Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1852-12-09
The Bible-DistributOr among Rob
berS.

! 'ne year 1915, band OF robbers had
established themselves in the great man.
ufacturlng town of Lyons, in the South Of
France. They were rough fellows, with
faces that looked only fit for the gallows,
and hearts as hard as the street-paving of
the town. Tojudge from their appearance
they would think no more of taking away
mans life, than of blowing out rush
light. But nothing prospers in this world
without some sort of government, and
these robbers knew it; SO they chose one
of their number for Captain; and in this
case it was the one most accomplished in
all kinds of robbery and murder. And
then they raised their hands to Heaven,
and swore that none of them would ever
leave or betray the band; and that if any
should, nevertheless, break the oath, the
rest would pursue and kill him. And they
went forth to plunder and murder; and
all the people Of the neighborhood who,
besides their heads, had temporal goods
to lose, were full of terror and dismay.
At this time there was assembled in
Lyons another band, which, like these
robbers in the forest, sent out their mes
sengers in every direction, and so haunted
after all sorts of fpeople. And where these
appeared, many a one has trembled 1t
is true they were not armed like the rob-
bers with pistols and such murderous
weapons; but out of their wallets peeped
large and small books; and when the
messengers read out of them, it was to
many listener as if two-edged sword
pierced through his soul. For in the
books was much written about the holy
God, who brings sinners before His tri-
bunal; and about the Saviour Jesus Christ
who so mercifully takes upon Himself the
sins of those who heartily repent and
seek forgiveness from Him.
One of the Missionaries of this Society
resolved one day to go into the forest to
the robbers; not, indeed, that he might
become one of them, but, with the help
Of God, to put an end to their unrighteous
profession. 1t was truly dangerous
thing to do, and l really begin to tremble
when I think how the lawles5 fellows in
the forest yonder will handle the poor
man. He might well think about it, too;
but God had given him brave heart, so
that he did not trouble himself about it
further than to say to himself that at
most they could only destroy his body,
but were not able to kill his soul. "If |
fall" he thought, II shall 60 straight to
Heaven; and there it is far better than
in this poor world, & especially in France.
And would not my life be amply repaid
if, by the word Of God, the soul of one of
these robbers should be saved?" SO he
filed his wallet with Bibles, aad stepped
away bravely into the wood Soon he
was lost in the thicket, and after few
miles he came upon the outposts of the
camp.
"Who goes there!" cried rough voice,
which seemed to pierce our Bible Distrib-
utor through bone and marrow. Soon
several horrible-looking forms came out
of the thicket, surrounded the adventurous
intruder, and scrutinized him with curl
Gus looks He had meanwhile recovered
courage to meet their wild scornful faces
"What brings you here, fellow?' cried
the robbers.
II come," replied he, with firm voice,
"to bring you the word of God, and to
warn you from the path Of ruin; before
the judgement of God breaks over you.
A wild fendi8h laugh interrupted the
address. "Ha! ha! hap cried the COM
rades, "this is capital fellow, and a
good roast for our Captain. There you
can finish your aermon. It's just what he
likes, and he'll reward you for it. Pack
up your books; over yonder you'll do
more business! March!-On with you.'
With these words they thrust him for
ward and brought him to their Captain
At the sight of such a body of ruflians
playing with their muskets as if they were
toy-guns, the stoutest heart might have
quailed; but our man OF God stood calm
"What do you want, fellow" asked the
Captain, haughtily.
"L come to bring you the word Of God,
replied the Missionary, firmly.
'Do you know who We are! Do you