RICHARD Weaver, the converted miner, was returning from a gospel preaching one night with some of his friends. They were singing hymns as they walked along.
"Stop that noise," shouted a policeman.
"No," replied Dick, "I must sing."
"I'll make you stop it," said the policeman, and calling another officer to help him, they got a hold of Richard and marched him up the streets straight towards the Bridewell jail.
All along the way Richard kept on singing,
"For the Lion of Judah shall break every chain And give us the victory again and again."
They passed the house of one of the brethren who came running out and asked, "What's the matter?"
A crowd had gathered and one said, "They're taking Weaver to prison."
"Look up, brother Weaver," shouted his friend, "the Lord be with you"; and he kept shouting, "Praise the Lord!"
"If you don't stop your noise, I'll take you too," said the policeman.
"Glory be to God," said the brother. "You must just take me then for I shall not stop praising God. Praise the Lord!"
So the policeman caught hold of him and marched him along with Richard
When they got to the jail the two got down on their knees and began a prayer meeting.
The desk clerk looking up said to the officer who had brought them in, "What did you bring these men here for?"
"For causing a disturbance in the street. Why, he was shouting something about lions breaking their chains, and I told him to stop and he wouldn't; so I brought him here."
"You'll get into a fine row over this," said the clerk. Then coming to Mr. Weaver he said, "You may go out."
"We have been put in here publicly," returned Richard, "and we will be put out publicly."
"Dear me," said the clerk, "I never heard such a man."
"You have none too many prayer meetings here," said Weaver, "and we'll hold one. Lord, save the policemen!"
In the end Richard and his friend did leave after shaking hands with the officers. "I hope I shall meet you in heaven," he told them.
A few nights later, the policeman who had run Richard in met him and asked him to forgive him.
"I freely forgive you," said Richard. "Have you ever asked God to forgive your sins?"
"I'd give every hair of my head to know that my sins were forgiven as you know yours are," said the man.
"You don't need to give anything," returned Richard. "God gave Christ for you, and He will forgive everyone that comes to Him by Jesus Christ."
The poor policeman believed the message of God's love, and was happily saved. From that hour he helped the evangelists in every way he could.
Messages of the Love of God 1/19/1975