He Delivereth Them Out of the Hand of the Wicked by W. A. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 26, 1909

“He Delivereth Them Out of the Hand of the Wicked”

A Warning Voice

In the appendix to his “Book of Martyrs,” Fox tells us he was “loath to insert anything in this book which may seem incredible or strange,” yet he felt constrained to report the following story of deliverance. It was told by the escaped man himself to a minister well known to Fox. This is the account:—

There was one Laremouth, otherwise called Williamson, chaplain to the Lady Anne of Cleve, a Scottishman, to whom, being in prison in Queen Mary’s days, it was said (as he thought), thus sounding in his ears, “Arise and go thy ways.” Whereunto when he gave no great heed at the first, the second time it was said to him again in the same words. Upon this, as he fell to his prayers, it was said the third time likewise to him, “Arise and go thy ways;” which was about half an hour after. So he arising upon the same, immediately a piece of the prison wall fell down, and as the officers came in at the outward gate of the castle or prison, he, leaping over the ditch, escaped, and in the way meeting a certain beggar, changed his coat with him, and coming to the seashore, where he found a vessel ready to go over, was taken in and escaped the search, which was straitly laid for him in all the country over.

John Bunyan’s Jailer

John Bunyan’s jailer at Bedford, at one period, at least, allowed his prisoner to visit his friends occasionally. The following incident is reported in the story of those times:—

It being known to some of his persecutors in London that he was often out of prison, they sent an officer to discover the facts. He was to get to Bedford jail in the middle of the night. Bunyan was at home with his family, but so restless that he could not sleep. He therefore acquainted his wife that, though the jailer had given him liberty to stay till morning, yet, from his uneasiness, he must immediately return. He did so, and the jailer blamed him for coming at so unseasonable an hour. Early in the morning the messenger came, and interrogating the jailer, said:—

“Are all the prisoners safe?”

“Yes.”

“Is John Bunyan safe?”

“Yes.”

“Let me see him.”

He was called, and appeared, and all was well. After the messenger was gone, the jailer, addressing Mr. Bunyan, said, “Well, you may go in and out again just when you think proper, for you know when to return better than I can tell you.”

Meeting an Armed Attack by Prayer

An old account of missionary experiences, published by the Religious Tract Society, of London, contains the following:—

During the rebellion in Ireland, in 1793, the rebels had long meditated an attack on the Moravian settlement at Grace Hill, Wexford county. At length they put their threat into execution, and a large body of them marched to the town. When they arrived there, they saw no one in the street nor in the houses. The brethren had long expected this attack, but true to the Christian profession, they would not have recourse to arms in their defense; they assembled in their chapel and in solemn prayer besought Him in whom they trusted, to be their shield in the hour of danger.

“The ruffian band, hitherto breathing nothing but destruction and slaughter, were astonished at this novel sight; where they expected armed hands, they saw them clasped in prayer, and the whole body of men bending before the Prince of Peace. They heard the prayer for protection, the request for mercy to be extended to their murderers, and the songs of praise and confidence in the sure promise of the Lord. They beheld all in silence; they were unable to raise a hand against them; and, after having for a night and a day lingered about, they marched away, without having injured a single individual or stolen a loaf of bread. This singular mark of the protection of Heaven induced the inhabitants of the neighborhood to bring their goods and ask for the protection of these Christians.”

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Not always has the Lord warded off the blow aimed at children of his who put their trust in him. But always he has given sustaining grace and assurance that round about are the everlasting arms. And through the long conflict these special deliverances noted show that all the time the angels have been watching round about his people. It is good to know that they are still his ministering spirits in all the earth.

W. A. S.