"I will tie you to that tree, take this whip, and flog all this religion out of you."
Jack knew that his master was a determined man, but when he thought of Christ's sufferings for us, and heard his Lord saying unto him, "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life," he resolved to continue his work for the Lord the next Sunday.
With his New Testament in hand, he went down to the plantation and told them that his master might whip him half to death the next day, but if he did, he would not suffer more than Christ had suffered for us.
The next morning his master said, "Jack, I hear you were preaching again yesterday."
"Yes, mas'r. I must go and tell sinners how Jesus was whipped that we might go free."
"But, Jack, I told you that if you went off preaching Sunday, I should whip you on Monday, and now I will do it."
Blow after blow fell upon Jack's back, while oaths fell from the master's lips. Then he said:—
"There, Jack, I don't believe you will preach next Sunday. Now go down to the cottonfield and go to work."
When next Sunday came, Jack could not stand straight, for his back was covered with sores and scars. But, with his Testament in his hand, he stood before the people of the plantation, and said, "Mas'r whip me mos' ter death last Monday, an' I don't know but he will kill me tomorrow, but if he does, I shall not suffer more than Jesus did when he died on the cross for us."
Monday morning the master called him and said,