During the reign of Frederick William III of Prussia, a count who plotted against the king’s life was imprisoned in the fortress of Glatz. He was a very irreligious man, but, since the Bible was the only literature available in the dungeon, he began to read it.

The message of the Book touched his heart, and one night while there was a violent storm without, another severe tempest raged within the prisoner’s breast. For the first time in his life the love of Christ appealed to the count; he repented of his sinful life, and turned to the Lord with tears of genuine repentance. Arising from his cot to open the Bible, his eyes fell upon the words: “Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.” Psalm 50:15. Kneeling down in his cell in that storm-beaten prison, he called upon the compassionate Saviour, and his troubled soul found peace and deliverance.

That same night in the royal palace at Berlin the king was suffering severe physical pain; and at length in his extremity he pleaded with God to grant him one hour of refreshing sleep. On awakening, he said to his wife: “God has looked upon me very graciously, and I am thankful to Him. Who in my kingdom has wronged me most? I will forgive him.”

“The count who is imprisoned at Glatz,” replied Queen Louise.

“You are right,” said the sick monarch; “let him be pardoned.” And with the dawn of day a swift courier was dispatched to Silesia, bearing to the now penitent Christian count the king’s full pardon.-By Roy F. Cottrell, Signs of the Times, June 13, 1939.

Quote: “My son, if God has called you to be a missionary, your Father would be grieved to see you shrivel down into a king.”

By Spurgeon, Signs of the Times, February 25, 1936.Thanks to Dale E. Galusha Pacific Press Ministries dalgal@pacificpress.com