Most of the masons who worked in the central and southern parts of Switzerland lived in the Canon of Tessin and nearby in the northern part of Italy. In the spring, groups of men made their way over the mountains to help rebuild Glarus. They carried a few clothes and tools in red bundles on their shoulders. When winter approached, they would wander back home again. Some of the men saved most of their wages. The money saved would keep their families through the winter.
One group of twelve men crossed the mountains to seek work in Glarus. The younger lads played pranks and told jokes. These lively young men eagerly looked forward to seeing a new country, different people, and new customs. Often they broke out into their favorite Italian songs. Mario, one of the young men, frequently took a book out of his pocket. He tried to read parts of his book aloud to the others every time they stopped to rest. He told them how important the contents of his book were.
Mario was an Italian from Genoa. Once a Roman Catholic, he was now an excited member of a free, evangelical church. The book Mario read with such feeling to his companions was the New Testament. He had recently discovered the deadly errors of teaching salvation by works. But alas! He did not really understand the living truth of the gospel of salvation by grace. This is the point in doctrine where Martin Luther differed with the Catholic church.
When Mario talked to his traveling companions, he often made them angry because he would attack the Pope. He tried to make the Pope appear ridiculous rather than proclaim the sweet truth of the free grace of God in Christ. Young Mario didn't realize that rather than teaching the Spirit of Christ during the journey, his ridicule caused bitterness.
One of the men in this group of travelers was often quiet and thoughtful. He seemed to take much pleasure in listening to his young companion. Giovanni was an older man, between fifty and sixty years of age. He didn't joke or sing or laugh with the others. He was very sad. He was lonely for his wife and children whom he had left at home alone. Giovanni left home to travel to Glarus for six or eight months of hard work because his family needed the money. He hoped he could save enough for his beloved family to get through the winter. These thoughts gave Giovanni the courage to go forward.
Giovanni had another special reason for listening with such attention and pleasure to the reading of the Testament. At home a Christian lady had given him a copy of this very Book. His priest had demanded the Book. Giovanni gave it up without any fuss because he didn't realize its value. He was sorry now that he had acted so cowardly.
At last the journey ended. The men had crossed the mountains, and they had come to the town of Glarus. Although they did not all work on the same building, all of the men immediately found work. Giovanni worked rebuilding a house. Some of the walls of the house still stood, but before they started rebuilding, the workers checked the strength of these walls. Were they strong and solid enough to use as part of the new building? The workers hit the walls with heavy blows to test their strength.
"This was almost a new house," said Giovanni to one of the workmen who worked under him. "It can't be over five or six years old. Look how the fire burnt the inside of the house to ashes, but these bricks are still in good condition. Some of them sound quite hollow. Let's see how far the damage goes." Upon this, he swung his pick-ax in the air. He brought it down with great force, and he knocked out several bricks. To everyone's surprise, a book fell to the ground.
Giovanni picked it up. With amazement and pleasure, he exclaimed, "A Bible!"
The workmen crowded around him to see the wonderful Book with their own eyes. Giovanni, with a tiny shudder, opened the Book and read aloud the first words that met his eyes. From Prov. 12:22A good man obtaineth favor of the Lord: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn. (Proverbs 12:2) he read, "A good man obtaineth favor of the LORD: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn."
"Oh! how happy I am," he exclaimed, clasping the Book with an expression of deep thankfulness. "How I have longed for a Bible. I know I don't deserve this wonderful gift. Once before a lady gave one to me. Our priest asked for it, and I foolishly gave it to him. This time—I'll die before I'll give the Bible up!"
Most of the Italians who surrounded Giovanni and saw his emotion did not know how to read. So they didn't argue with him about keeping the Book. The wonder of how the Book got there interested the men far more than keeping the Book. The men carefully examined the wall from which it fell. They decided someone had placed the Book in the wall on purpose. They saw the three deep dents on the cover. Someone had also damaged the Book with several blows on purpose. Even so, with a heart full of joy Giovanni took the Bible as a gift from the hand of God.
From this time forward, Giovanni read the Book every day whenever he had free time. On Sundays he gathered friends and read aloud from parts of the Book for them. The story of his discovery of the Bible soon spread. Many people came out of curiosity to see the Book. At this time Giovanni had little understanding of the Word of God, so he couldn't explain what he read. His ignorance of God's Word reminds us of what we read in Acts 8:30-3130And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 31And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. (Acts 8:30‑31), "And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him."
Giovanni wisely began to read from the New Testament because it is easier to understand. Gradually, he began to refer to the Old Testament. Then he learned to pray by reading the BOOK of PSALMS. What Jesus said of the Holy Ghost, "He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you," John 16:1414He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. (John 16:14), proved true for Giovanni.
The Holy Spirit showed Giovanni the blessed truths of Christ; then he taught those who came to listen. As they moved forward step by step in the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit gave them more light.
This did not stop others, however, from showing bitterness, making rude insults, and finally threats against Giovanni and his friends. All of these actions could have frightened and discouraged our friend Giovanni, for he had not yet come to understand the gospel of Jesus Christ in Luke 6:2222Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. (Luke 6:22), "Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets."
One day a Swiss evangelist visited the place where Giovanni worked. He met Giovanni and encouraged him to look to Christ by faith. He showed Giovanni the blessings of being hated because he taught God's Word. The evangelist also gave Giovanni some good advice. He advised Giovanni to set up a free school in the hut where the workers lived. In his free time Giovanni could teach reading, writing, and arithmetic. The school would interest those who fought against him and win their hearts. He might also use his Bible for teaching them to read.
Giovanni willingly agreed and joyfully set to work. At first a large number came to learn. Tired from their day's work, some found it hard to study; others stayed and completed their lessons. Those who finished the classes received a lovely gift! A lady, who worked with the Swiss evangelist, gave each one an Italian New Testament.
Soon the value of Giovanni's efforts began to show. The workers who learned to read were reading their own New Testaments! They also learned to write and do arithmetic. By this new skill they found that dishonest builders cheated them out of much of their wages when paying them. The workers could now go over their own accounts and figure out what they had earned.
Another exciting benefit came to light. What joy filled the men when they could read letters from the families they had left behind! With much gladness the workers could now write letters to their loved ones at home.
Oh, how many ways we can serve others with love. Love to God and to His Holy Word had taught Giovanni, the new school master, to serve his fellowman in love. As Giovanni served his fellow workers, he learned too, and became a better teacher. Because of the service of love Giovanni showed the workers, they did not close their hearts when he talked about spiritual matters to them. Now Giovanni could teach them the basic truths of Godliness and did so with more clearness and ability. Only God knows the full effect all this had on the souls of Giovanni's students.