Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1852-02-26


| should not know where to hide my head
These feelings must in some way or other,
be suppressed, and the soonor the better"-
| accordingly determined to 90 and get part
ly intoxicated, which had always before
found TO be a speedy and effectual method of
removing trouble. | went to tavern and
drank gill of spirits. shudder to think
how could thus peril my soul; yet still
found no abatement of my dreadful feelings.
The judgment-day, with all its solemnities,
was before me. still, in inauguration saw
the righteous receiving the plaudit, "Well
done good and faithful servants" and rising
with their glorious Redeemer to world OF
glory, while was left behind to mingle my
unavaiing cries with those of devils and
damned spirits, and to sink with them into
everlasting night In little while, nv gull
ty soul, with all its crimes unpardoned, must
stand, helpless and naked, in the presence of a
justly offended God. Now, thought l, there
is no time for trifling; shall soon be in that
awful hell | have so much dreaded. To stand
out any longer, plainly saw, would not an
swer. Call on God | must, or be damned for
ever
! forthwith left the house, and aimed for a
piece of wood near at hand. | came to a
convenient spot, where tree had fallen, and
kneeled by the side of it and endeavored to
pray. | cried to God in the best way |
could for mercy and forgiveness, and to
save my guilty soul from going down
the pit. But although my misery was intol-
erable, and my feelings almost agonized, yet
| could say but little. more than "God be
mercful to me, the chief of sinners" If
could have wept, it would have been some
relief; but the fountain of my tears was dried
up. returned, after while, to my home,
and, IN course of the day, went several times
to the same place for prayer but there was
no alteration in my feelings, and not tear
could shed. The night that followed was
a sleeoless one to me. The pains of hell
seemed to get hold upon me, and the terrors
/ of the Lord to distract me- Next day my eX-
ercises and feelings were very much the same.
But the day following | experienced little
| CLEAN of hope that there was yet forgiveness
with God, through Christ, even for such a
wretch as I. The thought of this SO over
whelmed my heart that the fountain of tears
was now broken up, and my tongue unloosed
for prayer. continued by that log, praying
and weeping, the greatest part Of the day--it
was almost drenched with my tears, and for Sc
veral days afterwards it was never dry. was
enabled more and more to trust in the divine
mercy, and to give myself up to Christ, de-
termining, if | must perish, that would die
at his feet, crying for mercy at the same
time secret whisper seemed to assure my
heart, that there no soul was ever lost. He
appeared to me a Savior just suited to my
wretched circumstances, as willing and able
to save to the uttermost, all who come to God
through him. Thus, by degrees, my painful
and Responding feelings passed away, and
light, and Joy, and peace possessed my heart
Although | had been before an abandoned
drunkard, yet it has now been more than five
years since met with this change,a and have
had no more hankering after spirituous liquors
than if | had never tasted them. | can truly
say, never knew what happiness was before;
and if religion was followed by no blessed con-
sequences beyond the grave, yet the peace Of
mind it here administers, renders it worthy oi
the pursuit of every individual. 1t sways are
ways fpleasantness, and it is profitable as
we'll for the life that now is, as for that which
is to come.
While our aged friend was going with his
narrative, several of his pious neighbors had,
one after another, stepped in, and when he
had ended, we improved the occasion for a
little season of social prayer. After which,
the old man sung the annexed hymn, which
he had committed to memory, and which so
we'll corresponded with his own felings, and
was sung with such heavenly pathos as to
draw tears from every eye.
Nay, cannot let thee go,
Till blessing thou beStow
Do not turn away thy face
Mines an urgent, pressing case.
Thou didst once wretch behold
In rebellion blindly bold,
Sccrn thy grace, thy power defy
That poor rebel Lord was |.
Once sinner, near despair,
Sought Thy mercy-seat by prayer
Mercy heard, and SET him Tree
Lord, that mercy came to me-
Many years have passed since then,
Many changes have seen;
Yet have been upheld till now
Who could hold me up but thou
Thou hast helpd in every need
This emboldens me to plead;
After much mercy past
Canst thou lei me sink at last
When these exercises were finished, felt
refreshed, and my spiritual strength renewed,
and could not help repeating, again and a
gain, " 1t was good TO be there"
Reader, are you wandering from Christ,
like John De Long? Return: trust in his
merits, and you also shall find mercy. Or Is
your own heart bleeding over the obduracy
of some hopeless prodigal! Despair not of
success. By your faithful labors and prayers
he may yet be brought to bow at the Savlour's
feet. There is mercy in Christ for ''the chief
of Sinners
Janses' Neat N0uel-We are not posted
up as to the title, but we commend the
following, which we clip from the Boston