Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1844-12-26


entire family were living Christians, whose altar
fires, like that of holy Israel, never waned. was
informed that the ringing of a small bell would
give notice of The hours of family worship, and
that | could attend or not as best pleased me-
From respect to the order of the house, the sum-
mons of the little bell was always strictly attend
ed to- Observation soon convinced me that this
family had some source Of bliss to which was a
stranger. What was it Was il their religion
Perhaps ii was. Observing Paley's Evidences of
Christianity in the breakfast room one morning,
carried it to my room, supposing | should ascer-
tain from its perusal what religion was. In this.
however, was disappointed though its argument
satisfied me of its truth. An increasing anxiety
to know what religion was induced me to get
Bible to crafty my curiosity. To this hour be-
lieve was as ignorant of what Christianity was
as the darkest heather. Paley had convinced me
OF its truth system, but upon what it was
based, or what Its object, and of what its impor-
tance, entirely ignorant. ! had probably
never lead {, verse in the Old or New Testament
in my life. l commenced reading, and the com
mandment emphatically came home. saw what
religion was; that it was based upon the relations
which man sustains to his Maker, and his entire
universe; that all its commands and requirements,
being based upon these relations, were just and
right; and in the consequences of obedience and
disobedience saw, in some measure its great i'm
portance. | believe, too, had tolerably just con-
ceptons of mans lost condition as transgressor,
and his remedy in the death and mediation of the
S1yIOOr 4 dD notr IN the Iina that
this amount of light burst upon my moral vision
all at once On the contrary, it was the result of
investigating the subject for several weeks Here,
however, made complete stand saw, that in
order for me to be saved by the atonement, and
become an heir of eternal bliss, an entire new
course of life was requsite-that [ must wholly
abandon all that had been accustomed to prize.
This could not consent to | concluded, there
fore. to think of the subject, and, indeed,
made every exertiOn for three weeks to Danish it
from the mind. But my efforts were worse than
useless. The more | labored to keep my thoughts
from it, the more complete seemed its influence
over them. Every passing day awakened and
convinced me more fully of the Importance and
value of religion. At this time vacation of two
"CShS SpeHL dI HOiIe ClHiUlSuSu SISdlif NY lcii-
gious anxiety. On being interrogated On the SUBJ
ject by my father, told him that the folks where
boarded 6eliered were religious but that had
a room to myself, and they said nothing to me
about it, (Which by the way was false for as |
was highly pleased with my boarding place.
wished to give such an account OF j. would in
duce him to allow me to continue thereto which
- ~ 10
of my own salvation forced itself upon my mind
more powerfully than before | left So strong
was its influence, that in three weeks ! en-
tirely incapacitated for my studies, and made up
my mind to return home, and get my father to help
me ont Of the trouble. Having packed my books
and clothes, with the view Of returning home the
following day, as was sitting in my lonely room,
the two following questions forced themselves
powerfully upon my mind What is religion
and what is its pricel To the first of which | al
most inadvertently replied, Religion is that upon
the rejection or attainment of which is suspended
mans eternal interests-interests high as heaven,
deep as he'll and vast as eternity. II is an insti-
tuition of God of Infinite goodness and wisdom,
and must, therefore. be conducive to mans high
est interests In uU1e as WeIl as eleIhLy. bh'
what is its price 1t is the remuneration OF sin.
1t requires the giving up of myself, and all my
earthly interests. But as religion makes proVIs-
ions for our highest interests. even in time, 1t OF
course cannot require the remuneration or giving
up of any thing but what really conflicts with those
interests. The price Is certainly reasonable, and
will have religion. A little reflection, however,
convinced me that | must sacrifice much more
than had for the moment realized. ieft that |
should have to incur the OF my sister. and
the SCOTS of my associates; but this was ifiiiing
in comparison to the dispeasure and violent OPP
position of my father who would doubtless entire
| ly disnherit, and turn me from his door pennyess
| if he could notinduce me 10 renounce my religion
| On the other hand | saw that TO reject religion
now was, in all probability eternal rejection :
one that would involve, beyond hope, the ruin oi
l.he soul. ! saw, too, that the wealth OF my pa
rents. two,ihirds of which had expected to IN
| herit. might soon be scattered by adverse winis
or should I be permitted 10 possess It, vesy possi
| bIy il would be to me curse, rather than bes
sing. Added to this, who could assure NE that