Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1853-08-28
The IHfdel elLady.
REV. wv. UIsSER, D. D.


Returning from the funeral Of child IN the eitv
Of ---, in 1881, met at the house of a friend.
a widow lady Of middle age, and of more than or
dmary intelligence After little general conver-
sation, | alluded to the funeral had been attend
ing and inquired whether she felt herself prepared
for that great change which We must all OF us soon
er or later experience.
After few moments hesitation. she reDl;ed IN
my question by saying that she was an Inddel and
did not receive the Bible as the Word of God. AZ
ter cOnversing with her long enough to satisfy nv
self that she had read the Holy Scriptures and was
acquainted with the common arguments which Inf
dels have used against them, L inquired whether
she believed in the existence Of an inftit,v wise
and good God. She replied that she did. and thot
that the Bible gave truthful account Of his per-
fectiOns. then inquired, do YOU believe that we
are all created by this God2" She replied. Ger
tainly do; | believe we are all the creatures of
his power" / thea said to her MADAM, as you
appear to have read the Bible, will you tell me
whether unshaken belief in its Divine origin
and cordial reception of the religion which it in
cucates, would not be calculated to make men bet
ter and happier even in this world. than such be-
lief az you cheriSh?"
She answered, 1T must be so: the Bible requires
men to love their ncghbors as they love themselves.
and to do unto others as they would have Others
do unto them this would make good members of
society; and the belief that they were going to hea
ven when they died, would make them happy"
You have answered truly The moral code Of
the Bible, if believed and Obeyed would regulate
in the most perfect manner all our intercourse with
each other; while its rich and precious promises, if
received and relied on, as coming from God would
elevate our affections, raise above the world and
make US happy here. But if the Bible is not rev
elatiOn from God, it processes to be- it is one Of
the most impiOus compilations Of falsehood that
men have ever attempted to palm upon the world;
and yet according to your own admission. holy.
wise, and good Being, has formed an en- ire race of
intelligent creatures with such minds that belief
in this impious and lying Book, will make them bet
ter and happier than to believe the truth" shere-
mained silent for some time, and then, with consid-
erable feeling, replied Il have never before thought
of the subject in this light"
After entreating her to examine the subject with
care, to if she could get rid Of the conclusion at
which we had arrived, left her and returned home
A short time after this conversation, preached
an evening lecture in the neghborhood where this
woman residc1l. After the public exercises, gave
notice that if there were any who wished 10 con
verse with me about their own spiritual condition.
they nigh; remain after the congregafionHad with
drawn. To my great joy this widow was one who
tarried for conversation. She had become eopvin-
ced that she must give up her belief in the being
and perfcctons Of God, or deny what her own jnCg-
ment and observation as well as the history of the
world told her the tendency of a belief in and
cordial reception Of, the Word Of God, or she
must renounce her infdeity The two first she
could not do, and she had done the last; and had
come TO inquire what she must do to be saved. She
feIt that her nfdelity had resulted from deprsyed
heart. rather than an enlightened mind, and trem-
blcd forherself as an undone sinner. Ipointed out
to her as plainly as could, the way of salvation
| told her that jesus Christ had come to seek and
to save that which was lost; and if she would sub
nit to him. and accept ofhis offered mercy, she would
be accepted.
After few days, she INDUCED a hope in Christ.
and at the next communion. united herself with the
people of God; and for years afterwards 1 knew her
consistent Christian, adorning the doctrine Of
God her Savior, by wellOrtlered life and eonver-
sation.