Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-04-19


this world For twenty years past, have
advocated the belief that there never was
such being Inow wish to know the
truth about this matter. If there never
was such being as Jesus Christ, the BIZ
bic is not true, and if there was such a be-
ing, it istrue. If the question respecting
Jesus Christ is settled, that decides many
others, or every thing else in my mind"
Such was his own language. At this
disclosure. | was not little surprised, as
he appeared to be gentleman of rather
more than an ordinary mind. But his APP
parent sincerity seemed to require candid
answer.
In reply, stated that we lived in 1887,
that is, 1887 years after the birth of Christ,
according to the dates of all documents in
Christian countries. Infdels rs we'll as
Christians must admitthe fact ofSuch date
Now the question arises, how does this
come to pass, if there never was such a
person? How could the world be so de-
ccived and deIuded!
A pause was made for his reply, but he
was slIedt and absorbed in deep thought.
| then stated that was this morning read
! ing passage from Lucian, Greek wri
! ter of the second century, an enemy Of
! Christianity, who speaks of Christians,
and says their Master qras crUctted.-
! Perhaps COD turned my attention On that
account that | might speak of it to you,
although | knew nothing of your sick
hess or OF your sentiments.
lie WAS then referred to CELSIUS and
many other opposers Of Christianity, who
admitted that Jesus Chrest lived in Judea,
and was cruciEed there, but said he was
an impostor.
The testimony of InGdels who have
been converted to Christianity, was brot
forward and also the dying testimony of
some who have left the world in unuttela-
bic despair.
Finally, ] remarked that | knew not
how TO take the other side of the question
and to prove there never was such a being
as Jesus Christ.
After this, there was silence for several
minutes, when he seemed TO be engaged
in intense thought. Very soon he said,
do you know sir, of our bereavement
this morning Z" l replied that did not
i"Mv eldest son." said he, "died this
morning. and is a corpse in the room be-
low" Some conversation followed on
the cause and design Of afflction, when
he requested me to pray. After prayer,
he said that he desired to make declara-
ton. No one understood what he design
ed to do. The curiosity ofalI present be-
ing excited, they rose and approached his
bed, when, with the deepest solemnity
he expressed himself as follows:
81 wish to make declaration in the
presence Of my family and these witness
es. now declare before YOU all, that |
an convinced Of The error have advocat-
cd for twenty years past. l believe there
is such being as Jesus Christ. | be-
Iiev he is the Son of God. believe he
is the only name by which we can he
saved
Referring to the uncertainty ofIife, al
though he expected to recover lie added,
whether | shall survive my present
sickness or not: such wish you 10 un-
derstand is my full belief / repent of
my error. l wish yon, sir, addressing
the writer, to use this, my declaration, to
comfort and strengthen Christians as you
may judge best. ltthere is joy in heaven
over ore sinner that repentS, Christians
and sinners on earth will rejoice also. |
should have said Christians will rejoice
and not sinners. ! do repent. Such are
thesentiments | believe and mean to sup
port and defend while live"
He made this confession with such I'M
affected sincerity, so important in his own
view as this transaction, that he spoke
as a man who believed the eye Of God
was upon him. Every eye was Wet, and
his wife wept aloud. She said afterwards
that she wept for joy. Mr.. Baker had Of
ten said that his sentiments would be un-
shanged in death, and that he was not
afraid 10 die This had been the cause Of
her deepest grief, which at times she
feared would sink her in the grave. He
was so deliberate and so fixed in his
opinions, it seemed to her that he would
never be shaken.
Nothing, therefore, could have been
more unexpected to her, than his confess
ion and remuneration of his sentIments.-
He had never suffered religion to be in
troduced into his family Upto that very
morning, when his child died, no one had
been permitted by him, as the writer is
informed, to point his dying son to the
Lamb ofGod who taketh away the sin OF
the world.
Calling the next day, and inquiring
into the state Of his mind, he said he trust
ed in Jesus Christ for salvation, and ad-
de1, with deep emotion, Il am thankful
to God, that am alive TO offer my body a
living sacrifice TO Jesus Christ"
The difficulty ofbreathing with which
he was afflicted, made every effort TO con
H.-l