Down to Earth But Heavenly Minded

or, The Goldsmith’s Costly Fire

Before James VI. of Scotland became King of England his resources were but small, and though he had not the burden of expensive wars to bear, as had some of his predecessors, his revenue was scarcely sufficient to enable him to keep up the state of a king at Holyrood Palace.

Moreover, the Queen, Anne of Denmark, had very extravagant tastes and was exceedingly fond of jewels and, consequently, she involved the King in heavy debts.

There was a man, George Heriot by name — the Heriot who founded the famous hospital in Edinburgh — to whom the King owed large sums of money. He was a goldsmith, and the Queen obtained all her jewels from him; and in addition to this he had often advanced money to the King.

Heriot plied his business in a small booth seven feet by seven in Parliament Square, just below St. Giles Church. Thither King James often resorted, no doubt thinking that if he honoured him with his friendship he would not be so pressing in his demands for payment. For James VI. was not without shrewdness of a certain kind.

Now, it is well to be reminded of the truth — the plain truth — no matter how unpalatable it may-be. Have you thought of it?

You are a debtor and God is your creditor. How do you think that your debt can be met and discharged?

George Heriot was on one occasion summoned to Holyrood, where he found King James sitting before a fire of scented wood, which filled the room with a delightful odour. He remarked to the King upon the pleasantness of it, and his Majesty replied, “Yes, it is very pleasant, but unfortunately it is also very costly.”

“Ah,” said Heriot, “if you will come down to my booth in Parliament Close to-morrow, sire, I will show you a far more costly fire.”

“Say you so, my good fellow? Then I will be there without fail,” was the King’s reply.

On the morrow King James presented himself at Heriot’s shop, and, seeing an ordinary coal fire in the grate, exclaimed, “Is this the fire of which you boast?”

“Wait until I get my fuel,” said Heriot; and taking from a locker a bond for a sum of £2,000 which he had lent to the King, he laid it on the fire, exclaiming, “Now, is your Majesty’s a more costly fire than mine?” As the flames curled up and destroyed the parchment, the King gave a sigh of relief, agreeing most readily that Heriot’s fire was pleasanter and more costly than his own. The bond was burnt, the debt was cancelled, and that by the hand of the creditor, so that it stood no longer against the King.

Now let us speak of your debt. Have you faced it, and looked about for means wherewith to clear it? If you have, you must have found that you cannot do it. God’s Word describes your case right truly when it says, “Nothing to pay.”

There are some people in this world who were once poor bankrupt debtors, but they have witnessed, by faith, a wondrous transaction. They have beheld, to use our figure, the burning of the bond — their debts are all cancelled, they are clear of them for ever, having been freely forgiven by the creditor. But before this could be done there had to be the costly fire.

Oh, think of Calvary! There the Saviour passed through the fire of judgment, all that the sinful debtors deserved. It is by those sufferings and by that death that your creditor — God himself — is able righteously and for ever to remit His claims.

He can frankly forgive — He can freely justify, those that believe in Jesus.

Have you felt the weight of your liabilities — the extent of your indebtedness? If so, you must have groaned beneath it all and is it not good news to hear that God will find great delight to-day in pardoning you?

King James watched the bond consumed in the fire, and then warmly shook the hand of his creditor and thanked him for his kindness in cancelling the debt.

Will not you behold, with wondering eyes, the death of Him who died for sinners and say, “He died for me”? Then turn and thank Him for His love and owe a debt of gratitude to Him for ever,