IMPRISONMENT AT GRANADA
THE last letter left Matamoros on board the steamer at Barcelona, accompanied by his guards; the sympathy of the crowd on the quay showed how much they admired him, and the love they bore to the cause for which he was suffering.
Everything went on smoothly on board the steamer, and the voyage was performed most pleasantly, thanks to a merciful God, whose loving arm had been stretched out over His faithful servant. He arrived at Malaga in due course, as will be seen by the following extracts from his letter of January 8th, 1861:—
“I left Barcelona on the 26th, and reached Malaga on the 30th of December, where I was received by a considerable number of brethren, who came on board the steamer to see me. The same evening, when I was starting for Granada, numbers of friends and brethren accompanied me to the diligence, in which Sir Robert Peel was also a passenger. I arrived at Granada on the 1st of January, and on appearing before the tribunal was ordered into solitary confinement, and was accordingly taken to a different prison from that of our dear brother Alhama.
“This scandalous, tyrannical, and arbitrary action coming to the ears of Sir Robert Peel, he immediately presented himself with truly admirable energy before the authorities, and demanded that I should be released from this position, and also, that he, with Lady E. Peel and Lady J. Hay, should be permitted to visit me.
The judge gave him a written order to visit me, but doubtless the tribunal were unwilling that I should receive visitors of such high rank in a filthy, damp, and dark apartment, where the only bed was a small mattress spread upon the floor. When removed, I had the honor of receiving a visit from these personages.
We spoke very plainly together; they went all over the prison; they saw the cell where I was first confined, and where, thanks to them, I remained only two days. They also saw the cell where Alhama was confined for twenty-two days, the sight of which called forth an energetic protest from these good people, who could not comprehend why so much tyranny was exercised against a person for preaching the gospel, which is the duty of every good Christian. Lady Emily Peel and Lady Jane Hay went through the female ward, accompanied by the governor's wife, and comforted the unfortunate women by speaking kindly, and edifying them by wholesome Christian counsel.
“They so delighted these poor folks that they begged for another visit the day following. They left Granada, assuring me of their wish to return to London, so that Sir Robert might speak about this matter in Parliament ... . The spirit of the Barcelona and Malaga churches is excellent, as is also that of Granada, in spite of the terror the clergy have inspired.
“Let us go onward and upwards. It is necessary to make use of this precious present time, and be firmly assured that both Alhama and myself will stand out boldly to the last. We know that Spain and Europe have their eyes upon us, and we would prefer to die in bonds sooner than appear to falter. Our deep love for the cause of our divine Redeemer urges us onward; what avails the anger of our tyrants, what their threats? Nothing, nothing; we glory in our sufferings. Alas! dear friend, how I miss the visits of my mother and my family. They are ever before my mind. I am getting my food from the hotel, but it is much dearer than at Barcelona, and when I had it from home I could economize greatly. The heavy expenses of myself and guards from Barcelona to Granada, and their pay back, has been double what I expected, £24, and I am fretting about this. But farewell, dear friend, I shall expect a long letter from you to comfort me.”
Thus far our dear sufferer has got on his thorny way; but how bright will be his crown, and how the good hand of his God has been upon him hitherto, is fully manifest to those who have watched the moving of the Divine hand in his behalf.
From Barcelona, Matamoros had written a letter to A—, now in this country, an extract from which I give as follows:—
"National Prison, Barcelona, December 13th,, 1860.
“DEAREST BROTHER IN THE LORD,
“You have done well in writing to me. My thoughts have been constantly fixed on you since I left Granada. I have not forgotten you for a moment. I have prayed constantly to the Lord for your well-being, for the steadfastness of your faith, and for upholding you in every Christian grace.
“God will not forsake us; His Holy Spirit is constantly with us. In our poor country, tyrants rejoice in our sufferings; all their energy, all their desires, all their highest aims are to augment the fetters which bind down our liberties and blight our hopes. They labor, agitate, and hasten to present to us, with inquisitorial cleverness, horrible scenes, to annihilate us. But, unfortunate people, they do not understand that we are peaceful, satisfied, and proud of our lot.
“Rejoice, brother, for since the day of my imprisonment the enthusiasm in Malaga has increased, as in my letters I have exhorted them not to be weary. At first their hearts sank at the rigor of the tyrants; but since, they have understood that they must go forward with a double speed, and they have done so. Thirty-seven new converts have been added to the church, and the spirit of grace is every day more comforting and more deeply rooted in the hearts of that Christian band. Many prayers ascend daily for the deliverance of our church, now so fiercely persecuted by these enemies of Christ. They are bringing an action against us in Malaga at the present time, and notwithstanding, this only serves to increase our numbers, and to inspire us with new courage.
