God’s Free Grace Glorified (2)

Slowly, she recovered, but there was something that was difficult to heal, and that was the great anxiety; that anxiety remained. The great shock was not mediated sufficiently. To what would this lead?

From the time of this accident, Mina remained afraid of an unexpected death. How close had been her brush with eternity! How terrible it would be to have to die without having Christ as Surety for one’s guilt. How could she possibly meet God without the imputed righteousness of the Mediator?

When thunderstorms were heard, she shuddered and with a loud voice would pray to the Lord for grace. She read a great deal and was frequently found in prayer. She was again able to attend the church services. At such times she listened with complete attention to the preaching of her father. She was frequently emotionally moved under the hearing of the Word.

Yet…she remained bound to the things of time and state; she remained bound to the world. Did she not have a long life ahead of her? Must she say farewell to all of the pleasures of the world? That she could not do. She stood upon the border between God and the service of sin. She wished to serve both God and the world, but we cannot serve two masters; we will love the one and hate the other. To serve God and mammon is not possible. The Lord wants to be honored alone.

Who could bring her upon the right path? Only the Lord could do that. The accident with the carriage was not sufficient. It was only a knocking upon her heart, but her heart remained closed. Would she then still go lost? Only the Lord knew the answer to that.

Mina Middel was fifteen-years-old when she was so wonderfully spared, but before her sixteenth birthday in 1851 she suffered a severe cough. It was difficult to watch her. The doctor was called, and he gave her some medicine, but it was of no help.

As the child lay there, her body was continuously shocked because of the terrible coughing. It was impossible for her to lie down. When she was lying down, she could not breathe, and she became afraid that she would suffocate. When she was able to lie quietly for a few minutes, then the coughing fits started again. As soon as she was able to take a drink, she vomited it up with the next fit of coughing. The medicines which she was given did not help. The doctor did not know what to do. He was concerned that she could be developing tuberculosis. He recommended that she move to another area where the different air would benefit her.

The family thought about it and discussed it together in the parsonage. The situation could not remain this way, and the means should be used, so Mina left for Gelderland, a province in the western part of Holland. In that area she would undoubtedly improve.

Quite soon, there came encouraging reports about Mina. The air in Gelderland seemed to be good for her. Her coughing lessened each day, and the hope was that the young girl could return home fully cured.

After a period of time the doctor thought that it would be good for her to return to Middleburg. There was great joy in the parsonage. The members of the congregation were also glad with the return of the minister’s daughter. The attempts at healing had been blessed.

Alas, the improvement lasted only a short time. The young girl felt the coughing coming on again. The first episode of coughing was soon followed by a second one, and in this way it again quickly worsened, to the sorrow of everyone, but especially Mina. Would it again become as bad as it had in the past?

The doctor could not judge differently and was of the opinion that she could not tolerate the air in Zeeland. He strongly recommended that the family go live in a different location. He thought her condition would worsen continuously otherwise. What should the parents do?

A letter was delivered to the parsonage from the consistory in Leiden. It was a letter asking Rev. Middel to become their minister. Was that the way in which Rev. Middel had to go? There was much to recommend it, especially when considering the health of his child. The doctor wanted her to leave this area, and now just at this time a call has come from Leiden. Rev. Middel had many friends there. He would be happy to go there. p

(To be continued)

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