The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-11-22

OF mercy. Ana now know not how 10 pen what
followed, proposed to him that we should unite
In religious exercises. He eagerly assented. [And
here he apooglsed that he had not asked me on
Mo- Monday aIy to pray with him said in reply haI
stranger to HIM. did not know how far might
venture upon first interview; that had deeply re.
preached myself for the omission as soon as lefi
his cell on Monday" This explanation | gave the
inquest on my examination
| then said 10 him, "before we pray | feel il my
duty as minister of God. and servant of his
Church, to address to you words of mon,tion some
OF which perhaps you may think severe, but Icon
ceiye them suited TO your situation, and hope that
| God will accompany them with his blessln
lie rose from the foot of his bed, and ak ing
folded blanket from under his pillow, laid ii the
floor by my chair, knelt upon it, and buried g zee
In the coverhd. commenced reading the exLor ta-
ton to Criminal under sentence OF DEATH" and
when reached the second sentence: You
shortly 10 suffer death in such that others,
warned by your example, may be more afraid to Of
| tend and We pray God that you may make such
use OF your punishment in this world that your soul
| may be saved in the world to come"-[I would ask
| It as favor OF the reader to refer, when he comes
to this TO the " Exhortation' in the Office for the
Visitation OF Prisoners" in the Prayer Book Ibis
sooblngs were audible and continued From the ex-
hortation, proceeded at once to pray with him as
"a maleiactor after condemnation. He wept bit
| ery; repeated after me The petitions and express
sons, and at the conclusion said more than once,
Amen" When rose from my kneeshe remain
ed IN the same position, with his face hidden, Tor
east two minutes, murmurlng, 1t seemed to me,
broken applications | offered to leave him my
Prayer Book. and opened it at the Office for the
Visitation of Prisoners He gladly accepted it, say
ing " that he was not acquainted with such pray
ers." offered him also prayer which had writ
ten out for him before lef! home, and several
when Iremnded him Of Ps. SO. Is, and impiored
hun to proht by Its advice there in his solitary cell
Gall upon God in the day of trouble"-he wrung
my hand aud begged me not to think him SO great
wretch as some did, or something to that effect.
told him came not to Judge him; was but
| sinner endeavoring to minister to wretched fell
low sinner, and prayed to God to bless the work
| to his souls salvation" We parted.
1912. Noc. l6-- archaeological half past 10 o.
clock this morning went to the prison; and on en-
tering was informed by one of the door-keepers that
two ministers of another denomination were desir-
Gus OF an interview with Colt. He asked If | had
seen either OF them, and seemed to wish my opinion
as to the propriety of their admission to the CELL
said in reply that had not either of the gentle
men--thai came at Mr.. Colts request and that it
was t.r him to decide. thought, whether others
| should be admitted While officer went to APP
prize hum that was there another individual asked
| II had any apprehensions as to his committing sui
| eide. observed that such an apprehension had not
crossed my mind since had seen him, and that such
result, in my judgment, in the prisoners present
frame, was not to be expected. then passed into
| the cell. Mr. Colt extended to me his hand, and
saying to him +" God be with YOU, sir,' ! apollo
| gized for being somewhat behind the hour appoint
ed he replied that such apology was unnecessary,
and as soon as seated myself, took letter from
i
| named James.
| replied not personally, but by reputation-that
| believed he belonged to the Presbyterian denom.
nation and was ofhishly respectable character and
standing. He said that he only wished TO know in
asmnch as Mr.. James had written to him very
| KIND letter | took occasion 10 mention to him,
what understood was the desire OF other clerical
gentlemen to visit him, and that it was of
matter which he must decide. He said that he
would rather decline the offer, for the reasons
which he had before assigned, and objected to
L I,x,,,l,, IL.
and afterwards distorting them through the press
or the pulpit, and examining hum on doclrlnal
points"
| "Now doctrinal points, understood him to
say, " have nothing to do with my case" Such a
declaration startled me, and / imme diaely said,
the first principles and doctrines Of Christ certain.
| ly bear your case ! There cardinal, vital
doctrines, the glory and life of the Gospel, which,
from what has passed between us l have been led
to entertain the hope. would prove in this hour your
stay. You must have found them summed in
| the visitation Office taking up as spoke the
prayer book, which had left with him, and repeat
ing did so the Apostles creed" here" said :,
pointing to the creed in the morning service; here
| is summary of the essential doctrines of Chris
tiany, held TO by other Christian denominations
well as by the church of which | am minister.
humble and living faith in these we hold to be es-
| sentlal TO salvation" ,;.-sl
| He said very promptly" Oh, believe all these
| believe in Christ, and don't see how any man
| can do otherwise" He then proceeded to say to
this effect: that the "doctrinal points to which he
Il
sin OF our first parents and predestinatlon. He pro-
fessed his belief that our first parents having fallen
| from God and corrupted themselves, all who de-
scended from them must be corrupt-bu his disbe.
lief that our first parents sin was our personal SIM
Nor could he subscribe to the views entertained on
the subject of predestination and reprobatlon, as
held In the denomination in which he had been edu-
i Gated. Man accountable tor yielding to his
corrupt propenstles-for giving way to temptation
but that the Son OF God had died for original and
actual transgression and that His atonement would
avail the sinner who had faith, and applied 10 his
| heart and conscience:
| The general tenor Of his remarks at this point in
terested me much. l can only attempt an outline
| He held that man was born with religious in
stincts." He dwelt upon the of the savage be-
lieving in the Great Spirit, and compared with him
an individual living under the Gospel The errors
/ and mistakes Of man IN religion proved him reli-
gious being. | could coincide with much that he
said on this latter TOPIC, and when referred in
roboration of his remarks to the heather system Of
religion, their sacrifices, &c, recoect his obser-
vat,on. " Yes, seeking for something net revealed
to them, but to us-an atonement for sln' Mr.. Colt
asked me several direct questions as to human re
sponsbility, and expressed it TO be his full convc
ton that God would deal hereafter with every one
according to his privileges, means, and opporunl-
ties that he was just God, and would do right
Among other questions he said to me In words to
| this effect:-" Why, now, take the case Of poor
aborer, with family OF children growing up 10
want and without the means OF instruction, and
compare it with your situation, sir, and your chill
dren, and don't you suppose that God will make al
owances for which he will not for the other !'
After some further conversation on these topics,
turned il 10 Il roint which was aware the
| munity felt, as did myself, deep interest, and
where they had right for information if it could be
obtained.
The Episcopal Church, in the office for the vi
station of Prisoners" requires her minister's after
an examination of the individual concerning his
faith and repentance, TO cxhort him parti cular
confession OF the sin for which he is condemned.
I called Mr.. Colts attention to the rubrlc on this
subject, and found that he was aware OF Its require
ments. Reminding him then of the circumstances
under which we had first met, and the character
and results of interviews, appealed to him in