HE who prayerfully reads the Word of God, seeking to find in it a guide to his feet, and comfort and food for his soul, will assuredly be amply recompensed. Mr. Clayton and his children found all, and more than they sought; and having found it, were eager to impart the glad tidings to their friends and neighbors, who, still ignorant of the truth as it is in Christ Jesus, remained bound by the fetters of the Church of Rome. Mr. Clayton, who had hitherto kept what religion he possessed to himself, now spoke out boldly to all he met of the value of the immortal soul—of the means by which its salvation can alone be secured. But mark how he spoke. He said not a word against the Pope, or the Queen, or the authorities that existed—not even against the Church of Rome and her priests—but he spoke of the love of God for a perishing world; of that love which brought His Son Jesus down on earth to take on Him the form of man, of His sufferings, of His passion, of His sacrifice, whereby alone we obtain complete, perfect, and entire justification through faith and repentance, of His resurrection, and of His glorious ascension into heaven, where He now sits at the right hand of God, our loving advocate with the Father, he, knowing our infirmities, in that He was tempted like us, can plead for us, pointing to His all-cleansing blood shed on Calvary.
Some of his hearers listened astonished to doctrines so strange to them. "What! does Jesus Christ hear prayers without the intervention of the blessed Virgin, His mother, or of the saints?" they asked.
“Ay, does He; for He says: Come unto Me, all ye who are heavy laden, and I will give you rest,'" answered Mr. Clayton. "I say nothing against the blessed Virgin, nor against the saints; but when I pray, I follow St. Paul's advice, and go direct to the throne of grace, where we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”
“But, surely, neighbor Clayton, we cannot gain heaven without penance and good works, and the prayers and offerings of the faithful to take us out of purgatory?”
'' I say nothing about penance and good works, "he answered; “but I do say that to be meet for heaven-to dwell forever in the presence of the all—pure and holy God—we must have entire repentance of past sins, and faith in the atoning blood of His Son, which alone can wash away sin.”
“Have you found all that in the Bible, Master Clayton?" asked another.
“Ay, much more than that, too, "he answered." If men lived according to the rules of the Bible, things would be very different to what they are at present; and this would be a very happy world instead of a most miserable one.”
“But what say you, neighbors, to this burning of heretics, and such like doings? Surely that is according to the will of God; or His vicegerent on earth, our father the Pope, would not sanction them? “observed one, who evidently wished to entrap Mr. Clayton.
"If you can put another meaning on Christ's words, in His holy Gospel, Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you, pray for them that despitefully use you '; then, maybe, He who is all love and compassion wishes the Queen and her ministers thus to treat those so who differ with them in opinion.”
Although Mr. Clayton was thus cautious in the way he put forth the truth as it is in Christ Jesus, yet it was impossible that he should escape giving offense to the authorities and priests of Rome should his words be repeated. Humphrey and his sister were as eager as their father to speak to their young acquaintances of the glorious things they found in the Bible, and of their wonder that its study should be prohibited; while they endeavored to imitate his caution in the way they spoke of the existing system and authorities. For some months they had thus gone on, attending diligently as before to their worldly affairs, but never neglecting to speak a word in season as opportunity offered. Thus the truth was making steady and quiet progress in this neighborhood, in spite of the fires of Smithfield and the raging of Bonner and his myrmidons.
Such was the state of things when a stranger appeared in the village seeking for lodgings. He was a decent sort of man, who had come out of London for the sake of quiet and country air.
