The Last Look | Page 6

us in His holy Word. `My grace is sufficient for
thee,' He says to all who trust in Him, as He said to the Apostle Paul. It
is not moral, nor is it physical courage which will sustain a person
under such circumstances. No, dear one, it is only courage which firm
faith, or rather, the Holy Spirit of God, can give."
"I know that--I feel that; yet it is very dreadful to think that those we
love and honour may be brought to undergo such suffering."
"Not if we remember that they may thus be enabled to honour and
glorify their loving Lord and Master," answered Herezuelo. "But see,
here comes Don Carlos de Seso, one of the noblest of our band of
evangelists. I heard that he was about to visit Seville. To him I owe my
knowledge of the truth. He has, since his marriage with Dona Isabella
de Castilla, who is, you know, a descendant of the royal family of
Castile and Leon, settled at Villamediana, near Logrono. His
evangelistic efforts at that place have been as greatly blessed as they
were at Valladolid; and among many others, the parish priest of his
own village has been converted to the truth. At Pedroso also, the parish
priest, Pedro de Cazalla, has been brought to a knowledge of the truth,
and now preaches it freely in his own and the neighbouring villages.
Oh, it is glorious work; would that this whole nation might receive the
Gospel!"
"Say rather the whole earth," said Leonor. "If Spain becomes the
mistress of the world, she will spread everywhere the glorious light of
truth."
"But if she puts out that light, she will as surely spread darkness and
error," observed Antonio, with a sigh. "See, De Seso is about to address
us. Let us pray that, whatever God in His wisdom orders, we may
believe in His justice, and submit to His will."
A large number of persons had by this time assembled in Dona Isabel
de Baena's rooms. Among them, strange as it may seem, were a
considerable number of monks, and even several nuns, though such
rather in their outward garb than in reality. The latter belonged to the
nunnery of Saint Elizabeth, while the monks had come from the

Hieronomite convent of San Isidoro del Campo, situated about two
miles from Seville. There was also present Domingo de Guzman, a son
of the Duke of Medina Sidonia, and preacher of the Dominican
monastery of Saint Paul. As soon as he had embraced the reformed
principles, he became more zealous in propagating them. Such, indeed,
was generally the case with all those in prominent positions who
embraced the Gospel. They were in earnest. They had counted the cost,
and well knew that should the Inquisition discover their proceedings,
the stake would be their doom. Both Don Carlos de Seso and Don
Domingo de Guzman addressed the congregation of earnest believers
on this occasion. They prayed also with all the fervour of true believers,
and hymns were sung of praise to Him who had called them out of
darkness into His marvellous light. Don Carlos had deplored the want
of books, and of Bibles especially, by which the truth might the more
rapidly be made known, and had prayed that God would supply that
want. Scarcely was the service concluded, when there was a
commotion among the guests, and it was announced that a brave
Christian friend, Julian Hernandez, after undergoing many dangers and
difficulties, and great fatigue, had arrived with a supply of the books
which were so much required.
A short time afterwards there was a cry of Julianillo, or little Julian,
and a remarkably small but stoutly built man, dressed as a muleteer,
entered the room. The guests crowded eagerly around him to hear his
adventures. He had many to relate. How often he had narrowly escaped
capture with his precious burden! but the Lord had preserved him. Had
he been taken, he and his books together would have been committed
to the flames. God had determined that the seed of those books should
take root in the hearts of many natives of Spain, to bring forth fruit to
His glory. Julianillo's success made him resolve to set forth again to
bring a fresh supply across the Pyrenees. Some of the more timid of his
friends advised him not to make the attempt. "Satan and his priests will
not like me to bring them," he answered laughingly. "Those Testaments
and Luther's writings are the arms they dread more than anything else.
That makes me feel sure that I am doing God's work in bringing them,
and that He will take care of me while I am so employed." A brave and
faithful answer, little Julian. Oh, what noble,