Light and Life

Frederick N. Charrington, heir to the largest distillery in England, while traveling in France, met an acquaintance, William Rainsford, and invited him home. He writes: “When we arrived, to my astonishment Rainsford suddenly said, ‘I feel very guilty. We have traveled all the way over the Continent, and enjoyed ourselves very much, but I have never spoken to you about your soul. I must ask you if you are saved.’ I said, ‘Really, Rainsford, we have had a very good time, and I think it a great pity that you bring up such a debatable subject.’ He said, ‘I will only ask you to do one thing: when I am gone, promise me to read the third chapter of John’s Gospel.’ I promised, and the next night, while smoking a pipe before I went to bed, I read the chapter, and as I read it…Light came into my soul, and I too possessed eternal life.” Charrington turned his back on his entire fortune and gave his life to effective gospel and charitable work in the worst slums of London’s East End.

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