The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1849-12-01
"Ths Way Of the transgressOr is hard.

Ollen VeTlHeu Ill ble uefelOpmeHIS vi uou
prov idence towards sinners. In some in
stances, this verifcation has been so strk-
ing, that it would not fail to force itself
upon the attention of the most careless OBJ
server. The sins of the wicked DO most
assuredly find them out. This is especial
ly the case with those, who continue pre-
sumptuously in the way of trangression af-
ter they have been Solemnly and repeated
ly warned. Often does God suddenly cut
such down in the midst of their career Of
sin and fully. An especial aggravation
seems also 10 attach itself to the case of
those, who, though they had once number
edthemselves amongst the prOtessed follow
ers Of the Savior, continue deliberately in
the violation of some known command Of
God. We have recently met with the re-
cord of remarkable exemplifcation of this
fearful truth, in the memoir of the Rev.
James Patterson, Of Philadelphia. 1t is
contained in quotation from his diary land
is stated by him in the following words:
"Mr.---,a communicate in our
church for eight or nine years, or perhaps
more, was determined to get rich. lie kept
grocery store, and began 10 sell on the
Sabbath. Having heard this, | went to him
and reasoned with him about the sin of
breaking the Sabbath. lie replied, that he
knew it was wrong, and was sorry that it
was general custom but that if he should
refuse 10 sell on the Sabbath, people would
not buy from him through the week. |
went again to visit him, and reasoned with
himat1ectionately on the subject. | told him
if he continued in this practice,he would be
publicly suspended from the communion of
the church; and that the session would now
give him some time to make up his mind,
before they would proceed to deal with
him. | left him the tract, 'Quench not
the Spirit and told him | would mem
ton his case in our prayer meeting,
and we would pray for him. | did so, not
mentioning any name, and we prayed re-
peatedly for him. 1t being in the time of
revival, the church was much engaged
in prayer in his behalf. called on
him the third time ,and asked him how he
was getting along! He replied, that he
had made up his mind, was happy TO
hear this, supposing it was to quit selling
on the Sabbath, and to return to his duty.
But, think Of my surprise, when no tod me
that it was to continue to break The Sabbath.
| said, is it possible, that you have calmly
and deliberately made up your mind to
profane Gods day If so, | would advise
you to prepare to die; for you have great
reason to fear that God will soon cut you
off from the earth. Poor fellow his race
was short. The next time heard Of him
was after a Wednesday evening lecture
the congregation was invited to attend his
funeral the next day! do not know that
lever was so surprised. His molher-in-
law told me that he was greatly distressed
before he died and that he would freq
uentIy exclaim, with his hands cIasped,
Lord Jesus, Lord Jesus, have mercy upon
my poor soul, and forgive my past life and
past offences The Sabbath before he died,
they were selling in his store all day.
"The funeral was pompous: fine car
riages and fine mourning dresses: but alas!
| thought, where is the soul "They that
will be rich fall into temptations and snare,
and into many foolish and hurtful Iusts,
which drown men in deslr ucliOn and per-
lition.' His physician told ME that his was
an extraordinary case the had no fever
that he had little sickness in his stomach,
but nothing that could excite alarm.
He said that his mind was overwhelmed
with the world that he was bent on ma
king money. His soul was agonizcd to
think that he must leave of the world a
little, and lie by during his sickness. His
death was sudden and unexpected. He
died while sitting in his chair"
"This case" the biographer very iustly
remarks, "alTords an impressive warning to
| protesting Christians, whose love oi gain
or pleasure leads lhem to pro.ane the day
of sacred rest, notwlthsiau' he remon.
strances of pious friends, i,e faith
fnl messengers ofGod Z ~ make
any pccuniary sacrifice, or t..r. he graf