary head on her pillow, only with returning light, remorse came. Her conscience made her wretched. Then her rudeness to her pastor rankled in her breast. The truth of his words came to her heart and would give her no rest. After three days of misery, during which life became almost insupportable, she went to the minister with her trouble, saying: "For three days, I have been the most wretched girl in the world, and now, oh that I were a Christian! I want to be a Christian! What must I do?"
The pastor freely forgave her rudeness to himself and directed her to the true source of peace. He said, "Just give yourself to the LAMB of GOD as you are."
"What! just as I am?" she asked. "Do you know that I am one of the worst sinners in the world? How can GOD accept me just as I am?"
"That is exactly what you must believe," was the answer. "You must come to Him just as you are."
Overwhelmed as the simple truth took possession of her mind, she went to her room, knelt down, and asked GOD to forgive her sins and make her fit for His own indwelling. As she knelt, peace—full, overflowing—filled her soul. Inspired by the new and rapturous experience, she then and there wrote a hymn which has thrilled thousands of hearts in many lands—the hymn which says:
Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
But that Thou bidst me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come.
Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come.
Just as I am, Thy love unknown,
Has broken every barrier down,
Now to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come.
This young woman was the afterwards celebrated Charlotte Elliott. It is needless to say that she frequented the ball-room no more. She knew its contaminating influence, and had done with it for ever.
God grant many more, through faithful remonstrance, may follow Charlotte Elliott's example. Her pastor little dreamt of the fruit of his fidelity at the time it was exercised. So may it be with us.
“The Springing Well” 1898
