“Today the old issue of intolerance is resurrected and becomes a vital one by the pending bill to regulate, ‘His Majesty’s Protestant Subjects.’ If necessary to bury it past disinterment, many of the people of the Colony [pg 103] will support the new issue: That the Burgesses of Virginia shall take precedence of authority over the King; and if need be, these two issues, religious liberty and self-government for the Colony, shall become yoke-fellows to drag to destruction giant oppression.
“The Presbyterian Church recognizes the divine origin of government; and that each subject must ‘render to Caesar the things which are Caesar’s;’ but the right to worship God as God commands and as conscience dictates is more sacred than obedience and allegiance to the King. We love peace, but more our freedom; we love our home, but more our equities in the Kingdom of God; and we will give all for civil and religious freedom.
“It is as great to give your life to, as for a cause. In the Beatitudes we are told: ‘Blessed are they that are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake; rejoice and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in heaven.’
“Visions come with persecution. Paul tells how, after the stoning at Lystra, he was caught up into Paradise and saw unutterable things. Again in the account of Stephen’s stoning we are told how he looked steadfastly up into heaven and saw the glory of God; and while they stoned him he called upon God, saying, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit’ and he kneeled down and cried with a loud voice, ‘Lord lay not this sin to their charge;’ and when he had said this, he fell asleep.
“He fell asleep. While asleep, the tears were wiped from his eyes; his vision was strengthened; he awoke in a land where there was no night, in the presence of God, who said unto him: ‘I will be your God and you shall be my son.’”
[pg 104]
CHAPTER IV.—John Calvin Campbell and Dorothy Fairfax.
John Calvin Campbell was a beautiful child, with strangely clear, deep blue eyes, close clinging golden curls, a complexion fair to paleness, though tinted to a delicate ruddiness by exposure. He was thoroughly self-reliant and independent.
The neighbors spoke of him as a strange boy; not that he was mentally or physically weak; but his manner and thoughts and method of expression were unnatural in one so young.
His mother looked after him with such solicitude that his father, half vexed, said: “You are spoiling that boy; give him a chance to live his own life; I want him to find interest and pleasure in the same things other boys do.”