The Prohibition - Gospel Persecuted - Charge of Sorcery - Ofalia.
About the middle of January a swoop was made upon me by my enemies, in the shape of a peremptory prohibition from the political governor of Madrid to sell any more New Testaments.
This measure by no means took me by surprise, as I had for some time previously been expecting something of the kind, on account of the political sentiments of the ministers then in power.I forthwith paid a visit to Sir George Villiers, informing him of what had occurred.He promised to do all he could to cause the prohibition to be withdrawn.Unfortunately at this time he had not much influence, having opposed with all his might the entrance of the moderado ministry to power, and the nomination of Ofalia to the presidency of the cabinet.I, however, never lost confidence in the Almighty, in whose cause I was engaged.
Matters were going on very well before this check.The demand for Testaments was becoming considerable, so much so, that the clergy were alarmed, and this step was the consequence.But they had previously recourse to another, well worthy of them, they attempted to act upon my fears.One of the ruffians of Madrid, called Manolos, came up to me one night, in a dark street, and told me that unless I discontinued selling my "Jewish books," I should have a knife "NAILED IN MYHEART"; but I told him to go home, say his prayers, and tell his employers that I pitied them; whereupon he turned away with an oath.A few days after, I received an order to send two copies of the Testament to the office of the political governor, with which I complied, and in less than twenty-four hours an alguazil arrived at the shop with a notice prohibiting the further sale of the work.
One circumstance rejoiced me.Singular as it may appear, the authorities took no measures to cause my little despacho to be closed, and I received no prohibition respecting the sale of any work but the New Testament, and as the Gospel of Saint Luke, in Romany and Basque, would within a short time be ready for delivery, I hoped to carry on matters in a small way till better times should arrive.
I was advised to erase from the shop windows the words "Despacho of the British and Foreign Bible Society." This, however, I refused to do.Those words had tended very much to call attention, which was my grand object.Had I attempted to conduct things in an underhand manner, I should, at the time of which I am speaking, scarcely have sold thirty copies in Madrid, instead of nearly three hundred.People who know me not, may be disposed to call me rash; but I am far from being so, as I never adopt a venturous course when any other is open to me.I am not, however, a person to be terrified by any danger, when I see that braving it is the only way to achieve an object.
The booksellers were unwilling to sell my work; I was compelled to establish a shop of my own.Every shop in Madrid has a name.What name could I give it but the true one? I was not ashamed of my cause or my colours.I hoisted them, and fought beneath them not without success.