Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1825-08-20
BY the PERSUASIVE TO PUBIC WORSHIP,

by fNo PERSUASIVE TO fUBLlO Worship
read to them on Saturday evening, and
who were found The next day with the as
sembly of Gods people; and in one
month after, were indulsing hope OF
pardon and salvation through the merits
OF the crucifed Saviour; OF mother who
had been exceedingly deprayed, even SO
much SO as openly to blaspheme the
name OF her Maker, presented by her
minister, who feared he should thus Of
fend her, with the Tract, EVERY MAN
THE FRIEND OR THE ENEMY OF CHRIST /;
an J, though detained from the house OF
God by the lille children about her, and
surrounded only by irrelisious compa-
mans, to whom she dared not speak on
The subJec. of religion, after many weeks
of distress, for her sins, visited the MI
mister and his pious wife, and told them,
that she had read the Tract given her,
and believed he had selected it because
he thought her the enemy OF God; "
tina, her sins had appeared great 10 her
beyond description none but God had
known ths anguish of her heart, but now
she could :" rejoice in the Lord, and JOY
in The God of her salvation" She has
since united with The church, and does
what she can TO support anc animate her
minister in his labors of love. They
could tell you of a revival Of religion in
q place destitute OF preaching, greatly
promoted by means of Tracts furnished
by one of your Anxliaries ;--of mini
ster, who, when he first visited the pa
IRISH where he is now settled, found the
people had been seven years destitute OF
a pastor, obtained from the benevolent a
quantity of Tracts. and went from house
to house distributing them, conversing
on their contents, exchanging those read
for others, and who found the Holy Spi
rit meeting them by his precious influ-
cnces, and soon admitted twentysix per-
sons to the table of the Lord. +" For
this blessing" he says, 81 can state my
fullest conviction, that it was your Tracts
which prepared the way" They could
tell a pious female in country PARISH,
who began to loan Tracts to the children
around her, and in less than three months
could say" raust write word, to IN
terest your feelings, and engage your
prayers for the large group OF little
Tract readers in our neighborhood.
Since last wrote, as many as seven or
tight, we hope, have begun 10 sing Ho-
sauna to the Son OF David, and nearly
thirty present themselves at the ANXIOUS
meetings which have lately been esta-
blishcd, and appear deeply concerned
for the salvation OF their souls" They
could tell Of the SwEARER's PRAYER, gil
ven to the little daughter of a father, VINO
was profane, wicked man, laughed at
the child for being pleased with SO mean
present, and again INDUCED himself to
a shocking degree in Disappearing his
Maker; but who at length took up the
Tract, began TO read it, and was affected
almost to loud weeping, wondered he
was out Of hell-and now ne and his wife
are rejoicing in hope Of mercy through
the Redeemer. They could tell of the
Tract entitled, THE BARREN FIG TREE,
given to a little boy whose father vas
fifty years old, and surrounded with a
large family, all living in neglect of re-
ligion; and nc sooner had the father be-
gan to read it. than he thought it was
written on purpose for him, and that the
Lord had sent it to condemn him for his
-" barren" irreligious life. His sins rose
up before him. He felt himself to be
lost, and found peace only in flying TO
Christ by repentance and faith. And
with him three OF his children became
alarmed in view Of their sins, and had no
,est, till, as is hoped, they rested on the
Rock of Ages. The Committee could
tell more-all communicated to them
the past year--all we'll authenticated
all, till recently, unknown, except to
God, aid the individuals thus blessed, or
few around them who were Witnesses
of his wonderful works. Doubtless other
signal instances of the divine blessing on
your Tracts, have been witnessed by the
friends of Christ, which have not been
made known to the Committee; and
doubtless a still more greater amount of
good which they have silently accom-
plished, will appear only in that day
when the secret thing Of God shall be
revealed. To him be all the praise.
Wnhou, his Spirit the Religious Tract
is distributed and read IN vain, and in
vain are our endeavors.
The Committee could add other most
cheering motives to urge onward our
work, by presenting before you the
thanks, and the expressions Of mingled
gratitude and Joy, which they have re-
ceived in return for Tracts sent to desti-