His Relatives Deliver Him Up To The Patriarch
31. Information is received, that Asaad has been taken away against his
will, to the patriarch.
April 4. Phares Shidiak arrived here in the evening direct from Der
Alma, and said he had accompanied Asaad to that convent a week ago, that
Asaad was still there, and that the patriarch, having in the morning set
off for Cannobeen, would send down for Assad after a few days. He then
handed me the following lin
"If you can find a vessel setting off for Malta, in the course of four
or five days, send me word; if not, pray for your brother.
ASAAD."
We were disposed to send off a messenger this very evening, but Phares
said it would not be necessary.
Had some serious conversation with Phares, in which I exhorted him to
continue reading the New Testament, and take particular notice of the
general spirit of it; and then to judge, if all this deceit, confining,
beating, and threatening to kill, was consistent with that spirit. We
observed, that we supposed the patriarch and the bishop were well
pleased with all the violence that Mansoor had used in this affair.
"Yes," said Phares, "priest Hanna Stambodi, at Ain Warka, told me
yesterday, that none of us had any religion, except Mansoor."
In a subsequent part of his journal, Mr. Bird records the following
particulars respecting Asaad, during his last visit to Hadet, and when
about to be violently removed from thence. They were received from
Phares.
A neighbouring emir being sick, one day, Asaad carried him a paper of
medicine, on the outside of which he had written how it was to be taken.
While Asaad stood without, a servant took in this medicine, and gave it
to the prince, saying, "This is from Asaad Esh Shidiak, and here he has
written the directions on the paper." The prince, who is not remarkable
for mildness, and perhaps was not conscious that Asaad overheard him,
spoke out angrily, "A fig for the paper and writing; 'tis the medicine I
want." "Your lordship is in the right," replied Asaad, "the truth is
with you. The medicine is the thing; the paper that holds it, is
nothing. So we ought to say of the gospel, the great medicine for the
soul. 'Tis the pure gospel we want, and not the church that holds
it."
After Mansoor, in his catholic zeal, had torn up and burned all his
Bibles and Testaments, Asaad could not remain without the scriptures,
but sent and obtained a copy from the little church, which he daily
read, marking the most striking and important passages.
When his relatives, to the number of twenty or more, had assembled, and
Asaad perceived they were come to take him to the patriarch by force, he
began to expostulate with Tannoos, and besought him to desist from a
step so inconsistent with fraternal love. He besought in vain. Tannoos
turned away from him with a cold indifference. Affected with his
hardness, Asaad went aside, and wept and prayed aloud.
The evening before he was taken away, he said to those who had
assembled, "If I had not read the gospel, I should have been surprised
at this new movement of yours. But now it is just what I might have
expected. In this blessed book, I am told, the brother shall deliver up
the brother to death, and a man's foes shall be they of his own
household. Here you see it is just so. You have come together to fulfil
this prophecy of the gospel. What have I done against you? What is my
crime? Allowing that I do take the Bible as my only and sufficient guide
to heaven, what sin is there in this?" During the evening, he laid
himself down to sleep, as he was to set off early in the morning. But he
was often interrupted; for, whenever he caught a word of false doctrine
from the lips of those who continued their conversation, he would rise
up, refute them, and again compose himself to rest. One of his uncles,
speaking of his going to the patriarch, said in a great rage, "If you
don't go off with us peaceably, we will take your life." Asaad replied,
"Softly, softly, my dear uncle, don't be hasty. Blessed are the meek."
Phares wrote a letter this evening to Asaad, in a hand that had been
agreed on between them, saying, that if he would come to Beyroot, he
need not fear, and that it might be a matter for further consideration
whether he should leave the country.
5. The letter of Phares was sent off by a moslem, who returned at
evening, saying that when he arrived at the convent, he was accosted by
two or three men, inquiring his business, telling him he was a Greek,
and had letters from the English. They then seized him, and took the
letter by force, and, had he not shewn them that he was a moslem, would
have probably sent him to the emir of the district for further
examination. They then asked him some questions about the English, and
assured him that after eight days Asaad would no longer be a living man.
Thus were our hopes of a second deliverance of this sufferer of
persecution, for the present, blasted. After all the threats, which have
been thrown out without being put in execution, we rather hope, that
this last will prove like the rest; yet we cannot tell how far their
hatred of the truth may, with the divine forbearance, carry them. We
leave all with him, in whose hands our life and breath are, and whose
are all our ways, with the humble hope, that light may yet arise out of
darkness, and that much glory may be added to his name, from this
evident work of Satan.
