The Woodcutter of Gutech | Page 6

than any good works of his own. The Holy Spirit was
teaching him this and other truths from the Scriptures. Meta and Karl
also were daily growing in knowledge and grace. They had before been
contented and cheerful, but it was the mere happiness of health and
freedom from sorrow. Now they possessed a joy which nothing could
take away from them. They relied with simplicity and confidence on
God's word. They knew that which He said He would do. "If
grandfather is taken from us, or you are taken, Karl, I know we shall be
parted but for a short time. We shall meet again and be happy, oh, so
happy!" exclaimed Meta, as Karl came in one day when his work was
over, and found her ever and anon glancing at her Bible, which lay
open on the table, while she was engaged in some business about the
cottage.
Moretz soon found that those who hold to the truth are often called
upon to suffer for the truth. So it has been from the beginning. God
requires faith, but He desires us to prove our faith. Other men, like
Spena, were traversing the country, not only like him distributing books,
but openly preaching the principles of the Reformation. They did so in
many places, at great hazard to themselves. The papists, where they
could, opposed and persecuted them, as the Apostle Paul before his
conversion did the Christians he could get hold of, haling them to
prison, to torture, and to death.
Moretz often went into the town of Hornberg to sell his fagots. Even he
was not without his enemies. As he and Karl were one day driving their
asses laden with wood into the town, they encountered a long string of
pack-horses which had brought in their cargoes and were now returning.

Behind them rode a big, burly man, dressed as a farmer, on a stout,
strong horse. He scowled on Moretz, who was about to pass him, and
roughly told him to move his asses and himself out of the way. He had
an old grudge against Moretz, who had resisted an unjust attempt to
seize some land to which the rich man had no right.
"With pleasure, Master Johann Herder. I would not wish to occupy
your place, as I doubt not you would not wish to fill mine."
"What does he mean?" exclaimed Herder; but Moretz had already done
as he was bid, and got quickly out of the way. Herder went on some
little distance, muttering to himself, and then stopped and looked in the
direction Moretz had taken. Ordering his servants to proceed with the
animals, he wheeled round his horse and slowly followed the
woodcutter.
Moretz quickly disposed of his fagots among his usual customers, and
was about to return home when he saw a large crowd in the square
assembled round a man who was addressing them from a
roughly-raised platform. Moretz could not resist the temptation of
joining the crowd, for a few words which reached his ears interested
him greatly. He got as close up to the speaker as he could with his asses,
on the backs of which he and Karl were mounted. The preacher wore a
monk's dress, but instead of a crucifix he held a book in his hand,
which Moretz and Karl guessed rightly was the Bible. He argued that it
being God's revelation to man, it was sufficient for all that man requires
to show him the way by which he might get out of his fallen state and
obtain eternal happiness. "Are we then," he asked, "to be guided by this
book, or to be directed by men who say things directly opposed to this
book? The priests have taught you that there is a purgatory. It was a
notion held by the heathen nations, but God's ancient people, the Jews,
knew nothing of it, and this book says not a word about it. A man has
been going about the country, sent by the Pope, selling bits of paper,
which he tells the people will get the souls of their friends and their
own souls out of this purgatory. He makes them pay a somewhat high
price for these pieces of paper, and if we look at them at their real value,
a prodigiously high price. Now the Bible says, `The soul that sinneth it

shall surely die.' `Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be
saved.' It nowhere says if we are ever so great sinners, and die in our
sins, our friends may buy the means by which we can escape the
consequence of sin. It does, however, say that however great a sinner
you are, if you turn to Jesus Christ, and trust to Him, you will