Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1837-08-30
Fo. the Western Christian Advocate.

| utlptlIC UlIuiiSC VI ioSI $oif 80 w.
Leaving the Society in dch S3,7S5 81
Fo, the Western Christian Advocate.
ON CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE.
DEAR Brother In compliance with
your request, send you some account OF
my christian experience. At an early age
| | embraced the errors Of Unlversalism !;
from. that Ipassedto deism from that to
universal scepticistn. lntruth, it is difficult
for me 10 say what ISwas at one time. J
supposed that possibly there was hercat-
ter, and that it was Il state Of rctrlbu;on at
other times would think that there was no
future state ofexistence, no heaven, no he'll,
no devil, and was almost ready sometimes
to think that there was no God. know
no, how TO give you better Idea of what
! ! was, than to say that was crery thing
was nothing. All was uncertainty and
confusion. The truth is, that as it regards
the leading doctrines of the Bible, and the
arguments in favor Of its authenticity, and
in support of the christian religion, | was
most deplorably ignorant and with an aw.
fully wicked heart, l could no! be happy.
The thoughts ofdcath, and what might pos.
sibly follow, would always render me mis-.
cradle beyond description. twill, nodoub:
appear strange to you, when tell you, that
aticr having had q religious education | had
gone such lengths in w'ickcdacss by the
time was twenty-five years ofagc. Abou:
this time, for the want Of something else to
read, commenced reading Sin.so.i's Plea
! Cor Religion. In a very short time tha,
learned and gody man had my little scepi;.
cis,n picked al! to pieces. He addressed
the reader and said," Candid reader, if you
sec that you arc confutcd, give it up, and
acknowledge that you arc wrong. 1t Is
more manly than to persist in wrong
when YOU know that you are wrong" |
paused, read the sentence again, and said to
myself 81 am fairly conluted, and | will
give it up" expect to bless God through b
eternity that ever this good man wrote this
one short sentence. From this time had
no peace there appeared as ifthere was al
most constantly this voice in my car" You
acknowledge that there is realay IN rchg-
ion, uhy do you not try to Obtain ~ le;
Iwould not consent tc 6 i've up the vani'ies
ofthis life. Truly the heart ofnan is &C.
ceitful above all things, and desperately
wicked" In this state of mind | stepped
into a neighbor's house one Sabbath alter
noon, and as sal down, l took up bod.
dridoe's Rise and Progress Of Religion,
which was lying on the table, and opened
at his address 10 an awakened and delay.
ing sinner. / read the chapter, and was SO
affected that | had to leave the house. l
returned home under deep anxiety OF mind,
which it is difficult to describe; and that
evening (for the first tine) attempted to
pray. In about two weeks from this time,
as was crying for mercy, | had, | think, a
clear view ofmy entire helplessness. lsaw
myself Justly condemned by the righteous
law of hoy God, with no way to escape
its penalty. l had no power to believe,
TO seek, or ask Alright. | was undone
aal helpless. a: that tine the to-
lowing text OF Scripture was forclbIy lm'
pressed OF my mind :" Though your SINS
be as scarlet, they SHALL be white as snow;
though they be red like crimson, t.iey shall
be as WOOL" then had such view OF the
death and suferings of the Savior, and the
gospel plan of salvation, as had never be.
fore. had the whole plan appeared to te
adapted to my case with the most consurn.
mate wisdom. could realize that Jesus
had made an atonement for my sins. |
could now see plainly how God could be
, lust, and maintain tne homo: Of his throne,
! and vet extend pardon even to me. How
changed were my feelings towards the Su-
prcme Being Instead of regarding him
as my severe, iaflexible Judge, felt that
he was the most bencfcent Of all beings:
that he was my best Friend, and my most
iudu!sent Benefactor. This is what have
taken for religion. Aad ii is needless for
any person to tell ne, that ia older to be
happy, and enjoy this life, it is necessary to
be free from the restraints of religion; be.
cause know better from experience. The
restraints which religion imposes are ne
cessary for the enjoyment Of this lie.
there is beng in the world which IN myi
heart pity, it is the poor scept:c. 0 ;ho"
dark, how creary is his ROAD! No oelng
does he recognize capable of mands'ng the
great concerns O! the un: ers mo over
providence no lild end compete, .,