“Yes, dear brother, my physical forces are sinking rapidly; my weak flesh fails me, and the thread of life appears nearly spun out. The dampness of these prisons is killing me; but every step I take towards the tomb, every grain of sand that falls through life's glass, is a powerful, yes, an indestructible force, which strengthens my faith and my joy, and enables me to anticipate my last hour with rejoicing, and with a peace I was a perfect stranger to, until I found Christ.
“Oh how I praise the supreme Creator for this benefit of his inexhaustible love. I have always felt an indestructible love and fear to the Lord before and since my imprisonment, and if it could serve in the least to forward our holy cause, I beseech the Almighty that He would prolong it to the end of my days. I beg you also will pray for this. Do, for I do not desire the well-being of my body, which is destined to death, and my greatest consolation would be to know that my sufferings had been beneficial to humanity. What signifies one day more or less here below? What signifies one more pang? Nothing, when it is for the greatest, for the only holy cause.
“Your letter gave me great comfort. I rejoice to see the just tribute which English Christians have rendered to your virtues and those of Alhama. But I deserve it not, and all that you say with reference to myself only makes me ashamed. I do not deserve such honor as these noble brethren have conferred upon me. I have done only what it was my duty to do. During the last fortnight there have occurred here things worthy of special mention. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul has exhausted every possible means to induce me to retract my declaration. The chaplain of that establishment, the notary in my case, and the president of that inquisitorial institution, have offered me their most cordial support for the recovery of my liberty if I will retract my declaration, and I have complained to the governor of their barbarous abuses. I rejected their propositions with contempt. I have told them plainly that they were insulting me, and that if they repeated their unworthy act I should feel obliged to refuse to admit them into my dungeon.
“I also sent a communication to the papers, which they have not inserted. You can hardly imagine with what sagacity and skill they have made these proposals to me. They were careful not to wound my delicacy, and made their offers hypothetically; but I, understanding their object, rose, and answered them in strong and suitable language, and retired without even taking leave. They began by reminding me of the orphan hood of my family, the state of my health, my resources, and the sorrowful future that lay before me. I am only sorry on account of my family,' I told them. The rest, gentlemen, is of so little consequence, that I would lay down not one life alone for the benefit of the gospel cause, but a thousand, if I had them.' They answered me with sagacity, and made the proposition to which I replied as I stated above.
"In spite of the state of my health, I must go shortly to Granada. I am only awaiting a letter from Mr. Greene, and from thence I shall write to him at length, giving him every intelligence.
“I must remain here no longer. I am injuring the brethren imprisoned at Malaga, and above all, Alhama and I am determined to go, but I do not think my health will improve.
“I am waiting to be called before the superior tribunal with anxiety. I shall present myself before them as the law permits, and shall defend myself energetically. I desire to prove to them why I have cast away tradition, the only support of the Church of Rome. I desire to prove to them that my conduct is worthy of a true Christian, and I will send you my defense, which I shall write from Granada; and yet, dear A—, I am sorry to leave this place. My room is a little focus of gospel light. I have three converts among the prisoners, whose protests I hold, and who will, I trust, be virtuous Christians.
“Oh, how much an energetic, evangelic propaganda is needed in this house of crime! The chaplain of the prison is satisfied with celebrating the sacrilegious and unbloody sacrifice of the mass. God rejoices in the conversion of the most miserable. Our Lord came not to save the righteous, but sinners; and in these prisons his holy word should be preached with double fervor.
“Be diligent, dear brother; lay up a store of Bible knowledge; and this, illustrated by your practice, may yet prove a blessing to Spain. Write to me, for though I may not be here, your letters will reach me. May God be with you-may His Holy Spirit guide you! I am tranquil, and strong in the Spirit. I will never yield. Now and ever I will dedicate my life and all my energy to the work of the Lord. I will take no rest, You know me, and you know I will do what I say. Let us be worthy of the blessed cause to which we have dedicated ourselves; let our one aim be the good of mankind, and the accomplishment of it the only recompense to which we aspire.
“Give, in my name, my most humble remembrances to Mr. G—and Mrs. T—. I cannot tell you, dear brother, how I have cried over Mr. G—'s last letter. I have read it, perhaps sixty times—it comforts, and does not weary me. I am waiting for letters from the said gentleman, and Mrs. T—. I am only detained from starting by waiting for letters from them.
“Adieu, dear brother. Yours most affectionately,
“MANUEL MATAMOROS.
“To N. A—.
The last letter shows the deep and zealous spirit that animates this earnest disciple of Christ, and also how bonds are ever for the furtherance of the gospel, and for the deepening of His spirit in the regenerate.
The following letter from the brethren comprising the Reformed Church at Malaga, was forwarded at this time to Dr. Tregelles, of Plymouth, and is addressed to the followers of Jesus Christ in this country:—
“REVERED BRETHREN IN THE LORD,—
“Our hearts are filled with joy and well-deserved and fraternal gratitude; and we desire to express to you something of the holy Christian happiness which we have felt on hearing of the noble and generous protection which you have extended to our dear brother, Don M. Matamoros, now a prisoner for the sake of the Divine Redeemer, the only Intercessor and Mediator with God.
