Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1842-03-04

walk there, and thought was suggested to
nc, to ask for milk, which did, and drank
lbout pint, and was going away, When the
landlord called mo by name, aud said, "Fake
little bitters. you look like dc ,tl,-are you
sick = eyes, am SICK" said ]. "Wcll,"
said he, take ii little billcrs-it will make
you feel better" But | refused, and how !
hardly know, for the temptations were such
and my feelings such, that could hardly re-
sist, for believed it would make me feel
better and my agony Of body and soul TO.
grtler was about to overpowcr me. was
about to tell tho landlord my vows, but then
I was afraid that should break them, and
my hell would be worse. SO away went.
In the afternoon Of this day had such feel
ings as 1 cannot describe. God had begun
to shine in my heart, aud show my wrctchcd-
ness more than had at any time seen be-
fore.
Isaw the Justice of G cd in my damnation.
stood on the very verge of hell. NV poor
distressed soul began to prepare to leave the
clay tenement. Several times I was gone
but all alone came to myself agaln-nnd
what was it to sec and feel o how my poor
fallen spiri, sought FOR refuge from the wrath
Of Col. David says he was in hell but if
ever poor fallen being was allowed to feel
the pains of the damned, Twas. Something
seemed TO whisper, "Pray;" but that locked
like mDckery, and made me more miserable;
for il looked to me that God could not be
ust and pardon such wretch as was.-
Now, dear reader, you may think you have
IA frigtful picture but 1 tell you there is as
much difference between the picture drawn
and the feelings the had as there is be-
tween IA shadow aud the substance. But
finally the Spirit God pleaded with me to
pr ~ so often, and SO powerfully, that re-
solved to begin. I commenceh, and my
prayer was, 20 God, have mercy on me,
the worst of sinners. Save my poor soul from
the damnation of hel."-I prayed aloud
aud when had got to the house where I
stopped, 1 fell down on my knees in the mid
die of The floor, and prayed wi,is all my
strength.
The people tried to stop me. and said /
was crazy. 1 told them | was not, but
! stood on the very borders of hell, anl my
poor ,u before the next morning would be
sI'ricking in torment. tried to get them to
pray for me, bnt none of them had ever
prayed in their lives. They became alarm
! ell, and were abnu, to send for DOCTOR
Some of the neishbors' children were sent /;
one ran one way and another another; but I,
like the bin man by the wayslle, cried the
louder for mercy. lspent the night, the most
ofmv time on my knees, praying for pardon;
but just before day, by much persuasion, |
went to bed, fell asleep, and slept until af-
ter sunrise.
they asked me how felt. told them
felt wretched beyond description. This day
while praying for the first time, Ifrlt tender
ness of heart, and wep, aloud. They again
came around me, saying, "You are crazy"
but knew better. l had little more con-
fiIcnce to pray, and spent the most ofthe day
in praying and reading the Bible. slep,
more at night than had for five nights be-
fore. continued to seek for four days and
nights with all my heart. Icame very near
making way with myself
Ono day Tmrt pro cssor of religion, and
instead OF comforting or encouraging me, ht
almost drove me to despair. lie told me h
believed God nd eivru me up, and that my
doom was fixed but do no, blame him, Il.
I had so often ana so greatly slnned ag,ins
hin; and have no doubt that he WAS SINGER,
| III what llC SdNl. WV oWu ucdI III
; flesh gave me up Tor lost ; yes, my mayin!
brothers and sisters have since told me tha
they felt as though they gricvcd the Spiri
when they tried to pray for me. Bat blrs
,ed be God, Jesus Christ had not given M
M; my dear mother had not given me up
u She had made vow to God never to Civ
= me up nor give over pleading with God III
d he had blessed me. Christ heard and an
/; swcred those prayers, and sent the holy Com
h urtcr to my poor disconsOlhtc soul. Just II
o the natural sun was setting the Sun of right
eousncss arose in my heart, on the ninth da
It after lorsook rum, and the fourth day al
v ter / dared to try and hope in the mercies q
e God. 1t is now better than eleven year
II since, and blessed he God | am still on tn
t way to the kingdom Of heaven. My bus
d ness called me among the world and | wa
J. every day in the week with those that trI'
It fIr some time to trap me andI .et me to drin
d but God gave me grace and was not Over
~ come bur those that tried TO enlrap me 500
" got sly and Shunnrd me for fear of heiug RI
/" proved for as soon AS they began to try I
y ret me to drink, and tell me of our old trlrn
Il ship, and say "a little cannot hurt yon, an
70 snail think yon are offended at me if Va
II do not drink with me-" would say,"I kno
= well what our old friendship was, and wi
II our master was, and he had like to have O
r, me shut up in hell. Bat blessed be God |
"A hath lnl ned me to break the snare and $
IN my sud AT liberty, and his service is so ma,
+ the best that will serve him for the ST.
y vice u! q ID gives me peace of soul and max
p, me happy in prospect Ola betrcr wnrd."-
= Then would try to entreat them to fee fro
al the wrath 10 come, and fors Ike their cups
+ Some Of them turned to God and are no
ne in the happy road hut others are on the
H. way down to the gulf of mis- 'ry, and s,n
" have died drunkards and God hath iulg
Nv them; So iorbear saying more of them
M Bat those was afraid would lead me astr;
ne I'D from me, for they could not wilhsta
t. love, and always addressed them IN III
~ manner.
o the boundless love Of God to poor fall
ce man Who can falhom il 7 who can mel
'se IRE il or who can tell it Z But, bless 1
ca Lord all my feel and enjoy it-yes, biz
ia the Lord the vicst of the vile may com