6. Sent word, in a blind hand, on a torn scrap of paper, to Phares
respecting the fate of our message to his brother. He returns answer
that he is coming to Beyroot to-morrow.
7. Phares came, according to his notice of yesterday, saying, that if
the patriarch should get his letter to Asaad, there would be danger in
his staying at Hadet. He should be glad to go to Malta, or almost any
other place out of the Maronite influence, lest his brothers should
seize him, and deliver him up to the fury of the patriarch, as they had
done his brother Asaad. Mansoor, the eldest and most violent of them,
when he heard, yesterday, that a letter had arrived for Phares from
Beyroot, breathed out threatenings and slaughter, not only against
Phares, but against the innocent messenger himself.
8. Wrote to ----, a friendly Maronite bishop, to give me whatever
information he might be able to procure respecting Shidiak.
May 10. A messenger whom we sent to Cannobeen, returned with the
report that he was denied the privilege of seeing Asaad, under pretence
that he was going through a course of confession, during which the rule
is, that the person so confessing, shall pass his time, for a number of
days, alone, and see no company.
14. We were, to-day, credibly informed, that Shidiak is still firm in
his adherence to the gospel, but that he was kept under rigid
inspection, not being permitted to step out of his room without an
attendant.
17. Phares Shidiak informed us to-day, that he had been told that his
brother Asaad had been at the college of Ain Warka. He thought it might
be true, as one object in delivering him up to the patriarch was, to
give the people the general impression, that he had no longer any thing
to do with the English. He had now been a sufficient time absent from us
to give general currency to the report, that he was no longer with us,
and now, perhaps, the patriarch had let him go free.
More
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Attack Upon The Protestant Churches
Some time before the death of general La Garde, the duke d'Angouleme had visited Nismes, and other cities in the south, and at the former place honoured the members of the protestant consistory with an interview, promising them protection, and encou... Attempts Made To Procure His Release
After hearing all this, we went directly to the consul to inform him of the case, and to urge him to an interference. He consented, that we should first procure some one to write a firm and consistent letter to the patriarch, demanding by what right... Biographical Notices Of Asaad Shidiak
The following account of the remarkable convert from the Maronite Roman Catholic church, whose name has, of late, appeared frequently on the pages of the Missionary Herald, is compiled chiefly from the journal of Mr. Bird, American Missionary in Syr... Bishop Ridley And Bishop Latimer
These reverend prelates suffered October 17, 1555, at Oxford, on the same day Wolsey and Pygot perished at Ely. Pillars of the church and accomplished ornaments of human nature, they were the admiration of the realm, amiably conspicuous in their liv... Brief History Of Asaad Esh Shidiak From The Time Of His Being Betrayed Into The Hands Of The Maronite Patriarch In The Spring Of 1826
=Translated from the Arabic of Naami Latoof.= When the relatives of Asaad brought him to the convent of Alma in the district of Kesroan, and gave him up to the patriarch, the latter began by way of flattery to promise him all the worldly advantage... Calvin As A Friend Of Civil Liberty
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The London Missionary Chronicle for March contains a statement respecting Mr. Smith's case, occupying, with accompanying documents nearly twelve pages, which confirms the impression that Mr. Smith was innocent. The Directors of the London Missionary... Connexion With Mr Bird
Under the influence of these doubts, which seem to have distressed him greatly, he entered the service of Mr. Bird as his instructer in Arabic. His doubts continued to increase; for he now began in earnest the study of the Bible and of his own heart... Connexion With Mr King
The dispensations of Providence often seem afflictive when they happen, and most kind and benevolent afterwards, when their design is perceived. So it was in the case of Asaad. Being thus cast out upon the world, by those who ought to have befriende... Conversation Of Phares With The Bishop Of Beyroot
After Galeb had gone, we put a great many questions to Phares, and he communicated some interesting particulars. Among others was the following: "The day that Asaad and myself left you, (the 17th,) the bishop of Beyroot was at the next house, and... Correspondence With His Family
8. A messenger called this morning with the following note. "To our brother Asaad Esh Shidiak: May God bless you.--We beg you to come home to-night, and not wait till Sunday. We have pledged our mother that you shall come. If you fail to do so, yo... Croly On The Inquisition
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TRADITIONS.] The church of Rome having deprived the laity of the Bible, substitutes in its stead apostolic and ecclesiastical traditions; and obliges her disciples to admit for truth whatever she teaches them: but what do the holy scriptures say? "W... Escapes And Returns To Beyroot
