The North-Carolinian., 1855-02-24
A Praying Merchant.

for integrity stood very high in the public es.
TEEN. He was truly of whom it might be
said, his enemies could find nothing against him
out what concerned the law of his God In all
benevolent societies he took the lead; of Sab
bath schools and prayer-meetings in the tow,
and its vicinity he was the Jealous promoter,
Zealous i'll every good work" seemed his motto.
While he was going on with untiring diligence
| IN his Masters service, esteemed by all the
friends OF Jesus in the neglborhood, and re-
Spected for his unimpeachablc consistency, even
by those who disikcd his religion there .hap-
pened to be one Of those disastrous convulsions
in trade which have produced so much distress
in this commercial country. Failures became
fcarfulIy frequent; the banks, alarmed, refused
pecuniary assistance, OR doled it ont sparngy
and d'strustfhly to many never doubted before
the produce of the honest industry of years the
losses OF IL week swept away; and so wide
spreading was the wreck, that l have heard
ed to thank God when the usual time for de-
livering letters passed by, and he had received
no intimation of fresh disasters.
During this appalling crisis large CONNER
cal company III the city of - became en-
barrasscd. 1t was known in the town where
Mr. S. resided, and he had extensive dealings
with the firm; hence his solvency became sus-
pected, and with all the shrinking of one who
priced good name, at the prospect of bank
ruptcy. our friend had to anticipate its probali-
ty. One forenoon he visited Mr. r his inti-
mate acquaintance and fellow Office bearer in
the church, and with heavy heart announced
that the branch of the bank i'll town had refused
to discount bill, and as most of his funds were
locked up by the state Of the affairs of his cor
respondent in -, he saw no help for it but
that he must become insolvent. lie added, that
nothing affected him more than the injury re-
ligion might sustain by his failure; for those
who songht to scoff would not consider his en-
barrassmehts had arisen through tLe conduct Of
Others, but would hint dishonesty and exclajm
-'all are hypocrtes, and those who make the
loudcst professions are the worst" He took
leave OF his friend observing, his only recourse
was in God, who he knew was able to prevent
the catastrophe he feared was inevitable
lie had not been gone many minutes when
Mr. r., standing at the door of the shop, was
'ccosted by DR.. H., a medical gentleman, who
had acquired large fortune abroad, and had
ately returned to reside in his native place.
That man was an avowed de.t He would even
intimate, by sarcastic objections,
ioubts of the existence of God, and disbelief
'f Il future state. lie manifested violent hos
iity to religion, stigmatzed all professors of
eligion as designing hypocritcs or imbecilc
lnpes, and delighted to hold up those who were
decidedly godly as objects of public scorn and
ontempt. BE was also selfish, close-fisted,
ard-hearted miser, who sternly reI,elled every
hen this notorious scoffer stopped to address
'lr X. Ill his usual jecring manner, he said:
\ on have an nncommonly long face to-day.
our aspect is peculiarly sour and deeful. Have
our vaunted religious consultations failed? Has
our God been unproptious? What is the
latter with your
by an impulse which lie could not very we'll
ccount for at the time, MIR r. plainly told
his enemy, who might have been expected to
loaf over the information that the cause of
ne mental distress visible in his cOuntenance
as that the banks refused to discount Mr. SIS
ills, and his friend must become bankrupt
That must not be allowed" suddenly re-
lied DIR. H.; with all his fuss about religioux
II his wild and ll-directed zeal, S. is sincere
and strictly honest man; he must
ut bs crushed in this manner"
lie hurried away, soon after called at Mr. S g
ouse, and inquired if he were at home. Mrs
told him her husband, she supposed, had
one to- ne7ghboring town, to request the as
stance of their relations.
wv hen he retnrns," said the doctor. 'rive
i'm this letter, and my best wishes"
But instead Of applying to human friends,
lr 5 had determined 6rst to apply to his
[eavenly Father in his emergency. and an
ealed to his al[suftieient prayer hearing God
'e had procured the keys of a chapel, and
cked himself in, to be excluded from all in
and there alone, with his God, he
III OCCII dDCdb all nOuf IN earnest
application, wrestling with the Lord of Provi--
.nce, who had all control, and inHunlerabIe re-
'ufceS at his ccaaHland, to- ihterpose for his
lief, and prevent the Redeemer's cause from
fcriny through his calamity After having
led the efficacy of believing prayer, he came
'me and his wife gave him the letter from DIR.
;. With s~Fprise and apprehension he opened
e packet; and there was order from the
'ctor OH his funds in the bank to the amounx
at MIR $. Fee}riFed and had been refused
long with this there note encouraging
m TO keep up his spirits, for the writer ell,
ged to bring him securely through all hiss
lnporal difficulties. This timely yet most un-
pected aid WAS amply sH4iciens to avert the
reatening and dreadful catastrophe
Was not the hand of an overrulinr Proyi~
nee visible IN this? Was not assistance from,
Oh quarter somewhat like Eliiah's being fed
the ravens? Was not that we'll authenticate
fact striking demonst raton of She efficacy
1.-The prayer of faithy"
A curious secs Of religionsts has arisen irs
lgland called the Disciples. They believe
at Christ will appear in 1864; that the Rus
ms will triumph over the Turks, and the Jews.
er the Russians; the latter event to happen
just ten years. time, when the Jews will be-
me nation in the holy land. Abraham Isaac.
cob, and the rest Of the righteous Jews Of
], with the few elect among Christians will
e from the dead and live forever in Palestines
t the heather and the wicked Jews and