Courageous Men and Women Who Have Battled for Their Rights — Miraculous Deliverances from Threatened Destruction
In these turbulent times, the mind is naturally reaching out for some power that can protect and keep us. The articles this week and next from Mr. Spicer will prove a great comfort. They show that God does marvelously interpose to deliver those who trust Him.
EDITOR.
“THE Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.” Ps. 9: 9. Look where we may to the times of crisis when witnesses for truth have endured oppression and trial for conscience’ sake, and there we shall find evidences of the divine hand stretched forth in special providences and deliverances.
Such a time followed the enforcement of the Act of Uniformity in Britain, in 1662. Two thousand ministers refused to subscribe to the declarations of “unfeigned” assent to everything in the prayer book that had just been adopted by Parliament. They lost their positions, and the support that went with the churches they had served.
TO COMPEL CONFORMITY
To prevent their congregations from giving voluntary support for the preaching of the Word, the Conventicle Act was quickly passed, in 1664, forbidding that more than five persons be at a religious meeting where the state church standard was not followed. And next year, the Five-mile Act prohibited an unauthorized minister’s living within five miles of any town. These acts were applied to teachers and lecturers.
Thus thousands of ministers were driven out and harried and imprisoned for their refusal to conform. It was all overruled for great blessing; for in those times grew up that great non-conformist or free church movement, with its protest against a state-prescribed religion.
BIG SODA GUN
In those troublous times, which lasted till the suspension of the acts, in 1687, many godly families experienced the intervening power of God in extremities when vain was the help of man. Calamy, author of the “Nonconformists’ Memorial,” himself one of the ejected ministers, tells of some of these special providences.
HENRY ERSKINE’S DELIVERANCES
A Scottish minister, Henry Erskine, labored on both sides of the river Tweed, being now driven out of Scotland, and then out of England. In great need and distress one day he was walking the streets in the city of Edinburgh, when a stranger in countryman’s garb came up and gave him a letter with money. Erskine never knew who his human benefactor was. Calamy says:
“At another time, being on a journey on foot, his money fell short, and he was in danger of being exposed. Having occasion to fix his walking stick in the marshy ground, among some rushes, he heard somewhat tinkle at the end of it; whereupon, stooping down, he found two half crowns, which did him great service in bearing his charges home.”
Of this same man, Erskine, we are told yet again:
“When he lived at Dryburgh, after his ejectment from Cornhill [on the English side], he and his family were often in great straits. Once particularly, when the ‘cruse of oil and the barrel of meal’ were entirely spent, so that when they had supped at night, there remained neither bread, meal, flesh, nor money in the house, in the morning the young children cried for their breakfast, and their father endeavored to divert them, and did what he could at the same time to encourage himself and his wife to depend upon that Providence ‘which feeds the young ravens when they cry’ for food. While he was thus engaged, a countryman knocked hard at the door, and called for some one to help him off with his load. Being asked whence he came, and what he would have, he told them he came from the Lady Deburn, with some provision for Mr. Erskine. They told him he must be mistaken, and that it was more likely for Mr. Erskine of Sheffield, in the same town. He replied, No; he knew what he said; and he was sent to Mr. Henry Erskine, and cried, ‘Come, help me off with my load, or else I will throw it down at the door.’ Whereupon they took the sack from him, and upon opening it, found it well filled with flesh and meal.” — Volume 2, page 254.
HOW MATTHEW WARREN ESCAPED
Matthew Warren was a scholar of Oxford. Being one of the nonconforming ministers, he was often sought by the authorities, and when silenced as a minister, devoted himself to educating youth for the ministry. Calamy reports:
“At one time he was very remarkably and providentially preserved. His wife had a strange impression upon her mind, that if he did not remove till such a time from the house to which he had retired [he being away from home], he would certainly be taken prisoner. Accordingly she sent a messenger with a letter, earnestly begging him to be at home by such a time, or else he might never see her more.
“He, imagining it was her indisposition, and not the fear of his danger, that was the cause of her urgency, immediately took leave of his friends, and went homewards. But he was not far from the house before, looking back from an ascent, he saw it surrounded by persons that were sent to search there for him.” — Volume 2, page 359.
JOHN NOFWORTHY’S EXPERIENCE
John Nofworthy was an Oxford man, who lived in Devonshire. Driven out for nonconforming, he was hunted from prison to prison by persecuting officials. Calamy says:
“He was several times reduced to great straits; but he encouraged himself in the Lord his God, and exhorted his wife to do the same. Once when he and his family had breakfasted,361and had nothing left for another meal, his wife lamented her condition, and said, ‘What shall I do with my poor children?’ “He persuaded her to take a walk abroad with him; and seeing a little bird, he said: ‘Take notice how that little bird sits and chirps, though we cannot tell whether it has been at breakfast; and if it has, it knows not whither to go for dinner. Therefore be of good cheer, and do not distrust the providence of God; for are we not “better than many sparrows”?’” — Volume 1, page 381.
Before the time came for the dinner, true to the preacher’s faith, they had provisions sent in to them from an unknown source, sufficient for the daily need.
