After six days of additional confinement, the friendly priest again procured his release from his prison, and obtained the favour of taking the entire oversight of him. In this condition the persecuted man remains. May the Most High grant him speedy deliverance.
Feb. 15th, 1827.
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The latest accounts from Palestine state that Asaad is still in confinement, but remains firm to the principles he has embraced. In a letter from Mr. Goodell, dated April, 1830, we find the following sentence.--"_Asaad Shidiak is still alive, and there is every reason to believe that he loves and obeys the truth, that he is sanctified by it, rooted and grounded in it, and ready to suffer for it._" We take our leave of this interesting narrative, commending the suffering subject of it to God, and the word of his grace, accounting him more blessed if he perseveres steadfast unto the end, than if his brows were endowed with an imperial diadem.
[E] The Papists receive these books as of equal divine authority with the books of the Old Testament.--ED.
[F] This he actually proposed, but the patriarch would not listen to the proposal a moment.
[G] "He causeth all--to receive a mark," &c. "and no man might buy or sell save he that had the mark or the name of the beast." The patriarch was also clothed in scarlet, like the woman on the scarlet coloured beast.
[H] See Rev. xiii. 13
[I] When he first came to Beyroot, this same sentence was dictated to him, and it appeared in his eyes so much like blasphemy, that he refused to write it.
[J] We afterwards ascertained, that he was decoyed off to a distance, as if for walk, and when he would have returned, was prevented by force.
[K] This letter was a mere tissue of testimonies, brought from the fathers, and from the scriptures, condemning the worship of images.