A Terrorist Converted

A NOTORIOUS terrorist by the name of Jose Ascheri some years ago had left Marseilles, France, and gone to Spain where he continued his course of violent opposition to the government. One day in Barcelona, when a religious procession was passing down the street, Jose threw a dynamite bomb into the midst of the crowd. For this horrible deed he was seized, imprisoned and condemned to death.
About that time a new version of the Spanish New Testament had been published and was being circulated in Spain. A man by the name of Kenelm Vaughan happened to be in Barcelona just then to receive a shipment of the New Testaments. Calling at the Catholic College in the city he presented the Rector with the first copy. The Rector told him that he had suddenly been called away to the prison to prepare Ascheri for death, so thanking Vaughan for the gift, he slipped it into his pocket and hurried on his way.
When he reached the prisoner's cell he did his utmost to convert Jose the terrorist to God, but in vain. The terrorist's heart seemed hard as stone, and he appeared incorrigibly unrepentant. Seeing then that he could make no impression on the condemned prisoner, the Rector took out of his pocket the New Testament he had been given, and handing it to Ascheri he told him to read it.
Ten days later he returned to visit Jose and found him a changed man. He had been reading the New Testament, his heart of stone had melted, as he read the quiet words of the Saviour and learned of His love even to a sinner so deep-dyed as he was. Through the marvelous grace of God it led to his conversion. There and then he made a thorough confession of his crimes and died a repentant sinner, saved by grace alone, cleansed in the blood of Jesus that washes whiter than snow. Jose left to his mother, as a legacy, the New Testament that had been the means of his conversion, as the most precious thing that he possessed.
How marvelous are the ways of God in grace! "0 the depths of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out! . . . to whom be glory forever." Rom. 11:33,3633O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! (Romans 11:33)
36For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. (Romans 11:36).
The dying thief rejoiced to see
That fountain in his day;
And there may I, though vile as he,
Wash all my sins away.
Messages of the Love of God 2/23/1975