150. Libe's Captive
GARRA was a slave of the great African chief, Libe. To evade his cruel owner's anger he escaped, was pursued, captured, and being led back in chains, when an English trader met the party. Moved with pity, the trader offered gold for his ransom, to which the chief replied, "Man of the pale face, I seek not your gold.
I need blood." At Libe's sign, an archer prepared an arrow to shoot at the trembling Garra. The Englishman saw it, and thrusting his arm between it and the slave, the arrow pierced his sleeve and drew blood. Libe raised his hands in amazement. He knew the trader was well known, and his name esteemed in all that coast. Looking Libe full in the face, the trader said, "Thou seekest blood: there it flows. I claim thy slave. His life shall be thy fine." Then turning to the slave, he said, "Garra, thou art bought by my blood: thy life which is mine, I give to thee." "Christ hath redeemed us" (Gal. 3:1313Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: (Galatians 3:13)).
151. the Liberated Birds
A sun burnt traveler, walking along an English city, saw a cage of pretty birds, hanging by a door for sale. He had been in captivity twice, and knowing its misery, his heart was touched with compassion for the captive birds. He asked the price of the lot, and paying it down, he opened the cage door, and let them go free into their native liberty. Redemption (Eph. 1:77In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:7)) gives the believing sinner his freedom to sing and serve the Redeemer.
152. "He Redeemed Me."
A slave girl, purchased by an English visitor from her cruel owner, followed the man along the street, with the tears streaming down her cheeks, crying aloud, "He redeemed me, I am his." Thus should the redeemed sinner own the Lord's work and His claim. "Whose I am" (Acts 27:2323For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, (Acts 27:23)).
153. "Twice Redeemed."
In the Kibble Palace, Glasgow, at a great Christian Convention, a number of redeemed slaves from South America were present. At the close of an address, they struck up a chorus, which brought tears to many eyes, and joy to many hearts. They had known a double redemption, first from bitter slavery, by Abraham Lincoln's proclamation; next, from sin's power through the work of the Cross (Titus 2:1414Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. (Titus 2:14)).
154 a Jap's Testimony