Gottlieb Spena was much the better for his day's rest, and the following
morning set out with old Moretz and his grandson on their weekly
journey, when they went into the neighbouring town to dispose of their
fagots.
"And how came you to undertake this good work, friend?" asked the old
man, as they journeyed.
"In a few words I can answer you," said the book-hawker. "I was once a
monk, a lazy drone. Our convent was rich, and we had nothing to do
except to appear for so many hours every day in church, and repeat or
chant words, of the sense of which we did not for a moment trouble
ourselves. Copies of the blessed gospel, however, were brought among
us, and certain works by Dr Martin Luther, and friends of his, which
stirred us up to read that gospel, and to see whether we held the faith
it teaches, or were leading the lives it requires. First one and then
another, and finally almost all of us came to the conclusion that we
were not in any way living according to God's law, and that the whole
system we supported was evil and wrong; and we all agreed to go forth
into the world, and to become useful members of society. Some, who had
the gift of speaking, after a time became preachers of the gospel. As I
had not that gift, and had but a small amount of learning, I resolved,
by the advice of Dr Martin Luther, to put a pack upon my shoulders, and
to go forth and to distribute the written word through the land, and to
speak a word in season, as God might give me opportunity. If the Pope
or Tetzel can catch me I have no doubt that they will burn me as they
burned John Huss. But I have counted the cost, and I am prepared for
that or anything else that can befall me. I have placed myself in God's
hands, and fear not what man can do to me."
"You are a brave man," said old Moretz, grasping the book-hawker's hand;
"and whatever you may say of yourself, I should say that you are a true
preacher of God's word, and I pray that there may be many others like
you going forth throughout our country."
"Amen," said Spena, as the old man and he, warmly shaking each other's
hand, parted.
"I hope there may be very many better men than I am;" and he went on his
way, selling his books and speaking a word in season; and thus a humble
instrument, as he thought himself, bringing many souls to the knowledge
of the truth, and to accept the free offers of eternal life through a
simple, loving faith in Christ Jesus.
We must here observe that before leaving the woodcutter's hospitable
hut, Gottlieb Spena delivered the precious book into the custody of
Meta, bidding her an affectionate farewell, with the prayer that it
might prove a blessing to her soul and to those dear to her. Meta never
failed to pass every moment she could steal from her daily avocations in
perusing the New Testament. When her grandfather and brother returned
home from their work, she had always some fresh account to give them of
which she had read; and from henceforth the old man and Karl passed a
part of every evening in reading it, while the great part of that day
which God has given to toiling man as a day of rest was passed in
gaining knowledge from its precious pages.
Old Moretz had now got what he never before possessed. He understood
the way of salvation through Jesus Christ, whom he loved and desired to
serve. The more he saw of the love of God the more he felt his own
sinfulness and unworthiness, and felt the need of a better righteousness
than any good works of his own. The Holy Spirit was teaching him this
and other truths from the Scriptures. Meta and Karl also were daily
growing in knowledge and grace. They had before been contented and
cheerful, but it was the mere happiness of health and freedom from
sorrow. Now they possessed a joy which nothing could take away from
them. They relied with simplicity and confidence on God's word. They
knew that which He said He would do. "If grandfather is taken from us,
or you are taken, Karl, I know we shall be parted but for a short time.
We shall meet again and be happy, oh, so happy!" exclaimed Meta, as Karl
came in one day when his work was over, and found her ever and anon
glancing at her Bible, which lay open on the table, while she was
engaged in some business about the cottage.
Moretz soon found that those who hold to the truth are often called upon
to suffer for the truth. So it has been from the beginning. God
requires faith, but He desires us to prove our faith. Other men, like
Spena, were traversing the country, not only like him distributing
books, but openly preaching the principles of the Reformation. They did
so in many places, at great hazard to themselves. The papists, where
they could, opposed and persecuted them, as the Apostle Paul before his
conversion did the Christians he could get hold of, haling them to
prison, to torture, and to death.
Moretz often went into the town of Hornberg to sell his fagots. Even he
was not without his enemies. As he and Karl were one day driving their
asses laden with wood into the town, they encountered a long string of
pack-horses which had brought in their cargoes and were now returning.
Behind them rode a big, burly man, dressed as a farmer, on a stout,
strong horse. He scowled on Moretz, who was about to pass him, and
roughly told him to move his asses and himself out of the way. He had
an old grudge against Moretz, who had resisted an unjust attempt to
seize some land to which the rich man had no right.
"With pleasure, Master Johann Herder. I would not wish to occupy your
place, as I doubt not you would not wish to fill mine."
"What does he mean?" exclaimed Herder; but Moretz had already done as he
was bid, and got quickly out of the way. Herder went on some little
distance, muttering to himself, and then stopped and looked in the
direction Moretz had taken. Ordering his servants to proceed with the
animals, he wheeled round his horse and slowly followed the woodcutter.
Moretz quickly disposed of his fagots among his usual customers, and was
about to return home when he saw a large crowd in the square assembled
round a man who was addressing them from a roughly-raised platform.
Moretz could not resist the temptation of joining the crowd, for a few
words which reached his ears interested him greatly. He got as close up
to the speaker as he could with his asses, on the backs of which he and
Karl were mounted. The preacher wore a monk's dress, but instead of a
crucifix he held a book in his hand, which Moretz and Karl guessed
rightly was the Bible. He argued that it being God's revelation to man,
it was sufficient for all that man requires to show him the way by which
he might get out of his fallen state and obtain eternal happiness. "Are
we then," he asked, "to be guided by this book, or to be directed by men
who say things directly opposed to this book? The priests have taught
you that there is a purgatory. It was a notion held by the heathen
nations, but God's ancient people, the Jews, knew nothing of it, and
this book says not a word about it. A man has been going about the
country, sent by the Pope, selling bits of paper, which he tells the
people will get the souls of their friends and their own souls out of
this purgatory. He makes them pay a somewhat high price for these
pieces of paper, and if we look at them at their real value, a
prodigiously high price. Now the Bible says, `The soul that sinneth it
shall surely die.' `Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be
saved.' It nowhere says if we are ever so great sinners, and die in our
sins, our friends may buy the means by which we can escape the
consequence of sin. It does, however, say that however great a sinner
you are, if you turn to Jesus Christ, and trust to Him, you will be
saved; and it gives us the account of the thief on the cross, who, even
at the last moment, trusting to Jesus, was saved."
Thus the preacher continued arguing from the Bible, showing from it
numberless falsehoods put forth by the Church of Rome. Then he put very
clearly and forcibly the simple gospel before the people,--man's fallen
state; the love of Christ which induced Him to come on earth to draw man
out of that fallen state, if he would accept the means freely offered to
him. Still, unhappily, man continued to "love darkness rather than
light, because his deeds are evil;" and thus do the cardinals and
bishops and priests, who are the ruling powers of the Church of Rome,
endeavour to keep the minds of people in ignorance, that they may draw
money from the pockets of their dupes, and continue to live on in
indolence and vice.