DEAR reader, I write this little narrative, not to occupy you with slavery or slave dhows, but to show you what actually occurred, and how faith can triumph in times of adversity, seeking to illustrate it by the following incident.
In the year 1887 the writer was serving in H.M.S. “Boadicea” with other ships of the British fleet, suppressing the slave trade on the east coast of Africa.
You who dwell in safety in this enlightened and richly endowed country have no idea of the sufferings of the poor African negro, a slave to Satan, to sin, and to his cruel master. Thousands have lived a short life of suffering and bondage of the vilest kind, and at last have sunk into a despised and dishonored grave.
May I affectionately ask you, dear reader, whether you are delivered from the bondage of Satan, sin, and death. You are unable to deliver yourself, but it is glad tidings for you that “when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly” (Rom. 5:66For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:6)); and also that “forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also (Christ) Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Heb. 2:14, 1:5).
It may seem almost incredible to you that men could be so cruel as to act like the heartless Arabs, who on the darkest nights surround the black man’s village, and setting fire to it, wait for the shrieking inhabitants to rush out. They then slay the old and the infants, and forming the rest into a long line of sorrowing captives, commence the cruel march down to the sea-coast, where the slave dhow (a small ship of about ninety tons burden) awaits them. They are then bound and crammed into her noisome hold in darkness to make a voyage of four or five days to the place where they are to be sold in the slave markets.
At the time of which I write, the British ships having received news that a large dhow was making her way across, the boats were armed and manned ready to intercept her.
One boat, in which was a Christian by the name of George P —, proceeded up the mouth of a small creek to await her approach. She was soon sighted, and sweeping into the river’s mouth, opened fire on our boat, killing the officer in charge. Our men used their utmost endeavors to board her, so the work of carnage was quickly over, and the victory won. The slaves were delivered, but George P — had a bullet wound extending from his hip to his breast, and was, as seemed to himself and to all, inevitably dying.
And now, my interested reader, may I, for the love of Christ, and your never-dying soul, tell you of a battle fought and a victory won for you and for me. Yes, beloved reader, no battle fought or victory won will ever equal that when the legions of darkness were gathered together on Calvary’s heights to put to death the spotless Son of God. “Him being delivered by the determinate counsel of God” — for your sins and the sins of the whole world — “Him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken and by wicked hands have crucified and slain” (Acts 2:2323Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: (Acts 2:23)). But death could not hold Him; He is risen, and become the living Saviour of all who put their trust in Him. “Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be holden of it” (Acts 2:2424Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. (Acts 2:24)).
And now, dear reader, “to Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins” (Acts 10:4343To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. (Acts 10:43)).
But what triumphant song is this we hear as George P—, wounded and to all appearance dying, is carried up the side of his ship? Rugged men, hardened sinners, bow their heads and weep, as that sweet sound, that blessed testimony to a Saviour’s all-cleansing blood, reaches their ears―
“Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Grace hath hid me safe in thee;
Where the water and the blood
From Thy riven side which flowed,
Are of sin the double cure,
Cleansing from its guilt and power.”
Yes, it is George, triumphing in the victory that another has won! With no dear mother or sister near, six thousand miles from home, the life blood flowing from his side, he is celebrating Calvary’s victory in sacred song!
Listen, beloved reader, and let your heart be won for Christ―
“While I draw this fleeting breath,
If mine eyes are closed in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown,
Still of Thee I’ll sing alone: ―
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
All my boast and joy’s in Thee.”
Can you say, I shall thus triumph at the end of my course? Yes, friend, you will thus triumph if by saving faith in that cleansing blood that flowed from the Saviour’s pierced side, your sins are washed away.
“If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
Dear reader, although expecting and longing at that time to be “absent from the body and present with the Lord,” it pleased God, after a long and painful illness, to raise George P― up again, and after years of ignorance as to his welfare, the writer has just received news that he is still living and still testifying of that love which sought and won his heart forever.
W. S.