MANY years ago a fierce war raged in India between the English and Tippoo Saib. On one occasion several English officers were taken prisoners, among them one named Baird. One day a native officer brought in fetters to be put upon each of the prisoners, the wounded one not excepted. Baird had been severely wounded, and was suffering from pain and weakness. A gray-haired officer said to the native official, “You do not think of putting chains upon that wounded man?”
“There are just as many pairs of fetters as there are captives,” was the answer, “and every pair must be worn.”
“Then,” said the noble officer, “put two pairs on me; I will bear his as well as my own.”
This was done. Strange to say, Baird lived to regain his freedom—lived to take that very city, but his noble friend died in prison. Up to his death he wore two pairs of fetters.
But what if he had worn the fetters of all in the prison? What if, instead of being a captive himself, he had been free and great, and had quitted a glorious palace to live in their loathsome dungeon, to wear their chains, to bear their stripes, to suffer and die in their stead, that they might go free?
Friend, such a thing has been done. “There is one God, and one Mediator between God and men —the man Christ Jesus,” “who gave himself a ransom for all.” “Christ died for our sins, according to the scriptures.” “Our Saviour, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity.” Are these words the belief and utterance of your heart? “If ye believe not that I am he (said the Lord Jesus), ye shall die in your sins.” But believing in Him and His atoning work on the cross, our sins are gone—blotted out by His precious blood which makes whiter than snow. What a Saviour is Jesus, and the God who gave Him that we might live and not die—but live forever in His unsullied and eternal light! Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.