The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1834-02-19


tions of life. When see a professed
minister of the gospel, one who with all
imaginable arrogance aspires to the
high functions of public teacher, and
who, in the discharge of the duties of
the sacred Office, propounds with self
sufficient confidence moral and religious
maxims for the belief and practice of
others, departing and violating himself
those tenets that he urged so piousiy.
feel as much bound to expose the vice
and Inconsistency in him, as the intem-
perance of the drunkard, or the open
profigacy Of the midnight robber and
assassin.
Not many weeks since, his Reoerencl
was called upon TO visit 4 young man,
who lay ia the agonies of doath. He had
seen the outgoings Of but eighteen sum-
mers, and was the only pride of an oged
and respectable widow. From his ear
hest youth he had always practiced the
precepts of virtue, and led life of ex-
emplary industry. lie was nctiye, nnd OF
more than common intelligence, and en-
Ijoyed the full confidence and affection
of an extensive acquaintance. But in
tho midst ofall these enjoymenls-when
the fairest prospects of futurity seemed
TO beckon him to hoppiness--death
pointed his iron chalice and marked him
for it's victim. lie fell prey to the ray
age Of a terrible disease. To render
the last moments OF the dying sufferer as
happy us possible, this Presbyterian MN
ister of whom am speaking, was sen,
for to administer the consoalions of the
gospel, and to reconcile, as far as he
could, the venerable mourner who wept
over the death bed Of an only child-her
dying boy. He oboyed the summons,
and upon entering the house Immediate
y commenced a conversation with some
of the by-stan1ers concerning the young
mans religion. Upon learning that he
was not aprofessor of religion, nor a
member of any church, he gave utter
ance to his feelings in the following Ian
guage, as was understood by all pres
ent: at is altogether too late to send
for a minister-a minister can do moth
ing for him at this late period. Oh
how little do we think of death. We all
knd,o that this young man CANNOT
GO TO HEAVEN!!"
A thunderbolt could not have river
the heart Of that ngod mourner more ef
foctunlly than this nccursed anathena
from the "mnn of God" Tradition
does not deyolope in her black cata
logue Of denominations n single crcum
stance more disgusting, or more dosUrv
ing of condemnation, than this iuhun a.
and impious outrage and insult 10 al
rules of decency and decorum, in ont
who ought to be as an example in com
munity. And what could have so soor
sxiinguished the last geam Of hope
and what could have rendered th.
friends of the dying more miserable 2
They had cherished tho fond hopo tina
the enjoyments Of Heaven were to be tn,
recompense of one so amiable and be
loved, and they sought to console tn,
bereaved mother by pointing through
the interesting mazes of trouble, to th
regions of tho blessed But alas vail
we're all their efforts. The "man o
God" came within that circle of mourn
ers-too late he said, and would no
pray. The young man had not beer
initiated into the mysteries of Presbyte
rianism-his deeds would not enti,l,
him to place in Heaven-and He'll
eternal Hell--among the fiery element.
of everlasting torments and woes unut
Iterable, was to be his Inheritance ,hro
out all etcrni,y!!
|
The young man died, but the awfu
doom pronounced by this minister o
damna,ion as his future destiny produce,
nm ipf1upnce upou tho rnothnr'. bo,r