The Litchfield County post. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1826-1829, 1828-10-09

sooner did the good woman receive the
loaf of bread than she ran 60 Jonathan Ia
tell him how that God had answered their
prayer. snow, said Junalhn "a, before any
thing else be done, kneel down at the bed
side, and return thanks to God for having
heard our prayer She did so: they prai-
sed his name together; and then ate their
food with gladness, and sing leness of heart.
| Not many hours elapsed before another
kind interposition of providence presented
itself. A second visitor brought joint of
meat. When this was told Jonathan he
replied to his wife, AYE! see God is ev-
en- better than his word He promised
bread, and he sends flesh in addition.-
| Kneel down and thank him again."
Reader, this is an unvarnished account.
There is no coloring in it. The writer
might have employed his pen to set it off +;
but truth wants no coloring. 1t is best seen
in its own light. Three lessons would he
wish to teach thee, whoever thou art from
this simple narrative-First, that thy srle
dependence S upon God; and from that
consideration, learn to fear, honor, and
serve him. Sorrow and suffering are the
portion of all. There is no friend on whom
thou canst rely with implicit confidence
but God. Remember, now, therefore, thy
Creator; thereby good shall come unto
thee.
Learn, secondly, the importance and the
worth of prayer. We are taught in Scrip
ture to ascribe an almost unlimited effica-
cy to prayer We are encouraged in its
exercise by many promises of acceptance
and success. There is no religion without
prayer any more than there is life without
breathing.
Learn, thirdly, the duty of thanksgiving
to God for mercies received. 'Were there
not ten cleansed 2 said Jesus Christi
where are the nine? 2 Only one of TEN
lepers was thankful to him for curing their
leprosy. Reader, be not an unthanktul
person. In every condition the Christian
considers himself debtor to the Almighty
and therefore buries not the loving kind
nesses of the Lord, either past or present,
in the grave of bad memory, as though
the oldness Of the date of any of them can
celled his obligations; but every renewed
mercy he regards as new indenture.-
Bless the Lord, oh my SOUL he says, and
forget not all his Benefits Perhaps it
S not the least pleasing circumstance of
Jonathan's conduct on the above occasion,
that he would thank the Giver before
he would partake of the gift.
I will add one anecdote more of
pious Jonathan. He had relative in good
circumstances, few miles distant whom he
occasionally visited. He embraced an OPP
portunity of paying visit to that person
the same day on which he attended re-
Iigious meeting, observed by the denomin-
ations of Christians to which he belonged,
once quarter. 1t happened that party
of friends dined with his relative that day,
who were sufficiently forward to taunt JON
sthan with his religion and religious pro-
fession. Before he left the table wine and
ardent spirits were brought, and Jonathan
was urged, and urged again to partake.-
They had their design in this, which jena
than perceived. When pressed, he said,
well, for once will drink like beast
He then took what he deemed sufficient,
and prepared to withdraw. How So said
one, did you not say you would drink like
a beast! Methodists, I see, will not swear;
but they will lie.' Il am not chargeable
with that, said Jonathan; pray how does
beast drink ? just as much as nature re-
quires and no more. have done so. Be-
ware you don't make yourselves worse than
a beast. Jonathan left them to reflect up
on this admonition. Reader, do not des-
pise good men, though they be poor and
learn not to look upon wine when it is red
"Who hath woe Who hath sorrow ? Who
hath contention? They who tarry long at
the wine.
LEAVES OF A MINISTER'S JOURNAL.