The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-01-01
"ARE Y0U A C0MMUNICANT.,

Such question was addressed to one who
had for six years professed to be follower Of
Him who said, Let your light so shine before
Amsn, that they may see your good works, and
g'orify your father who is in heaven For
months she had been mingling with the world
ly and The gay; and in the excitement of her
daily life, she had forgotten that the vows Of
with price, even the blood of Gods dear
Son. She had indeed gone with the multitude
to the house of prayer, but how had she listen
ed to the truths there proclaimed? She had
gone on with the world as if she were indeed
OF it, as il this was the end of her being
One Sabbath morning upon being asked by one
Of her gay companions to accompany him to
hear some distinguished preacher, che declin-
ed, saying, that 1t was communion Sabbath in
her church and she must be there. Are you
a commnnieant?' was the short but cutting re-
ply. Few and simple were the words, ard
perhaps forgotten as soon as spoken by him
who uttered them, bit they found .heir way
to the young wanderers .eart Gowhere she
wonld, engage in what scenes of folly she
might, this startling question wonld ring thro'
her soul, and she answered, Yes, am COM
mnncant,' that other mighti-r question would
lorce itself upon her, Am a Chrstian?'
For six years she had called herself the
friend of Jesus, and now she must 60 back
through all those years. She must recall the
hour when, in the agony of her awakened and
conyictid spirit, she cried to God for mercy,
and he heard her cry, and whispered, $50 in
peace: thy sins which are many are forgiven
thee.' Thenthe trembling hope, the holy fear.
the new tides of JOY which fill her heart, as
bowing in penitential prayer she gave herself
away to him then the day on which she con-
fessed Christ before the world, the resolves she
formed that she would live only for the glory
Of God, and the good Of her fellow creatures;
the happy months which followed the sweet
communion with her Savior, the zeal with
which she engaged in his service-cH, all came
back to her. She recalled with bitlerne 5
the first time that she deserted the place
Of prayer for some scene Of gayety and folly,
and all those years of wandering in which she
udu ihuccu Uccu u tntH the FiSlDic CnuTcD
but alas, had given little evidence that she loved
Him whose death she commemorated. Oh,
what record has gone up against her-u hat
scores of wasted opportunities and despised
privileges--what reprcsch had she brought up
on the name and cause Of religion.
Again she bowed in agony Of spirit as she
had years before, and ask Ell forgivness Of Him
whom she had so deeply wronged. Again did
those accent, Of mercy fall on her ear, Go in
peace; thy sins which are many, are forgiven
thee;' and from that audience she went forth
strong in His 8 rength. He only, the great
searcher Of hearts, witnessed the anguish Of
his repentant child. He only knew the peace
and joy which she experienced; but the woild
saw th sfruit Of all this in. her humble and
consistent life, her uatiring efforts TO do what
in her lay, for the glory of her beloved Mas
ter Now there is no need to ask sAre ycu
acommunicant?' for her daily walk shows thai
her life is hid with Christ in God.'-.amer
Messenger.