Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1839-07-26
ABRIDGED from the Now York Observer.
LETTER FROM FRANCE.
MosrAusAN Crarn.and. .Garonne,) ]
IL March, 1889.

LETTER FROM FRANCE.
MoSrAusAN Craru.aud. .Garonne,)
IL March, 1889.
rovvEns1oN OF AN AGED GERMAN PHYSICIAN.
Tie Archieues Of Christianity. religious
iourua! of Paris, lately published letter
written from Germany, containing an in
terestiug account Of the conversion OF a
physician. This narrative deserves place
in our correspondence; shall confne my
selfto abridging it in some places, and ad~
ding some reflections.
Erdmann (such is the name OF the phys'
cian) lately inhabited small city IN the
por,h of Germany. He was man OF ex~
tsnsiye altainments in science, great skill IN
his profession, his benevolence to the sick
and poor was highly commeneable. But
he was an iu6del. The happiness OF be.
lieviua in Jesus Christ cruci6ed, the peace
of the gospel, the riches which avail more
than ali The treasures of earth, the Joy which
surpasses all joys, were unknown to the old
mans heart.
He viewed religion as proper enough for
The ignorant populace, a good means OF
government, but Of no use for enlightened
men. His two great principles were lst.
10 liye and let hus I'd. to do right and
fear nobody. In these few words was sum:
med up his whole system Of theoretical and
practical morality.
By degrees, the infrmities Of old age
came UPON him. He could hardly 60
.h,oad he was aloue, alone with his con.
science he had neither wife nor children.
Ia this lonely condition, he vented his bad
humor on his coachman, and his aged te.
male domestic. As he could not sleep, he
passed almost all his nights in ringing for
his servants and scolding them.
At this tine, Erdmann received the visit
of an aged pastor with whom he had STU
died at The university the pastor was ra:
tionalist, and denied all the vital doctrines OF
Christianity. Erdmann, who felt some IN.
easiness Of conscience, in spite Of his efforts
to stiHe its voice, asked him with serious
air Do you think it possible to prove salts
faetorily that the soul of man is immortal ?
This question led to conversation, The re.
suit of which was that the philosophical
proofs of the Immortality Of the soul are not
conehss oe.
But the Lord had designs of mercy for
Erdmann. He led to the city in which the
physician resided, young pastor, full of
faith, piety and charity.
Occasion soon offered Of forming &C.
quain,ance with the young pastor. But
the subjects Of conversation were unsuita.
bic. The faithful servant of God wished
to speak plainly Of death and the judgment
to q man who was so near the grave; but
whenever he attempted to turn the conver-
sation to these serious topics, he met with
strong opposition from the physician, who
used the authority Of age to change the sub.
ject. The pastor felt grieved, and resolved
10 tell the old man frankly what he desired
10 converse upon. The latter, without posi-
,ively refusing. constantly deferred to anotf.
er time these important questions; he said
like Felix: A more Convenient season !
At last, the pastor tired Of loosing his time,
said to him mildly, but seriously: Dear sir,
lam very grateful for the kindness with
which you have received me, stranger as
I am in this city, and would gladly prove
the sincerity of my gratitude but the du.
ties Of my ministry make my' time so pre-.
cious, that can spend no more OF it in idle
conversation. II you desire sincerely to
converse with me Of your soul and your
salvation, let me know it, and l will be at
your service Instantly. The physician
looked moment at the young man with an
air Of surprise and uneasiness; then, re.
covering from this emotion, he reached his
hand 70 him saying: Well! when l call
YOU. please to come and see me.
Three days after, the pasor saw the
ohysiciap's coachman come 10 his door for
him. He went in Immediately and found
Ert.oaan 10 bed, though heretofore the old
man had avoided lying down in order to
conceal the progress Oft bis sickness. After
the first saluta,ions, the sick man himself
proposed the question which had often
troubled him, and which gave rise TO the
following conversation
DO you really believe, sir, inquired
the physician, that the soul is immortal Z
DOUBTLESS, doctor, and this is little to
believe believe also, that you and ! will
be, after our death, eternaly happy or eler.
nally miserable.
Prove il to me.
ask for proofs. and you do not expect
me, suppose, to believe on the mere word
Of young man like you.
Surely, not. And since you want tes.
timony, we will listen to the words Of Be.
ing who is older than you aud me by eigh.
teea hundred years, nay, who his existed
from eternity. You have Bible :
The physician thought moment: Yes,
said he, have one.
Then, calling his old house-keeper, no bid
her search for a Bible In q book.c case filled