I PROMISED to tell you about some of those believers in the Lord Jesus Christ in France who for His sake endured persecution when the Edict of Nantes was revoked, as I told you last month. There is one story which I am sure will interest you, because it is about a little boy whose father and mother, brothers and sister, were all Christians. They were wealthy, too, but in those sad days neither wealth nor poverty could protect from persecution; indeed, the rich were more subject to it than the poor, just because the priests, like greedy dogs that can never have enough, took advantage of what they called “heresy” to seize upon the property of their victims. Now, when these Christians saw there was no hope of being allowed to live in their native land in peace, they began quietly to plan an escape. First of all, the two elder sons were secretly sent away, and then the lady and her daughter set to work to make several quilted silk petticoats, in which they concealed their money and jewels. These they sent to England, intending to follow as speedily as possible, but just when they were all ready to go the cruel Papists, who, it may be, had either heard of or guessed their intention, suddenly seized the father and carried him to prison. This was a sad blow to his wife and children, and they resolved to stay and share his persecutions, but, when they went to see him in his prison, he urged them to hasten away to England, in the hope that someday, if it were the Lord’s will, he might join them again. Attended by a man-servant, the lady set off, in disguise, to a seaport town on the French coast, to engage a passage for herself and her three children, and concealed herself in some friend’s house, while the servant returned to bring on her daughter and the two little boys.
In order to escape notice, the daughter dressed herself as a peasant girl, and then carefully placed each of her little brothers in a deep pannier, or basket, such as the peasantry were accustomed to carry their farm produce in. These were slung across the back of a donkey, and then were lightly filled with fruits and vegetables, and on the top of all a basket containing chickens was placed. Thus disguised they set off for the seaport town, while the servant, dressed as a farmer, rode first, on horseback, keeping within sight, but not appearing as if acquainted with the seeming peasant girl. To avoid observation, they journeyed chiefly at night, and a sore journey it was to the poor girl, for the nearer she approached the place of safety the further she went from her poor imprisoned father. How distressing must this have been to an affectionate daughter, and how unlike the gracious teaching and ways of the blessed Jesus was the heartless and cruel conduct of these Romish persecutors, who thus brought misery on a father, a mother, and their children, only because they loved the Lord Jesus Christ!
Long and tediously the young lady thus journeyed, taking every precaution, in order not to be seen by any who might recognize or suspect her.
In the daytime, she and her little brothers rested wherever the faithful servant could find a suitable hiding-place, in some roadside cottage, but when they drew near their destination it became necessary to travel for the last few miles by day, as time was precious, because the ship was to sail very soon.
This was the most dangerous part of their journey, for all around the seaport towns soldiers were on guard for the purpose of preventing the escape of the persecuted Christians, and the poor girl trembled with every step she took lest they should be discovered. She had told her little brothers on no account to speak or move, whatever happened; and now the poor little fellows were to be put to the test in a way they least expected. While slowly jogging on along the road, a party of soldiers appeared in sight, riding straight towards them. To avoid them was impossible, and the trembling girl, with a sinking heart, advanced to meet them. No doubt she cried to God in secret as they approached, for who but He could deliver her?
“What’s in these panniers?” exclaimed the leader in a rough tone, drawing up in front of the donkey, and before any reply could be given he drew his sword and ran it through one of the baskets from top to bottom. No cry was heard within it, no motion betrayed the presence of the poor little boy who lay hidden there, and the soldiers, thinking all was right, rode quickly on, without another word. You may judge what the poor girl felt when she saw the deadly weapon thrust into the pannier, yet no exclamation escaped her quivering lips, but sick at heart, and faint with fear, she hurried on, not daring to uncover the basket lest she should be seen, although filled with the dreadful thought that her little brother was pierced to the heart. In a little while they reached their mother’s hiding-place in the seaport town, and had no sooner done so than with tearful eyes and trembling hands the mother and daughter threw off the vegetables with which the child was covered, fully expecting to find him dead. But to their joy and delight they found that he still lived. The sword had passed close beside him, wounding his little arm severely, but missing his life; yet, though so badly hurt, the brave little fellow had neither moved nor uttered any cry, because his sister had told him that whatever happened he must be still and silent. Was not this a brave and obedient little boy? He was covered with blood and faint with pain, but tender care and nursing soon restored him, although he carried the scar to the end of his days.
A short time after this, the lady and her daughter, and her two little boys, went secretly on board the ship, bidding farewell forever to their native land, from whence thousands like themselves had been driven because they would forsake all to follow Him that loved them and gave Himself for them, rather than worship the images, crosses, and pictures of Romish idolatry, or bow down to sinful men calling themselves priests, and to dead men’s bones, rotten wood, and other relics of heathenism. Can you wonder, dear young reader, at their choice? They believed that Jesus, God’s dear Son, had put away their sins, because God’s Word declares, “Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree,” and, “The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us front all sin” Do you believe God too? If so, you are saved, and Jesus is your Lord, as He was theirs. They hew, too, that He was their Great High Priest, and they needed no other; surely, not a poor sinner, whose only right to priesthood lies in their pretensions and wearing Babylonish garments such as were worn of old in Babylon and Nineveh. How strange it seems, dear young reader, that the sacerdotal garment now called a chasuble is but a copy of that in which the kings of Assyria (who, in common with all heathen monarchs, were chief priests of their idols) worshipped Moloch their god! Yet this, among other relics of heathenism, may now be seen not only in Romish, but even in some so-called Protestant, churches!
In due time the Christian lady and her children reached the shores of this country, where they remained for the rest of their days on earth, But I am sorry to tell you that the poor husband and father never joined them in this world. Although not all the time in prison, he never could succeed in escaping from France.
But he has long since met his loved ones where heathenish persecutors will never come, and where all sorrow is unknown. There they await in unruffled peace the blissful moment when the Lord shall gather all His own from every clime and country; and then those who for His name’s sake have borne reproach shall reap a full reward.