COLCHESTER Castle is well worth a visit. The fine old ruin is in a state of excellent preservation, and every corner of, it abounds with historical and archaeological associations. But the principal interest lies in a tiny room in one of the massive walls, for here in the year 1555, a youth named James Parnell, only 19 years of age, was imprisoned for many weary months. On inquiring for what breach of the law the poor lad was confined there, we were told that his only offense was that he loved the Lord Jesus, and had dared in public, to testify of Him as his own personal Saviour.
How James heard the truth of the gospel in that dark benighted age I cannot tell, but he was a native of Coggeshall in Essex, and historians tell us, that no other town of its size yielded more martyrs in the days of the Marian persecution.
Some few years before James was born, a dear old man had been burnt to death in a field in the center of that very village because he would not deny his Master. Clapping his hands, already alight and burning, over his head three times with exultation, his spirit went to be with Christ. So it is very probable that the seed thus sown, and watered with the martyrs blood, had taken root in his young heart, But the Coggeshall folk were furious with his preaching the simple tale of the Cross, and for this misdemeanor he was brought up on trial at Colchester, chained like a felon, and compelled to take his stand amongst murderers and such like evil doers.
Think of it, you who are young in years, what a test this must have been to the faith of a young disciple. For at 19, the world looks very bright and promising. Prospects ahead seem most attractive, and life at that age seems opening out with fair and golden visions for the future. James had health, manhood, vigor, earthly prosperity, and everything before him to aid his advancement in life. Will he not now disown his Saviour and thus secure the applause of all around him? To recant would be so easy; only the work of a moment, and what plausible reasons the devil would whisper to him for doing so.
Thank God, he did not recant. He chose “rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.”
He was sentenced to be shut up in this small dark hole in the Castle wall. There was only one means of entrance to it, and after ascending several ladders, he was obliged to climb the remaining distance by means of a rope that was suspended from the top of the Castle. His food was always placed for him to fetch from the yard below, and frequently he would prefer to go without his meal, rather than attempt the dangerous journey of descending after it.
One day however, overcome by hunger, he went down for his usual allowance and was returning with it in his hand. He had climbed the ladders and now stretched out his remaining hand to grasp the rope that dangled above his head. He had often done so before, but his many hardships and privations had told seriously on his health, and this time, unable to hold firmly on to the rope, he fell heavily on to the stones of the court yard below.
They thought he was dead when they picked him up, but after a time he revived again. Not even the sight of James’ intense suffering drew forth the slightest pity from the hard heart of his jailor; never a whit did he relax his cruel treatment.
Finding it was now quite impossible to carry him back to his solitary prison in the wall, he was laid in a hole near the ground, so small that it was known as “the oven.” None of his friends might visit him or bring him any comforts. But no wall could exclude his Saviour, and no jailor could hinder his happy fellowship with Him. For the Lord stood by His young servant, cheering him with His own heavenly company when all earthly intercourse was denied him, and James “rejoiced that he was counted worthy to suffer for His sake.”
One day, longing for a little fresh air, he dragged his aching limbs from “the oven,” into the yard outside. His keeper, with fiendish delight, locked him out for the night, though the snow lay thick on the ground. But his brutal treatment brought with it release to James from his sufferings and from his persecutors. He had been faithful unto death: he had won the martyr’s crown, and the Lord called him above. Those who witnessed his death, heard his songs of victory to the very end, and he passed away in triumph.
“Earth’s sad story, closed in glory
On you shore.”
In these days of indifference and cold-heartedness to Christ, do we not well to remind ourselves of those who were “strong in faith,” and to challenge our hearts by the apostle’s exhortation “whose faith follow.”
E. R. M.
What a divine thought, that is in John 8:34,34Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. (John 8:34) “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.” Instead of being a man of pleasure and with independence the Lord says, the man that gratifies his lust is a slave, a captive — he serves iniquity.