“The holiest spiritual bonds unite us to this dear brother. Seconding the noble efforts of that worthy minister, Don F. Ruet, he formed in this town a church, whose members do not, and will not, recognize as chief or head of the same any but the Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ; nor will take as a rule of faith any other than the Word of God—the Holy Bible.
“The religion of Jesus Christ and of his apostles is that which we follow; we believe it to be alone true, and consequently we do not recognize the authority of the Church of Rome, but rather hold her to be the greatest foe to Holy Scripture.
“That we have found the fountain of the water of life, we owe to Don M. Matamoros. His constant and evangelical instructions have given to this little hidden church much of the Scriptural knowledge that it possesses, and by his energy and zeal so considerable a number of names has been enrolled in its ranks.
“Dr. Tregelles can give you an idea of our state, our hopes, and expectations. The noble attitude of the generous deputation which appeared in behalf of our suffering brethren, and the sacrifices which you have made for the benefit of Don M. Matamoros and Alhama, have determined us to address these few words to you, as a public manifestation of our gratitude. United with our whole hearts and by the bonds of an unwavering faith to the church of Jesus Christ, we cannot but protest against the devices and snares of the Church of Rome, and we witness with deepest sorrow, the sufferings of her victims, in this miserable land, while yet we cannot but rejoice to find that our English brethren unite with us in their sympathy.
“We trust that you will give publicity to this manifestation of our gratitude; but we beg that you will not publish our names, as a severe and certain persecution would be the result.
"We remain, your Brothers and Sisters, in the Lord Jesus.”
(Here follow 130 signatures.)
And on January 19th, 1861, Alhama wrote to Don N. A—as follows
“Prison, Granada.
"DEAR N—, MY BELOVED BROTHER IN THE LORD,
“With pleasure I take up my pen, though I have only sorrowful tidings to give you of the troubles that I endure; I am not allowed now to hear from you so often as I wish. I know how much you must have sympathized with me, for I know how much you love me. Yes, dear N—, I suffer very, very deeply.
You will imagine all, if I tell you a little. If I tell you that my wife is now constantly recommended to obtain a divorce, because I am, as they term it, a Jew. Don R. C—asked her if she was not ashamed to have a husband who was a thief —a thief of men's belief? People spit at me, and at my children in the street. In short, wherever they go they are assailed with insults and opprobrium from the superstitious and priest-led part of the population. These priests, who should be called ministers of Satan rather than of Christ, alas! how can they be His priests, whose last words were a prayer for the pardon of His murderers, when they deprive innocent children of their father, a wife of her husband, and a venerable mother of her son, who was her blessing and her support.
“Oh, my poor children! your father will probably die the death of a felon and a galley-slave, but he will die confessing his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and scorning all vain traditions and the false teaching of the imposter, King Pope. This will only add to your misfortunes, for in this land no asylum will be open to you. But we will put our trust in God, God the refuge of the defenseless, the comforter of the afflicted, and He will never forsake you; and your enemies cannot take away your heavenly Father as they are killing your earthly one.
“N—, the finger of God points to thee to be the protector of my innocent orphans. You know, had the case been reversed, I would gladly have succored yours. My poor mother will need nothing. At her great age it is impossible that she can long survive my misfortune. And my poor wife, who was only just convalescent when I was arrested, has suffered so severely since, that she is threatened with consumption, and her life is endangered.
“I fear my letter will grieve you. I shall be sorry indeed for this, but I know you love me, and will allow me to unbosom all my griefs to you. R—told me that you had written to him, and that you regretted deeply having been the cause of my misfortune. No, dear friend, be at peace; my family loves you as ever, and to me you are what you have always been.
“On the first of this month I had the pleasure of embracing our brother Matamoros. He arrived here in very delicate health, but, thank God, is getting better, although we are enduring much trouble, partly on account of our trial, of which we have very bad news daily. When Matamoros was first examined, the prosecutor told him: that he would probably be condemned to ten or twelve years at the galleys. To-day the attorney has confirmed this, telling us that our case comes under the 125th article of the penal code.
“It is also unfortunate for us that the alcalde (or governor) of this prison is son of the housekeeper of the Cordovese priest, and this man is influencing the alcalde much against us, and therefore we are suffering from many annoyances. Our families and friends are not allowed to visit us, and the alcalde has informed the governor that he felt this step necessary, because we were conspiring with the Protestants for the subversion of religion. The wife of the alcalde said to me plainly, that she could not conceive why we were not confined in the courts (patios), for people accused of such crimes as ours might properly be with the worst convicts, and should not be allowed to communicate with anybody. Pray that God may forgive them all as I do.
