Part IV
THAT night, as the little family sat reading their beloved Testament, it seemed sweeter than ever, and Mistress Croft thought she would be ready to die, as so many were now called to do, rather than give up that .blessed book and its truths. Her husband said little; but, as he read Christ’s words, “Fear not them which kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do,” he paused, looked thoughtfully at his wife, and repeated the words again—”have no more that they can do.” As he shut the book, he said—
“Mistress, I’ll go no more to mass—every time I have gone since I read this New Testament, I have felt more and more what a foolish affair it is. I would that I knew more of these people’ that are called Christians, it seems to me that their teachings are very like what we have been reading; and if it be so—why it is better to be right with a few than wrong with the many.”
“Ay, even if we should suffer persecution for it,” said his wife.
“Father, what is that Jesus says about people who love Him being treated like Him?” asked Edmund.
“Oh, you mean, ‘If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.’ “
“Yes, that’s the verse. Then I see now why Smith, the man that was burnt yesterday, bore all his sufferings so calmly. The boys at school were talking todlay about him; he was killed because he would not go to mass, or kneel to the wafer. Some of the boys saw him as he was led to the place where he was burnt. They went along with the crowd that followed him, and they said that nearly everyone was pitying him, and yet he looked and spoke quite cheerfully, and even sung a hymn. They said no one could have thought he was going to suffer such a cruel death. They stayed some time, but when the flames rose round him, they ran home, they could not bear to see it. Hugh. Langford said it was only pride made him bear it so well, and that if anyone .dared to kill him, he would scorn to let them think he feared for the pain; but the boys who had seen him said it was not pride, for he looked quite mild, and kneeled down and prayed for those who were killing him; and I thought of Stephen that we read about the other day, father, but I did not say anything.”
“Ay, boy, Smith was a better Christian, I believe, than King Henry or any of his priests; I would that we were like him I”
One morning, Gilbert Croft told his family that he expected a merchant named Hans Stolbach, from Brussels, to visit him a week from that day. On the day named, Stolbach made his appearance, and was kindly welcomed. That evening, Gilbert Croft thanked him for the book he had accidently packed in a bale of carpet twelve months before. Hans told him that it was not put in by accident, but was placed there, hoping it would fall into the hands of some person who would read it. Gilbert then related to his visitor and I have told you, and much delightful conversation they had about the truths of the gospel, and heartfelt thanks did they render to God for sending His word to them.
Hans Stolbach told them the Testament was printed by Tyndale in Flanders.
“Tyndale!” cried Mistress Croft—’’why that is the name of the preacher you and I heard in St. Dunstan’s Church, Master Croft.”
“The same man,” continued Hans; “He did preach there, then he went to Germany and Holland, and printed his Testaments, though many a time his printing-presses were seized, and he had to hide in holes and corners in fear of his life. He went about in this way from town to town, till at last he was seized, tried, and put to a cruel death. He was strangled, and then burnt.”
“Ah, me! and that was what he got for printing the gospel for us!” said Mistress Croft.
“Yes,” said Hans—”but that was not all; he has got his Master’s ‘Well done, good and faithful servant,’ and has entered now into the joy of his Lord.”
“Ay, and it was no trifle, either,” said Gilbert, “to know that he was sending God’s Word to enlighten many a dark place. Thank God it has reached here!”
The good merchant took his leave of the happy Christian family, exhorting them to be strong in the Lord, for they would probably be called to suffer for His sake. And so they were;—Gilbert Croft was ordered to quit the country with his family, and give up all that he possessed to the king. This he did without a murmur. Many were the hardships and privations of this little family in Holland, where they took refuge; but they counted all joy for the sake of Christ Jesus their Lord.
Henry the Eighth found, that great though he had thought himself, there was a mightier monarch than he. Death came, and he was forced to submit.
When his pious son, Edward VI, came to the throne, God’s hidden ones could raise their heads once more, and then Gilbert Croft returned with many other banished ones, to live in their own land in peace, to worship God as they pleased, and read their Bibles openly.
Now, I have finished my story—but I want you to stay one moment while I ask you a question—Do you love your Bible? You have seen how this persecuted family valued theirs; you have heard what trouble and danger those good men were in who translated and-printed it. It cost them much—their comfort—their lives, that you might have an English Bible. Prize it—read it.
Messages of God’s Love 9/20/1908