HE DIED FOR ME by Advocate

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Nov 4, 1880

HE DIED FOR ME.

By Advocate

In the cemetery at Nashville, Tennessee, a stranger was seen planting a flower over a soldier's grave. When asked, "Was your son buried there?" "No," was the reply. "Your son-in-law?" "No." "A brother?" "No." "A relative?" "No." After a moment the stranger laid down a small board which he held in his hand and said:—

"Well, I'll tell you. When the war broke out I was a farmer. I wanted to enlist; but I was poor, and had a wife and seven small children. I was drafted; I had no money to hire a substitute, and so I made up my mind that I must leave my poor, sickly wife and little children, and go and serve in the army. After I was ready to go, a young man with whom I was acquainted came to me and said: 'You have a big family, which your wife cannot take care of; I will go for you.' He did go in my place; and in the battle of Chickamauga he was wounded, and taken to the hospital at Nashville. After a long

sickness, he died, and was buried here; and ever since, I have wanted to come to see his grave. I saved up all the money I could, and yesterday I came on; and to-day I found my friend's grave."

With tears of gratitude running down his cheeks, he took up the small board and pressed it down into the ground, in the place of a tombstone. Under the soldier's name were these words: "He Died for Me."

He died for me! Oh, wonder of wonders! Oh, love unspeakable! How a soul can for a moment take home this truth, and remain unmoved, is almost as wonderful. What infinite condescension for the King to die for the subject; the Master for the servant; the sinless and holy for the sinful and vile; and all to raise a rebellious worm to the place of an heir of glory, whose inheritance shall be an eternal home in his presence, "in the city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God."

He suffered in my stead. And the shafts of divine justice which I deserved to receive, were turned aside, and entered his breast. For me "He who was rich became poor, that I, through his poverty, might become rich." He was reproached and rejected of men, scourged, and nailed to the shameful tree, and his precious blood freely shed, that I might be freed from the dominion of sin; and regenerated and sanctified, walk before him blameless and in love, and with all my ransomed powers to work for him, live for him, for all time and all eternity.—Advocate.