John Welsh was one of the old Covenanters in Scotland in the days when people were persecuted and put to death for their faith in the Scriptures.
One day John was lost upon the mountains as he was going to conduct a conventicle—or meeting—among the hills the next day. Seeing a house in the distance, he hoped it was the house of a friend; but friend or foe, it was his only shelter.
When he got there, his host made no concealment of his hatred of the Covenanters, and especially of one, John Welsh, whom he longed to bring to justice.
Without blinking an eye, John Welsh looked over the table and said: “I am sent to arrest rebels. I know where he is to be found. Tomorrow if you will come with me, I will give him into your hands.”
His host was jubilant. The night passed; the morrow came, and they set out together. They soon came in sight of the conventicle, where a little company of faithful Christians were gathered. Judge of the host’s surprise when his guest of the night left his side and took his place at the front of the meeting, and began to preach—to preach with power sent down from heaven.
When the preaching was over, the host came to the speaker exclaiming: “You said last night that you had been sent to arrest rebels. I am a rebellious sinner and this day I have been arrested by the grace of God.”
ML-12/04/1977