In a time of great darkness, when priestcraft and intolerance were doing their worst to suppress Divine truth, a party of soldiers, under a very cruel leader, were one day riding along a road in Scotland, when they met a lad carrying a book. Upon being questioned as to the nature of the book, he replied, with a fearless upward glance, The Bible.
“Throw it into the ditch!” shouted the fierce commander.
“Na,” returned the boy, in his broad northern accent, “it is God’s Word.”
A second order to the same effect only caused him to grasp his treasure more firmly. A very cruel command followed—
“Then pull your cap over your eyes,” was the mocking retort. “Soldiers, prepare to fire!”
For a moment the soldiers hesitated; but their leader’s face was stern. The lad never flinched; he was not afraid to face death, or taste its bitterness, because he knew he should pass through it into the immediate presence of the Lord who loved him, and who redeemed him at the cost of His own precious blood. He heard a voice, unheard by others, whispering to his inmost soul, “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”
“I will not cover my eyes;” he said, firmly, “I will look you in the face, as you must look me in the face at the great judgment day.”
Wonderful words from one so young, at such a time of peril. Another moment and he lay shot through the heart; but his spirit was with the Lord who gave it.