Chapter 5. Part 3.
The five unfortunate men sat there like statues. While William spoke they did not once lift their eyes to him. His words had struck them with terror and shame. So that kind man which stood now before them, and meeting them in such a loving manner, was the brother they had once treated so cruelly and shamefully? And this brother, instead of rebuking them sharply for their awful deed, and driving them off his place, had only kind and forgiving words for them, even stretching out his hands to help and save them. Quite a while they sat there without saying anything. At last the eldest one stood up, went to his young brother and fell down on his knees, tears flowing from his eyes. William begged him to stand up. “Not until I have heard once more from your lips that you will forgive us our terrible sin,” he sobbed.
The other brothers began to come, and they, too, with many tears, begged forgiveness from their youngest brother. It was a touching scene. “Yes, I forgive you,” said William again and again, for he was deeply touched. “Let the past be forgotten and come into my arms as my brothers.”
Then he lifted his oldest brother from the ground, and embraced him with much feeling also his other brothers. Then his wife and children, which hail until now stood around them, listening to the conversation, came near and shook hands with the strangers, making them feel they were welcome and showing them kindness.
When the storm of emotion had somewhat passed, William and his wife went to the barn to make it as comfortable as could be done under the circumstances, for there was no room in the house for all of them. On the hay, of which there was an abundance, and by the aid of woolen blankets they made a temporary sleeping place on which the overtired men could sleep, but first William asked them to kneel down with himself and family and thank God for His gracious and wonderful leadings. They all obeyed the request, and William’s Voice exalted the grace of God which had made the lost ones come to themselves, though through bitter experience, and when adding to this the prayer that God might still work in their hearts and give them true repentance, and forgiveness of their sins, then the tears began to flow again from these melted hearts. With the assurance that the God of all grace would answer his prayer, William returned to his house. I do not need to say that there also he fell on his knees to praise the Lord, who had done above all that he could ask or think, and pray for blessing to come upon his brothers.
The next morning he began without delay to erect near his own house, a plain little cabin for his brothers, they helping him as much as they were able to.
In the meantime his wife procured stockings, shirts and underwear, and a tailor was called from the nearby village to make trousers and jumpers for the new arrivals. Until the house was completed they slept in the barn, but had their meals with the family. Regular work could not be thought of as yet, as the poor men were so weakened that they needed care for a good while to come, so that they might regain a little strength.
When the house which, of course, was very plain, was finished, it was fitted out with the most necessary things, as beds, chairs, table, etc. Then William bought axes and hatchets for them, that they might take up their former work again. The brothers returned the love and care of their youngest brother with deep gratitude and respect, showing it too in their quiet ways and diligence. The two oldest of the five brothers were so weakened that there was no possibility of making their own living, as they suffered most during their long imprisonment and the hardships afterwards, and only lived a few years longer, but going home, believing in the virtue of the precious blood of Christ, which had cleansed them from all their sins. To the others also the wonderful and saving power of the grace of God was made known. The untiring efforts of their brother William for their salvation were not in vain. One after the other came to the knowledge of their condition before God, lost and ruined, and not long after received living faith in Christ. From this time on it was their joy to read the word of God in fellowship with William and his family, and bow their knees before the God of their salvation and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thus the fervent prayers of their father and grandmother were answered, and although neither had received the answer in this scene, yet God did according to their desires in His own good time and way.
William and his wife outlived his brothers many years and enjoyed the privilege of seeing their children’s children grow up, instructed in the truths of God. William often told his grandchildren the wonderful ways in which God had led him in his childhood, and often cried out with the Apostle: “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!” Rom. 11:3333O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! (Romans 11:33).
Now unto the young readers of this narrative, may God, in His grace, lead you early to seek Jesus and His light, that you may be kept from the paths of sin, and to go through this world with Him, as His possession, to the praise of His glorious name. The Lord is ever rich in grace and mercy toward all that call on Him while it is called Today.
Translated from the German.
ML 08/08/1909