THE Lord Jesus said to the multitude, “Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:3333So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:33)). This Scripture is illustrated by the following extract, which speaks of a Christian carrier and his wife.
“John Brown, a poor carrier, known as ‘The Christian Carrier,’ lived in the reign of James the Second. One day, when in the act of cutting turf, he was seized by the soldiers of Claverhouse, the well-known persecutor of God’s people in those days, brought before the judge, rapidly examined, convicted of nonconformity, and sentenced to death. Claverhouse ordered him to go on his knees, as he must immediately die. Thereupon, Brown, without any remonstrance, knelt down, and proceeded to pray in terms so touching for his wife, who was present, and their children, that Claverhouse, seeing the hard eyes of the dragoons beginning to moisten and their hands tremble, thrice interrupted him with volleys of blasphemy. When the prayer was ended, John turned to his wife, and reminding her that the day was come of which he had told her, when he first proposed marriage to her, asked her if she was willing to part with him.
“‘Heartily willing,’ was the reply.
“‘This,’ he said, ‘is all I desire. I have nothing more to do now than to die.’ He then kissed her, and also the children, and said, ‘May all purchased and promised blessings be multiplied unto you.’
“‘No more of this!’ roared Claverhouse, whose iron nerve this scene was beginning to move. ‘You six dragoons there, fire on the fanatic!’
“They stood motionless—the prayer had quelled them. Fearing a mutiny, both among the soldiers and in his own heart, Claverhouse snatched a pistol from his belt and shot the good man through the head. He fell his brains spurting out, and the brave wife catching his shattered head in her lap.
“‘What do you think of your husband now?’ said the murderer.
“‘I aye thought muckle of him, sir,’ she answered, ‘but never sae muckle as I do this day.’”
Here, dear reader, was true discipleship—faithfulness to the Lord Jesus at all cost, The, dear man gave up his wife, and his children, and his own life without a murmur.” Christ was all to Him. All that was precious to him on earth he confided to the Lord, and was ready to seal his testimony with his blood.
And the dear wife was “heartily willing” to give up her husband for the sake of Christ, and could tell the blaspheming murderer she always thought much of her husband, but never so much as she did that day, when his faithfulness unto death was made manifest.
Dear converted reader, shall we not earnestly seek this unswerving devotedness to Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood?
H. R.
ML 01/28/1900