He took up his abode with a widow-woman, Mistress Darling by name, and paid liberally for all he required. He soon got into conversation with Mistress Darling on religious matters; and, though he did not speak decidedly in favor of the Reformed doctrines, his opinions seemed very moderate. He, however, soon wormed out of her, as far as she knew, what was said by her neighbors; and, soon after this, he contrived to meet Mr. Clayton, and to fall into conversation with him. He first talked on ordinary matters; and then let it appear that, though he had seldom seen the Bible, or read much of it, he was an humble inquirer after truth. Cautious as before, Mr. Clayton, though acknowledging that he had read it, spoke only of the glorious doctrine it contains, avoiding even a word against those in authority who opposed its circulation. Day after day the stranger came and talked, and invariably turned the conversation on the important subject of religion. Nothing could be more calm and impartial than the way in which he spoke of the doctrines of the Reformation; and at length, Mr. Clayton spoke out more freely than he had hitherto done; and Humphrey, with his usual warmth, hoping that the stranger might be converted to the truth, pressed home the Gospel on him; declaring his own conviction that, through it, and it alone, sinful man can be saved. The stranger seemed well pleased to hear the youth speak thus; and, mildly turning to Mary, inquired whether she too held the same opinion as her father and brother. Mary frankly confessed that she did, and would die far rather than give up her treasure, now that she had once found it.
“But sooth, fair maiden, those opinions are such as have brought many to the faggot and stake; it might be wiser to abjure them. Think of my words," he added, in a low tone of voice, looking intently at her.
Mary shuddered. There was an expression in those eyes she did not like. Soon after, he bade them farewell, and his manner was as frank and cordial as before. The next day, at the hour the stranger usually called, instead of him, Mistress Darling was seen hurrying up to the house, with grief and terror in her countenance.
“I pray thee, Mr. Clayton, get away from this; fly, fly; this is no safe place for you," she exclaimed, as soon as she got inside the house, and had recovered her breath, "neither for you, nor for your son nor daughter.”
Astonished, Mr. Clayton inquired what she meant.
“I'll tell thee, and thou judge whether I am right in my suspicions," she replied. “I am not an eavesdropper nor a busybody; but still I am mistress in my own house, and have a right to know what goes on in it. I liked not altogether the ways of this Master Dixon, as he called himself, as he glided in and out, and spoke so smooth and oily like—inquiring about everybody, and what they thought and said. Now, 'I know well what your thoughts are, Master Clayton, about the Bible, and the right all who wish have to read it; and that you of times boldly speak out what you think. Then I saw Master Dixon, often going to your house; and, thinks I to myself, if he is a true man, all well and good; but, if not, there's mischief in the wind.
“I hope, Mistress Darling that your fears are groundless," said Mr. Clayton. "Master Dixon seemed a straightforward, plain-spoken man; a master clothier, I understood, from London.”
“Plain-spoken, indeed; a more double-faced knave is not to be found within the borders of Essex," exclaimed Mistress Darling. “You shall hear and judge: Last night, when all decent folk should have been in bed, though I had been sitting up to do some necessary household work, I saw a bright light streaming from the door of my guest's chamber. Where the light came out, 1 Could look in; and putting my eye to the chink, there I saw Master Dixon, the clothier as he called himself, leaning over a chest full of glittering vestments. He was taking off a crucifix and beads from his neck; and, as I am a true woman, instead of hair which covered his head in the day, there was the shaven crown of the monk. I had seen enough to tell me what he is; and, fearful of being discovered, I hurried to bed. The next morning I tried to look as unconcerned as possible, but it was a hard matter, with his keen eyes piercing me through and through. Still he talked on as frankly as before; and, after he had broken his fast, he went forth; and when he came back, right glad was I to hear him say that he had ordered the wagoner to call for his chest, and that he was minded to go a-foot that forenoon to London. On this, I edged in a word as best I could, about the love of all the people in these parts for Her Majesty the Queen, and all in authority under her; that I should just like to see the blessed Pope, and kiss his holy toe; and how all the people about here held to the ancient faith restored by Her Majesty; but he cut me short, asking me whether I thought that he had lost his wits and his hearing and sight; and as soon as he was out of the house, and clear through the village, I hurried off to warn you of the danger you are in.”
"Thanks—thanks, Mistress Darling, for your warning; though I love not dissemblers, I feel sure that you thought to do no harm in thus speaking. For myself, I must take time to consider how to act.”