A FEW years since, a party of ladies and gentlemen was leaving the shores of England for the purpose of visiting foreign parts, but more especially that part so celebrated in history and in Scripture (I mean the country of Greece), so famous, too, on account of the Apostle Paul having traveled there with the glad tidings of the grace of God, and preaching the forgiveness of sins, through the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
But the kingdom had fallen, and instead of being a glorious land, full of noble warriors, conquering and subduing, it was despoiled, and its forests and mountain ravines had become the haunts of brigands and robbers, so that it was unsafe to travel in many parts, unless guarded by a body of soldiers. But our company was not of the timid kind, and, English like, risked danger for novelty. The party comprised ladies and gentlemen, and I believe a child or two were with them. They left Athens in high spirits, and enjoyed the fine scenery that here and there burst upon their view. As they left some deep defile, they suddenly came upon a gap where they saw stretched before them a great panorama of beauty. But their pleasure was short lived, for on arriving at a rude sort of cottage, they were suddenly surrounded by a gang of brigands, —men of fierce countenance, men used to plunder, whose lives were spent in wickedness. Resistance was useless. The robbers were too strong for them, and they could but submit. They were hurried on for some distance, so as to be out of the reach of capture, and the ladies and children were sent back by a trusty guard, while the unfortunate captives were again hurried onward, over mountains and through valley’s, sometimes down the deep gorges of the rocks, by paths known only to the robbers, who knew the value of their prisoners, and meant to, make great gain by them.
Accordingly, as the prisoners desired to be released, a heavy ransom price was put upon the head of each. And the robber-captain sent a messenger to their friends, stating the price that was to be paid for their ransom. Soldiers were sent to rescue the unfortunate travelers, while friends were trying to get the money that was asked for their release. But the brigands knew the rocky strongholds and hiding places better than did the soldiers. When the robbers saw that soldiers were on their track, and that they were closely pursued, they sent a threatening message, that unless the ransom money was paid before a certain day and a free pardon granted to all the gang, they would kill all the prisoners. This made the friends of the prisoners very anxious, and they wished to buy them off, rather than run the risk of their being rescued by the soldiers, and being killed in the combat.
Accordingly a messenger, or courier, was sent; who, guided by a man that knew their whereabouts, found them confined in a mud-hut. His description was as follows:—
“The hut was round, and in the middle was a round fireplace in which a wood fire was burning. On each side of the door, at a little distance, the capotes and cloaks lay all round the fire. The prisoners were opposite the entrance. I found them lying down asleep. This was after eleven o’clock at night. On each side were four or five brigands sitting between them and the door. Of course they were coming in and relieving each other; but there was always sufficient to watch them, around and ready, to be alert on the first sign; and there was no chance of those gentlemen going out without having to go over the brigands.”
A long conversation took place between the gentlemen and the courier.
The chieftain was very angry and furious; and as he could not speak English the courier had to be the interpreter, by whom he still threatened to take their lives if the ransom-money was not paid.
There was one youth among the prisoners I want to speak about, a young man of noble family, and much loved by all who knew him. The courier, who had known him, was exceedingly fond of him; insomuch that he offered to take his place and be prisoner in his stead; but this the young man refused.
However, through some misunderstanding, before the ransom could be paid the soldiers were pretty close on the track of the brigands, and hoping to rescue the prey from their hands.
During the long time that elapsed, the position of the prisoners became serious. They now began to feel that it was a question of life and death. They were allowed to write, and the letters of the young man spoke of their perilous position, beseeching his friends to send the ransom, money, or it would be too late. From an expression in his letter, we can hope he knew of One who had been God’s ransom, to redeem him from a worse condition of slavery than being imprisoned in a robber’s hut; and we trust he knew the redemption that was in Christ Jesus; for he had been educated in an English college and had been trained in a God-fearing way. In speaking of their solemn position, he says, “Pray to God for us!” Oh! what depth of meaning. Finding himself in the grasp of men who feared neither God nor man, he is constrained to lift up his heart in prayer.
In another letter, directly afterwards, after again speaking of the peril, he says, “If it be possible, send me a Bible!” Ah, what does that little sentence bespeak! Hope of release seemed gone; and now in these solemn moments he pants for the fountain of life. The Word of God is all his desire now. But the Bible never reached him. It might be that the truths he had learned in school had been treasured up in his mind and memory, so that he could meditate thereon, and have peace with God through faith in Christ Jesus.
What a blessed thing it is to be instructed in early days in the precious truth of God, and to have the mind and heart stored with His word, so that if in circumstances where a Bible cannot reach us, we can feed on that which is stored up in the memory; to have the knowledge, too, of the redemption that is in Christ, the blessed Surety that did take our place; and died for us in order to redeem us from Satan and everlasting destruction. Then, indeed, when we have learned what it is to have eternal life through believing on the Son of God, and that His blood has cleansed us from all sin, then death will have lost its terror; and more blessed would it be to go direct from a robber’s hut to heaven, and to be with Christ, than to be released, if unconverted, and to be made one of the princes of the earth.
However, the brigands seemed driven to desperation; and one day finding the soldiers were close upon their track, determined to, fulfill their threat; and in the presence of the soldiers, in the most barbarous manner, slew the prisoners.
The soldiers pressed close upon them, and fired as often as they could get in sight. Many of the brigands were also killed; others who were wounded escaped, but were afterwards captured and brought to punishment. The bodies of the prisoners were found. They had been cruelly treated. There lay the dear young man we spoke of, calm in death, as though he had died instantly without a convulsion or a struggle.
The messenger, on seeing the form of his young master whom he loved, stooped down and kissed the fair brow of the youth, wishing in his inmost heart that he had been his surety and died for him.
The bodies of the slain brigands were discovered higher up the slope of the mountain, from seeing the vultures hovering around the spot. You remember it says in Matt. 24:2828For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together. (Matthew 24:28). “Wheresoever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together.”
Oh, how little heed is given to the Bible in a land where Bibles abound. “Send me a Bible,” was the dying youth’s last desire. Dear young one, let the precious volume be your treasure. Read it prayfully. Seek God’s guidance in reading its pages, that your heart may get hold of divine wisdom. You know it says, the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding. To many a Christian it can be said, “From a child thou has known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation.”
Selected.
ML 07/08/1900