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The following seven were arraigned for heresy: Joan Bainbridge, of Staplehurst; W. Appleby, Petronella his wife, and the wife of John Manning, of Maidstone; B. Allin, and his wife Catherine, of Freytenden; and Elizabeth ----, a blind maiden. Allin w... Fall Of Danton Robespierre Marat And Other Jacobins
These monsters fell victims by the same means they had used for the destruction of others. Marat was poignarded in 1793, by Charlotte Corday, a young female, who had cherished in a feeling between lunacy and heroism, the ambition of ridding the worl... Farther Account Of The Proceedings Of The Catholics At Nismes
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These five worthies, denying the real presence in the eucharist, were brought before Dr. Thornton, bishop of Dover, and condemned as heretics. They suffered in one fire, Sept. 6, 1555, at Canterbury, enduring all things for their faith in Christ Jes... General Persecutions In Germany
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19. Phares brought us a letter, which had just been received by the family at Hadet, from the patriarch, wishing them to come immediately to Cannobeen. Tannoos and his mother have gone, and intend, if possible, to bring Asaad away, either to Kesroan... His Relatives Deliver Him Up To The Patriarch
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The history of the church may almost be said to be a history of the trials and sufferings of its members, as experienced at the hands of wicked men. At one time, persecution, as waged against the friends of Christ, was confined to those without;... Holland Even Now I Told You That Your Authority Was From God And By
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To the credit of England, the reports of these cruel persecutions carried on against our protestant brethren in France, produced such a sensation on the part of the government as determined them to interfere; and now the persecutors of the protestan... Interview With A Younger Brother
Asaad's brother Galed came again to-day, and discovered more feeling than yesterday on the subject of his brother's leaving the English. He said he had brought an insupportable shame upon the family. Asaad insisted, that such shame was no argument w... Interview With Several Of His Relatives
6. Among those who came to see Asaad to-day, were three of his brothers and an uncle. Mansoor, the oldest of the brothers, we had never before seen. He is a furious bigot, and perfectly ignorant and regardless of the first principles of religion. Th... Is Forcibly Detained
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This letter had been gone scarcely time sufficient to reach Hadet, when the mother herself was announced at the door. We welcomed her with all cordiality, and treated her with all the respect and attention we could. But all we could do or say did no... Jerom Of Prague
This reformer, who was the companion of Dr. Huss, and may be said to be a co-martyr with him, was born at Prague, and educated in that university, where he particularly distinguished himself for his great abilities and learning. He likewise visited ... Joan Waste
This poor honest woman, blind from her birth, and unmarried, aged 22, was of the parish of Allhallows, Derby. Her father was a barber, and also made ropes for a living: in which she assisted him, and also learned to knit several articles of apparel.... John Calvin
This reformer was born at Noyon in Picardy, July 10, 1409. He was instructed in grammar learning at Paris under Maturinus Corderius, and studied philosophy in the college of Montaign under a Spanish professor. His father, who discovered many marks o... John Denley Gent John Newman And Patrick Packingham
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John Huss was born at Hussenitz, a village in Bohemia, about the year 1380. His parents gave him the best education their circumstances would admit; and having acquired a tolerable knowledge of the classics at a private school, he was removed to the... John Lomas Agnes Snoth Anne Wright Joan Sole And Joan Catmer
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This celebrated reformer, denominated the Morning Star of the Reformation, was born about the year 1324, in the reign of Edward II. Of his extraction we have no certain account. His parents designing him for the church, sent him to Queen's College, ... Letter From Asaad To Mr Bird
"Dear Sir,--After expressing imperfectly the love I bear you, and the desire I have to see you in all health, I have to say, that in due time your letter came to hand, and I read and understood it. You ask respecting our health.... Letters From Louvois To Marillac
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We pass over many other individual martyrdoms to insert that of John Calas, which took place so lately as 1761, and is an indubitable proof of the bigotry of popery, and shows that neither experience nor improvement can root out the inveterate preju... Martyrdom Of Tomkins Pygot Knight Lawrence Hunter And Higbed
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This martyr was the son of a knight, born in Hampshire, and brought up at New College, Oxford, where he several years studied the civil law, and became eminent in the Hebrew tongue. He was a scholar and a gentleman, zealous in religion, fearless in ... Mr John Webb George Roper And Gregory Parker
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