Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1842-11-04

which, though my friend had twice been
shlpwrecked, and was gfievously hurt
by The falling Of a spar, he pursued
without amendment a life of pronigacv
and contempt Of God. At the end Of
this period, he arrived 10 the port of
New York, after a tedious and DANGER
Gus voyage from England.
1t was on a Sabbath morning and the
streets were thronged with persons pro
ceedIng to the several houses Of wor-
ship, with which that city abounds-but
the narrator from whose lips take this
anecdote, was bent on for other occupa.
ton, designing 10 drown the recollection
OF PerlIs and deliverances in a ceIebra.
led tavern, which he had too long, and
TOO often lrequented.
AS he walked IeisureIy towards this
goal, he encountered a very dear. friend,
the quondam associate of many a
tbonghtless hour Salutalions over, the
Captain seized him by the arm, deciar-
ing that he should accompany him TO
the hotel will do so, replied The 9th
er, with great calmness, on condition
that you come with me first for a sin
gIo hour into this house, "a church) e.
thank God for his mercles 10 you on The
deep. The Captain was ashamed to re-
fuse, so the Two friends entered The tenn
Pile together. Already all the seats
were occupied, and a dense crowd filled
the aise; but by dlnr Of personal exer-
ton, they succeeded in reaching a posi-
ton right in front Of the pulpit, at about
five yards distance. The preacher, one
of the most popular Of the day rIvltted
the attention Of the entire congregation
including the captain himself, 10 whom
his features and voice, though he could
not assign any time or place OF previous
meeting, seemed not wholly unknown,
particularly when he spoke with aGlma
ton. At length the preachers eyes tell
upon the spot where the twO friends
stood. He suddenly paused-sDill gaz
ing upon The captain, as It to make him
sell sure that he labore6 undor no optl-
cal delusion, and after a silence Of more
than a minute, pronounced with a voice
that shook the building "Sdy your pray
erS in fair wedihef."
The audience were lost IN amaze
ment, nor was it until a considerable
Iinno ha1 olonsaJ tbot ,ho nranohnr ~.
covered sufficient self possession to re
count the incidenrwilh which the reader
is already acquainted, adding, with deep
emotion, that the words which his cap
tain uttered in the storm had cIuug TO
HIM by day and night alter MS Landing.
as if an angel had been charged with The
duty of repeating them in his ears-that
he felt The holy call as coming directly
from above TO do the work Of his cruel
fed mdster-that he had studied OF COT
Icga for the ministry, and was now,
through grace, such as they saw aud
heard.
AT the close Of this affecting address,
he called on the audience to JOIN in pray
er with himself, that the same words
might be blessed in turn to him who
had first used them. But God had out.
run their p~elitIOns-my friend was al
ready his Chi d before his former ship
mate had ceased to tell his story. The
power Of the Spirit had wrought etfecln
ally upon MIN and subdued every lofty
Imagination, And SO when the people
dispersed, he exchanged the hotel for
the house Of the preacher, with whom
no tarried six weeks and parted with him
to pursue his profession, with q heart
devoted 10 the service Of his Saviour,
and with holy aud happy assurances,
which las he declared to me, and | COO
fdenlIy rely in his trulh,) advancing
years haIIOwed, strengthened, and sane
tilted.
From that companion Of q night,
then parted not to meet a
gain I'll we stand before the judgmen nj
seat Of Christ. HIS history is too papa.
bly, Instructive to require that | should
add my own reflections And with one
only | Conclude - addressing those per.
sons who seek God merely in the hoars
of danger and tsouble-in The words Of
the captain, "Sdy your prayers IN Jar
WCather."
J. S. X.