“They persecute us even in our dungeons, and we must pray for them from thence. Is not this what the gospel teaches us? Oh how good and pleasant a thing it is to know the Word of God, which teaches us to suffer with patience all that is hardest in our undeserved captivity.
“Never will I draw back from the holy work in which I am engaged, nor will I utter one sigh of regret, for God strengthens me. The Holy Spirit enlightens me, and St. Paul sets me an example of resignation in tribulation; so all the fury and cruelty of these modern Diocletians shall be unavailing to silence us. We will preach the Word of God in our chains, as though we dwelt in palaces. In spite of our rulers, and in their very presence, we confess the truths of the gospel.
“Every time that I have been brought before the tribunals, I have declared that my only crime has been that I have striven to be a follower of Jesus Christ and not of the Pope; and that the only result of their persecuting us would be to add some fresh names to the Christian martyrology. In truth, the work in Spain has never excited so much attention and interest as it does now. Ten years of preaching would not have advanced our labor so much as our imprisonment and trial are doing. All are asking, What is this new Protestant doctrine?' and they seek after our books from simple curiosity; and when they have read theta, they cannot but condemn the cruelty of the clergy, and confess that we teach the true religion of the Son of God.
“In Spain, Christianity will date a new era from our trial. The clergy have perceived this, though something too late, and therefore they are now doing everything in their power to represent us to the people as Jews. The Archbishop has issued a pastoral of thirty-eight pages in quarto, which treats only of the Protestants.
“Senor P—has been at the expense of a 'Novena' to St. Joseph, and every evening sermons have been preached, and prayers made to the saint to intercede with God that we may be brought back into the fold of the Roman church. This pastoral contains confessions which the clergy have never before made. How can I send it to you? It is a powerful assistance to our propaganda. Our brothers are all firm. Daily the church grows both in members and in faith.
“At—no arrests have yet been made. Evidently the weight of the trouble is resting upon Matamoros and myself. We put our trust in God and in the church of Christ, else our fate would be very sad—the galleys. Ours is a state trial. All Spaniards look to England in this crisis, and from England only can we expect any help. Our French friends are powerless in the hands of their government.... Hard labor on roads or canals, or in mines, is the sentence which the law passes on those who are condemned, as we shall be. This is horrible!
“Matamoros will be obliged to go to Malaga, to be judged there, in the first place; but as that inferior tribunal depends, as you know, upon this one, he will return here to receive his final sentence. Our suit already covers 1000 pages of law papers, and it appears to be only beginning. The indictments will be read separately; but as we cannot receive different sentences for one offense, they will be considered together, and the maximum punishment which the law permits will be inflicted. The places mentioned in our several indictments are Granada, Barcelona, Malaga, Seville, and Cordova; but in Seville and Cordova there is little or no evidence against us. The Seville accusation only rests upon two unimportant letters found upon Matamoros, and the address of B—.
"Affectionate remembrances from all the brethren. Ever believe in the inextinguishable love of your brother in Christ,
“JOSE ALHAMA.”
In this letter we see the strong and unwavering faith of the other patient and untiring witness for Christ.
March 12th, 1861, Matamoros says:—
"On the night of the 7th, after our five months' imprisonment, seven police agents entered our cell, and began to search it minutely, but with great rudeness and harshness of manner and behavior. We strove to bear this with perfect calmness; and when they" announced to us the object of their visit, we simply replied that it was a matter of complete indifference to us, and, sitting down, we left them to their work.
“But this attempt to preserve an outward tranquility was too much for the strength of two unfortunate prisoners, already weary with suffering and with guiltless consciences. The impudent rudeness with which they dragged about everything we possessed irritated us to such a degree that I energetically reminded them of their duties, and of the respect which is due not only to our misfortune, but also to our position in society, and even to the class of our accusation.
“After this they behaved at least with less brutal rudeness of language, though their actions continued to be as savage as before. Nothing, I repeat, was respected by them; our persons, our bedding, the sacking of our bedsteads, all were rigorously examined. Nay, they carried the absurdity of the affair to such a pitch as to empty the water in our pitchers and jugs. Indeed, it is difficult to say what they expected to discover—they know best themselves. On the table by my bed lay a Bible and a new Testament (the gift of Dr. Tregelles, and which I valued highly on that account), a copy of the four gospels with notes, a few controversial tracts, amongst them Andrew Dunn;' all these were seized. I told them very simply and plainly that I was a Protestant, that the study of the law of God as contained in the Word of Life was of the first importance and necessity to me and I besought and entreated them to give me back at least my Bible. But my reasonings, my supplications, and my wishes were equally unavailing. With this holy book, which was our daily study, we have both lost much of our tranquility and calmness.”
Man may take away their Bibles, but he cannot take away Christ from them. "My sheep shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand." "I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Rom. 7:38.