Set Free — Paris Reidhead

A Fortune-Maker Encounters the Slave Market

Years ago, an Englishman had gone out to California, made his fortune in the gold fields, and wanted to go back and live with his own people. So he sent his money by check back to England, and he came overland on the Santa Fe Trail to Kansas City and down to Missouri, and then the Mississippi and ended up in New Orleans where he was going to take ship to New York and from there to England.

And as a tourist in New Orleans, he did as most tourists do, he went down to the slave market, only then, in the early 1850s, there were still slaves being sold. And as he went into the market, he saw a lot of men gathered there, and one party was put on, a young Negress, very beautiful for her race, and he heard the men as they were speaking about her.

He saw two evil-looking men bidding for her quite heatedly, and then he heard them say what they would do with her, and his heart just revolted against the whole twine-ish thing. And finally, when they were bidding, and the biddings were getting, prices were getting very high and smaller, he just couldn't stand it.

And so he beckoned to the auctioneer, and he said, a figure which was exactly twice the last bid, utterly beyond anything that had ever been paid for a slave in that market before. He said, have you got the money?

And he came up and he said, yeah, he got the money. And so the bill of sale was made out, and he went over to the block to take the woman that he'd purchased. And as she came down one step and stood just about level with his eyes, she had made a mouth full of spittle, and she spat right full in his face, and hissed through her clenched teeth, I hate you.

Buying a Person to Set Her Free

He said nothing, with the back of his hand he wiped the spittle away, took her by the hand, walked down the street, across this intersection, through the mud, down that street, until he came to a little office building, cheek or three, didn't know what it was.

He went to the desk, began to speak, the man behind the desk began to protest, he said, I insist, it's the law, I insist, and finally he came back, paid some money, and got a paper. He walked over to the woman, there was like a beast ready to spring on him.

He handed the paper out and said, here, here, are your manumission payments. He still hissed, I hate you. He said, didn't you understand? I said, here are your manumission payments. He said, no, you paid twice as much for me as they've ever paid for anybody on that block, and you're giving me, I don't believe you.

He said, yes, these are your manumission papers, and he put them in her hand, and she said, stop, mister, do you mean to say that you bought me to set me free? That's what I thought. Tears came up into her eyes that hadn't been tears for a long time.

Gratitude for Sacrificial Love

They just spilled over. Her face softened, and then she slipped down on her hands and knees, and she reached down and put her hands around those rough miner's boots, and then laid her cheek down on the toe of one of them.

And through her tears, she sighed, oh, you bought me. You paid more than has ever been paid before, just you. And then through her tears, she looked up and said, oh, sir, all I want in life is for Jesus Christ to bought you.

Surrendering to Christ as Lord and Master

And when you understand that, then it's the joy of your life to come and stand against the door of grace and let him bore through the ear of your heart that you can be his loyal slave forever. Kiss his nail-pierced feet and take from his hand that great salvation that he purchased with his blood.

Freedom Through Christ’s Redemption

And remember, he bought you to set you free.