' He must love his
enemies because they were precious, as he himself had been, in all their
sin and rebellion, to their Father in heaven. Not only did God send rain
and sunshine upon the evil and unjust, but He had so loved them as to
give His only begotten Son to die for them; and if they perished, so far
it made the cross of Christ of none effect. Henceforth the bitterness of
revenge died out of his heart; and whenever he bent his knees in prayer,
he offered up the dying petition of his namesake, the martyr Stephen, in
behalf of all his enemies, but especially of his master: 'Lord, lay not
this sin to their charge.'
CHAPTER XVII.
A NEW CALLING.
Stephen's recovery went on so slowly, that the doctor who attended him
said it would not be fit for him to resume his underground labour for
some months to come, if he were ever able to do so; and advised him to
seek some out-door employment. His old comrades began to find the weekly
subscription to make up his wages rather a tax upon their own earnings;
and Stephen himself was unwilling to be a burden upon them any longer.
As soon, therefore, as he was strong enough to bear the journey, he
resolved to cross the hills again to Danesford, to see when Mr.
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