Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1858-06-18
VOL XII.

=
VOL. XII.
ELF-PossEssIoN IN MOMENTS
ss OF, PERIL
About the year 177s, Mr. Cecil was ap-
pointed TO two small livings al Lewes, in
dence occurred to him, on his way from Lon
| don to serve these churches. He vas de-
tained in town till moor, in consequence of
which he did not arrive on East Grinstead
comnson tiiiafter it was dark. On this COM
i.lon he met man on horseback, who ap-
peai-ed TO be intoxicated, and ready to fall
from his horse. Mr.. c., with his usual be-
nevolence. rode up to him to prevent his fall
ing, when the .uan Immediately seized the
reins of his horse. Mr.. c., perceiving that
be was in bad hands. t,ndeavoFed TO break a.
way; but the man threateaed TO Knock him
down, ii he repeated the attempt. Three
other men Immediately rode up placing Mr..
C. in the midst of them. On perceiy:og bis
danger II struck him, ..Here is an OCCASION
for faith;'' and that direction occurred TO him,
"Caii upon me, in the day of trouble; will
deliver thee.'' He secretly lifted up his
heart TO God. imploring the deliverance
which he, alone, could give. One of the
men, who seemed to be captain of the gang,
asked him who he was, and whittier he was
going. Mr. e. told him very frankly his
name and profession. The leader said, s'Sir,
know you, and have heard you preach at
Lewcs; let the gentleman's horse go; we
wish you good night Mr.. Cecil had, a
bout him, El6 of Queen Anne'e bounty,
belonging TO his churches, which he had
been to London 10 receive, and the loss of
which would have been to him ut that time.
large sum; YET his person and property
were, alike, untouched.
An incideut in the early life of Thomas
Berchell, devoted missionary to the West
mentioned. Mr.. Burchell was in early life,
cloth manufacturer, in the west Of Eng
land. His first piece of cloth be sold to
person in Bristol, who a few days afterward,
was reported to be cr the point of insosyen-
cy- With the eHeIgssshich characterized
him througboutIhis whole life. he determined,
if possible, to regain possession OF his pro-.
perty, of which, il appeared. be was about
to be defrauded. It occurred to him that. by
walking all night, he shoald be n Bristol
some hours earlier than if he waited for The
coach. which did not start till morning. He
therefore set out at once, and had walked
nearly twenty miles by daybreak. He now
approached the severn, at point where he
expected To find some one who would ferry
him over. AS he reached it, he saw boat
| push off, hastily, from The land. He hailed
the crew, but they only piled their oars the
f1f iscar
ing, (. - - 9e..fs.. .,s.a..s, ssases.
/ Looking round, be saw another bpat, just
pulling out. and feeling that if he did not
succeed in gaining a passage in, her, he
should fail of attaining the object for which
he had made such efforts, he used all the
means, in his power, to attract the attention
/ of the boaimen, and induce them to return.
Il soon became evident that they had noticed
| him and seemed debating whether they should
return or NOT. He, at length, had The satis-
faction Of seeing them pull for the shore
AS they approached, it struck him that he
had neve. seen five such desperate booking
ruffians. After some objection, on their
/ part, they told him to get in. He had not
long done SO. before he found that he was in
most undesirable company. They began
caught showed him they were steering in the
opposite direction to that in which he wished
to go. He spoke to them of this, when one
of their number an Irishman, openly ane
resoiutely avowed their intention of murder
ing him. They all, then, set up lout
} shout, in confirmation Of their purpo 81
! as though 10 urge one another on to th'
deed
i From their horrid oaths and avowed inten
r tions, he now found that they took him for
spy, in the preventive service, and he per
ceived some kegs of spirits, covered wit
straw, III the bottom of the boat. 1t was il
5 vain that lie assured them that they wer
/, mistaken in their suspictions; they only re
: newed their imprecations and threats of i'm
8 mediate and signal vengeance. Finding tha
- they scoffed at his. protestations, he ceased
and began to speak with them of God,
Judgment, and eterfiit5. After speaking, i
this strain, for some little while, he observ
n ed the cohntenahce of one of them to relax
). and tremor to pass over the frame of an
+ other Still they did hot alter the boat
o course, bit continued steadily rowing in tn
e wrong direction.
i He then addressed each one, solemnly an
IF separately, and this with so much evider
n sincerity and deep feeling; that the captai
i of the crew cried out, 81 say, can't stan
is this. do not believe he's the man we too
E. him for. We must let him 60. Where q
u yon want to be put out, sirl' The ttayelt
= replied that he wished TO be taken up tt
IL Avon, as far as Bristol. The man said thu
); they could not pass Pill, but that they won
ID take him as far as possiblei and put him in
e way 10 cofitihae his Journey by the shorte
n route. He thanked them, and begged the
,e to make the utmost speed, as his busine.
il was urgent. Finding them SO subdued, |
i. spoke to them of their sinful lives, land poiu
5 ed Them to Christ, as their Savior. They .
81 appeared impressed by his statements al
s conduct, and not only refused what he h;
nd stipulated, to pay IT, en- rs fare, but offered
in forward keg of spirits to any place
- would mentioh-an offer which was,
In course, declined. On landing, one of Il
3. men accompanied him to farmhouse, a
,v induced the old occupant to drive him
=. Bristol He, by these means, succeeded
,,s reaching his journeys end, ut an early no.
e, and in regaining possession Of the grea,
1n part of his property.
Even bad the results of this periIous bo;
Id voyage stopped here, it would have afford
L. striking instance of the blessings viii
,es attend Christian fidelity and boldness, sprir
ne ing from sense of Gods presence and I
r,s cess to him in prayer. But more remains
md be told. Many years erwards, on a
an. Burche IFS return from Jamaica he was
small village, in the neighborhord of CHI
: dar Cliffs, when man accosted him, offeri
him his hand, and appeared surprised that
y was not recognized. It proved to be
~, g. smuggler who had guided Mr.. Burchell
the farmhouse. After some conversation,