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"Lord, have compassion on a poor
sinner!" was the continual wail and cry of a big giant of a Brazilian, as
he lay rolling on the floor of his adobe cabin, in an agony of tears, touched
by the Spirit of God, realizing, for the first time in his life, the awful,
sinful state of his soul in the presence of God. |
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A day
before he had climbed the stairs leading to our preaching hall in Pernambuco.
I was preaching about the "Blood of Jesus, the Son of God, cleansing
from all sin." Herculano had listened with eyes riveted on me. One could
easily perceive that never before had such teaching reached
his ears nor his hungry heart. |
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The
preaching over, I went to where the newcomer stood, and, as was my custom,
inquired as to his appreciation of what he had heard. He expressed himself
highly satisfied, and when asked if he would like a visit to his home, where
these truths could be gone over with more care and calmness, he readily
assented and a meeting was arranged for next day. |
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Little did
I realize, being new in the field, the danger which I would encounter. I was soon
informed that the place where this Brazilian was living was one of the most
dangerous in Pernambuco -- a veritable den of thieves and murderers -- which
even the police feared to enter alone, and strangers that had ventured there
were never heard from again. Imagine my feelings when told about these
things; but as I had given my word to meet the man I resolved, after prayer
and a renewed consecration of my life to the Master, to go and meet him even
at the risk of my life. |
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At the
appointed place and hour I was by the side of this great Hercules of a
Brazilian, walking from the street car across a small rickety old bridge made
of a few planks, into that dangerous district. People who saw me pass watched
with curiosity, and some with pity, imagining the speedy end. |
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When we
reached the small adobe hut, the home of Herculano, everybody inside seemed
to disappear, his wife, his children, the dog and the cats -- all seemed to
fear his presence and fly for their lives. |
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Nothing had
been said as yet concerning religion, and as I was invited to enter the house
and to be seated upon an old kerosene box, I could not help but notice the
blood-shot eyes and murderous features of him whose home I had entered for
the first time. Realizing
my position and that perhaps this was my last opportunity to speak of Christ
and His power to save I made up my mind to speak plainly and clearly and,
after sitting down on that dirty, old, rickety box, I expressed myself as
follows: |
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"My
dear friend, I really do not know who you are and what you intend doing with
me. After arranging for our meeting here I was informed of the danger of
coming to this place, of the kind of people that live here and of what has
happened to many a stranger who ventured into this district. But as I noticed
last night your hunger for something better and your desire to learn more
about Jesus and his power to save, I resolved to keep my promise and come and
tell you these facts even at the risk of my life. Personally, I may tell you,
that I am not afraid to die, because my soul is safe and sure in the keeping
of Jesus, my Saviour and Lord. I am more concerned about your soul than about
my own life." |
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The
countenance of that man can be more easily imagined than described. He turned
pale and his big body trembled to such an extent that I feared that something
was going to happen to him. He afterwards confessed to me that he was
struggling with himself not to fall on me and strangle me -- but that
something, some invisible power, withheld him and would not let him move. |
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"Tell
me more about Jesus and how he saves," he then exclaimed. "What you
spoke about last night in that hall disturbed my sleep. I have been thinking and
wondering if what you affirmed last night was really the truth. I never heard
anything like it." |
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In simple,
plain language I explained to him the gospel of salvation through Jesus
Christ: How God gave his only begotten Son to die in our stead on the cruel
cross, and how we can obtain a full pardon if we repent and forsake sin, and
accept this blessed offer. The words did not seem to reach the heart and mind
of the poor man, and I was almost despairing of ever being able to reach him
when I bethought myself of calling to my aid the Spirit of God, and, turning
to the poor fellow who was sitting and staring in a most helpless condition
of despair, I said to him: |
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"My
dear friend, I can perceive that my words do not reach your understanding;
let us ask God to make these things plain to you. Now if you really desire to
know these blessed truths, let us kneel down and ask God, who is here with us
ready to bless you -- let us ask Him to pity and
save you." |
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I then
slipped to my knees and the big giant who, very likely, had never previously
bent his knees before his Maker, knelt down beside me. Then, with a trembling
voice, and eyes overflowing with tears, I began pleading with God on behalf
of this poor soul. |
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The answer
was not delayed! |
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Soon I heard a body fall prostrate to the floor and
a choked voice, which seemed to come from the bottom of a heart touched by
sorrow and despair, pleading for mercy and forgiveness. |
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"Oh, God! save a poor
degraded, miserable lost sinner!" was the piteous, continual, cry of
this poor man as he was rolling in agony on the floor. |
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With tears
of repentance, of shame and sorrow, he told of his terrible and miserable
life: That he was the hired assassin of one of the most influential
politicians of the State; that only a few days before he had returned from
the convict island to which he had been sent, sentenced to thirty years'
imprisonment, but had been pardoned after seventeen years; and that the day
after his arrival on shore he had received orders to do away with a person
and had done it. |
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Herculano,
by the power of God, became a new man and a powerful instrument in the
Master's Cause. He was afterwards baptized by Dr. W. E. Entzminger. His home
became a center of spiritual influences which slowly transformed the whole
district, not only into a place of safety, but also prosperity. Every time I
went to preach in that district, Herculano would stand by me and none dared
to throw a stone at me for fear of the great big giant whose fame was known
to all and who, though converted, was still feared by everybody. |
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In all his
difficulties, trials and temptations -- and these, after his conversion,
seemed to multiply -- especially with his own family, who would insult and call
him a coward because he had given up making a living by murder -- in all
these trials he would come to me and open his heart and then both of us would
kneel down and put it all into the hands of God, feeling secure in His power. |
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One day,
very early in the morning, while I was in my study, Herculano came in all
upset, with his eyes full of blood and his features speaking plainly of
murder. |
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"What
is the matter, Herculano? What is troubling you now?" |
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"Oh, Pastor, I want to kill a man. My heart just
tells me to go and kill him," and tears came rolling own his cheeks. |
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"But why? What has happened, Herculano?"
And then he told a pitiful tale of how he had given hospitality to a former
companion of his who had just been freed from the prison island and while he
was away, very early, and his wife had gone to the market, this criminal had
outraged his little daughter, a child of only eight years old. |
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"Pastor,
my heart tells me to go and kill that man ... I know where I can lay my hands
on him." |
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"Let
us ask the Lord about it, Herculano," I said. "Let us see what the
Lord will tell you to do." With a troubled heart and a bleeding soul in
pity and sympathy for the poor father, I laid the whole affair before the
Lord, pleading for wisdom and comfort and peace on behalf of this poor
brother. |
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The answer
came! We arose from our knees comforted and strengthened. We both went to the
chief of police who took the matter in hand and brought the criminal to
justice. |
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Herculano
continued firm and faithful to the end. A few days before his death he came
again and told me that he had come to say "adeus" for good. |
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"Why,
what is the matter now?" |
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"Well,
you see, pastor, my wife will not look after me and I am going to the hospital
to be treated and am sure that I will not come back alive." |
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"Do
not say that," I exclaimed, "you are strong and quite able to
survive an operation and we expect a great deal from you yet. Do not be so
discouraged. Go and get well, and let us know how you are doing." |
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Not a word
came from him and when a week afterwards I made inquiries I was informed that
Herculano had died a few days after his entrance and that up to the last
moment he had spoken of Christ and his love and His power to save. To the
priest, who wanted him to confess, he replied: "I have already confessed
myself to Christ." |
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From: A
Wandering Jew in Brazil: An Autogiography of Solomon L. Ginsburg |
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