One day, when I was feeling more desponding and wretched than before, a lady called, and said she wanted to speak to me—­would I come to her house for this purpose?  I went, and she was not long before she opened the conversation by charging me with being uncharitable.  “You say we are all unconverted.”

I replied, “Of course, as children of Adam we are, till conversion takes place; there can be no mistake about that!  But when did I say that you were unconverted?  Is it not your own conscience that tells you that?  When we preach to people as unconverted, those who are changed, and brought from death into life, know as well as possible that we do not mean them; and they pray for a blessing on the Word, that it may reach others, as it once reached them.  They do not sit there and resent the charge, for they know what has passed between God and their souls, and are anxious for others to share the same blessing.”  She was silent; so I continued, “May I ask you the question.  Are you converted?  Can you tell me that you are?”

She replied, “I do not know what you mean.”

“Well, then, why do you suppose that I mean something uncharitable or bad?”

“Because I know very well it is not a good thing to be unconverted.  But,” she added, “it seems such an unkind thing to put us all down for ‘lost,’ while you suppose yourself to be saved.”

“You may know more about this some day, perhaps; but in the meantime will you allow me to ask you one thing:  Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ?”

She replied indignantly, “Of course I do.  Now, this is the very want of charity I complain of-the idea of asking me such a question!”

She was one of the Rev. —­’s, (the confessor’s) favourite devotees, and had been absolved by him for several years; the very idea of asking her if she believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, made her quite impatient, as well as indignant.’

I said, “Do not be angry with me, but what do you believe about Him?”

“Believe everything, of course!  I believe the creed.”

“Yes, I do not doubt that, for a moment.  But do you believe that Jesus died for you?”

“Why, yes, certainly:  how could I do otherwise; He died for us all.”

“That is not the point.  I mean, do you believe that He died; and that you have a personal interest in His death?”

She hesitated, and then looking at me said, “Do you mean objectively, or subjectively?”

“May I ask what I am to understand by these words?”

“Dr. —­ taught me that, ‘Christ died.’ is objective, and that ’Christ died for me.’ is subjective.”

“Very good indeed,” I answered, “I like that very much; it is quite true.  But it is one thing to know about subjective faith, and quite another thing to have it.  Now I will come back to my question.  Do you believe that Christ died for you?”

“You evidently mean something that I do not understand,” she said, in a perplexed manner.  Then looking at the crucifix on her table, I said, “What does that remind you of?”