Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1854-03-29
THE CONFESSIONS OF rENITENr.

became diligent IN his attendance on the pub
lie ministry, deeply deplored his sins, and
with strong prayer and tears sought pardon
of God for his transgxessions, through tbs
blood Of Jesus. He eight but found not
--he mourned but vas not comforted.---
Shortly afterwards hessas confined by sick
mess, and sent for Mr.s larke to pray with,
and for him he did so, and when he heard
how long he had mourned, and saw its sin
cerity and earncstness, he secretly wondered
at Gods SO long withholding manifestation
of pardon from such bitter, such deep repent
ance but be charged not God foolishly but
rather on finding, after such oft-repeatcd Wis
| its, that the lamp Of life was burning low,
and that the mental agony Of the penitent
was even burrymg on its extinction, with
tender but firm language he said. at is not
often Mr.. , that God thus deals with
a soul 50 deeply humbhd as yours is and
SO earnestly, in his own appointed way, seek
| ing redemption through the blood of his Son.
| Sir, there must be cause for this, and you
have left something undone which it was and
is your interest and dutyto have done God
Judge between you and t."
| The gentleman fixed lis eyes intently on
the face Of Mr.. Clarke, missed himself up in
bed and give the following narration
In the year - vas at ----, and
took my passage in sbiE for England be-
fore we sailed, some merchants of the place
came to the vessel and put on board q small
bag of dollars, which they gave in charge of
the captain to carry to such and such parties.
saw this transaction and marked the cap
tain's carelessnes for, Insead of putting the
bag of dollars in place & safety, be left it
day after day rolling in the locker. For the
simple purpose Of frightening him, hid it !;
he made no enquiries, and we arrived at -,
and still detained it till il should be miss
ed month after month passed away, and still
no enouir, was made for tie lost property.
The parties to who,s. it was consigned, and
vino had notice Of its being SEM, came to the
captain forit he remembered its having been
Even into his charge, but nothing more it
might i,sye been left behind. Letters to that
effect were written 20 the correspondents,and
search was made, but nothing could be
learned, nc traces Of the lost treasure con "a
be discovered. All this necessarily occupi
cd many months. lad now become alarm
ed, and was ashamed 10 confess, lest it should
implicate my character. ] then purposely
secreted it. The captain was sued for the
amount, and having iothing to pay was cast
into prison, firmly maintaining his innnocen-
cy of the theft, but pleading guilty to the
charge of carelessness respecting bis trust
He languished in prison for two years, and
then died. Guilt had by this time hardened
my mind. stroye to be happy by sitting
my conscience with the cares and amusements
of the world but all in vain. AT last |
heard you preach, and then it was that the
voice of God broke in upon my conscience,
and reasoned withmc of righteousness and
judgement to come He'll got hold upon my
spirit I have prayed, I have dcplored,
have agonized at the throne Of mercy, for the
sake of Christ for pardon, but God is deaf to
my prayer; Christ casts out my petition
there is no mercy for me ! must go down
into the grave unpardoned-unsaved ?"
O what tale was this! how fine a scheme
of Satanic device did it reveal Mr.. Clarke
suggested to the dying penitent, that God
claimed from him not only repentance but
restitution. To this the gentleman willing.
ly consented. The sum with its interest and
compound interest was made up. The cir.
cumstances of the case, without the name
were declared to the widow and the parties
concerned, through the medium of Mr.. Clark
who obtained an acknowledgement for thu
sum, which he kept till his death, and which
still remains among his papers. Shortly af
ter the troubled mind of Mr. -, was calm
ed and in firm assurance of the mercy o
God, through the merits of Christ, his peni
tent soul exchanged worlds warning t
all the workers of iniquity lesson to al
the ministers of Christ not to charge God
foolishly when any such cases come befor'
their spiritual cognizance; an exnortation t
such as received the wages of unrighteous
ness, not only to confess but to restore to TIL
full all ill-gotten gain and loud call upol
all who think, like this gentleman, that the,
stand, to take heed lest they fall.
i CURE EoR ERYsIPELAs.