Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1854-07-29
From The IHaynesbug (Grsene Co., Pa. Eagle
A VOICE FROM A PRISON.
A VOLUNTARY CONFESSION TO THE WORLD.

about reformations. The mighty wall
Of wicked Tyre were leveled down 70
benign purposes. Jobs Affections wer'
sent upon to try his trust in the Lord
And SO, III all ages Of the world, ha
he sent Affections and calamities upor
nations or individuals, to work out hi
own wise efforts. | need not inform
those whom this will meet, that | have
met with sudden and startling calami
ty. But / am victor Yes, thanks tc
the God of power-"he that causetl
His Sun to raise upon the evil and the
good-he that sende,h rain upon the
Just and the unjust" lam conqueror.-
Yesterday afternoon when the people
of this earth were at enmity with me-
when all nature frowned a frown upon
me, dark as the scowl of Erubus, when
He, in his mercy and goodness, knock
ed ut the door Of fmy heart, and told me,
if | would cast off that load Of guilt up.
on my soul, confess my iniquity to the
world. put my trust in Him, and resolve
70 lead a new life in future, that He
,could be mytfiena. o.! can | ever for
get that moment. That was the mo-
men, of Regeneration "-ta@ was tho
moment when was born agaia-that
was the moment when behcId Heaven
in all its sublimity and grandeur, And
although | am now within the gloomy
limits Of prison, I am happier. by a
million golden worlds, than have ever
been before in my life. l thank Him
for my misfortune. | can this morning
appreciate the force Of His exceeding
goodness and wisdom. He has not on.
" saved me (in all human probability
from a dishoaoraJlc death, hut he has.
most assuredly, been the means of pre-
serving the lives of those with whom
for the last year l have been at strife
This is what gladdens up my soul, and
transports my senses to scenes that sur
pass tue beauties of Paradise that can
only, be beheld by those that have been
born anew Of God .5 s.,.
But let me confess to you my guilt.
Young man, you that are in the path OF
wickedness. listen to the voice OF an un-
fortunate fellow-travelIer. warn you,
by all that you hold dear and holy on
earth, to fly from the error Of your ways
(" Turn 5ye, turn ye; for why will you
die :" My fate you may think is bad,
but yours assure you, may be worse.
Leave off your guilty conduct. fly from
the evil one who is alluring you from
right aud rectitude, and seek the pardon
aud confidence Of a gracious Proyi-
dence. ,1. 'ma
But to my story. For short period
| have been leading very unenviable
life. | can make but ono apology for
it, and Aat even is despicablo one
| have been compelled to it by necessl.
ty. Yes, that which has driven thou
sands to tread the paths of dishonesty
and degradation; that which has wreck
ed The hopes and prospects Of many an
intellectual and useful man,-has been
the earthly downfall! Of me. Penury
and indigence, together with pride OF
spirit, first induced me to launch out up
ON the sea of iniquily. And le, me say
that when you are once OUT upon the
boislerous sea,-that sea whose maet-
strom leads to yawning hell-ihat 1t is
hard to reach the coast Of Righteousness
o! sinful man, imprint what have just
said deeply upon your heart. kemem'
ber that is the voice Of Que who has
been out upon your noisy tempesluouis
sea, and has by the goodness of Provl-
dence. been enabled TO reach the gold
ell shore.
have said that penury drove me to
crime. ltisa solemn truth. For some
length of time have been engaged III
teaching common Schools All know
that there is but bare lring to be de.
rived from it. A man may live, but he
can save nothing ut it. For year and
more ] have had to support in part my
widowed mother, her two orphan chi.
lren, and my brother mud his wife.
say in par, and our fimily arc expon'
sive. got along pretty well, US long
III ,,,,n,,t Last sprinu