In the days of Wilberforce, when slavery was abolished, and it was
said that no slave could live under the Union Jack, because a bill had
been passed declaring every man free, the news had got abroad, and
when the captain of a ship was going to a distant island in the slave
dominions, the negroes were on the watch to get the news and make sure
if it were true. They were anxious to know if the bill had passed that
they were really free. And when the captain came in sight of the
little island, there they were waiting to get the tidings, and the
captain put his trumpet up to his mouth, and shouted across the
island, "Free! Free!" And the cry was taken up and echoed through the
island, "Free! Free!" And they shouted for joy, because they were
slaves no longer. I bring you good news. The Son of God will speak the
word, "Free." He spoke the words on the cross, and the poor thief was
a free man, and Satan could not hold him.
Then think of the contrast! In the morning led out a poor condemned
man, cursing and reviling the Son of God Himself; in the evening
singing the new song of redemption. That evening I see him hard by the
throne, singing the sweet song of Moses and the Lamb. In the morning
cursing, in the evening singing, "Glory to God in the highest." Was it
not a change? What a contrast! Think of it, O sinner. Condemned in the
morning by man, cast out as too vile for earth; in the evening good
enough for heaven; in the evening washed in the blood of the Lamb, and
Christ ready to receive him into the kingdom of heaven. Christ was not
ashamed to walk down the crystal pavement of heaven with him. He heard
the shout on the cross when Christ called out, "It is finished!" How
his soul must have thrilled with joy at that shout! He said, "My
salvation is completed now." He saw the spear thrust into that side
and the blood flow out, and I can see the sparkle on his face lit up
with glory. "Without the shedding of blood there is no remission." It
was a sad sight, but glorious.