The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1853-10-27

last extremity of wretchedness, crampeo
in every limb, his eyes sunk and hollow
and his skin exhibiting the black hue at
tendant on this awful malady when there
is scarcely hope of recovery. Mr.. 7
had been used to patients in this dread.
( ful malady, but here was one in such q
state as he had never before witnessed
"Did you wish to see me!" he asked the
dying man. "I did," he replied, in a
clear and distinct tone Why do you
wish to see me! "Because said the man,
"some short time ago [ wandered into
your church, and heard you read what |
want you to read to me again, [ want to
! hear it again before | die. Oh, it has
never left my mind-night and day it
sounded in my ear. thought [ could
hide myself from God; but the darkness
hideth not from him: he has found me
out; he has laid his hand heavily upon
NE; and soon shall [ appear before him,
covered over with my crimes. And did
not l hear you say, Sir, that God would
slay the wicked-that he would say De-
part from me ye bloody men. o God, [
sinned against thee; thou art just there
can be no hope for wretch like me-
Every nerve in his body seemed convul-
sed with agony; and he fixed his eyes
eagerly on the clergyman, waiting anxi-
ously to hear again that portion Of the
scripture which had first convinced him
of his sin Tell NE some verse that
will bring it to my memory, said the
clergyman. ooh! it told me- said the
dying man, that God knew my down-sit-
ting and mine up-rising-that he under
stood my thoughts; that he compassed
my path, and my lying down and was
acquainted with all my ways; there was
not wordon my tongue but God knew it
altogether. That if [ could climb into
heaven, he was there, if | went down into
hell, he was there also" The clergy
man then knew it was the l39th Psalm
that had carried conviction Of sin into
this poor sinners heart; and he prayed
that this might be the work Of the Holy
Spirit; and taking out his Bible read it.
"Oh? that is it, that is it," said the dy-
ing man, in a low voice; thank God L
have heard it again. The clergyman
then said, "The blood Of Jesus Christ
cleanses from all sin" "ThiS is faith
ful-saying, and worthy Of all acceptation,
that Christ Jesus came into the world to
save sinners" Il Tim. l. l5) "To save
sinners" said he, but oh not such sin
ner as | have been. Yes such as you,
said the clergyman hear what confor-
table words are here: of any man sin,
we have an advocate with the Father,
Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the
Precipitation for our sins. I John Ii. l.,
p Hear what God says; Come now
and let US reason together: thong b your
sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white
as snow; though they be red like crimson,
they shall be as wool" Gsaah i. ls.)-
"How, how" said the man eagerly,
''What must I do TO be saved?" "Be-
lieve on the Lord Jesus Christ and you
shall be saved" (Heb. vii. 35.) Your
past sins shall not coudemn you. "Christ
is able to save to the uttermost all that
come unto God by him" (Acts xvi.
81 The man stretched out his hands
with upraised eyes imploring mercy
"God be mercifuI to a poor sinner" he
family uttered, and at that moment his
soul departed.
The clergyman looked around him; the
light of the glorious Gospel can illumine
even this dungeon of darkness and hor-
ror thought he; on him who lay in dark
ness and the shadow Of death, has this
light now shined. The rest of the men
had kept at distance, from the idea that
some thing mysterious must pass between
a dying soul and his spiritual instructor,
which others were not to hear, CORRUPTED
as their minds are, from the simplicity
that is in Christ" q Cor. ii. 81 But he
determined not to depart without word
of exhortation to them; and coming for
ward in the midst Of them, he spoke tc
them Of the awful state in which they
were sunk; invited them also to come tC
Jesus, and obtain from him full and free
pardon for all their past offences. You
know not, my fcllow-sinners, said he
how soon each of you may be summoned
like that poor man before the awful bal
of God Cholera is sweeping the city
from one end to the other. There i
contagion in that corpse. [ know no
but this may be the last time may have
an opportunity of declaring the Gospe
to poor perishing sinners. l am dyinl
man addressing dying men. But oh! le
the love of Christ, who poured out hi
blood upon the cross to save lost sinners
speak to you, and urge you to quit thi
pit of destruction-a faint type Of tha
hell to which sin must lead you. Re
turn to habits Of honest industry. Moth
ing but idleness and crime could hav
brought you into this place" 1t is true,
said the man who led him there, it wa
crime brought US here-we are gang o
robbers; our lives, Sir, are in your hands
but as a minister of religion depend Of
your not betraying u.s." We could no
now get employment-no one would trus
US. Trust in the Lord, said the clergy