THE OLD MAN OF THE DARTMOOR HILLS

THERE was an old man of Dartmoor, who for many years obtained his livlihood by looking after the flock upon those wild hills. At last throough old age, infirmity, continual exposure to all kinds of weather, his sight entirely failed him, and he had to seek an asylum, to end his few remaining days.
While there he was frequently visited by one of his grand daughters, who would occasionally read to him portions of the Word of God. 
One day, while this little girl was reading to him the first chapter of the first episttle of John when she reached the seventh verse, "And the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin," the old man stopped her, and gently raised himself up, said, with great earnestness, "Is that there my dear?" "Yes, Grandpa." "Then read it to me again, I've never heard the like before!" The little girl read again - "And the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin."
"You are quite sure that is there? "Yes, quite sure"
"Then take my hand, amd lau my finger on the passage, for I should like to feel it."
So the little girl took the old blind man's hand, and placed his bony finger on the seventh verse, when he said,-"Now read it to me again."
The little grand daugter read with her soft,sweet, gentle voice, --"And the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin." "You are quite sure that is there?" "Yes, quite sure."
He then said,--" If any one should ask how I died, tell them I died in the faith of these words, "And-the-blood-of-Jesus-Christ-His-Son-cleanseth-us-from-all-sin."
And with that the old mn drew his hand from the book, his head fell softly back on the pillow, and he silently passed into the presence of Him, whose blood had cleansed him from all sin. 
How peaceful his death! but may I ask, dear reader: If you were called to die, would your testimony be as that of the old man of Dartmoor? Are you resting on the blood of Christ? Have youo had your sins forgiven? It is blessed to know this at the last hour, but more blessed to be living in the concious enjoyment of sins forgiven through faith in the atoning blood of Christ; so that, whether living or dying, we are able to say to any one who may ask: I live and could calmly die in the faith of those words:-"The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son cleanseth us from all sin."

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