The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-07-02
Illustration Of Forgiving Love.

A friend of mine, with whom at the
time, | was staying few days as guest
told me the following circumstance.
once had a poor neig hbor, who had wife
and several small children. His children
were crying for bread, and he had none
10 give them. In his need, he broke open
nv barn and stole three bushels OF rye
| caused him 10 be arrested, and brought
before the court. He confessed the deed,
and stated before the court the reason why
he acted as he did. He was convicted, &
condemned, aud thrust into Jail. His fam.
iy, who were by his side in the court,
with crushed hearts and weeping eyes, re-
turned 10 their desolate home. The hus-
band and father had been convicted of fell
onv, and cast into prison for deed which
he had committed TO keep them from star
wing.
Il got into my wagon, after l had seen
him thrust into prison, and went on my
way towards my house, congratulaling
myself that had done good service 10 the
stale, by securing thief. The thought
of the poor, bereayed, broken hearted wife,
and the starving little ones, from whom
had taken husband and father. did not
once enter my mind. My humanity was
smolhered in my gralifed revenge.
Thus rode along, thinking aboutthe
duty of executing the laws against thieves
and robbers, and all evil>doeIs. AS | was
thus Illuminating, by some unaccountab'e
association Of ideas, the petition of the
Lords Prayer, touching forgiveness, was
forcloly brough, 10 my mind, and uns
consciously spoke out aloud, saying
Father, forgive me, as | have forgiven
my-enemy' was going to say. But ii
came to my mind just then, that did hot
wish 10 be forgiven as had forgiven The
man who sole my corn. l was confoundS
ed. l dared not utter that petition. l
tried again. Father, forgive me- cried
aloud; but dared not say, las l have for
given my neig hbor.' | was greatly dis,
mayed 10 think l had brought myself into
position, in which l could not utter the
Lords prayer. l rode home in great dis
,ress of mind, put up my horse, entered
the house, and felt so uneasy, that my
wife observed my anxiety in my counte-
nance. When she inquired the cause,
first told her that l had placed myself in a
position which forever precluded me from |
asking God to forgive my sins, and then
related all the circumstances Of the case.
She tried 10 comfort me-to convince me
that was over righteous; that eould
forgive the man, though | had punished
him; and that could ask God 10 forgive
me. as had forgiven him. But all her
endeavors were to no purpose. My enc.
my in his dungeon, his broken-hea
wife, and his weeping children, were con-
t!nually before me, aud my mind could
receive no comfort from any source.
could not sleep that night. All the fol-
lowing day, which was Sunday, | walked
about the house nearly distracted, wiring |
ing my hands in an agony of mind, and
crying out, Father, forgive me,-Father,
forgive me;' but l could not say, las
have forgiven my neighbor. In the eve
ming, my wife suggested tina. might per.
haps get him out Of Jail, and restore him
to his family. Il will 1 said, if it cost
all my fortune.' This determination for
a moment brought peace to my mind but
the thought soon occurred. that | might not
be able to get him out; or that | might die
before / accomplished it. This again !
threw me into distress. l walked about
the house all that night, crying out 'Fa-
ther forgive me;' but could not say, as
1 have forgiven my neighbor's tres2ass
against me-
Early on Monday morning, / called on
the magistrates told them that revenge had
influenced me in the prosecution, and had
for time closed my heart against love,
forgiveness, and humanity. told them
that I now saw my sin; and that never
could, without hooking God, ask Him to
forgive me as had forgiven my neigh
Dor, while that neighbor and his family
were all wretched, in consequence of my
revenge. They kindly listened TO my
plea; and on my entering into bonds for
the mans good behavior, they opened the
prison and lei him out. took him in
TO my wagon, brought him to my house,
opened my barn, took bag of rye, aid
then sad 10 my neighbor, There, carry
that home TO your wife and children; and
when il is gone, if you cannot get any
thing for them 10 eat, come to me and you
shall have more while have any,
peace was instantly restored TO my
troubled breast, and 1 exclaimed aloud 10
the lullness of my soul, Father forgive
me noao, as haze }orgicen my neig hbOr.'
That WAS THE HAPPIEsT MOMENT OF
MY LIFE. My neighbor torgoee me; and
from that day, we have been on terms of
loving intimacy
A STRANGE CASE. We learn that on
Monday last, the body of male child was
discovered floating in the waters Of Black
River in Coventry, by person passing
the bridge. One foot of the child was
turned over his hack and tied IN tie peck |