A foreign prince, once traveling through France, visited the arsenal of Toulon, where the galleys were kept. The commandant, as a compliment to his rank, said he was welcome to set free any prisoner whom he should choose. The prince, wishing to make the best use of this privilege spoke to many of them in succession, inquiring why they were condemned to the galleys. Injustice, false accusation, oppression, were the only causes they gave. They had all been ill-treated and were innocent.
At last he came to one who, when asked the same question, answered: "My lord, I have no reason to complain, I have been a very wicked, desperate wretch. I have often deserved to be broken alive on the wheel. I account it a great mercy I am here."
The prince fixed his eyes upon him, gave him a gentle blow upon the head and said.
"You wicked wretch! It is a pity you should be among so many honest men; by your own confession you are bad enough to corrupt them all; but you shall not stay with them another day." Then turning to the officer, he said, "This is the man, sir, I wish to release."
Let us take this story to our hearts. All the prisoners were offenders, all guilty, but only one owned and confessed it, and he was set free. So our gracious God deals with us sinners. If we confess that we are sinners, then we can claim the sinner's Savior, as our Savior, and His blood is sufficient to cleanse the wickedest wretch in the world.