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Souls: Love of

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Thomas Fuller, in his 'Worthies,' gives the following interesting account of one Gervase Scroop, Knight:: 'He engaged with his majesty in Edgehill fight, where he received twenty-six wounds, and was left on the ground amongs't the dead. Next day his son Adrian obtained leave from the king to find and fetch off his father's corpse: and his hopes pretended no higher than to a decent interment thereof.

'Hearty seeking makes happy finding. Indeed, some more commended the affection than the judgment of the young gentleman, concerning such a search in vain amongst many naked bodies, with wounds disguised from themselves, and where pale death had confounded all complexions together.

'However, he having some general hint of the place where his father fell, did light upon his body, which had some heat left therein. This heat was, with rubbing, within a few minutes, improved into motion; within some hours, into sense; that sense, within a day, into speech; that speech, within certain weeks, into a perfect recovery; living more than ten years after, a monument of God's mercy and his son's affection.'

True love to souls will seek them out with all the eagerness of this heroic son, and, finding them, will be as persevering in attempts to save. Not all at once shall we see all we could wish in the objects of our holy care, but no difficulties must daunt us; we must continue by God's grace to agonise for their souls till we see them safe in Christ. The little awakened interest which cheers us must be nursed into anxiety, and through the Holy Spirit we must labour to see anxiety turned into' hope, and hope to faith and salvation. None are too far gone for zeal and prayer. Love is ever hopeful and God is ever gracious. Let us renew our search, and the Lord send us good speed to-day.