The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1855-05-18
'My DEAR" said the good man, shear me
quietly and will tcll WOMB


"My DEAR" said the good man, shear me
quietly, and will tell you"
81 think it an honour, and feel it a ,m-
fort to be in that very station of life which
my Saviour Jesus Christ was in before me.
lie did not como into the world rs one
that was rich and great, but rs poor man
who had not where to lay lis head. feel
blessing in my poverty, because Jesus, like
inc was poor Had been rich man, per-
haps should never have known or loved
nm: For not many mighty, nor many
noble are called Gods people are chiefly
found among the base things Of the world
and things which are desired. This
makes my poverty to be my comfort.
''BesideS, hath not God chosen the poor
of this world, rich i'll faith, and heirs of the
kingdom which he hath promised to them
that love him. This thought makes my
poverty also to be my honor.
Moreover, to the poor the gospel was
and is preached, and to my hearts delight
find it to be true, every Sunday of my
life. And is it not plain, all the neighbour
hood through, that while SO many of our
rich farmers, and tradesmen, and squircs arc
quite careless, or set their faces against the
ways Of God, and arc dead to every thing
that is gracious and holy .; great number
of the poorest people are converted and
live? honor the rich for their station
but do not envy them for their posses.
sions. | cannot forget what Christ once
said, 1Iow hardly shall they that have
riches enter into the kingdom Of Cod
80, my dear wife, if you did but know how
to set a rghtvaluc upon the precious prom
ses which God has made to the poor how
thankful should 1 be!
"Thc expectations Of the poor shall not
perish. lie dclivereth the poor and needy
from him that spoilcth him. Lie has pre-
pared of his goodness for the poor. The
poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy
One. For he became poor that we, through
his poverty, might be rich: not in gold,
but in grace.
These promises comfort my soul, and
would make me happy, if were deprived
of that which | now enjoy. can trust
my Saviour for this world as well as for the
next. He that spared not his own Son,
but delivered him up for us all, how shall
he not with him freely give us all things
The Lord, of his mercy, bless you, my dear
Sarah, with the grace of Il contcntcd mind !"
Here the gracious man stopped and
whether affected by her husbands discourse,
or by any other cause, know not, but she
made no reply. He then said, "Come, chill
drcn, it is our time for rest shut the door,
and let lis 60 to prayer"
Forgive me-" said I, laying hold of the
door, as the child was obcying her fathers
orders, "if l ask leave to make one in your
family devotions, before l travel holneward.
| have heard you, my friend, when you
knew it not, and bless God for the sermon
which you have this night preached to my
heart"
The honest Iabourcr blushed for a mo-
mcnt at this unexpected intrusion and dec
laration, but Immediately said, "Sir, you arc
welcome to poor mans dwelling, if you
come in the name of the Lord"
| just looked around at the wife, who
seemed to bc startled at my sudden appear
ance, and the six fine children who sat near
her, and then said, "lou were going to pray :;
l must beg Of you, without regarding me-
to 60 on as if l were not here"
The man, whom could not but love and
reverence, with simple, unaffected, modest
and devout delneanour, did rs l request
cd him.
His prayer was full Of tender affection
and sincerity, expressed with great Scrip
tural propriety, and was in all respects such
as became the preacher of those sentiments
which | had overheard him deliver to his
wife just before.
When he had finished, each of his chill
drcn, according to the good old patriarclal
custom of better days, krceled down before
him in turn to receive fathers blessing.
1t was now late, and the rain was over.
gave the poor man my blessing, and re-
celved bis i'll return. l wished them good
night, and went onward to my own house,
rejecting, with much selfabasement of
heart, what an honor and comfort it is to be
a poor man rich in the faith.
Annals Of the Poor.