Year: 1878

So on. and on. and on, runs the record of
the inhuman cruelty of these early magis-
trates. record which was most carefully
avoided at the proceedings of the late cel-
ebraton but hasten on to conclude the
narration:


Early in 1859, William Robinson, who
had been preaching in Virginia where his
ministry was much blest, and Marmaduke
Stevenson. who had lately come from Bar.
BADGES, felt required of the Lord to 90 TO
Boston the former receiving clear reve-
lation that bis life would be taken, he
writes: obedience was demanded of me
the Lord, who filled me with living
strength and power from His heavenly
presence which at that time did nightly
to what the Lord required OF me-" The
two young ministers arrived at Boston on
one of the public fast days. and were soon
arrested. Like the apostles Of old they
tarried or they jOurneyed as they were
restrained or constrained by the Spirit of
the Lord. In letter to George Fox from
Boston goal. VIM. Robinson writes -
"Oh! my dearly beloved, thou who art
endued with power from on High. who
art of quick discerning In the fsar of
God: oh. remember us-let thy prayers
be put up unto the Lord God for US. that
his power and strength may rest with ~,
and upon US, that faithful we may be pre-
served to the end. Amen"


Soon the aged Mary Dyer arrived at
Boston, constrained TO carry comfort and
cheer to her captive fellow believers, there,
and was shortly imprisoned also. A friend,
writing with reference to their preaching
before imprisonment. says: -"Divers
were convinced. the power Of the Lord
accompanying them, and with astonish-
ment confounded their enemies before
them great was their service abroad in
that jurisdiction for four weeks and up
wards" Being brought before the Gov
ernor, VIM. Robinson asked leave to read
an explanation which he had prepared -
"After describing the heavenly intimation
he had received that it was Gods will that
he should lay down his life for the cause
of Christ. he writes: /, being q child,
burst not question the Lord In the least,
and as the Lord made me willing, dealing
gently and kindly with me as tender
father by faithful child whom he tenderly
loves, so the Lord did deal with me in min
istering his life unto me, which gave and
gives me strength to perform what the
Lord required of me. Therefore all who
are ignorant of the motion of the Lord in
the inward parts be not hasty in judging
in this matter. The presence of the Lord
and his heavenly life doth accompany me
so that can say in truth, Blessed be the
Lord God of my life who hath counted me
worthy and called me hereunto. Will ye
put us to death for obeying the Lord, the
God of the whole earth p"


Endicott took up this document, and ac-
ter reading it pronounced sentence OF
death on its writer. A few days before
his execution. in an epistle addressed Ito
the Lords people," VIM. Robinson says:
The streams Of my Fathers love run
daily through me. from the Holy Fountain
of life to the seed throughout the whole
relation. | am overcome with love, for il
is my life and length of days; it is my
glory and my daily strength. l am full
OF the quickening power Of the Lord Je-
sus Christ. shall enter with my Beloved
into eternal rest and peace. and l shall de-
part with everlasting JOY in my heart and
praises in my mouth"


After Marmaduke Stevenson had re-
ceived his sentence. he solemnly addressed
the magistrates, concluding with these
words; "Assuredly if you put US to death
you will bring innocent blood upon your
own heads, and swift destruction will come
upon you" 1t is a remarkable fact that
many OF these prosecutors came to an un-
timely end. or were visited by severe per-
sonal calamities which resulted in death.
1.-The hand or judgment of the Lord Is
upon me" were the words of John Norton
who, whilst walking in his own house,


eant his head against a chimney piece
and sank down never to speak again. And
Major General Adderton. who had said
scoffingly 1.-THE judgments of the Lord
God are not come upon US yet, was over
taken by sudden and shocking death.
During his Imprisonment, Marmaduke
Stevenson wrote his "Call to the Work
and Service of the Lord" and not losing
sight of his old friends he prepared an ad-
dress to his neighbors and the people Of
the town of Shiptown, Weighton and else
where" few days before bis execution
he wrote letter "to the Lords people"
from which the following extracts are tax
en-:


"You lambs of my Fathers fold and
sheep of His pasture, the remembrance Of
you is precious to me. my dearly beloved
ones-who are reconcled to God. and one
to another, in that which sea and land can
not separate; here you may feel me knit
and joined to you in the spirit of truth, and
linked to you as members of His body,
who is our head and Rock OF sure defence,
here we are kept safe in the hour OF temp
tation. and in the day of trial shall we
be preserved in the hollow of His hand
here his banner of love will be over rs.
SO, my dear friends, let us always wait At
the altar of the Lord, to see the table
spread. that so we may sit down and eat
together, and be refreshed with the hid
den mama that comes from Him who Is
our life, our peace, our strength and our,
preserver, night and day. Oh, my beloved
ones let us all 60 on in His siren 9Th. who
is our Prince and Saviour. If / forget
you, then let the Lord forget me.


Nay, verify, you cannot be forgotten by


me so long as l abide in the Vine / am
branch of the same nature with you,
which the Lord hath blessed: we grow
together in his life and image, as mem
bers of His body, where we shall live to-
gether to all eternity"


After Mary Dyer had heard her sen.
tence. she only replied by the significant
fContlnued on fourth paes,I