| The Bag of Beans |
One summer evening years ago, a young man walked the streets of London, downcast and weary. He had been living a fast life, with the usual result of a tarnished character and an emptied purse. He was to sail for New York the following morning. It was Sunday and a Christian friend, who had vainly sought to arrest him in his downward course, pleaded with him to spend his last night in England hearing a well-known gospel preacher.
The hall was filled that evening with an eager crowd, brought together to hear the faithful, but often grotesque, preaching of that earnest man. It may have been curiosity that led the young man there, but at any rate he found himself seated in the congregation. The evangelist's text was: 'We are not ignorant of his devices." After reading it, he abruptly proceeded:
"I was walking along the street the other day, and saw a drove of pigs following a man. This excited my curiosity, for, as you all know, pigs are uncommonly queer animals to drive. If you want them to go one way they invariably take another. But this man seemed to have no difficulty; the pigs followed jostling and grunting after him as eager as possible. I followed them and to my surprise I found they were going to the slaughterhouse. They went in, and the door closed behind them. I waited till the man came out, and asked him how he had managed to lead them so easily. The man laughed and said:
'Maybe you didn't see the bag of beans under my arm. I knew I would have a hard morning's work getting those pigs there if I didn't humor them a bit. So I got some beans which they are particularly fond of, and dropped them along the road. And you saw how they scampered along picking up the beans, never thinking they were going to the slaughterhouse.'
"And this is the way," continued the preacher, raising his voice, and turning his penetrating glance right on the pew where the young prodigal sat, "that the devil is leading some of you captives at his will down to hell. He knows full well how to please and lead you on. He drops his beans right along the road. and very soon for you the last bean will be picked up; then the gates of hell will close behind you."
The young man was arrested on the spot. The story of the beans, with its striking application to the wiles and ways of the devil in ruining souls. by scattering the world's follies in their path. carried the arrow of conviction to his soul. Next day he sailed for New York. Anxiously his friend waited for news of his arrival, and at last it came. With joyful surprise he read,
I am glad to tell you that I am converted. The message of that earnest man, especially his opening words about the devil's beans. arrested and awakened me. I saw where I was going. how Satan was luring me on, and what my doom and destiny must be. By the grace of God I am saved to follow a better Leader. and walk in a new path. I shall ever thank God for that good man's words, which arrested me, and for words of further help I received from one on board the ship. by which I was led to the Saviour, just before I lost my soul for ever."
Reader, are you being led on to death and hell by the devil's beans?
The "pleasures of sin," often very palatable, you will taste for the last time one day. Then the agonies of hell, the closing of hell's door behind you, the doom of the damned will be your portion forever. Today a God of love yearns over your soul, and wants to save you. Christ is able, ready, and willing. "Turn ye, turn ye, for why will ye die?"
"But if our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:"
"In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." 2 Cor. 4:3, 4.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16.