Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1837-09-27
THE DYING coTTAGER.-HAVE BEEN BORN
AGAIN!

The overseer Of a parish, on the borders
ofthe New Forest in Hampshire (EngIand,)
who had recently sustained severe afllIc-
ton in the illness and death ofan excellent
wife, was one morning wandering for walk
he knew not whittier, when he was reused
from his meditations by the sight Of a cottage
at great distance, where lived a poor woman
who had recently applied for parochlal re-
lief. She was the mother ofa large !am.
", and it was illness that had compelled her
to make the humblng supplication.
No sooner did he find himself near the
cottage, than he resolved TO inquire of the
afflicted inmate whether any thing could be
done to alleviate her euiferings. He found
her half Standing. half kneeling, at the wash
ing..ub; one foot being placed on the damp
floor, aud the knee Of the other leg resting
on chair, on the back of which she occa-
sionally leaned for support. The following
conversation then began:
"Goo1 morning, Mrs. West; how are you
to-day"
.Bsd enough, sure am. l wish | was
Dead"
81 see you are very bad: but remember
that it is an awful thing to die!'
30, for the matter ofthat, | don't know;
but am quite willing 10 60. whenever 1t
may please God 10 take mel"
"Remember that after death comes the
Judgment, and for that you are unprcpared." ."
81 think am quite as good as my neigh
bours."
$50 you may be, and yet have no hope
beyond the grave"
III am sure | never did any body any
harm in all my life."
"You think no.; but can prove that you
are mistaken. myself heard you swear
ing at YOUR Children, when you were al
picking potatoes in my field last fall and dc
YOU think tha, there is no harm in teaching
your children TO swear!'
81 own one ought not 10 do so; but then
the Almighty is very mercful, and Ton
bear too hard upon U.s."
":Al we can know of Gods mercy We
mus, learn from the Bible, and there we
read. thar the Lord will MOI hold him guilt.
less ina; taketh his name IN vain.' Now
therefore, it is quite certain that the founda
ton fyour hope is moi to be found in the
Bible.
"My cough is so bad | cant talk TO you. ,
"Well, though you cant talk 10 me, | mus
saw few words to you before 60. | think
Won are in a very awful state. You are or
the brink fthe grave,3. ye, you are carclcs:
about eternity. The hope which you have
mentioned, that all will be right because yol
have done no harm, is one which has de
ceived thousands, who never DISCOVERIES
their mistake until it was too late to rcctif!
it. Now, listen particularly for a minute
or two. We are all sinners in the sight o
God, and though some may be greater sin
pers than others, we all deserve to go Il
hell. But Jesus Christ came into the worl'
to save Sinners even the very chief; and SO
sWhosover believeth in him shall not perish
but have everlasting life.' Now, in orde
TO this, we must have new hearts. W.
must be born again. and then old thing
will pass away, and all things will bccom
new. Unless We are born again, we can
not enter into the kingdom Of God. Yo
will find it so, if you will read the third chap
ter ofthe gospel according to s.. JOHN
Promise me you will read it."
The poor woman here manifested so mucI
impatience that he rose to be gone. In pas
sinp to the door he said, "One object whic
had in calling this morning, was to inquir
whether can send you any thing that yo
would reGsh?"
"Thank you, sir, but all things are alk
ONE. Ican't relish any thing: but i won