第144章 19th September,1838(5)

His narrative served to confirm all the rumours which I had previously heard.The Committee are fully aware with what unwillingness I formed the acquaintance of that man,who was sent up to me in order that I might provide for him,without my consent being obtained or even demanded;but I now rejoice in the circumstance,without which I might still have been playing the odious,disgraceful,and heart-breaking part which I had supported so long.But by the decided step which I now took,the burden of obloquy fell at once from my shoulders,as the bundle of sin from the back of Christian,and rolling into a deep pit was seen no more.

That advertisement gave infinite satisfaction to the liberal clergy.I was complimented for it by the Primate of Spain,who said I had redeemed my credit and that of the Society;and it is with some feeling of pride that I state that it choked and prevented the publication of a series of terrible essays against the Bible Society,which were intended for the official Gazette,and which were written by the Licentiate Albert Lister,the editor of that journal,the friend of Blanco White,and the most talented man in Spain.These essays still exist in the editorial drawer,and were communicated to me by the head manager of the royal printing office,my respected friend and countryman Mr.Charles Wood,whose evidence in this matter and in many others I can command at pleasure.In lieu of which essays came out a mild and conciliatory article by the same writer,which,taking into consideration the country in which it was written and its peculiar circumstances,was an encouragement to the Bible Society to proceed,although with secrecy and caution.Yet this article,sadly misunderstood in England,gave rise to communications from home highly mortifying to myself and ruinous to the Bible cause.

In the meantime my depots had been seized in various parts of Spain,depots the greatest part of which I had established with immense difficulty and peril,some of them being in the remote and almost inaccessible province of Galicia,at the distance of almost four hundred miles from Madrid.I now deemed that the time was at hand to avail myself of my resource,and to sell at all risks the Testament amongst the peasantry of Spain,by whom I knew that it would be received with transport and with gratitude.I determined to commence with the Sagra of Toledo,where resided an honest labourer of my acquaintance;my foot was in the stirrup when Ireceived a letter from home,which I can only consider as having originated with the Enemy of mankind for the purpose of perplexing my already harassed and agitated mind.In this letter I was told,amongst other matter which I need not repeat,to prepare to quit Spain.But by the shaft I knew the quiver from which it came,and,merely exclaiming,'Satan,I defy thee,'I hurried to Sagra,and disposed of amongst the peasantry in one fortnight four hundred copies of the New Testament.But it is hard to wrestle with the great Enemy;another shaft arrived in the shape of a letter,which compelled me to return to Madrid,whilst the cause of God was beckoning me to Aranjuez and La Mancha,to which places I indeed hurried as soon as I had arranged matters at Madrid.

Without losing time or being dispirited by the events of the last journey,I repaired to Old Castile;here my success was almost miraculous,nine hundred copies of the Holy Book being sold in less than three weeks,but not in peace and tranquillity,as the province became suddenly a scene of horrors which I shall not attempt to describe.It was not the war of men,or even of cannibals,which I witnessed;it seemed a contest of fiends from the infernal pit.But God guided me safe and unharmed through this 'valley of the shadow,'and permitted me to regain Madrid;where,upon finding myself formally recalled,I deposited the Society's property in as safe a place as I could find,and was about to return home when a fever which had been long lurking in my blood at last prostrated me,confining me to my bed for many days,at the expiration of which,though very unfit for travel,I departed for England,where at last by God's will I am arrived in safety.

Before concluding,I have a communication to make,the importance of which few,I believe,will be tempted to deny.