The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1857-10-28
THE SCOFFER SILENCED.
iRY Rrv. G. 4. spuRoEoa, OF LONDON.

g. BOT me tell yoa d story I have told il
before; bnt it is striking one, and sets
out in true light how easily men will be
brought, in times of Danger to believe in
a God, and a God Of justice too, though
they have denied him before. :,
In the backwoods Of Canada there resi-
ded good minister, who one evening
went ont to mediate, as Isaac did, in the
fields. He soon found himself on the Dor.
ders of q forest, which. he entered, and
walked along track which had been trod- !
en- before him, musing, musing still, until
at last the shadow Of twilight, gathered
around him, and he began to think how
he should spend night in the forest. he
trembled at the idea Of remaining there,
with the poor shelteriof tree into which
he would beecompelled to climb.
L a0nia sudden he sawua light inlthe dis
tance amongthetrees, and imagining that
| it might be from the window1of some cot
tage where he would fndla hospitable re-
treat, he fastened to 1t, and toihis surprise
saw alspace cleared, and trees laid down
to make platform; and,upon it a speaker
addressing aamhltitude He thought tc
bhimself,a.1, have stumbled son company
IMho inD this dark forest have assembled to
worship God. and some minister is preach
ling to- them at this late hour of the oven
ing, concerning the ikingdom,of God ant
his righteousness" butito his ssurpriseaand
fhorror, when he came nearer, he found u
young man deciaiming against God, idar
}i6g heAimighty todo hisiwork upon him
speaking terrible things ia wrath agains
1.-THE justiceoof the Most High, and ventur
ling most bold and awful assertions cen
Icerning his own disbeliefin q future state
It was altogether . singular scene;it wa
lighted upby pine knots, which cast J,
lglare here and ahere, while the thick dark
ness in other places still reigned Th
people were intent on listening to the ora
tor; and when he sat down. ethundefs o
applaase were given TO him. each on
seeming ngtoemulate the ether in his praise
Ioi Thoughtthe minister,as1 must not le
|this pass L anustfise AID speak, the hon
orsofimysGodaand HE csuseldsmand It a'i-
Pile feared to speak, for he Knew not iwha
Ito say, having come there suddenly q bu
Ehs would have ventufed; had not some
. thing else occurred, dgA oman of niiddl
fage, hale and strong, rose, and leaned o
his staff he said, ssMy friends T. have
t word tocspeaks to yoa TO night 7 ammo
! about torefate aay ofthe arguments ofth
7 torator,laYI shall lhot cfiticise his style;a
T shall say nothing concerning the iblasph,
9 mics he has uttered; but l shall simply 7,
J |late to you a Fact and after / 7hase dor
etthat, you shall hdfaw your conclusioii
k Yesterday Iwalked by The side of You'd,
r triver;I saw on its food q Young man in
y boat. gThsboatwas unmanageable; it w
} going fast towards tile rapids; he icou
Q, fnot use the oars, and Iasaw be was n
sci capable of bringing the boat to the shor
IS saw that young man wiring his hands
n agony; by and by he gave up the attem
lbIto save his life, kAeeled down and cri
r with desperate earnestness, @ God, sa
le my soul! If my body cannot be save
e save my soal'' I heard him coufess q