I ONCE read a thrilling story of a man, called Vincengo, imprisoned in one of the grim prisons of the Inquisition. Looking round his cell, he saw eight high windows heavily barred. Climbing up, he could see the sun's last rays shining on the fair city of Seville. Poor captive! none approached him. By and by he heard a rough grating sound, and, through a mysterious opening in the wall, food and drink appeared, the aperture closing quickly.
In the morning a surprise awaited him. In place of eight windows there were now but seven. One had disappeared. Again and again he counted them with the same result. There could be no mistake.
Food was supplied as before, and the weary day wore slowly to its close. Once more he gazed upon the sunset. Another day dawned, and there was a window less. So it went on, the cell growing gradually smaller, the windows vanishing. At last but one remained. When that was gone, thick darkness surrounded and appalled the captive. A bier and coffin rose from the ground. A pit of fire yawned at his feet. Somewhere in the blackness a great bell clanged his doom. The walls were fast closing in.
Hark! there are voices without, the tramp of many feet is heard. The machinery stops.
The soldiers have come. His deliverers have arrived just in the nick of time. Vincengo's life is spared. He is delivered from the dreadful "iron shroud.”
Is not this like life? Even as the windows disappeared from sight, so do our days pass from us each evening. We look on the sunset of a day that will never return. Then comes the close. Is there only darkness— the coffin— the grave? Is the thought of our sins crushing us? The power of Satan overwhelming us?
Be not afraid. The loving Savior is near. His voice is speaking to us. Light shines in. Christ is mighty to save. Through His love and His most precious blood we can be delivered from our terrible position as sinners, and enter into "joy and peace in believing." "Behold, NOW is the accepted time; behold, NOW is the day of salvation." (2 Cor. 6:22(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2).) “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." (Acts 16:31.) A. G.