There is an old ivy-covered tower in the Isle of-Man, of which a story of thrilling interest is yet told by some of the old Manxsmen of that coast on which it stands. Within that tower, one of the best governors of the ancient Manx was hanged. He lived during a time of civil war, and one who hated him and wished his death, went and told the king a lying story, accusing the good governor of treachery. The king at once ordered his arrest. He was secretly conveyed to the tower, and after a hurried trial, in which false witnesses were bribed to appear against him, he was sentenced to death.
The people, who generally believed he was innocent, got up a petition for his release, and presented it to the king, who recalled the death-sentence, and sent a royal message ordering his release. The king’s message fell into the hands of the governor’s worst enemy, who, instead of handing it to the jailor, kept it locked up in his desk till the good governor was hanged. What can we think of the conduct of that wicked man to hide the king’s message which would have set the prisoner free?
Does he not remind you of Satan, the great adversary, who seeks to keep the gospel of God, the glad tidings sent from heaven to give liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound? How he tries to keep boys and girls from hearing and believing the gospel, and thus gets them down to hell. Are you allowing him to do this with you?
ML 04/10/1938