Mr. Lincoln was much impressed with the devotion and earnestness of
purpose manifested by a certain lady of the “Christian Commission”
during the War, and on one occasion, after she had discharged the object
of her visit, said to her:
“Madam, I have formed a high opinion of your Christian character, and
now, as we are alone, I have a mind to ask you to give me in brief your
idea of what constitutes a true religious experience.”
The lady replied at some length, stating that, in her judgment, it
consisted of a conviction of one’s own sinfulness and weakness, and a
personal need of the Saviour for strength and support; that views of
mere doctrine might and would differ, but when one was really brought to
feel his need of divine help, and to seek the aid of the Holy Spirit for
strength and guidance, it was satisfactory evidence of his having been
born again. This was the substance of her reply.
When she had, concluded Mr. Lincoln was very thoughtful for a few
moments. He at length said, very earnestly: “If what you have told me
is really a correct view of this great subject I think I can say with
sincerity that I hope I am a Christian. I had lived,” he continued,
“until my boy Willie died without fully realizing these things. That
blow overwhelmed me. It showed me my weakness as I had never felt it
before, and if I can take what you have stated as a test I think I can
safely say that I know something of that change of which you speak; and
I will further add that it has been my intention for some time, at a
suitable opportunity, to make a public religious profession.”